The likes of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park are fun days out but typically don’t come cheap.
However, there’s a lesser-known theme park near Birmingham that’s been open to the public for 103 years and claims to be the ‘place where fun was invented’. Not to mention has tickets starting from £3.
Situated in Kettering, Wicksteed Park is the ideal family theme park that caters for both younger and older children.
What’s more, those in the family who are slightly older can also enjoy the Grade II English Heritage-listed park and gardens surrounding the amusement grounds.
What rides are at Wicksteed Park?
There are two zones for rides: the Adventure Zone and the Thrill Zone.
For younger children, there are rides such as the Astroslide (where you slide down on a mat) alongside a gentle carousel.
There’s a rollercoaster called Mini Jets, where small children ride slowly on a plane around a track, as well as The Garden Wheel – which is a completely contained Ferris wheel.
If your tot is a fan of trains, then the Wicksteed Park Railway is a great option for a scenic ride. What’s more, this sweet little railway train has been running for nearly a century.
The railway has actually transported more than 15 million people around the grounds since it first opened.
Thrill-seekers might enjoy the more adrenaline-inducing rides like Dinosaur Valley or the Clown Coaster to get the blood pumping, as well as the Galaxy Invaders – a high swing ride where your legs dangle below.
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Whereas for traditionalists, there are fairground staples like Dodgems as well as Cups and Saucers.
Rocky River Falls is also a classic log flume ride, so leave this till last because you’re sure to get a little damp – as will the Water Chute.
How to get to Wicksteed Park from London?
Trains from London to Kettering start at £9.10 one way, or £57.20 for a super off-peak return.
Trains depart from London St Pancras International and arrive at Kettering, with an average journey time of around 1 hour and 10 minutes. You can then get the Line 50 bus from the station to Wicksteed Park for just £1- £3, or you can get a five-minute taxi starting at £7.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could do the 1.7-mile walk from Kettering Station to the park.
If you’re driving from London to Wicksteed Park, it’ll take you about an hour-and-a-half in the car, making the amusement park the perfect day out.
How much does a day at Wicksteed Park cost?
You don’t have to pay to enter the park itself but you have to pay to access the rides and experiences, with individual ride tickets starting at £3.
If you’re looking to interact with the animals at Wicksteed Park, the Meerkat feeding experience starts at £50 for two people and then goes up by £10 for each additional person taking part.
If you still want to interact with the animals, but don’t want to pay that much for meerkats, Wicky’s Farmyard is a better alternative. There are pigs, giant continental rabbits, bunnies, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens and even a rat or two. Outside you can visit the ferrets and barn owls.
If you think you’ll be re-visiting Wicksteed Park multiple times throughout the year, individual annual wristbands start at £85 – you can enjoy the rides as many times as you like.
What else is there to do at Wicksteed Park?
Walks are popular at Wicksteed Park because of its 147 acres of rolling parkland.
These cost no money to go on and they make the perfect summer setting for a picnic or day outside playing football or badminton.
You can also visit the Arboretum, which is full of squirrels and exotic trees, as well as the carefully-manicured gardens.
The Motte & Bailey is great if you’re a history buff. The remains of a 900-year-old Norman castle are easily visible if you want to play make-believe.
Outside the amusement park in Kettering, you can visit Boughton House – one of Britain’s best-preserved stately homes with a great art collection.
The Yards Kettering is a brilliant little shopping centre with independent businesses – perfect for those who like to shop.
If you’re up for more woodland walks, the Titchmarsh Nature Reserve offers some beautiful scenery, while the Church of Mary Magdalene and the Kettering Arts Centre at St Andrews Church offer a dose of religious history.
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