THE GRAND UNION CANAL, 400 YARDS FROM THE WALNUT TREE INN
Out and about
EXPLORE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND SURROUNDING AREAS
The Walnut Tree Inn at Blisworth, Northamptonshire makes the ideal base for a wide range of activities, adventures and excursions for days out to explore and evenings to enjoy.
From the serene, rural pleasures found at some of the UK’s most famous country houses and gardens, to high-octane drama available at some of Europe’s top motorsport destinations, you’ll find something to appeal to every kind of visitor!
Spend a day exploring the historic and cultural treasures found in thriving Northampton or scenic Towcester. Alternatively, relax and unwind with a day of ‘retail therapy’ or cheer on one of our great, local sports teams.
There’s so much to see and share, explore and enjoy!
Virtual Aerospace at Sywell Aerodrome
Whether a complete novice looking to find out more about this amazing industry, or a future airline pilot looking to see what your future day job will be like or an experienced airline pilot looking at having access to the UK’s best valued simulators then we have something to offer you.
The instructors are either highly experienced airline pilots, or commercially trained pilots who make their living from flying.
Trapp’d, Northampton
Two escape rooms to choose from – The Monosphere and Molten Creek Mine – you will be trapped in unfamiliar surroundings and your only hope of escape is to work with the people with you and together you will have to solve clues, multi-task, and think outside the box.
The rooms are designed to encourage team players to work together and solve a variety of puzzles.
If you are looking for a great team building exercise or simply just a day out with your friends, look no further.
Towcester Museum
Tracing the origins of Towcester town from the Stone Age through the Roman Empire and finishing at the Twentieth Century.
A fascinating journey through time including a Kid’s Zone!
Towcester Mill Brewery and Tap Room
Award-winning brewery, taproom, garden, and shop all in one place makes for a great afternoon out. Regular brewery tours are organised and delicious craft beers available from this talented brewery.
The Walnut Tree Inn often stocks their brews as guest beers.
Towcester
Towcester is the oldest town in Northamptonshire and has a long, varied and interesting history. In recognition of this, many of the homes and businesses that line the Watling Street are Grade 2 listed and the whole central area is designated a conservation area. It is a town of contrasts where the old mixes happily with the new.
The Pinnacle Climbing Centre, Northampton
Indoor climbing walls up to 12.5m high and indoor caving for all ages and abilities. Taster sessions available.
Sywell Country Park
Sywell, Northampton
A mixture of mature woodland, sheep-grazed meadows and the enclosed waters of an Edwardian Reservoir which gives refuge to a wide variety of birds.
Stoke Bruerne
(nr Blisworth) Towcester.
This charming example of a traditional canal village boasts the Stoke Bruerne Canal Museum, two enjoyable canal-side walks, two pubs and a restaurant.
Salcey Forest
Hartwell, Northants.
The Royal Forest of Salcey is a magnificent ancient woodland with excellent walking and an amazing range of wildlife. The forest is a remnant of the medieval royal hunting forest. The ‘druids’ or veteran oaks in Salcey are rare and amazing wildlife habitats, and some of the oaks are believed to be over 500 years old.
There is also the a treetop walk with some fabulous views, although at time of writing the walk is closed for maintenance.
Rushden Lakes
A great shopping experience with all the big names and plenty of cafés and restaurants.
Keep the children amused with a boat ride on the pretty lake.
A nature walk around the lake will tick all the boxes for a great day out.
Rugby Union: Northampton Saints
A local clergyman, the Reverend Samuel Wathen Wigg, is credited with starting the Saints in 1880. He was curate of St James Church, hence the nickname: Saints.
Bought by local businessman, Keith Barwell, when Rugby Union went professional in 1995, the Saints reached the top of their game in 2000, reaching the Tetley’s Cup Final and winning the European Cup Final at Twickenham.
The Saints homes at Franklin’s Gardens was formerly a pleasure gardens and small zoo owned by hotelier, John Franklin. One of the finest rugby grounds in the country boasting a capacity of around 12,000, there is always a great atmosphere when the premiership side are playing at home.
On Target Indoor Rifle Range, Northampton
Pistol and rifle shooting in a safe environment incorporating a fully stocked Air Weapons store, a 25yd indoor Air Weapons range and a Cafe.
A unique leisure destination for all air rifle shooting enthusiasts, whether you are a seasoned shooter or just want to try out the sport for the first time. No license required.
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery
Northampton
A locally focused museum, reflecting Northampton’s proud standing as Britain’s boot and shoe capital. The collection includes shoe ephemera, social history, archaeology, costume and textiles, decorative, applied and fine arts. Free Entry.
Northampton Film House
A cosy 88 seater cinema with premium seating and plenty of wheelchair spaces. Enjoy a glass of wine and good food whilst watching the latest films as well as all-time classics.
Northampton
A great place to go for shopping, eating and drinking! Northampton has two shopping centres, a large open air market, and hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants all within minutes walking distance of car parks. Head for Abington Street, The Grosvenor Centre and Peacock Place for the usual high street shops; or St. Giles Street, Collage Street Mews and the Derngate for smaller more unusual shops, boutiques and foodhalls.
Motor Sport: The Wild and Woolly, Blisworth
The wild and woolly scramble is the oldest, running motorcycle race, in the UK, still held on boxing day by the Northampton Motorcyclists Club, and has been since 1925.
A traditional scramble, the race is held over 20 laps or 1 hour, where the riders are faced with freezing cold conditions as well as deep mud, and four stream crossings.
Motor Sport: Silverstone Race Track
Silverstone, a wartime airfield was transformed in weeks to host the 1948 race, won by Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati. The Northamptonshire circuit hosted the opening round of the first ever World Championship, but in 1954 began a share basis for the race with Aintree and then with Brands Hatch. The event has since been held at Silverstone annually since 1987.
The racetrack also hosts a wide variety of other amateur and professional motor racing events including The British Superbike Championship, The World Superbike Championship, The Classic at Silverstone, The Le Mans Endurance Sports Car Series and the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship and offers individual and corporate driving experiences and training.
Motor Sport: Santa Pod
Santa Pod Raceway in Podington, nr Wellingborough is the home of European Drag Racing and host to the televised FIA European Drag Racing Championships. It’s the fastest and loudest motorsport on earth with sensational race action from dragsters and doorslammers to beetles and bikes.
Santa Pod is host to over 50 different events during the race season Jan-Nov. See Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars, Jet Cars, Rocket Bikes, Pro Mods, Monster Trucks and other motorsport events in the heart of Northamptonshire, England.
Motor Sport: Northampton International Raceway
The UK’s longest serving short oval with over 50 years of history behind it, and all the greats of the sport’s history have seen action here at one of the spiritual homes of British oval racing.
Located in the Northamptonshire countryside near the village of Brafield-on-the-Green, the raceway’s 396 metre tarmac oval is ideal for Stock Car racing and some of the best BriSCA F1 and F2 meetings seen in recent years have been at Northampton. The track is also excellent for Banger racing, with several of the sport’s biggest teams and drivers making regular appearances throughout its long history.
Milton Keynes Shopping Centre
A mecca for all shopaholics!
Everything you could possibly want and more under one roof. Next door there is an open air market on most days. Plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from.
Milton Keynes Gallery
Milton Keynes
An exciting new art space, just a stone’s throw from the shopping center, presenting 6-8 free exhibitions of contemporary art each year.
Kelmarsh Hall
Kelmarsh, Northants
A palladian style hall built in 1732 surrounded by a working estate, grazed parkland and beautiful gardens and feature a walled garden, rose garden, glass house, woodland and lake.
Football: Northampton Town FC
Northampton Town Football Club, nicknamed The “Cobblers” were founded in 1897, when a group of local school teachers got together with a local solicitor to form the Town’s first professional football club. They hold the record for the shortest time taken to be promoted from the bottom tier to the top tier and relegated back down to the bottom again, in the space of nine years.
They play their home games at the 7,653 capacity all-seater Sixfields Stadium, having moved in 1994 from the County Ground which they shared with the owners, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
Football: MK Dons FC
Based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Milton Keynes Dons were created on 21 June 2004 as the result of Wimbledon F.C.’s relocation from south-west London to the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes nine months earlier.
Delapre Abbey
Delapre, Northampton
Having undergone a partial restoration, Northampton’s newest visitor attraction is now open on selected days to the general public to visit the historic buildings and lovingly cared for gardens.
