The free-to-enter English parklands that mums say are better than a theme park – with more than 25 rides and attractions --[Reported by Umva mag]

With half term on the horizon, my family and I will be heading to a free parkland, packed with rides and attractions which lots its visitors reckon is better than some of the top theme parks. Wicksteed Park near Kettering is perfect for an awesome autumn day out as it’s got rides for all ages, 147 acres of green space and lots of spooky stuff as we head towards Halloween. Catherine LofthouseTravel writer Catherine Lofthouse’s son enjoys one of the rides at Wicksteed Park[/caption] If you just want to go on one or two attractions, you can buy individual ride tickets for £3Supplied AlamyWicksteed Park near Kettering also has 147 acres of green space[/caption] One of the best bits about a day trip here is that it’s free for all to access. You just pay for parking and for rides, so families can have a day out together without everyone paying an entry fee. It makes a nice change from needing a ticket per person, even if half your party has no intention of going on any rides. If you just want to go on one or two attractions, you can buy individual ride tickets for £3. If you want to try out everything the park has to offer, you can get a wristband that covers as many rides as you like, all day long. There’s also a huge free playground full of Wicksteed wonders, including heritage equipment, as a nod back to the early days of play when Charles Wicksteed first created the parkland in 1921. So if you bring a picnic and stick to the freebie fun, you can have a low-cost day out without spending much at all. Perfect for all pockets! I’ve been visiting this Midlands must-do for four decades and it’s just as much fun as when I was a child, with lots of the old family favourites still on site and plenty of new attractions to boot. It wouldn’t really be a proper trip to Wicksteed without a ride on the little train that takes you around the lake. So many people have enjoyed the railway that the park recently celebrated its 20 millionth passenger, with the lucky rider being granted free turns around the track for the rest of her life. Also much-loved is the UK’s oldest water chute, still in operation after almost 100 years, although there is also a more modern log flume if water rides are your thing. One new attraction I’m really looking forward to this time around is the Halloween Haunt, which is only in operation this month. This fright fest has been installed by Steve and Kat Richardson, known as Mr and Mrs Halloween, whose hoard of 2,000 collectibles, props, and animatronics, amassed over 10 years, is believed to be the largest in the UK. AlamyIf you want to try out everything the park has to offer, you can get a wristband that covers as many rides as you like[/caption] WicksteedSo many people have enjoyed the railway that the park recently celebrated its 20 millionth passenger[/caption] After decorating their garden at Cemetery House in Rushden every year for charity, the increasing number of people attending meant they had to look for somewhere bigger. They have spent four months building the 200ft long interactive experience from scratch, providing a junior walkthrough of Halloween inflatables with an I-spy game for those who don’t want to brave the full haunted house. You have to book a time slot online to guarantee entry and the Halloween Haunt will only run up to October 31. The spooky fun is included in the £15 ride wristband, as are the railway, carousel, Swayrider, the Garden Wheel, Wicky’s Farmyard, Meerkat Manor, crazy golf, Lighthouse, cups and saucers, roundabout, Clown Coaster, astroslide and the treetop walk. Four of the weirdest theme parks you can visit in the UK The Ice Cream Farm, ChesterThis Tattenhall attraction boasts the world’s largest ice cream parlour and Europe’s biggest indoor sand and water play area.Enjoy a giant ice cream tree, mini JCB digger, crazy golf, and over 50 ice cream flavours. DiggerlandPerfect for digger enthusiasts, Diggerland offers real JCBs and excavators, indoor and outdoor play areas, and unique rides.Highlights include a digger merry-go-round, dodgems, go-karts, and the Sky Shuttle for park views. Critter Creek at Paulton’s Park, RomseyCritter Creek features a caterpillar rollercoaster, Professor Blast’s train ride, and areas to meet bugs and birds.Paulton’s Park also offers 70 more rides and attractions, including the famous Peppa Pig World. Milky Way Adventure Park, DevonSpace-themed fun with rides like the Cosmic Typhoon rollercoaster and Time Warp death slide.New Ninja Arena, Clone One thing to be aware of is that this huge park doesn’t open all its zones in quieter months, so this time around, the splash and thrill areas are closed. That means you can’t try out most of the rollercoasters and water rides at the moment. But there’s still loads to do and see, including the popular annual fireworks on November 2 at 5pm. Wicksteed

Oct 16, 2024 - 15:20

The free-to-enter English parklands that mums say are better than a theme park – with more than 25 rides and attractions --[Reported by Umva mag]

With half term on the horizon, my family and I will be heading to a free parkland, packed with rides and attractions which lots its visitors reckon is better than some of the top theme parks.

Wicksteed Park near Kettering is perfect for an awesome autumn day out as it’s got rides for all ages, 147 acres of green space and lots of spooky stuff as we head towards Halloween.

a young boy is riding a toy horse in a park

Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse’s son enjoys one of the rides at Wicksteed Park[/caption]

people ride a roller coaster at wicksteed park — If you just want to go on one or two attractions, you can buy individual ride tickets for £3

a park with a statue in the middle of it

Wicksteed Park near Kettering also has 147 acres of green space[/caption]

One of the best bits about a day trip here is that it’s free for all to access.

You just pay for parking and for rides, so families can have a day out together without everyone paying an entry fee.

It makes a nice change from needing a ticket per person, even if half your party has no intention of going on any rides.

If you just want to go on one or two attractions, you can buy individual ride tickets for £3.

If you want to try out everything the park has to offer, you can get a wristband that covers as many rides as you like, all day long.

There’s also a huge free playground full of Wicksteed wonders, including heritage equipment, as a nod back to the early days of play when Charles Wicksteed first created the parkland in 1921.

So if you bring a picnic and stick to the freebie fun, you can have a low-cost day out without spending much at all. Perfect for all pockets!

I’ve been visiting this Midlands must-do for four decades and it’s just as much fun as when I was a child, with lots of the old family favourites still on site and plenty of new attractions to boot.

It wouldn’t really be a proper trip to Wicksteed without a ride on the little train that takes you around the lake.

So many people have enjoyed the railway that the park recently celebrated its 20 millionth passenger, with the lucky rider being granted free turns around the track for the rest of her life.

Also much-loved is the UK’s oldest water chute, still in operation after almost 100 years, although there is also a more modern log flume if water rides are your thing.

One new attraction I’m really looking forward to this time around is the Halloween Haunt, which is only in operation this month.

This fright fest has been installed by Steve and Kat Richardson, known as Mr and Mrs Halloween, whose hoard of 2,000 collectibles, props, and animatronics, amassed over 10 years, is believed to be the largest in the UK.

people ride a roller coaster in a park with a sign that says ' ice cream ' on it

If you want to try out everything the park has to offer, you can get a wristband that covers as many rides as you like[/caption]

two children are running in front of a train that says ' gilm ' on it

So many people have enjoyed the railway that the park recently celebrated its 20 millionth passenger[/caption]

After decorating their garden at Cemetery House in Rushden every year for charity, the increasing number of people attending meant they had to look for somewhere bigger.

They have spent four months building the 200ft long interactive experience from scratch, providing a junior walkthrough of Halloween inflatables with an I-spy game for those who don’t want to brave the full haunted house.

You have to book a time slot online to guarantee entry and the Halloween Haunt will only run up to October 31.

The spooky fun is included in the £15 ride wristband, as are the railway, carousel, Swayrider, the Garden Wheel, Wicky’s Farmyard, Meerkat Manor, crazy golf, Lighthouse, cups and saucers, roundabout, Clown Coaster, astroslide and the treetop walk.

Four of the weirdest theme parks you can visit in the UK

The Ice Cream Farm, Chester
This Tattenhall attraction boasts the world’s largest ice cream parlour and Europe’s biggest indoor sand and water play area.
Enjoy a giant ice cream tree, mini JCB digger, crazy golf, and over 50 ice cream flavours.
Diggerland
Perfect for digger enthusiasts, Diggerland offers real JCBs and excavators, indoor and outdoor play areas, and unique rides.
Highlights include a digger merry-go-round, dodgems, go-karts, and the Sky Shuttle for park views.
Critter Creek at Paulton’s Park, Romsey
Critter Creek features a caterpillar rollercoaster, Professor Blast’s train ride, and areas to meet bugs and birds.
Paulton’s Park also offers 70 more rides and attractions, including the famous Peppa Pig World.
Milky Way Adventure Park, Devon
Space-themed fun with rides like the Cosmic Typhoon rollercoaster and Time Warp death slide.
New Ninja Arena, Clone

One thing to be aware of is that this huge park doesn’t open all its zones in quieter months, so this time around, the splash and thrill areas are closed.

That means you can’t try out most of the rollercoasters and water rides at the moment.

But there’s still loads to do and see, including the popular annual fireworks on November 2 at 5pm.

Wicksteed is always one of our halfterm highlights and we can’t wait to take a trip. With so much on offer, it’s no wonder that Wicksteed’s now known as the home of children’s play.

a wooden walkway going over a body of water

The park also has a lake for boating – and a quieter one for carp fishing[/caption]

a sign on the side of a road that says ' newhall ' on it

The park has more than 25 rides and attractions[/caption]

people are riding a ferris wheel in an amusement park

Many of the attractions tend to be quaint, nostalgic theme park fun[/caption]

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