Ping Pong Parlor

Table tennis in Northampton isn't something you'd normally plan a holiday around, but if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Billing Aquadrome is practically on your doorstep at under three miles away - the Ping Pong Parlor makes for a decent rainy-day option or an evening activity when the weather turns.

It's a straightforward sports venue where you can book a table and play. Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious. The appeal is obvious enough: if your family can't face another hour at a leisure centre or you've got teenagers who'd rather do something competitive than sit around the caravan, this hits the mark. Couples after a bit of friendly competition will find it just as useful.

What you need to know is that contact details and opening hours aren't readily available online, so ring ahead before you make the trip from Billing Aquadrome or Riverview Park - nothing worse than driving over expecting to play only to find the place shut. Prices and booking policies are similarly unclear from a distance, so assume you'll need to sort it by phone.

It won't set your pulse racing, and you're not coming here for views or fresh air. But if table tennis scratches an itch during your Northamptonshire break, and Northampton town centre isn't far away if you want anything else, it's worth knowing it exists. Best filed under 'useful local activity' rather than 'reason to visit'.