Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Corby, Northamptonshire

Once closely associated with England’s steel industry, Corby was referred to as “Little Scotland” during the 20th century, when thousands of steelworking families migrated from Glasgow. Since the 1970s, that industry has diminished, replaced by country parks and ponds where steelworks and quarries once flourished.

The town faced challenges due to the closure of its industries; however, ongoing regeneration efforts are helping it regain its footing, highlighted by the restoration of its connection to England’s railway network.

Furthermore, Corby serves as an accessible point for visiting notable country houses, such as Kirby Hall, Deene Park, Rockingham Castle, and the incomplete Lyveden New Bield.

Let us examine the top attractions in Corby:

1. Kirby Hall

Constructed in 1570 by Sir Christopher Hatton, who served as Lord Chancellor to Elizabeth I, Kirby Hall exemplifies an early Prodigy House—a luxurious residence designed to accommodate the queen during her royal progress through England. Over the decades, this impressive mansion underwent modifications, evolving into one of England’s earliest Classical houses.

Currently, Kirby Hall exists in a semi-ruined state, with substantial areas lacking a roof. Nevertheless, the exquisite exterior ornamentation remains intact, while the state rooms and Great Hall have been preserved to reflect their 17th and 18th-century furnishings.

The formal gardens, boasting intricate cutwork designs, have been restored and are adorned with urns and statues from the late 17th century, during the time of the fourth Christopher Hatton.

2. East Carlton Country Park

Set in picturesque rural surroundings on the edge of the Welland Valley, East Carlton Park encompasses the grounds of the eponymous country house. Designed in the style of a French château in 1870, East Carlton Hall now serves as a private residence. Yet, its original coach house and stables have been transformed into an engaging heritage center that illustrates Corby’s history and its former steel industry.

The upper floor houses craft workshops demonstrating traditional skills, complemented by a café offering light meals and snacks.

Outdoor exhibits feature significant artefacts from Corby’s Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd steelworks, including a locomotive and drag line bucket.

Additionally, East Carlton Country Park accommodates scenic walking paths with long-range views across the valley and includes a children’s play area conveniently located near the heritage center.

3. Corby Cube

Reflecting the significant regeneration efforts in Corby over the past decade, the striking Corby Cube is a multi-purpose building completed in 2010. The interior houses a public library, council chamber, registry office, and two theatres (the Core), with seating capacities of 450 and 100. Despite the project’s initial controversies regarding expenditures, the Core at Corby has emerged as a valuable community asset.

The theatres host a busy schedule of plays, musicals, comedy performances, and live music, often featuring family-friendly events, including interactive science workshops and performances by children’s television characters.

4. Rockingham Castle

The strategic elevation of Rockingham Castle provides expansive views over the Welland Valley and the surrounding villages of Caldecott and Rockingham. Historically, various monarchs visited Rockingham, including Edward III in the 14th century, prompting its reinforcement with stone.

By the Tudor period, the castle faced deterioration and was subsequently acquired by Sir Edward Watson from Henry VIII to be converted into a country residence. Watson’s descendants continue to reside at Rockingham, where highlights of the free-flowing tour include the Medieval Great Hall, showcasing portraits of Elizabeth I and her courtiers, as well as the adjacent sumptuous Panel Room established by Watson in the early 17th century.

Notably, dividing the 17th-century formal terrace gardens is the impressive 400-year-old Elephant Hedge.

5. Lyveden New Bield

Managed by the National Trust, Lyveden New Bield is a summer house that has remained incomplete since its owner, Sir Thomas Tresham, passed away in 1605. Constructed up to the second floor, it remarkably retains good condition despite its abandonment for four centuries.

The mullioned windows are well-preserved, and, akin to another property Tresham owned, the exterior is replete with religious symbolism, including IHS christogram emblems adorning the frieze. In 2010, the National Trust examined aerial photographs from the Second World War and uncovered remnants of an Elizabethan orchard and labyrinth, which have since been replanted.

The moat surrounding three sides of the labyrinth has also been restored.

6. Deene Park

With a heritage spanning over 500 years, Deene Park has been the residence of the Brudenell family since the 14th century. The estate features predominantly Tudor and Georgian architecture, and during open days, visitors can explore at least seven rooms, each exuding its unique character.

The 16th-century Great Hall boasts stained glass windows displaying various family coats of arms, while the Georgian Bow Room showcases an extensive library accumulated by scholarly family members throughout the 1500s and 1600s. Elegant portraits adorn the Drawing Room, while the Dining Room features a painting illustrating James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, commanding the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. Tours are available on Sundays from late April to early September and on Wednesdays for the remainder of September.

7. Fineshade Wood

This ancient mixed broadleaf and coniferous woodland partially comprises the former royal hunting grounds of Rockingham. Fineshade Wood features an extensive network of marked walking and cycling trails, along with a caravan park operational from Easter to October.

The woodland sustains a diverse array of breeding birds, including woodcocks, nightingales, willow tits, tree pipits, and nightjars, alongside the possibility of observing red kites in flight overhead.

For centuries, the trees in Fineshade Wood were coppiced, their timber harvested for charcoal production, providing an engaging perspective on how human intervention shaped the landscape over generations.

8. Lyddington Bede House

Adjacent to the parish church in Lyddington village lies a remnant of a palace constructed for the Bishops of Lincoln in the 12th century. At the beginning of the 17th century, the building was acquired by Sir Thomas Cecil, son of Queen Elizabeth’s chief minister.

He converted it into an almshouse for 12 bedesmen (elderly men whose duty was to pray for their benefactor) and two women aged 45 and above. The Bede House is maintained by English Heritage, allowing visitors to explore the intimate rooms of the bedesmen, complete with small fireplaces and windows.

The Great Chamber on the first floor is noteworthy for its exquisitely carved ceiling cornice.

9. Rushton Triangular Lodge

Sir Thomas Tresham, the builder of Lyveden New Bield, encountered significant personal trials during his life. As a devout Catholic, he endured 15 years of imprisonment in the late 16th century. Upon his release in 1593, he commenced construction of this folly on his estate in Rushton, located approximately 15 minutes southwest of Corby.

While Rushton Hall has been transformed into a luxury hotel and spa, the Triangular Lodge remains an English Heritage site remarkably well-preserved. The number three holds symbolic significance throughout the structure, representing the Holy Trinity and Tresham’s Catholic beliefs. The lodge features three sides, each measuring 33 feet in length and three stories high, embellished with three gables and rows of trefoil windows. The friezes around the building are inscribed with three Latin biblical quotes, each comprising 33 letters.

10. Fermyn Woods Country Park

Located ten minutes southeast of Corby, Fermyn Woods Country Park occupies a serene landscape originating from an old ironstone quarry. The park features a blend of forested areas, ponds, meadows, and marshes, attracting visitors for family walks, fishing, and wildlife observation.

The waymarked trails commence at the park’s visitor center, which houses a café and children’s playground. Informational boards detailing local wildlife are displayed throughout the café.

The main pond, situated within an old quarry pit, teems with carp, rudd, and roach, and fishing permits are available at the visitor center. The historic Fermyn Woods lie just north of the visitor center, with three camping shelters amidst the ancient oak and ash trees, providing an opportunity for a night in nature.

11. Corby Boating Lake

A cherished recreational asset in the heart of the town, Corby Boating Lake was established on a former industrial site in the 1970s. In this refreshing natural setting, visitors can find a lakeside café, picnic areas, and two children’s playgrounds. Additionally, the Corby & District Model Boat Club utilizes the lake every Thursday and Sunday.

Over the past 40 years, this lake has become a sanctuary for wildlife, attracting herons, kingfishers, and gulls, in addition to common wildfowl such as geese and swans. Coarse fishing is permitted with a daily ticket, provided that visitors adhere to the lake’s guidelines.

12. West Lodge Rural Centre

Operating year-round, West Lodge Rural Centre offers a delightful experience for children, set on a farm and featuring seasonal educational and recreational activities. On a typical summer day, kids can enjoy pony rides, interact with adorable animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, meet playful kid goats, groom donkeys, watch a piglet race, and create their own dens from natural materials.

Open throughout the day, the Adventure Barn features a thoughtfully designed playground with treehouses and bridges. The Demonstration Barn provides insights into farm activities, showcasing tasks such as sheep shearing, lambing, and cow milking.

13. West Glebe Park

Within walking distance from Corby High Street, West Glebe Park serves as a hub for community activities. This expansive area features full-size, floodlit six-a-side football pitches, a multi-use games area for basketball and tennis, a skate park, and BMX track.

The park’s sports facilities are complemented by the West Glebe Park Pavilion, which includes a bar and community room. In mid-July, the Corby Carnival occurs in the park, supporting local charities through a festive parade and market stalls.

14. Corby East Midlands International Pool

Opened as part of a £19 million development in 2009, the town features a full-size competition swimming pool, serving as a remarkable space for laps and recreational swimming. The facility includes a toddler pool and a pirate-themed pool designed for older children, complete with a lengthy, spiraling flume.

Additional amenities entail a 70-station gym and a spa area featuring a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.

15. Great Oakley Meadow

This captivating meadow, safeguarded as a nature reserve by the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants, offers a glimpse into Corby’s rural heritage. Visitors can observe land features known as ridge and furrow, vestiges of historical ploughing methods employed in the Medieval era.

The field supports an ecosystem characterized by diverse wild grasses and flowers, including cowslips and quaking grass, thriving on the drier ridges, while the more saturated furrows host tufted hair-grass and meadow fescue. During winter, birds such as fieldfares and redwings forage in the meadow and hedgerows, while summer brings flocks of swallows, house martins, and swifts.