Rushden is a town in Northamptonshire. It forms 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. Rushden and the surrounding area is informally known as Rushdenshire.
The nearest railway station is at nearby Wellingborough, fast trains run to and from London, Luton, Bedford, Leicester and Kettering. Station is around 10-15 mins by car or taxi from Rushden town centre. By public transport the X46 bus service runs between Rushden and Wellingborough town centre - the railway station is about 10-15 walk from the town centre.
The nearest airports are as follows, with distances and approximate journey time road:
London Luton 45 miles 1 hour;
Birmingham 60 miles 1 hr 15 mins;
East Midlands 65 miles 1 hr 15 mins;
London Stansted 70 miles 1 hr 30 mins;
London Heathrow 75 miles 1 hr 30 mins;
London Gatwick 110 miles 2 hours
There are two main bus services - the M50 connects with Bedford, Sharnbrook and Kettering and X46 connects with Welllingborough, Northampton, Raunds and Higham Ferrers.These bus services do not run on Sunday so if your in Rushden your stuck here.
Rushden Museum[1] Located in Rushden Hall Park, open in the summer at weekends.
Rushden Historic Transport Museum[2] Located in the preserved Rushden railway station, there are numerous transport displays. Also houses a real ale bar. The railway line will shortly be extended to Higham Ferrers.
Rushden Hall Historic house, HQ of town council and sometimes open for exhibitions. Rooms available for hire for weddings and other events.
St Mary's Church[3]A beautiful medieval church with a 200 foot tall spire located in the centre of Rushden
Chichele College[4] A medieval college now in ruins. It is located in the adjoining town of Higham Ferrers. It is owned by English Heritage. Free entrance.
Santa Pod[5] A racetrack which is in the nearby village of Podington to the south.
Rushden Hall Park Located near to the town centre, as well as Rushden Hall and Rushden Museum, it has a children's playground, a small stream with woods and many tree lined paths. In the summer, it hosts numerous free concerts.
Irchester Park[6] A large country park in the nearby village of Irchester.
Rushden-Higham Pocket Park A wildlife haven along the site of a disused railway.
Stanwick Lakes[7] An adventure playground and wildlife centre in the nearby village of Stanwick.
Jubilee Park Situated in the south of Rushden includes a skateboarding ramp.
Spencer Park Located just north of Rushden town centre includes a small stream and children's playground.
Splash Leisure Pool[8] The Splash Leisure Pool in Rushden offers great fun for all the family. Facilities include: 25 metre pool, Beach pool with water features including jacuzzi, flume, teaching pool and a cafe
Wacky Warehouse Indoor play area for children, located in the Needle & Awl pub in Northampton Road.
Santa Pod A racetrack which is in the nearby village of Podington to the south.
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.
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.