Wicksteed Park

There's a reason families have been coming back to Wicksteed Park for over a century - it's proper old-school fun without the corporate theme park polish. Sat just outside Kettering, this place feels like the seaside fairground your grandparents took them to, except there's a lake and actual space to breathe.

You'll find traditional rides mixed in with newer attractions - nothing that'll make your stomach flip inside out, but enough to keep kids occupied for a solid afternoon. The paddling pool and boating lake are the real draws on warmer days, and there's genuine charm in watching families do exactly what families have done here since 1921. It's not Alton Towers, and that's precisely the point.

The park charges entry and rides work on a pay-as-you-go system, so you're not forced into buying a wristband you won't use. Three to four hours is realistic before the novelty wears thin, depending on queue times and whether you're doing the water activities. Weekday visits during term time mean far fewer crowds than weekends - go on a drizzly Tuesday if you can.

It slots nicely into a Northamptonshire caravan holiday. Northfield Farm and Lakeview are both close enough for a quick trip, and the park's rural setting means it's not a hassle getting there from either. Good for families who want something lower-key than the big chains, though teenagers might find it a bit tame.