Things to do

At A Glance Sywell Country Park is a former Edwardian water supply reservoir near Northampton, now a free country park with a 2.5-mile reservoir circuit, a heritage trail, a themed play area and the Pump House Café. Entry is free. Parking is £3.50 for up to twelve hours, which is a flat rate rather thanContinue reading "Sywell Country Park: Reservoir Walks, Parking, Cafe and Play Area"

At A Glance Canons Ashby is a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house in south Northamptonshire, owned by the National Trust since 1981, with formal gardens from 1710 and the surviving remains of a medieval priory church. Built around 1550 for the Dryden family, with additions in the 1590s, 1630s and 1710. National Trust membersContinue reading "Canons Ashby: Elizabethan Manor, Gardens and Priory Church"

At A Glance Salcey Forest is a medieval royal hunting forest near Northampton with waymarked trails, veteran oaks over 600 years old, a café and a play area, open every day except Christmas Day. The Tree Top Way is permanently closed. It shut in 2018 and Forestry England confirmed it will not reopen. Do notContinue reading "Salcey Forest: Trails, Parking, Opening Times and the Tree Top Way"

At A Glance Twinlakes Park at Melton Mowbray is a family theme park combining rides, a water park, indoor play and animals on one site, roughly 45 minutes from The Barn at Clipston. Book online. The park advertises a 25% saving against gate prices and asks you to pre-book. The height rule matters more thanContinue reading "Twinlakes Park: Tickets, Height Restrictions, Opening Times and Where to Stay"

At A Glance The Leicestershire and Northamptonshire border gives you stocked trout, specimen carp and free canal fishing inside a 30 minute drive, which is why it works so well for a self-catering fishing holiday. Pitsford Reservoir is the headline trout water, roughly 25 minutes from Clipston, stocked with rainbow and brown trout. An EnvironmentContinue reading "Fishing Holidays in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire: A Local’s Shortlist"

The Short Answer Delapre Abbey is a restored historic house on London Road in Northampton, NN4 8AW, set in 550 acres of parkland on the site of the 1460 Battle of Northampton. The grounds, parkland and Orangery cafe are free to wander, while a house ticket costs around £8 for adults with under 18s free.Continue reading "Delapre Abbey, Northampton: Visitor Guide & Gardens"

The Short Answer Wicksteed Park is one of the UK’s oldest amusement parks, sitting in Barton Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire (NN15 6NJ). Entry to the parkland, lake, gardens and the huge free playground costs nothing, and you only pay if you want the rides. Pre-booked all-day ride wristbands start from around £22 each, or you canContinue reading "Wicksteed Park: Rides, Tickets & Family Day Out Guide"

The Short Answer Bradgate Park is Leicestershire’s largest country park, an 850-acre ancient deer park with free entry, roaming herds of red and fallow deer, the ruins linked to Lady Jane Grey and the Old John folly tower on the skyline. Entry is free, you only pay to park (around £3 to £4 a day),Continue reading "Bradgate Park: Deer, Old John & Walks (Visitor Guide)"

The Short Answer Billing Aquadrome is a 235-acre leisure and holiday park in the Nene Valley near Northampton, with lakes, a funfair, fishing, watersports, walks and plenty for families. Day visitors are welcome with a pre-booked day pass, which starts from around £5 per person plus £5 parking. Book your day pass online before youContinue reading "Billing Aquadrome: Guide to the Northampton Day Out"

The Short Answer Leicestershire packs a lot into a small county. For families, head to Twycross Zoo, the National Space Centre or Bradgate Park. For history, Bosworth Battlefield and the King Richard III story are hard to beat. For a slower pace, Foxton Locks, Rutland Water and the market town of Market Harborough do theContinue reading "Things to Do in Leicestershire: 20 Best Days Out"