(Photo: Association of English Cathedrals)
Peterborough Cathedral is capturing the imagination of visitors this summer with its engaging LEGO exhibition, as it seeks to combine the appeal of cultural experiences with its traditional religious role.
‘Travelling Bricks’ showcases over 1 million LEGO pieces crafted into 120 models across 60 scenes, celebrating the realms of engineering, exploration, and transport.
Running through 29 August, this exhibition is split into four thematic zones: Air, Land, Sea, and Space. Notable displays include a 7.2-meter Titanic model, a 3-meter rocket, a Boeing 747, and historic ships like the HMS Victory and SS Great Britain.
An interactive area with more than 200,000 LEGO bricks invites visitors to build their own creations, while a soft-brick play zone is available for younger children.
The LEGO exhibition complements another highlight at the cathedral: the ‘Titanosaur,’ an enormous dinosaur exhibit from the Natural History Museum, available until 13 September.
Paul Stainton of Peterborough Cathedral noted this summer’s attractions are anticipated to be the most successful yet for the cathedral. “This is shaping up to be our biggest summer yet at Peterborough Cathedral. With both Travelling Bricks and Titanosaur under one roof, families can easily spend hours exploring, learning, playing and creating memories together right in the heart of the city,” he said.
To encourage tourism and support local businesses during the school holidays, Peterborough City Council is offering twice the usual parking time for a two-hour fee throughout the summer.
This exhibition is part of a broader trend where England’s cathedrals are attracting more visitors through a mix of worship, heritage, education, and cultural events.
According to the latest Church of England data, cathedral attendance rose for the fifth year in a row in 2025, with an 8% increase in adult Sunday attendance over the previous year.
In addition to regular services, England’s cathedrals hosted over 9.2 million visitors and welcomed 1.83 million people to concerts, graduations, exhibitions, and other civic events.
A report from think tank Theos identified cathedrals as crucial civic and spiritual “beacons,” noting that 77% of adults in England had visited a cathedral in the past three years, with more than two-thirds of those visits by individuals with no religious affiliation.
Research highlights that cathedrals play a vital role in worship, heritage, education, and community life while significantly boosting local economies. However, many still face financial challenges, with four out of five experiencing ongoing funding shortfalls.
Tickets for the Travelling Bricks exhibition are available for purchase online and at the cathedral, priced at £10 for adults and £6 for children and students.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
