Park & Playgrounds little outside Northampton

As a parent I have spent many, many hours in parks and playgrounds in Northamptonshire. Some are regular haunts others not so often. I have ventured to more and further as after 12 years it does get a tad boring.

I have compiled several guides to help you. Why not try a new park and playground? I've tried to give a little information about each and parking information if known. 

This guide is for parks & playgrounds a little outside Northampton. Kettering, Olney and Market Harborough are featured to give you an idea of distance. 

For the Northampton guide click HERE 

Emberton Country Park, Olney, MK46 5FJ
Located near Olney village a large flat area with play areas and small caravan & camping site. Café, toilets and fishing. £4.50 parking charge April to October and £2.60 November to March. Approx 30 mins from Northampton 

Olney play area and sports grounds East street near Cowper Memorial Church. 
Enclosed play area with a good mixture of equipment. Zip wire outside of the area. If you walk across the playing fields towards the willow trees you will see the Victorian swimming steps. Locals paddle/swim here in the warmer months. Approx 30 mins from Northampton and can be combined with Emberton. 

Lavendon, MK46 4HA
Tucked behind The Green Man Pub and near Lavendon School play area and playing fields. You can walk via Joiners Way or The Glebe. Approx 25 mins from Northampton. 

Harrold-Odell Country Park, Bedfordshire, MK43 7DS 
Lovely park with café, toilets and amazingly FREE parking. Café open 9am to 4pm daily.

Welland Park, Market Harborough A little further afield but a lovely play area with café, toilets and tennis courts. Two FREE car parks with spaces for 28 and 22 cars. You can access them via Welland Road.

Rushden Lakes 
Well known for it's shops Rushden Lakes also has a nature walk and small play area. The boardwalk sometimes has water sprinklers on for the little ones to enjoy and for a charge you can hire canoes, peddleboats etc. FREE parking for 5 hours. 

Rushmere Country Park, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 0EB 
Woodland and sculpture trail. Famous for the big chair! Special events throughout the year Treetops Café. Parking is £3 For more information click on the link https://www.greensandtrust.org/rushmere-country-park 

Mawsley, Kettering next to The Green 
Play area and large football fields 

Meadow Road, Kettering
Newly installed play area (Summer 2019) including sand play, fitness equipment and new picnic areas. 

Wicksteed Park, Kettering, NN15 6NJ 
Although this is mostly known as an amusement park which you need to pay for there is actually a large free play area for the kids to enjoy. You do however need to pay to park 2 hours £3, 2 to 3 hours £4 and over 3 £6. For more information on Wicksteed click the link https://wicksteedpark.org/

Higham Ferrers Pocket Park, NN10 8BH 
Lovely park with equipment mainly suited to younger children. Lots of space for football & dog walks. 

Cotton End Park, Long Buckby, NN6 7RF 
10 acres of green space, assault course, zip wires, picnic tables an bird watching hide. 

Mill Park Reserve, Long Buckby 
A pocket park with ponds, a bird hide, butterfly garden and human sundial. 

Boddington Playground, Daventry
The play area has a tree house, climbing sticks, zip wire and honeypot. Wicksteed Park designed and built the play area. 

Daventry Country Park, NN11 2JB 
66 hectare nature reserve, large reservoir, café, adventure playground, outdoor gym equipment, picnic spots and nature trail. £2 per day parking.

Islington Road, Towcester (behind Waitrose) Large open space with play equipment and skate park.