Northamptonshire's best-rated attractions revealed – with Highland cattle farm taking top spot

A Highland cattle farm has beaten some of Northamptonshire's best-known landmarks in a new ranking based on thousands of Google reviews, with several Northampton attractions making the top 10.

A Highland cattle farm has been named West Northamptonshire's best-rated visitor attraction, beating popular gardens, historic houses and several Northampton landmarks.

Colready Highlands has been run by the Dyer family for more than 100 years – and has attracted people from all of the UK since launching their highland cow experience in 2023. | Colready Highlands

placeholder image — Colready Highlands has been run by the Dyer family for more than 100 years – and has attracted people from all of the UK since launching their highland cow experience in 2023. | Colready Highlands

Colready Highlands, in Farthinghoe, topped a new ranking compiled by web specialists SEO Backlinks, achieving an average Google rating of 4.96 stars from 416 reviews.

Coton Manor Garden, near Guilsborough, finished second with 4.72 stars from 1,486 reviews, followed by Northampton Cathedral, which also averaged 4.72 from 449 reviews.

Northampton's 78 Derngate took fourth place with 4.71 stars from 420 reviews, while Northampton Museum and Art Gallery completed the top five with 4.70 from 1,172 reviews.

Harlestone Firs was sixth, averaging 4.65 stars from 1,120 reviews, ahead of Rookery Open Farm in Stoke Bruerne, which scored 4.63 from 614 reviews.

Castle Ashby Gardens ranked eighth with 4.63 stars from 1,643 reviews, followed by Mini Meadows Farm, also on 4.63, from 1,434 reviews.

Canons Ashby completed the top 10 with a rating of 4.62 from 2,860 reviews, the highest review total among the attractions surveyed.

Althorp Estate finished 11th, recording 4.57 stars from 1,415 reviews.

The researchers examined 21 West Northamptonshire attractions with at least 300 Google reviews, analysing 23,096 reviews altogether.

More than 3,000 Google Maps searches were conducted nationally on October 20, 2026, with additional searches used to identify attractions missed initially.

Rather than relying on Google's rounded ratings, researchers calculated precise averages using the number of reviews awarded each star rating.

The study excluded restaurants, pubs, shops, theatres, sports and leisure venues, town parks and attractions closed to visitors.

Daniel Weston, founder of SEO Backlinks, said: “I think it is striking that a Highland cattle farm in Farthinghoe comes ahead of established gardens, museums and historic houses.”

He added: “Canons Ashby also has the largest review count in the ranking and still sits in the top ten, which is notable for such a heavily reviewed place.”

The findings highlight the variety of attractions across the area, from opportunities to meet farm animals to museums, gardens and woodland walks.

A September review of Colready Highlands praised the opportunity to get close to the cattle, including petting and feeding them, while visitors to Northampton Museum highlighted its exhibits and layout.

Mr Weston advised visitors to check recent reviews before choosing where to go, as experiences and ratings can change over time.