8 Best Things To Do In Kettering, England

1. Wicksteed Park

An amusement park that’s been around since 1921, Wicksteed Park is the second oldest theme park in all of England, and there are 4 main themed areas available to play at: a playground, a fairground with fun rides along with an arcade, the lakeside for admiring the water feature and ride on rowing boats, and finally, the Arena where you can sit on big thrill rides such as the Revolving Paratrooper, Ladybird Coaster, Roller Coaster and the latest ride, a log flume called ‘Rocky River Falls’.

You might get some Five nights at Freddy’s flashbacks when you meet the park’s mascot team, but don’t fear, they’re perfectly harmless. Namely, they’re: Wicky Bear, Kerry the Koala, Charlie the Dog and Pong the Panda, and the four animals will be regularly roaming the park and greeting guests and even perform in their very own show during the summer holidays when the park is in full operation. Great for a day out with the kids.

Wicksteed Park

Address: Barton Road, Kettering NN15 6NJ, England

Website: Wicksteed Park

2. The Yards Kettering

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Yards are great place to shop at in Kettering and it’s basically an old part of town that’s been refurbished for the modern shopper. You’ll fall in love with the look and feel of the place which feels hip and enticing, with tons of small areas that’ll certainly catch your eye while visiting, with a nice blend of shops that’ll convince you that Kettering is no longer in a state of decline. Different from the High Street shops for sure, and always growing in popularity. Come by for a visit and an endless array of shops to do some retail therapy or food places to lunch at.

The Yards Kettering

Address: 10 Market Street, Kettering NN16 0AH, England

Facebook page: The Yards Kettering

3. Lighthouse Theatre

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Naturally, this is a theatre, and the space regularly offers up everything from musicals to fitness competitions, and there’s always something new and interesting to watch here. Equipped with a nice bar and with easy access to by car, there’s little reason not to check out this theatre and see what’s on offer while you’re there and immerse yourself in a bit of culture while in Kettering.

Lighthouse Theatre

Address: Thurston Drive | Kettering Conference Centre, Kettering NN15 6PB, England

Website: Lighthouse Theatre

4. The Montagu Monuments

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

You may not expect some world class monuments here in Kettering, but at St Edmund’s Church you will find four in the form of Kettering. Dedicated to four members of the Montagu family, the monuments are at once beautiful works of art and highly important pieces of Britain’s social and artistic history, and are imbued with artistry, culture and beauty all at once.

The Montagu Monuments

Address: Warkton, Kettering NN16 9XH, England

5. Bugtopia

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you hate bugs, you might want to avoid this place. But maybe if you do, this might also be a great place to face your fears head on and even let one of them crawl around on your arm for while (don’t slap them, please)! As its name suggests, it’s bugs galore here at Bugtopia, and besides admiring the countless bugs on display, there’s some great educational programs here on offer too, and visitors (particularly the young ones) can learn all about the fascinating world of creepy crawlies and these creatures that far outnumber the population of humans in the world.

Bugtopia

Address: Loddington Road | Great Cransley, Kettering NN14 1PY, England

Website: Bugtopia

6. Boughton House

Boughton House is an old country house that contains a HUGE area. Once a seat of the Duke of Buccleuch, and famed for its beauty, its collections, and the fact it has survived virtually unchanged since the eighteenth century, Boughton House has plenty of historical significance and is gorgeous both outside and inside. Famed for its exterior of an opulent French chateau, many have nicknamed it “The English Versailles.”

The house contains an impressive collection of the fanciest of furniture, tapestries, porcelain and carpets, not to mention a burgeoning art collection including works by El Greco, Thomas Gainsborough and John Wootton. There’s also a great private collection of armour in the armoury, and the house is often used as a venue for events, weddings, corporate activities and organised groups. Try to come on a day where there’s a guided tour, and while you’re here, be sure to check out the vast, seemingly infinite and well kept gardens.

Boughton House

Address: Boughton House Boughton Park, Kettering NN14 1BJ, England

Website: Boughton House

7. Titchmarsh Nature Reserve

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Come well equipped to stomp through nature’s wetlands when you come by Titchmarsh Nature Reserve - you’ll be richly rewarded with plenty of wildlife to be spotted. You’ll be able to catch birds of all kind when you come by in winter, with herons, goosander, wigeon and gadwall, and you might even be able to catch huge murmurings that make for perfect pictures and videos of swarming migratory birds. Besides birds, head on over to the Nene Way footpath to check out some butterflies, while along the riverbanks you might be able to spot banded demoiselle damselflies. There’s no better place to soak up nature than at Titchmarsh Nature Reserve, and you’ll be plenty happy to immerse yourself with the greenery and return to a simpler, wilder time.

Titchmarsh Nature Reserve

Address: Lowick Lane, Titchmarsh, Kettering, England

Website: Titchmarsh Nature Reserve

8. Eleanor Cross

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In 1290 Eleanor of Castile, the beloved wife of Edward I and mother of his 14 children, died at Harby in Nottinghamshire. The places where her body rested during the journey south to its tomb in Westminster Abbey were marked by stone crosses, and the Eleanor Cross in Kettering happens to be one of them. This one in particular is a lovely, huge monument with intricate design that you will no doubt admire for hours on end as you attempt to suss out every tiny details of this magnificent sculpture. Other crosses stand at Hardingstone near Northampton, and Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, perhaps you could make it a kind of adventure to follow the same path she went through?

Eleanor Cross

Address: West St & Grafton Road, Kettering NN14 1AD, England

Website: Eleanor Cross

Out in the countryside

Kettering may not seem like much, but there’s actually plenty to do here out in the countryside. Perfect for families to live in, there’s a sense of the domestic here in Kettering and it seems a great place to rear children as they enjoy the countless learning opportunities there are on offer and to absorb the beauty and wonder of nature all around them. Certainly a unique destination to mark if you ever plan for it, and there’s plenty to discover here too.