Redwell Leisure Centre

The leisure centre on Redwell Lane in Northampton is the sort of place you'd take the kids on a rainy afternoon rather than plan your whole holiday around. That said, if you're staying at nearby Northfield Farm and want to burn off some energy, it's a solid local option.

Inside you'll find a proper swimming pool - good for families with younger children who don't fancy the commitment of a proper beach day. There's a gym if you're the type who can't go five days without a treadmill, plus various sports halls for badminton, basketball and the like. The facilities are functional rather than fancy, the kind of place where locals come to actually use the equipment rather than Instagram it.

Really, this works best if you're here with kids who need structured activity on a damp day, or if you're serious about keeping up a training routine during your break. It's free to visit the building, though obviously you'll pay for whatever activities you fancy - prices aren't posted online, so ring ahead to check current rates.

You're only six miles from Northfield Farm, so it's easily doable as a quick outing, but don't carve out half your day for it. An hour or two in the pool, maybe ninety minutes if someone's doing a proper swim session. Honestly, if the weather's half decent, you'd be better off exploring Northampton town centre or heading out to the countryside instead.