1 / 6Northamptonshire packs a brilliant mix of family days out into one county, from the home of British motor racing to the UK's oldest theme park, farm parks, forests and weatherproof indoor fun. Whether you have toddlers who want to feed the ducks or older kids chasing a thrill on a high-ropes course, here are the attractions we can confirm are open and genuinely family-friendly.
🎟️See things to do in Northamptonshire on GetYourGuide →The Silverstone Museum
An interactive motorsport museum sitting trackside at the Home of British Motor Racing, with more than 60 hands-on exhibits, legendary race cars and a 360-degree cinema tracing the history of Silverstone Circuit and Formula 1. Kids love the hands-on interactives and simulators, which suit ages 2 and up, and children often get free entry over summer, so both lifelong F1 fans and first-timers stay entertained for two to three hours. You'll find it in Silverstone, on the Northamptonshire border.
Wicksteed Park
A free-to-enter, Grade II listed 147-acre country park in Kettering that also happens to be the UK's oldest mainland theme park, with 25-plus rides plus Wicky's Farmyard, a lake and a nature reserve. Kids can pile onto rollercoasters, the log flume, carousel and dodgems, then meet pigs, rabbits and owls in the farmyard. Free entry with pay-per-ride or a wristband makes it an easy choice for mixed-age families.
West Lodge Farm Park
A family-owned farm park set in 70 acres of countryside at Desborough near Kettering, with a large indoor play barn, farm animals, mini golf, a barrel train ride and marked walks. Children enjoy daily animal petting with rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks, piglet racing at lunchtime, barrel rides and an all-weather undercover play barn with slides and climbing walls, so a bit of rain won't ruin the day.
Billing Aquadrome
A 235-acre holiday and leisure park in the Nene Valley at Great Billing, Northampton, with a funfair, lakes, an indoor pool, an outdoor splash park, a water-sports obstacle course and a new indoor entertainment venue for 2026. Between the funfair rides, splash park and lake activities plus the new indoor arcade and entertainment stage, kids have plenty to do rain or shine.
Paradise Island Adventure Golf
Two indoor 18-hole tropical-themed adventure golf courses, Temple Ruins and The Volcano, spread across 14,000 square feet at the Rushden Lakes shopping and leisure destination in Rushden. Quirky obstacles, neon jungle theming and a bonus 19th hole to win a free game keep it fun, and with family deals priced like a cinema ticket and everything indoors, it's a reliable weatherproof outing.
Irchester Country Park
An 83-hectare former ironstone quarry near Wellingborough with mixed woodland, waymarked trails, a narrow-gauge railway museum, children's play areas and a cafe, and home to the Jungle Parc high-ropes course. There's free woodland to roam and adventure play for younger ones, while the Jungle Parc treetop high-ropes courses, including options for little ones, give older kids the thrill they're after.
Abington Park
A free historic public park in Northampton with a duck pond, sensory garden, museum, cafe and a large playground. The big playground, ducks to feed and open green space make it an easy, free half-day out that's especially good for younger children.
Salcey Forest
A Forestry England woodland at Hartwell near Northampton with waymarked walking, running and family cycling trails, adventure play areas, a disc golf course, a cafe and an on-site Go Ape treetop adventure. Free forest trails like the 1.2-mile buggy-friendly Elephant Walk and adventure play suit all ages, while Go Ape rope courses cater to older children and teens.
Tips for a family day out
Check opening times and any seasonal ride or activity closures before you set off, as some attractions run reduced hours outside school holidays. Pack layers and wellies for the parks and forests, and take advantage of the indoor options like Paradise Island Adventure Golf or West Lodge's play barn as a rainy-day backup. Many of the free parks pair perfectly with a paid attraction nearby, so you can build a full day without spending on everything. Booking tickets online in advance, where available, often saves money and skips the queue.
FAQs
What are the best free family days out in Northamptonshire? Wicksteed Park (free entry with pay-per-ride), Abington Park, Irchester Country Park and Salcey Forest are all free to enter, so you only pay for the extras you choose.
What can we do on a rainy day? Paradise Island Adventure Golf at Rushden Lakes is fully indoors, West Lodge Farm Park has an all-weather play barn, and Billing Aquadrome's new indoor entertainment venue and pool keep the fun going in bad weather.
Are these attractions suitable for toddlers? Yes, several suit the youngest visitors, including The Silverstone Museum (interactives from age 2), Abington Park's playground and duck pond, West Lodge Farm Park's animal petting, and Salcey Forest's buggy-friendly Elephant Walk.
🎟️ Top things to do in Northamptonshire
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