UK market town becomes 2024 holiday must-visit – home to ‘English Versailles’ & one of country’s oldest theme parks
A MARKET town in England is set to be big for 2024 staycations - for a rather surprising region.
Kettering, in North Northamptonshire, is often overlooked as a holiday destination.
However, it recently featured in Saltburn, which has seen searches for the town soar.
According to booking management software company , searches for Holidays in Northamptonshire are up 11,000 per cent.
And Boughton House, also known as the English Versailles, was used to film the huge Saltburn estate, as well as the new Napoleon film.
It has seen searches increase by 1,700 per cent.
Read more on UK towns
The house is open to the public, including the Boughton House Gardens, which also has events such as Open Air Cinema and choir concerts.
But that's not the only reason Kettering is popular with staycationers.
It is also home to the second oldest theme park in the UK, and the oldest on the mainland.
Only beaten by Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, Wicksteed Park was founded in 1921.
Most read in Travel
Now a Grade II listed park, it is free to enter with guests instead paying for the rides which include the Clown Coaster and Ladybird Coaster as well as the water rides Rocky River Falls and Water Chute.
Gentler rides include the dodgems, a carousel and Ferris wheel, along with treetop walks and railway rides.
There is also the indoor soft play Wicky's Play Factory as well as a traditional playground.
Not only is it one of the largest of it's kind in Europe, it also had the world's first swing and slide, being invented by the park owner.
But the town has enough else to do too, including The Yard Kettering for shopping, as well as the Lighthouse Theatre.
Trains to Kettering take around an hour from London St Pancras.
It's an affordable stay too, with both Premier Inn and Travelodge having rooms for under £50 a night.
Or you can opt for the 4* Kettering Park Hotel & Spa, which has an AA Rosette restaurant.
And if you fancy heading abroad from Kettering, airports including Heathrow, Luton, Birmingham and Stansted all around two hours away.
Keep yours eyes open for some famous locals too - including comedians James Acaster and Hugh Dennis, as well as Radio 1 presenter Chris Smith.
Other UK destinations to add to your list for a summer holiday this year include Ashbourne, which has seen an increase in online searches according to Independent Cottages.
Known for it's gingerbread and strange local sports, many visit due to it's proximity to the Lake District.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The fairytale town of Knaresborough is also thought to be big this year too, and was once popular with royal staycationers.
And here are three seaside towns which are the best in the UK, according to an expert.
