20 Attractions to Explore Near Chichele College

Rushden Transport Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Victorian Midland Railway Station which once formed part of the Wellingborough to Higham Ferrers branch line. It comprises a vast collection of transport-related artifacts from the Rushden area, giving visitors a nostalgic glimpse into its past. Rushden station has been preserved by the Rushden Historical Transport Society. The station building is fully intact and open with no admission fee.

This is a huge nature reserve made up of five connected wildlife sites. This extensive series of shallow and deep open waters are surrounded with a wide range of marginal features, such as sparsely vegetated islands, gravel bars and shorelines, and habitats including reed swamp, marsh and so more. It is also a birdwatcher's paradise and The reserve forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is managed by The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire.

Hall Park is a 34 acre site which includes a walled garden. The site has been in public use since 1931 and was previously in the ownership of several wealthy local families. It was one of the iconic attractions in this area and is a unique place to soemd some time in peace.

Stanwick Lakes is a unique 750-acre countryside attraction and nature reserve located in the heart of Northamptonshire’s Nene Valley. There are extensive and imaginative play areas, open spaces, and paths that families, walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers can explore at leisure. The visitor center, with café, shop, and function space, hosts events, family celebrations, business meetings and craft workshops throughout the year.

This spectacular former quarry boasts Jurassic geology, and has a wonderful children's play area in addition to a network of long and short trails through 83 hectares of mixed woodland. The park is home to the Quarryman's Rest Cafe, Jungle Parc UK, and the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.

This church is the masterpiece of Sir Ninian Comper built between 1908 and 1930. It is a free essay in the gothic style fearlessly mixed with classical appropriations. The design and interior of the church were influenced by the Oxford Movement and the Victorian revival of ritualism. It was one of the main attractions in this area and is visited by many tourists along.

Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum is a beautiful museum that is little the site associated with the initial ironstone railway, that is house to a collection of working steam and diesel locomotives. It includes 8 locomotives within the collection, 7 running on steam, the other a diesel engine, plus over 30 items of rolling stock. The museum is owned byThe Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Trust.

The Wellingborough Museum built-in 1892 as an indoor swimming pool by David Dulley, a brewer in the town. Today, the museum welcomes visitors to explore a range of exhibits. This beautiful museum displays the collection of artefacts owned by the Winifred Wharton Trust, previously shown in The Heritage Centre at Croyland Hall in Wellingborough.

Twywell Gullet is a 17.1 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Kettering in Northamptonshire and a former ironstone quarry which has deep cuttings with steeply sloping banks. It is part of the 54.6 hectare Twywell Hills and Dales nature reserve, which is managed by a partnership of the Woodland Trust and the Rockingham Forest Trust.

This is a really nice place, full of nature if you fancy a round trip walk. It's about 2 miles and if you get a good pace on, it takes you about an hour.. This large, ex-gravel pit is made up of a main-lake with gently sloping banks, shallow areas of water and ponds, low lying islands, a large scrape, and a fringe of reeds surrounded by grassland and wet woodland.

A Grade II English Heritage listed park and garden set within 147 acres of green open space. It offers a variety of activities available, for children of all ages. Besides roller coasters and thrills rides you’ll find traditional playground areas too. Almost a century later, the park is still a place for all to play, relax and enjoy the thrill of a ride, just as he had hoped. But it is facing a fight for survival.

A beautiful 144 acres of award-winning green space which includes a nature reserve, two picturesque lakes, and a stretch of the River Great Ouse. The area covered by the park has formerly been a quarry, a farm, an Iron Age farm, and a Roman settlement - not necessarily all at the same time. The park is currently owned and managed by Bedford Borough Council. There is a wide variety of birds, and mammals include otters, shrews and bats.

Sywell Country Park exists on the site of a former drinking water reservoir near the village of Sywell in East Northamptonshire. It offers an eclectic mix of things to see and explore. An Edwardian water pump house and tower still stand within the small reservoir. The site includes a small tea room. There is also a project which aims to use both oral and written records to interpret the route of the water supply throughout the site.

The Sywell Aviation Museum is a voluntary, non-profit-making organisation which aims to preserve the history of Sywell Aerodrome and Northamptonshire’s rich aviation heritage from the early days of aviation to the Second World War and beyond. Inside the Museum can be found various displays on the history of aviation in Northamptonshire including aviation archaeology, aircraft cockpits, uniforms and models.

Titchmarsh Nature Reserve is a 72.7 hectare Local Nature Reserve north of Thrapston in East Northamptonshire. The River Nene runs through this site, which also has large areas of open water and grassland. There are nationally important numbers of goosanders, wigeons and gadwalls in winter, and banded demoiselle damselflies nest on nettles along the river bank. It is owned and managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. It is part of the Upper Nene Valley

The Alfred East Art Gallery offers a range of temporary exhibitions, art workshops and talks among other events held throughout the year. The Gallery was originally built to house the Sir Alfred East painting collection which he gave to the Borough of Kettering in 1910. It now holds a significant collection of 19th and 20th century fine art by many notable British artists and the collection is a valuable resource for research and enjoyment alike

Castle Ashby is the ancestral home of the 7th Marquess of Northampton. This majestc castle was set in the heart of a 10,000-acre estate, the 35 acres of extensive gardens are a combination of several styles including the romantic Italian Gardens, the unique Orangery and impressive Arboretum. It is a leading example of the Elizabethan prodigy house, with a Palladian section closing the front courtyard added in the 18th century.

A majestic Norman castle which was the final resting place of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s divorced and banished Spanish Queen, Kimbolton Castle sits amidst wooded grounds close to the small town of Kimbolton. All that remains of the Norman castle is a low mound, surrounded by a ditch and covered with trees, which can be seen by looking up the hill from the Duchess Walk. It was one of the main attractions in this area and is famous among the tourists.

A beautiful serpentine park and a Victorian garden which was set in the heart of a 10,000-acre estate, the 25 acres of extensive gardens are a combination of several styles including the romantic Italian Gardens, the unique Orangery, and impressive Arboretum. The full Castle Ashby experience also involves a menagerie, children's play area, plant centre, tea room and gift shop.

Boughton House in Northamptonshire is one of Britain's great stately homes, offering a unique and memorable experience for all visitors. The House itself contains an outstanding collection of fine art and is seen by many as a flagship of Britain’s national heritage. Outside you can explore 150 acres of stunning gardens, landscapes, tree-lined avenues and serene waterways. When it’s time for a refreshing cup of tea, head over to the Stables Café and Gift Shop.