Kingsthorpe Library

Red brick and purpose-built from the 1970s, this local library sits on Kingsley Road serving the northern suburbs of Northampton. Inside you'll find the usual community hub mix - lending collections, computers for public use, and regular children's storytime sessions that actually draw proper crowds.

Families staying at Billing Aquadrome or nearby parks will find it handy for rainy day diversions, though let's be honest - it's not going to occupy the kids for more than an hour unless they're proper bookworms. The children's section is well-stocked and the staff seem to know their regulars by name, which speaks well of the place.

Opening hours are generous compared to many rural libraries - daily service including Sunday afternoons makes it accessible even on weekend breaks. Free WiFi and decent parking help if you need to catch up on emails or print something off.

It's not exactly a tourist destination, but then community libraries rarely are. What it does well is serve as a quiet retreat when the weather's turned or you fancy a browse through local history materials. Worth knowing about if you're camping at Overstone Lakes or Sywell Country Park and need an indoor backup plan.