Northampton Town Centre Space Trail: A Free Family Activity Alongside the Pop-Up Planetarium

A brand new free space-themed trail has just launched alongside the Pop-Up Planetarium in Market Square, and it sounds like a brilliant way to get out and about, explore the town, and keep little ones entertained at the same time.

Whether you are making a special trip or just heading into town anyway, this is the kind of activity that makes a regular outing feel like a proper adventure.

Town Centre Space Trail Promises ‘Out of This World’ Family Fun

Families are being challenged to complete a trail of town centre businesses and track down eight space-themed installations to complement the Pop-Up Planetarium in the Market Square.

The immersive 360-degree planetarium experience is expected to bring in thousands of children over the next month, discovering more about our solar system and the universe beyond.

Sitting alongside the ‘Planetarium Go’ experience is a digital trail pioneered by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID). The trail features eight space-themed installations housed in eight separate locations, aiming to increase footfall into the town and encouraging families to support local businesses.

Participants are encouraged to complete the trail by answering a question at each location on their phone. Everyone who visits all eight locations will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win one of two £50 vouchers to spend in Northampton town centre.

“The trail gives families the perfect reason to get out and about and enjoy the sunshine. With the Planetarium set to be the must-visit attraction in Northampton this year we wanted to amplify its impact and make sure everyone coming along can explore the wider town centre and support some of their favourite small businesses and discover new ones as well.”

Mark Mullen, Chief Operating Officer, Northampton Town Centre BID

Where Are the Trail Locations?

The eight trail locations are spread across the town centre and include:

• Grosvenor Shopping Northampton
• Sol Central
• Northamptonshire Central Library
• Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
• Butterwick
• Skipton Building Society
• The Market Square

How Do You Take Part?

The trail is run digitally, so you will need a phone to answer questions at each stop. It is free to take part, and you do not need to book in advance. Just head into town, follow the trail, and you are in with the chance of winning that £50 voucher.

For full details and to get started, visit vicinitytrails.com/c/northamptonbid.

This is a great excuse to combine a trip to the Planetarium with a proper explore of the town centre. If you are planning a day out in Northampton and want to know what else is happening nearby, make sure you are signed up to my weekly what’s on newsletter so you never miss a thing.

And if the weather ends up not playing ball on the day, I have got you covered with a free rainy day ideas pack full of indoor inspiration to fall back on.

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.