Wicksteed Park
Historic FREE entry park opened 1921. Home to world's oldest water chute (1926). 29 rides and attractions, beautiful parkland, lake. Pay-per-ride or unlimited wristbands. Perfect family day out in Northamptonshire.
Data last verified on 25 August 2026. Always confirm critical restrictions with the park on the day of your visit.
Quick Stats
- Total Rides:
- 29
- No Restrictions:
- 15
- Adult Price:
- £0
- Child Price:
- £0
- Parking:
- £3.5
- Updated:
- 25 August 2026
All Rides & Attractions
Check Your Height
Enter your child's height to see which rides they can enjoy
How to read this table
- Can ride alone
- Needs an adult
- Too short
- Too tall
Enter your child's height above and every ride gets a verdict.
👨👩👧 Astroslide Giant slide. Under 100cm must be with guardian 14+ on same mat. Operating since 1975. | Family | From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Carousel Traditional carousel horses. Under 100cm must be with guardian 14+ (carriage only under 90cm). Installed 2003. | Family | From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
🎢 Clown Coaster Kiddie coaster for first-timers. 100cm minimum. | Coaster | From 90cm with an adult From 100cm on their own | Low |
🎯 Crazy Golf Mini golf course. 90cm minimum. | Interactive | From 90cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Cups and Saucers Giant spinning cups around a green teapot. Under 100cm must be with guardian 14+. Opened 2009. | Family | From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
🎢 Dinosaur Valley Dino-themed coaster with sharp twists, steep turns, and banked corners. Figure-of-eight track since 1992. 120cm minimum. | Coaster | From 120cm on their own | Medium |
👨👩👧 Dodgems Classic bumper cars. 100cm–120cm as passenger with guardian 14+, 120cm+ drive alone. | Family | From 100cm with an adult From 140cm on their own | Low |
⚡ Galaxy Invaders Spinning swing ride that rotates and swings riders through the air. 110cm–120cm with adult 18+. Opened 2021. | Thrill | From 110cm with an adult From 120cm on their own | Medium |
👨👩👧 Garden Wheel 25-metre Ferris wheel with 18 gondolas seating up to 72 passengers. Under 120cm must be accompanied by adult 18+. Opened 2023. | Family | From 120cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Honey Pot Bears Teacup-style ride for younger children. Under 100cm must be with guardian 14+. Max 2 adults per pot. | Family | From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Jolly Jockeys Pony trek ride where riders gallop around a circuit of twists, turns, and fences. 110cm minimum. Opened 2024. | Family | From 110cm on their own | Low |
🎢 Ladybird Coaster Gentle family coaster with ladybird-themed cars. 90cm–100cm must be with responsible guardian 14+. Operating since 1994. | Coaster | From 90cm with an adult From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Large Lake Row Boats Row boats on the lake. Must be accompanied by adult 18+ at all heights. | Family | Any height, with an adult | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Lighthouse Junior drop tower rising 10 metres into the air. 110cm minimum. Built by Zamperla, opened 2002. | Family | From 110cm on their own | Low |
🔭 Meerkat Manor Walk-through meerkat tunnels and close animal encounters. Must be accompanied by adult 18+. | Observation | Any height, with an adult | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Mr Wicksteed's Cars Vintage car driving around an old-fashioned English countryside setting. Under 110cm must be with guardian 14+. Modelled on 1920s Humber motor cars. | Family | From 110cm on their own | Gentle |
⚡ Paratrooper Spinning paratrooper ride that rises into the air at speed. 90cm–120cm with guardian 14+. Operating since 1982. | Thrill | From 90cm with an adult From 120cm on their own | Medium |
🎯 Pig n' Putt Farmyard-themed 18-hole mini golf in the Adventure Zone. Under 0.9m must be accompanied by a responsible person over 14. | Interactive | From 90cm on their own | Gentle |
👨👩👧 Rockin' Tug Rocking and spinning boat ride. 90cm–110cm with guardian 14+. Opened 2003. | Family | From 90cm with an adult From 110cm on their own | Medium |
💧 Rocky River Falls Log flume through gentle rapids to exhilarating plunge with huge splash. 100cm–120cm with guardian 14+. Opened 2008. | Water | From 100cm with an adult From 120cm on their own | Medium |
👨👩👧 Roundabout Classic roundabout ride. Maximum height 140cm. Operating since 1970. | Family | No height limit | Gentle |
⚡ Sway Rider Wave swinger ride travelling at up to 30mph. 100cm–120cm with adult 18+. Replaced the Pirate Ship in 2017. | Thrill | From 100cm with an adult From 120cm on their own | Medium |
🎪 Traditional Playground Heritage playground in Heritage Zone. | Play Area | No height limit | Gentle |
🎪 Treetop Walk Elevated treetop walkway with varying difficulty levels. 110cm minimum. | Play Area | From 110cm on their own | Gentle |
💧 Water Chute WORLD'S OLDEST water chute (1926)! Listed monument. Wooden boat splashes into lake. 90cm–110cm with guardian 14+. | Water | From 90cm with an adult From 110cm on their own | Medium |
👨👩👧 Wicksteed Park Railway Miniature railway through the park with tunnel and bridge over lake. Under 100cm must be with guardian 14+. Running since 1931. | Family | From 100cm on their own | Gentle |
🎭 Wicky Bear Theatre Entertainment show. Must be accompanied by adult 18+. | Show | Any height, with an adult | Gentle |
🔭 Wicky's Farmyard Animal barn with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks and chickens. Under 0.9m must be accompanied by a responsible person over 14. | Observation | From 90cm on their own | Gentle |
🎪 Wicky's Play Factory Indoor soft play area for children 8 years and under. | Play Area | No height limit | Gentle |
Rides by Height Requirement
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Complete Park Guide
Complete Park Guide
Wicksteed Park Height Guide
Wicksteed Park is a historic FREE entry park that opened in 1921, making it one of the UK's oldest amusement parks. Located in beautiful Kettering parkland with 28 rides and attractions including the world's oldest water chute from 1926.
Organized insights
Plan ahead quickly
Need-to-know tips
Guide Section
Park Highlights
Walk in without paying - only pay for rides you want or buy unlimited wristbands.
FREE Entry
World's Oldest Water Chute
Listed monument from 1926 - wooden boat splashing into the lake for 100 years!
Beautiful Setting
147 acres of parkland with lake, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
Pay As You Go
Budget-friendly - only pay for what you ride.
Height Strategy
Height Breakdown
Perfect for young families:
90-100cm (5 Rides)
- Clown Coaster (90cm-100cm must be with adult over 14)
- Dodgems (90cm with adult, 120cm alone)
- Paratrooper (90cm with adult, 120cm alone)
- Rockin' Tug (90cm with adult, 110cm alone)
- Lighthouse junior drop tower (90cm with adult, 100cm alone)
100-110cm (3 Rides)
Growing adventurers:
- Dinosaur Valley coaster (100cm with adult, 120cm alone)
- Water Chute (100cm with adult, 120cm alone)
- Rocky River Falls log flume (100cm with adult, 120cm alone)
110-120cm (2 Rides)
Bigger thrills:
- Galaxy Invaders spinning swing (110cm with adult, 120cm alone)
- Sway Rider wave swinger (110cm with adult, 120cm alone)
No Height Restriction (18 Attractions)
Rides and attractions for everyone:
- Garden Wheel (25m Ferris wheel)
- Carousel, Roundabout, Mini Jets
- Ladybird Coaster, Jolly Jockeys
- Cups and Saucers, Honey Pot Bears
- Mr Wicksteed's Classic Cars, Astroslide
- Wicksteed Park Railway, Lake Boats
- Playgrounds, animal encounters, and more
Planning Tips
Best For
- Toddlers (under 90cm): Excellent - FREE entry, 18 attractions with no height restriction
- Young Children (90-110cm): Great - Clown Coaster, Lighthouse, and Rockin' Tug
- Older Children (110-130cm): Good variety including Galaxy Invaders and Sway Rider
- All ages: Beautiful park for walking, picnics, playgrounds
Ride Highlights
Featured Attractions
World's oldest water chute! Listed monument designed by Charles Wicksteed. Wooden boat releases and rolls down track into lake with huge splash. Operating since 1926!
Water Chute (1926)
Galaxy Invaders (2021)
Spinning swing ride that rotates and swings riders through the air. 110cm minimum with adult, 120cm alone.
Garden Wheel (2023)
Stunning 25-metre Ferris wheel with 18 gondolas seating up to 72 passengers. One of the largest in the region.
Jolly Jockeys (2024)
The park's newest ride! Saddle up and gallop around a circuit of twists, turns, and fences. 110cm minimum height.
Dinosaur Valley
Dino-themed coaster with dinosaur carriages racing through figure-of-eight track. Sharp twists, steep turns, banked corners. Opened 1992.
Clown Coaster
Kiddie roller coaster perfect for first-timers. 90cm-100cm must be with responsible adult over 14. Reopened 2011.
Guide Section
Unique Features
Unlike most UK parks - walk in free, pay only for rides or buy wristbands.
FREE Entry
Historic Significance
Opened 1921 by Charles Wicksteed, philanthropist who believed play should be accessible to all.
Pay-Per-Ride Option
Budget-conscious families can pick and choose rides.
Beautiful Parkland
147 acres of lakes, gardens, and green space - perfect for picnics.
Guide Section
Pricing System
FREE park entry!
- Individual ride tokens
- Good for short visits or selective riding
- Day wristbands for unlimited rides
- Better value for full day
- Under 90cm FREE
Planning Tips
Top Tips for Visitors
- Free entry - Just walk in!
- Under 90cm free - Toddlers ride for free with 18 no-restriction attractions
- Bring picnic - Beautiful parkland spots
- Water Chute is unique - World's oldest, celebrating 100 years!
- Parking £6 - Reasonable for full day
- New rides - Don't miss Galaxy Invaders, Garden Wheel, and Jolly Jockeys
Planning Tips
Best Times to Visit
Guide Section
Facilities
- Café and restaurant - Park café with meals
- Gift shop - Souvenirs
- Baby care - Good facilities
- Parking - £6 all day
- Picnic areas - Throughout 147-acre park
- Playgrounds - Multiple play areas included free
On the Ground
Getting There
Guide Section
Age Recommendations
- Under 3 years: Excellent - free entry, playgrounds
- 3-6 years: Great - Clown Coaster, gentle rides
- 6-10 years: Good variety including log flume
- 10+ years: Dinosaur Valley and Water Chute
Planning Tips
Money-Saving Tips
- FREE entry - biggest saving!
- Under 90cm free rides
- Bring picnic - allowed throughout park
- Pay-per-ride if short visit
- Unlimited wristband if staying all day
- Free playgrounds and parkland
Where this data comes from
Height requirements for Wicksteed Park were read from the park's own published ride information and last checked on 25 August 2026. Parks can change restrictions without notice, so confirm anything your day depends on before you travel.
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