20 Attractions to Explore Near Wicksteed Park

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

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.

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 delightful triangular building was designed by Sir Thomas Tresham (father of one of the Gunpowder Plotters) and constructed between 1593 and 1597. It is a testament to Tresham’s Roman Catholicism. Not only is the Lodge three-sided, but each side is divided into three. Tresham revered the number three, representing the Holy Trinity, which is evident in the layout of the Lodge. Comprised of three floors, including the basement, three sides each 33 feet long, and three windows on each side fo

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.

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.

West Lodge Farm is an award-winning farm park where children and adults of all ages can have hands-on experiences of farm and country life. There are so many opportunities to explore the whole farm; the livestock, the walks and nature trails, the fields, the streams, and the machinery. There is also a wide range of themed events throughout the year.

West Lodge Rural Centre is a petting farm with children's activities near Desborough in Northamptonshire. The cuddle corner is home to the farm’s cute and fluffies where a daily programme helps visitors get as close as possible. Over in the demonstration barn watch and learn about the jobs that take place on a working farm such as sheep shearing and lambing, you can also pick up some freshly laid eggs from the hen and poultry.

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.

Fermyn Woods Country Park offers a diverse landscape of forest, marsh and meadows. The beautiful woodlands are the perfect place to stretch your legs and get closer to nature. There are well maintained surfaced paths and plenty of seating for visitors and also this place offers you a refreshing and beautiful nature-friendly living for some time.

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.

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.

The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum was formed in 1993 for the 50th Anniversary reunion of the USAAF's 801st / 492nd Bomb Group. Displays and exhibits within the museum depict the history of the airfield and vividly show the work carried out by the 801st / 492nd Bomb Group, especially during Operation Carpetbagger, and their secret missions to deliver agents and supplies to resistance groups in Occupied Europe during the Second World War.

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.

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.

Pitsford Water or Pitsford Reservoir is a 413 hectare reservoir and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Brixworth in Northamptonshire. It is owned by Anglian Water, which manages it as a water park for walking, cycling, fishing, sailing and birdwatching.[3] An area of 181 hectares north of the causeway which divides the reservoir is the Pitsford Water Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

Chichele College is a rare surviving example of a chantry college. It was founded in 1422 by the locally born Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury. It’s a very special place; a Scheduled Monument which has considerable historical significance to the town and many who visit the site are enchanted by its spiritual atmosphere.

A beautiful eighteenth century house with a park and nineteenth-century garden, on the site of a seventeenth-century house and garden. There is an 'Italian garden', made by Sir Charles Isham, with a large rockery. The Hall contains an outstanding collection of books paintings and furniture. The building includes The High Room with a magnificent ceiling by William Smith.

An established park, which has undergone a heavy planting programme that will become a haven for wildlife in years to come. A 40-acre area with grassland walks and adult fitness trail, bmx track, half pipe skateboard unit, junior football pitch, basketball pitch and 2 children's play areas.