Wicksteed Park: Rides, Tickets & Family Day Out Guide

Wicksteed Park is one of the oldest amusement parks in the UK and still one of the best value family days out in the East Midlands. Opened in 1921 by the engineer Charles Wicksteed, it was built around a simple idea: give children a brilliant place to play. More than a century later that idea still runs through everything here, from the historic Water Chute to one of the largest free playgrounds in the country.

Set in 147 acres of parkland near Kettering in Northamptonshire, the park blends fairground rides with a lake, gardens, a narrow gauge railway and acres of open green space. The clever part is that you only pay for the rides. This guide covers what to see, ticket and wristband prices in £, parking, food, how long to spend and who it suits best. At the end you will find a comfortable place to stay nearby if you want to turn the day into a short break.

Where is Wicksteed Park?

Wicksteed Park is on Barton Road in Kettering, Northamptonshire, with the postcode NN15 6NJ for your sat nav. It sits just off the A14, which makes it easy to reach from across the East Midlands and beyond. Most visitors arrive by car and are parked within a few minutes of leaving the main road.

The location is a big part of the appeal. Kettering is well connected, so the park works as a meeting point for families travelling from Leicester, Northampton, Peterborough and beyond. If you are exploring the wider area, it pairs nicely with other days out and there are plenty of things to do in Northamptonshire within a short drive, so you can easily build a long weekend around it.

Is Wicksteed Park free to enter?

Yes. This is the thing that surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Entry to the park itself is free, which means you can walk in and enjoy the lake, the gardens, the woodland and that enormous playground without paying a penny. You only pay if you want to go on the rides or use the paid attractions like the Play Factory.

That free model makes Wicksteed Park flexible in a way most theme parks are not. A family with toddlers can have a full day on the playground and a picnic by the lake for the cost of parking alone. A family with older children who want every roller coaster can buy wristbands and go all out. Most people land somewhere in the middle, mixing free play with a few rides.

Here is what you can enjoy without paying for a wristband:

• One of the largest free playgrounds in the country, with climbing frames, slides and swings for all ages
• The lake, where you can walk the shoreline and watch the wildlife
• The formal gardens and 147 acres of parkland for picnics and strolls
• Open green space for games, kites and a run-around
• Seasonal events and free entertainment dotted through the year

Wicksteed Park tickets and wristband prices

You have two main ways to pay for rides. An all-day wristband gives you unlimited access to the rides and attractions, which is the best value if your children want to ride everything more than once. Alternatively, single ride tickets let you pay as you go, which suits younger families who only want a few gentle rides.

Prices are cheaper when you book online in advance. Dated wristbands bought ahead of your visit can save up to 20% compared with the gate price, and they help on busy days. Children under 0.9m tall ride free when they are with someone holding a paid wristband or ticket, so very small toddlers will not need their own band.

Ticket type (online advance)	Price from	Notes
Individual dated wristband	£22	Unlimited rides for the day, all ages
Family wristband (3 people)	£56	Saves compared with three individual bands
Family wristband (4 people)	£72	Popular choice for a family of four
Family wristband (5 people)	£88	Best per-head value for larger groups
Single ride ticket	£3.50	One use of one ride, pay as you go
Children under 0.9m	Free	Ride free with a paying adult
Parking	From £3.50	Per visit, annual passes available

Prices change with the seasons and with special offers, so it is always worth checking the official Wicksteed Park website for the exact figures on your chosen date. Annual wristbands are also available from around £90, which can pay for itself in a couple of visits if you live nearby or come back during the school holidays.

The rides and attractions

Wicksteed Park has more than 25 rides and attractions, with a real mix of gentle classics and a few faster thrills. It is not a white-knuckle park in the mould of the big national chains, and that is exactly why it works so well for families with younger children. The pace is friendly, the queues are usually short, and there is something for every age.

Some of the highlights to look out for include:

• The Water Chute, the oldest working amusement ride in the UK, dating back to 1926
• The narrow gauge railway, which has carried visitors around the lake since 1931
• Classic fairground favourites like the carousel, teacups and dodgems
• Family roller coasters and the log flume for a bit more of a thrill
• The Play Factory indoor soft play, ideal for a rainy spell or a break for little ones

The railway and the Water Chute are the two attractions everyone seems to remember. The train is a lovely way to see the whole park and give tired legs a rest, while the Water Chute is a genuine slice of history that has been delighting children since the 1920s. Ride opening times can vary by season, so check the daily timetable when you arrive and plan your route around the rides your family most wants.

How long do you need at Wicksteed Park?

Plan for most of a day. Most families spend between four and six hours here, and you can easily fill more if you combine the rides with time on the free playground, a walk around the lake and a picnic. The 147-acre site is bigger than it first looks, so there is no rush to cram everything in.

If you have younger children, a half day on the playground with a couple of single ride tickets can be plenty, especially if naptime looms. With older children chasing every ride on a wristband, you will want the full day to get your money’s worth. Arriving when the rides open gives you the quietest hours and the shortest queues, then you can switch to the playground and gardens when the park gets busier in the afternoon.

Parking, food and facilities

There is plenty of on-site parking, charged from around £3.50 per visit, with annual passes available if you plan to return. Set your sat nav to NN15 6NJ and follow the signs once you are off the A14. The car park is large, so even on busy days you should find a space without much fuss.

For food, there are cafes and kiosks across the park selling hot meals, snacks, ice cream and drinks. Because the parkland is free to enter, you are also very welcome to bring a picnic, and the lakeside and gardens have lovely spots to spread out a blanket. Packing your own lunch with a treat or two from the kiosks is a sensible way to keep costs down over a full day.

A few practical notes to help you plan:

• Paths are largely flat and pushchair friendly, so the park is easy with a buggy
• Accessible toilets and baby changing facilities are available on site
• Dogs are welcome on a lead but must wait outside the shops and indoor outlets
• The free playground gives you a no-cost backup if the weather turns or the budget is tight
• Layers and waterproofs are wise, as much of the day is spent outdoors

Honest trade-off: on a sunny bank holiday or in the school holidays the park gets busy, and the most popular rides build the longest queues. If you can visit midweek or in term time you will have a calmer day with more room to roam. The British weather is the other thing to plan for, since the playground, lake and gardens are all outdoors, so a spare jumper in the car never goes amiss.

Who is Wicksteed Park best for?

Wicksteed Park is at its best with families with younger children. The gentle rides, the huge free playground and the relaxed pace make it far less daunting than a big thrill park, and the free entry means a day out does not have to cost a fortune. Toddlers and primary-age children get the most out of it, though there is enough variety to keep older siblings happy too.

It also works well for multi-generational days out. Grandparents can sit by the lake or in the gardens while the children burn off energy, and the train gives everyone an easy way to see the park together. If you are after high-speed roller coasters and big drops, this is not the park for you, but for a wholesome, good-value family day it is hard to beat.

Where to stay near Wicksteed Park

If you want to make a short break of it rather than a single day out, basing yourself near Market Harborough gives you a quiet, comfortable spot within easy reach of Wicksteed Park and plenty of other attractions. The Barn at Rectory Farm in Clipston is a luxury self-catering barn conversion that sleeps eight, plus space for two infants, making it ideal for families and groups travelling together.

The Barn has three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a garden and terrace with a gas BBQ, and a striking 10-metre folding glass wall that opens the living space out to the countryside. From here, Wicksteed Park is roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive, so you can enjoy a full day of rides and playground and come home to space, peace and a proper kitchen for dinner. It makes a relaxed setting for a family cottage holiday in the heart of the East Midlands.

Wicksteed Park also pairs well with other days out in the region. On a separate day you could head over to the National Space Centre in Leicester, giving you a packed long weekend with plenty for the children to talk about. When you are ready, check dates and book your stay direct for the best rates.

Frequently Asked Questions