Rushden

Rushden is a town in Northamptonshire. It forms a single urban area with the neighbouring town of Higham Ferrers. Neighbouring villages include Irchester, Wymington, Podington and Stanwick. Rushden is the fifth largest town in Northamptonshire and the largest town in the district of East Northamptonshire.

By car

 * The A6 by-passes the town and gives access to Bedford to the south and Kettering to the north
 * The M1 lies 10 miles (16 km) to the west, near Northampton, along the A45

Parking is free in most town centre car parks.

By train
The nearest railway station is Wellingborough. Fast trains run to and from London St Pancras, Luton, Bedford, Leicester and Kettering. Rushden is around 15 minutes by car or taxi from the station. The X46 bus runs to Rushden from Wellingborough town centre, which is about 15 minutes walk from the station.

By plane
The nearest airports are:


 * London Luton – 45 miles (1 hour)
 * Birmingham – 60 miles (1 hr 15 min)
 * East Midlands – 65 miles (1 hr 15 min)
 * London Stansted – 70 miles (1 hr 30 min)
 * London Heathrow – 75 miles (1 hr 30 min)
 * London Gatwick – 110 miles (2 hours)

By bus
There are two main bus services:


 * The M50 connects from Bedford, Sharnbrook and Kettering.
 * The X46 connects with Wellingborough, Northampton, Raunds and Higham Ferrers.

Museums and heritage




Parks and nature

 * Rushden Hall Park near the town centre. Besides the hall and Rushden Museum, it has a children's playground, a small stream with woods and tree-lined paths. In the summer, it hosts free concerts.
 * Rushden-Higham Pocket Park A wildlife haven along the site of a disused railway.
 * Jubilee Park In the south of Rushden, it includes a skateboarding ramp.
 * Spencer Park Just north of Rushden town centre, it includes a small stream and children's playground.
 * Rushden-Higham Pocket Park A wildlife haven along the site of a disused railway.
 * Jubilee Park In the south of Rushden, it includes a skateboarding ramp.
 * Spencer Park Just north of Rushden town centre, it includes a small stream and children's playground.

Do

 * Wacky Warehouse Indoor play area for children, located in the Needle & Awl pub in Northampton Road.
 * The Pemberton Centre - a leisure and conference centre which has a wide range of sports facilities for all the family within its multi-purpose sports hall and squash court plus the dance studio and Aspirations gym.
 * Wacky Warehouse Indoor play area for children, located in the Needle & Awl pub in Northampton Road.
 * The Pemberton Centre - a leisure and conference centre which has a wide range of sports facilities for all the family within its multi-purpose sports hall and squash court plus the dance studio and Aspirations gym.

Sport

 * AFC Rushden and Diamonds Football Club - formed in 2011 following the demise of Rushden and Diamonds. They play in the Southern Premier league division 1 East. They share their ground with Rushden and Higham Football club, Hayden Road, Rushden NN10 OHX.
 * Rushden Town Cricket Club Club Short Stocks, Rushden, NN10 0AB. (+44 1933 353522)
 * Rushden Town Cricket Club Club Short Stocks, Rushden, NN10 0AB. (+44 1933 353522)
 * Rushden Town Cricket Club Club Short Stocks, Rushden, NN10 0AB. (+44 1933 353522)
 * Rushden Town Cricket Club Club Short Stocks, Rushden, NN10 0AB. (+44 1933 353522)

Buy
Rushden has a long high street with a mixture of independent retailers and chain stores.


 * Osborne's Traditional toy shop said to be the oldest in the county.
 * Sherwood Antiques Old fashioned antique shop in Little Street about 5–10 minutes walk from the town centre.
 * Several chain stores including Boots, WHSmith, Asda, Iceland and Wilkinson.

Higham Ferrers has its own small selection of mainly independent retailers.


 * Out of town stores located just off the Northampton Road include Wickes, Lidl, Waitrose which also has a large non-food section, i.e. John Lewis items.
 * Out of town stores located just off the Northampton Road include Wickes, Lidl, Waitrose which also has a large non-food section, i.e. John Lewis items.

Rushden Town Centre

 * Rose and Crown, 73 High Street
 * Rose and Crown, 73 High Street

North Rushden

 * Needle & Awl Northampton Road

South Rushden

 * The Compasses High Street South

Higham Ferrers

 * The Carriage House 158 Queen Street
 * King Edward VII Inn Market Square

Sleep

 * Sharnbrook Hotel - on the A6 about 5 miles south of Rushden
 * Sharnbrook Hotel - on the A6 about 5 miles south of Rushden
 * Sharnbrook Hotel - on the A6 about 5 miles south of Rushden

Attractions

 * Wicksteed Park large theme park in Kettering (8 miles north) aimed for young children
 * Rockingham Castle medieval castle in the village of Rockingham near Corby - hosts several events throughout the year
 * Kirby HallEnglish Heritage property near Corby, vast mansion with gardens, famous for its peacocks

Towns and cities

 * Cambridge, 40 miles to the east of Rushden is one of England's most famous academic cities, many historic colleges, punting on the River Cam is a popular pastime. About an hour by car.
 * Northampton about 13 miles west, county town, modern cathedral
 * Milton Keynes about 18 miles south west, famous for a huge shopping centre and concrete cows
 * Peterborough about 28 miles away, famous medieval cathedral, large shopping centre, Nene Valley railway, Flag fen Bronze Age excavation site
 * Bedford about 13 miles south, famous for its association with the writer John Bunyan
 * London about an hour away by train from Bedford or Wellingborough stations.