Museums to Visit in and around Kettering

Kettering and its surrounding area has a rich history and, as a result, it is home to a number of museums. From aviation to heritage museums, you can expect to find something for the whole family to enjoy. Here, Ashan Property has listed some of the best and most popular museums for you to visit following your move. If you are looking to relocate, we can offer you advice on suitable properties to rent, from our expert letting agents. Kettering is a small town just outside of London, making it the perfect home for commuters and business owners.

Carpetbagger Aviation Museum

The Carpetbagger Aviation Museum in Harrington, six miles from Kettering, is open from March to November, 10am-5pm daily. This museum was created in 1993, and the displays and exhibits within the museum depict the history of the airfield, especially during Operation Carpetbagger, where secret missions were undertaken to deliver agents and supplies to resistant groups during the Second World War. Here, they also have many remains of recovered World War II aircraft, alongside other items of equipment and memorabilia.

The Manor House Museum

The town’s Manor House Museum is a lively and vibrant place to visit, with regular activities to join in with and temporary exhibitions. This museum has a number of fascinating exhibits including archaeology, natural history, geology and costume. This is perfect for families with young children as the venue often hosts children’s activities during the school holidays to keep them entertained. There is also an educational museum shop here, with amusing gift ideas linked to the themes of the museum. The Manor House Museum is right next door to the Alfred East Art Gallery.

Corby Heritage Centre

The exhibitions and displays here reflect the rich and diverse culture of the community, along with its heritage. Here you can learn about the history of the building itself, and also the story of Corby Old Village. Education, work and entertainment themes are explored in the temporary exhibitions, which change from year to year to accommodate the range of visitors, including the local community and school groups. This museum is open every day except for Sundays, from 1pm-4pm. Corby is just a 10 minute drive from Kettering, and is a vibrant but small village.

Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre

Rothwell Heritage Centre is run by volunteers from Monday to Saturday, 10am-12:30pm.

This is used as a reference point for local history information, with regular displays and exhibitions of local interest. Within the first floor you can find the work of many local artists and crafters, with the work here being changed regularly to keep it interesting and informative. There are also permanent displays of the Rothwell boot and shoe industry, social history and the Rothwell born actor and singer Jim Dale.

The Wellingborough Museum

Previously an indoor swimming pool, the Wellingborough Museum is a fascinating place to visit. In the upper gallery there are room settings from the 20th century, including the Dulley Room, which is used as a multi-purpose function room that can seat up to one hundred people. Every third Saturday of the month the museum has representatives of the Northamptonshire Family History Society come in, from 10:30am to 3pm to answer questions and advise on research. The World War I trench is open for tours on some Saturdays, and is well worth seeing. Wellingborough is a very sort after place to live, and our letting agents in Kettering can help you to find a suitable and available place to live.

Abington Park Museum

Once home to Shakespeare’s granddaughter, Elizabeth Bernard, this impressive 15th century manor house has been transformed into a fascinating museum. Featuring exhibitions such as their oak room, which is an oak panelled room as it would have appeared in the 18th century, this museum is full of educational things to see. Admission to this museum is free, including featured displays about the social and military history of Northampton and Northamptonshire.

Sywell Aviation Museum

This not for profit organisation celebrates the history of Sywell Aerodrome and Northamptonshire’s rich aviation heritage from the early days of aviation to the Second World War and beyond. This museum opened in 2001 and has flourished since then, scooping numerous accolades including the Northamptonshire Heritage Winner of the Best Community Project. Sywell Aviation museum is full of artefacts, models, weapons, uniforms and much more, with exhibits that showcase aviation through war and peace.

To view our available properties to let in Kettering, visit Ashan Property.