The Best Hotels to Book Near Wicksteed Park

Heritage England has taken a keen interest in the Barton Hall Hotel, granting the 16th-century building Grade II-listed status – and its Orangery building, with its ornate floor-to-ceiling windows, a Grade I listing. Converted into a contemporary hotel, each room is individually designed, with a delicate blend of textures, patterns and warm colours including mauve and teal, alongside earth tones. A full English breakfast is included in the room rates.

For an extra slice of relaxation near Wicksteed Park, try the Kettering Park Hotel and Spa, where you’ll find an elegant indoor swimming pool, a steam room and a fitness centre. The zoned standard rooms feel almost like suites and include a comfortable bed, workspace, sofa and coffee table. A pillow menu is a neat touch, allowing you to select your preferred kind of pillow, ensuring you get the best night’s rest possible.

Book Rushton Hall to really push your stay in this corner of Northamptonshire to the extremes of indulgence and luxury. Built in the 1400s, the building is a fine example of Jacobean architecture, with a long arcade at the front. Rooms contain nods to the building’s history, such as antique coffee tables, gilt-edged mirrors and embroidered cushions. A popular activity at Rushton Hall is taking the traditional afternoon tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones, preserves and clotted cream.

Drive 8mi (13km) east of Wicksteed Park, and you’ll find a handsome pub in the village of Islip. The Woolpack Inn is an inviting, traditional pub with 10 guest rooms in the annexe buildings behind. The unassuming rooms, decorated with a purple, grey and wood-tone palette, are clean and comfortable, with a small desk space and chair, a kettle and en-suite bathrooms. Pub grub is served in the inn, alongside a selection of beers, wines and spirits.

Set amidst the pastoral scenes of a quaint English village is the Swallows Rest Bed and Breakfast. This is the ideal base for exploring local attractions such as Wicksteed Park or Rockingham Castle, thanks to the boutique-style accommodation with modern, tiled bathrooms, underfloor heating, rainfall showers, floral wallpaper and warm lighting. Some rooms also include a lovely antique writing desk. A delicious cooked breakfast is included in the room fee.

To get the experience of staying on a working farm, try Pear Tree Farm B&B, a traditional grey stone farmhouse, surrounded by fields and lakes in the Nene Valley. Split between cattle and arable crops, guests are welcome to wander the farm’s fields and watch the day-to-day operations of the business. Home-cooked meals are available here, with a full English breakfast included each morning. The seven rooms feel more like a home than an ordinary hotel stay.