Weekley & Warkton Cricket Club

A proper village cricket ground where you'll actually see people playing, rather than a museum piece. Weekley & Warkton Cricket Club sits in the heart of Northamptonshire countryside, just outside Kettering, and it's the real deal - grass wickets, tea pavilion, the lot. On match days (weekends mostly in summer), you can pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and watch cricket as it's meant to be played, at whatever level the club's got fielded that afternoon.

This is ideal if you're already staying nearby and want to catch a bit of local sport without the formality of a county ground. Families with kids who've got some patience will find it relaxing enough - though I'll be honest, cricket isn't for everyone if you don't know the rules. A match runs a good three to four hours, so factor that in. The ground's free to watch from the boundary, though they'll expect you to buy something from the clubhouse if you're settling in for the afternoon.

It works well as a low-key addition to a park holiday in the area. Northfield Farm is just three miles away, and Lakeview Caravan Park sits four miles down the road, both good bases if you're planning a few days exploring the county. Pop along on a sunny Saturday afternoon in July or August, and you'll get a genuine slice of English village life. Just don't expect grandstand entertainment if the cricket's tight - sometimes these games crawl along at a pace that tests your commitment.