Wicksteed Park scores 84% in VisitEngland assessment

Wicksteed Park has been recognised by VisitEngland as a strong choice for a family day out, following a recent quality assessment by the national tourism body.

The Kettering attraction was awarded a score of 84%, with the report noting the park’s mix of classic family fun, large areas of green space, and its long history as a much-loved local destination.

VisitEngland also recorded an improvement on the park’s previous score of 81%, which was given at its last assessment in June 2024.

What the report highlighted

In the assessor’s write-up, the park was praised for offering a broad range of facilities and experiences for different ages, helping it appeal to families across generations. The report also pointed to strong operational standards and friendly staff, alongside continued investment in upkeep, presentation and visitor engagement.

Several categories showed notable progress, including:

• Arrival: 70% → 80%
• Attraction: 70% → 75%
• Cleanliness: 76% → 80%
• Catering: 76% → 80%
• Retail: 80% → 85%

The assessment was based on a family visit during October half-term, with the report mentioning the rides and the Halloween Haunt II walk-through attraction as particular standouts.

Wicksteed Park director Kelly Richardson said the score reflects the team’s focus on improving the visitor experience and recognised the effort of everyone involved at the park, including staff and volunteers.

About VisitEngland

VisitEngland is the national tourist board for England. It promotes England to UK and international visitors and works to support and improve the country’s tourism offer. It is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

What’s coming up at Wicksteed Park

Wicksteed Park has also shared details of several events planned for the start of the year:

Art in the Park (Free)

• Date: 31 January
• Time: 1pm–3pm
  A free session funded by Kettering Cultural Consortium, using dance and rhythm in an accessible and confidence-building way for young people.

Go Wild at Wicksteed with ZooLab (Half-term)

• Dates: 14–22 February
• Times: 10:30am–4pm daily
  Meet a range of creatures (including snakes, spiders and snails) and learn facts about them, alongside enjoying some of the park’s popular rides and attractions.

Utterly Revolting Science Show

• Date: 19 February
• Times: 11:30am and 3pm
  A comedy science show themed around the human body, with plenty of messy humour and hands-on-style science.

Elevation Wrestling: Showdown in the Park

• Date: 20 February
• Times: 11am and 3pm

Ticket details and pricing for all events are available at wicksteedpark.org.

What is Wicksteed Park?

Wicksteed Park is set across a 281-acre estate (including 147 acres of parkland) and has 25+ rides and attractions for families. It first opened in 1921, created by Charles Wicksteed (known for developing early playground equipment like swings and slides). The Wicksteed Charitable Trust was established to continue his vision, and the park has since become closely associated with children’s play.

The events listed in this guide are run by third-party organisers, and all details were correct at the time of publication, based on information from their official websites. However, changes or cancellations can happen at short notice. To avoid any disappointment, we recommend double-checking the event information on the official websites before making plans.