It is a charitable, not-for-profit organisation whose objective is the pursuit and encouragement of an active interest in the study of the history of Peterborough and its immediate environs and the dissemination of the outcome of such studies by the means of talks, publications, conducted walks and visits to places of local interest.

The society has nearly 100 members whose subscriptions provide the funds necessary to support the activities. Nine meetings are held each year on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in St Mark's Church Hall, Lincoln Road, Peterborough, each addressed by a speaker with local historical knowledge.

There are three summer visits to places of historical interest and each Spring we host the Mayor's Charity event at the Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough. 

A society's magazine, the Peterborough Local History Society Magazine, is published half yearly to provide a vehicle in which members' research findings are published. It also provides a programme of forthcoming meetings and activities, news, notes, and enquiries.

The Society is administrated by voluntary officers and committee members, whose positions are subject to annual election.