20 February 2024 , 12:56
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One of the oldest theme parks in the world sits in the middle of England on the site of a former meadow.
Wicksteed Park has been thrilling young and old for more than 100 years, but is known by precious few outside of theme park circles despite its impressive longevity. The park lies in Kettering and has been open to the public for 103 years.
Its location in a town half an hour to the east of Birmingham and 100 miles north of London means it is accessible from most parts of England without too much fuss.
For British theme park completists, Wicksteed Park is an essential location to visit - holding as it does the title of the oldest on the mainland. The oldest overall is Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, which has been open since the 1840s - particularly impressive given that the ground it's on is regularly impacted by landslides.
The miniature railway has been running for close to 100 years (DAILY MIRROR)Although Wicksteed is a relative nipper in theme park terms by comparison, it has plenty to offer as the self-described "place where fun was invented". It is an ideal day out for families with younger children or those who are new to theme parks, as its rides are on the gentler end of things with the likes of cups and saucers, a clown minicoaster and a carousel.
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If you are looking to be thrown around a little more, then the Thrill Zone is the place to be. There you can ride the Dinosaur Valley rollercoaster, where "turns are banked at a steep angle as the dino carriages run at speed along a figure-of-eight-pattern through the legs of the mighty brontosaurus, providing many twists and turns along their journey".
One of the most enduring features of the park is the 2ft narrow gauge Wicksteed Park railway, which has trundled more than 15 million people around the grounds since it first opened in 1931. It was the last feature of the park to be added during the lifetime of founder Charles Wicksteed.
The wealthy industrialist owned engineering works in Kettering and decided to buy meadowland in the town in 1913, dreaming of building a model village there for his workers.
When the local council started putting up homes post-WWI, he decided to build a park with leisure facilities for local people instead. A fee for the rides and refreshments meant entry to the park could be free. Five years after it opened to the public in 1921 it had a pavilion and theatre building, a rose garden, a water chute, bandstand and fountain.
This February half term, a wristband giving access to the park costs £6, with children under 0.9m going free. Individual rides cost £3 each.
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