NATURE
What wildlife
to see in Summer
Heritage
Learning from the past,
building for the future
Adventure
Where the adventure
lasts all day
CHARITY NO. 1050157
Visitor information :
Hours
Find Us
Parking
Accessibility
Contact
Visitor Opening times
Please see the table below for the current opening times.
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Date |
Site opening Times |
Visitor Centre Opening Times |
| January – March | 7am – 5pm | 10am – 4pm |
| April to September | 7am – 7pm | 10am – 5pm |
| October-December | 7am – 5pm | 10am – 4pm |
How to find us
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Stanwick Lakes is situated off the Stanwick roundabout on the A45 in East Northamptonshire between Wellingborough (eight miles away) and Thrapston (seven miles away).
The postcode for Sat Nav directions is NN9 6GY.
Parking and prices
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Thank you for paying to park!
Did you know that Stanwick Lakes is run by Rockingham Forest Trust, a local environmental charity?
Every time you pay the car park charges at Stanwick Lakes you are supporting the conservation and maintenance work that takes place on the site. This includes managing the nature reserve for wildlife, looking after the play equipment and maintaining miles of paths for walking and cycling.
Car Parking Charges 2023
Charging period |
Charges per car |
| 28th-31st March | Up to 2 hours £3.00 Up to 4 hours £4.50 |
| 1st April – 30th September | Variable charge: Up to 2 hours £3.30 Up to 4 hours £4.80 All day £6.30 |
| 1st Oct 31st December | Variable charge: Up to 2 hours £3.00 All day £4.50 |
| Membership | £42 per household per year |
Closed Christmas Day
Accessibility
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The majority of the site’s facilities are wheelchair accessible, including the visitor centre, toilets, feeding station and water’s edge bird hides, the network of footpaths and cycle paths, and areas within the central adventure playground. A lift is situated in the café area to allow disabled visitors to access the mezzanine area where the archaeological finds are kept, including the section of Roman floor mosaic.
Contact Us
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01933 625 522
info@rftrust.org.uk
Follow us on social media:
Stanwick Lakes is managed as a social enterprise by the environmental charity,
Rockingham Forest Trust. All Income from our visitors directly supports the cost of running the site, including conservation work and educational events.
Upcoming Events
America’s Connection with Northamptonshire – April 30th
Precious Strand’s History and Inspiration for Recycling Textiles – May 7th
FREE TALK – A Journey Through Time.
Axe Throwing at Stanwick Lakes – Saturday 25th May
The visitor centre, with café, shop and function space, hosts many events, family celebrations, business meetings and craft workshops throughout the year.
THINGS TO DO…
NATURE
Visit a birdhide
One of the best ways to take in all that a wetlands site has to offer is to stop off at several hides dotted around the reserve, and see what you can spot…
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HERITAGE
Go back in time!
Notice the stone marker posts, each carved with an historical era? These form part of our Heritage Trail and each of the six stones marks the site of an important historic settlement…
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ADVENTURE
Imaginative play
Get active and explore our adventure playground, assault course, adventure trail, dotted around the reserve, including water play and a zip line!
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acres of open space
miles of scenic paths
days of the year
LATEST NEWS
Wildlife Volunteer Team Round Up 2022
In the spring of 2022, we set up a new volunteer group– the Stanwick Lakes Wildlife Volunteer Team (WVT). The team meet up on the last Friday morning of the month to undertake tasks that help us to conserve the nature reserve at Stanwick Lakes, including monitoring...
Creating a Moment in History – Stanwick Lakes Heritage
Over the past 12 years, Stanwick Lakes have been fortunate enough to receive Heritage Lottery funding for a number of projects exploring the heritage and history of the site and surrounding valley. Carrying on from the successes of these legacy heritage projects, our new ambitious 3 year venture, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will delve into the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, exploring their monuments and settlements with one aim – to bring the past to life.
Big Bronze Age Boat Build: Experiences of an Archaeologist
As the exciting Big Bronze Age Boat Build continues into 2024, it is exciting to see the shape of the boats develop and start to look more and more like actual vessels. So far, it has taken over 600 hours of physical work to turn the lime trees into what are very soon...
It’s Nesting Season at Stanwick Lakes!
It’s bird nesting season! The 2024 season has begun. Our nest boxes are monitored regularly (under license), and updates will feature here. We aim to provide our wonderful nest box sponsors information about the breeding activity talking place on nature reserve at...
Axe-throwing aiming to hit the target with families this Easter at Stanwick Lakes
Families can flex their muscles and get competitive this Easter with Stanwick Lakes offering an outdoor adventure with a twist – axe throwing! Back by popular demand, this activity is suitable for children aged 11 and older and is part of a fun-packed programme of...
80th Anniversary Exhibition of fatal war-time air collision
The 22nd February 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of a fatal air collision between two B17 Flying Fortress aircraft, over what is now part of Stanwick Lakes. There will be a free exhibition in the Visitor Centre at Stanwick Lakes from Friday 23rd February until Sunday...
It’s National Nest Box Week!
National Nest Box Week As National Nest Box Week draws to an end, our feathered friends are starting to pair up, marking the beginnings of a new breeding season. Loss of suitable habitat, changes in land use, and various other factors have negatively impacted many of...
Wellies Recommended! Site open, flooding in areas.
Visitor Information! Tuesday 27th February Flooding remains mostly unchanged from yesterday. Monday 26th February Paths are now open, although high wellies are essential for our 'Nature Ramble' and 'Adventure Trail' paths, and there are still some definite puddles...
Celebrate Mother’s Day at Stanwick Lakes
This Mother's Day, celebrate in a memorable way at Stanwick Lakes. Discover a variety of activities tailored to make the occasion unforgettable, from indulging in a tasty afternoon tea to bonding over a mindful pottery painting session or enjoying a shopping...
Starling Spectacle Graces Stanwick Lakes: A Mesmerizing Murmuration Unfolds
Stanwick Lakes, renowned for its picturesque lakes and swaying reed beds, has set the stage for a breathtaking natural phenomenon – a mesmerizing starling murmuration. Nestled in the heart of the Nene Valley, the nature reserve has observed significant starling...
A round up from the Ranger Team (2023)
The rangers at Stanwick Lakes have had a brilliant year working alongside our volunteers to improve the site for the people who visit us and the wildlife that call it home. Here are some of the highlights and recaps for the year. Some of the most fun we have as...
Festive Hours at Stanwick Lakes
This festive season, as we prepare to celebrate the holidays, we'd like to share our festive hours of operation at Stanwick Lakes. Our Visitor Centre, gift shop, and Café will be open until 2pm on Christmas Eve for those last-minute festive experiences. Our 'Elfish'...
A unique setting, convenient location, and with ample facilities, you can make your event one to remember at Stanwick Lakes. Our flexible indoor and outdoor spaces and our experienced team, and specialist knowledge can help with you shape your event into something unique.
Every Visit Counts
The visitor centre, with café, shop and function spaces is ran as a social enterprise, which very much supports the charity, with all income. The setting for many events, family celebrations, business meetings and craft workshops throughout the year, we can cater for any event.
So there’s always enough going on to work up an appetite!