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Spotlight on Northampton

Once again we highlight one of the many wonderful towns and cities the UK has to offer. This month we find ourselves in the Midlands as we uncover what Northampton town has to offer.

Northampton is a historic town in the county of Northamptonshire in the Midlands region of England. Situated on the River Nene, there has been archaeological evidence of settlements that date back to the Bronze Age. The earliest reference to Northampton in writing occurred in 914 under the name Ham tune, the prefix “North” was added to distinguish the town from the various other places of the same name, most notably Southampton.

Northampton, building, town
Northampton, building, town

Northampton became significant in the Middle Ages with Northampton Castle playing regular host to the Parliament of England. Medieval Northampton was enclosed by town walls and had many churches and monasteries. The town was granted a town charter by Richard I in 1189. In the English Civil War, Northampton supported the Roundheads and because of this Charles II ordered the destruction of the town walls and most of the castle. The town’s railway station is cited where the castle used to stand. In 1675 Northampton suffered a further blow, the great Fire of Northampton destroyed most of the town, but it was soon rebuilt and during the 18th Century the town grew and thrived. The 19th Century saw the arrival of the Grand Union Canal and railway and the town became a centre for footwear and leatherworks.

To this day, Northampton is still home to world famous shoe manufacturers like Crocket & Jones,  Crown and Church’s. Sports lovers are spoilt for choice with a football team called the Cobblers, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and a thriving rugby league side called The Saints. The town’s nickname is Shoetown, a nickname perpetuated by the success of Steve Pateman’s Kinky Boots whose story is based on the historic Tricker’s shoe factory in St Michael’s Road.

The current population of Northampton stands over 245,899 according to the 2021 census.

Transport links

Situated 60 miles north west of London and 50 miles south east of Birmingham, Northampton has good road and rail connections to both cities. The southbound carriageway of the M1 will take you from Northampton and into London in around 1 hour and 15 minutes, whereas, travelling to Birmingham takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes by going northbound on the M1 and then along the M6 motorway. Travelling by train on the London Northwestern Railway you can reach London Euston in just 53 minutes and London Midland train services will take you into Birmingham New Street Station is around 1 hr and 4 minutes.

For international travel, the closest airports to Northampton are London Luton which is 40 miles away and can be reached via the M1 (southbound) motorway, Birmingham Airport which is 45 miles away and can be reach by going north on the M1 and then the M6 and finally the East Midlands Airport is 52 miles away and can also be reached by going north on the M1.

Things to Do In Northampton

Northampton has all the usual attractions you would expect to find in a large town, one must visit attraction is the Royal & Derngate Theatre which presents a diverse range of visiting productions including musicals, dance, comedy and music, and enjoys a residency from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

For fans of the Royal Family, no trip to Northampton is complete without a visit to Althorp House which is home to the Ninth Earl Spencer and is open to members of the public during the summer months. The House’s 500-year history can be viewed along with impressive private collections of furniture, paintings and ceramics.

For motorsport fans, just 19 miles south of the town itself lies the world renowned Silverstone Circuit, home to both the Formula 1 and MOTO GP race events. Not just accessible during races, the circuit is also home to the Silverstone Museum which will allow you to journey through the past, present and future of British motorsport.

If you are more interested in outdoor pursuits then you will be spoilt for choice, Northampton is surround by beautiful countryside, the county is dubbed the Rose of the Shires. A visit to Sywell Country Park which has been built around a former reservoir, includes meadows, a playground and a butterfly garden, is highly recommended.

Shopping

Whilst not as bustling as it once was, Northampton town is still home to many retail favourites as well as a number of independent retailers. If you are in the town we recommend a visit to St Giles Cheese which is a delightful family run deli featuring some fantastic locally source produce, pop into independent gift boutique Mooch and have a rummage in the fantastic Vintage Guru which houses over 80 independent retailers.

Northampton is surrounded by retail parks, at Riverside Retail Park you will find high street giants Next, Sports Direct and Boots to name but a few. At Nene Valley Retail Park you will find a large B and Q, Smyths Toy Superstore and Dunelm. At St James Retail Park you will find Home Sense, Laura Ashley and DFS.

Eating and Drinking

For a great night out with well-run events the Picturedrome is the place to be! Northampton’s first purpose-built cinema, built in 1912 and has been sensitively restored and converted into a bar, restaurant and music venue.

For tasty Tapas a visit out of town to La Terraza Tapas Bar in Upton is a must and for fine dining fans will be well served at Eyas located in nearby Castle Ashby, providing food and drink options which pair regional produce with innovative culinary techniques. Much of the produce used comes from within 10,500-acre Castle Ashby Estate.

For Craft Beer lovers, a trip to the Maule Collective Bar will enable you to sample their own label craft beers as well as some excellent wines, locally roasted coffee and cocktails and for Gin lovers, Northampton based Warner’s Distillery farm shop has more gin than you can shake a stick at.

Property

If our review of Northampton has you more than a little curious about relocating to the town, you will want the low down on the property prices. According to home.co.uk the average price for a property in Northampton is £342,942 with a one bed property averaging at £141,097, a three bed family property averaging £293,596 and a large 5 bed family home being sold for an average of £664,313.

If you would prefer to rent, the average rent according to home.co.uk in Northampton is £1,181 per month with a one bed property being rented for on average £929  per month, a three bed family home costing £1,488 per month and a large 5 bed family home costing £1,500 per month.

If you would like to learn more about the property market in Northampton, why not chat to our local property experts, our Northampton Property team will be delighted to share their local knowledge with you. Want to know the up and coming areas in Northampton, what the local schools are like, or want to find an investment opportunity? Then you are in great hands! A few quick links for you; our current Northampton properties for sale can be viewed here, Northampton homes to let can be found here and Northampton investment opportunities are located here. Whether you are buying, selling, renting or investing our Northwood Northampton team can help.