Northamptonshire

Area guide

Beautiful natural spaces, market towns and charming communities make Northamptonshire an incredibly desirable spot to call home.

Welcome to the Northamptonshire area guide which will unravel key information on the area including schools, transport, places of interest and key towns.

Northamptonshire, otherwise referred to as ‘the rose of the shires’, sits in the East Midlands littered with many picturesque villages full of lovely cottages, country paths and attractions. The area is a well sought after area to live in due to its rural charm and friendly communities – the range of properties on offer is another inviting feature; a number of beautifully grand homes are located throughout the countryside as well as town houses, thatched cottages and flats.

The dazzling properties on offer in the Northamptonshire area are managed by the Strutt & Parker team located in Stamford, from here this hard-working and experienced team offer a personal and professional service to each customer. The team cover Northamptonshire and the surrounding East Midlands area and offer a huge amount of specialist services on this part of the country including residential lettings, farming and land management.

Things to do

Northamptonshire’s landscape is populated with a number of varying terrains, waterways and green spaces making it a catalyst for many amazing attractions particularly of an active nature.

Country Parks

Stanwick Lakes is the perfect place to head to if you’re looking to spend the day in waterside splendour. With a vast 750 acres of countryside, there is plenty to explore on the array of walking paths, adventure trails and adventure playgrounds. Elsewhere, Sywell Country Park holds many attractions dotted around the Sywell reservoir all within reach by well-constructed walking paths; here, you’ll be able to get involved in the Jungle Parc high ropes adventure, cycling and fishing.

Have a day at the races

The Silverstone circuit, Britain’s major Formula 1 race track, resides near the village of Silverstone and straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border. It’s home to a number of Formula 1 events, driving experiences and the British Grand Prix.

Why we love Northamptonshire

The food and drink – there is a variation of restaurants, pubs and bars in the area utilising local foods from surrounding farms, breweries and businesses
The Nene Valley – Be at the heart of an expanding area of beauty! The River Nene Regional Park is an ongoing project being carried out by the community interest company which eventually hopes to create a stretch of environmental projects. Some of the already constructed projects include Tree Top Way at Salcey Forest and Stanwick Lakes.
The creative buzz – creativity is really in the air around Northamptonshire such as Fermynwoods contemporary arts which allows people visiting to enjoy a wholesome experience with their array of virtual spaces situated in Rockingham Forest. Elsewhere, the county is host the Shambala festival and a range of events at Althorp including a literary festival and a food and drinks festival.

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Properties for sale in Northamptonshire

Key villages & towns in Northamptonshire

Northampton

Northampton is widely considered to be the beating heart of Northamptonshire, many beautiful attractions and architectural delights populate the town including All Saints’ Church, The National Lift Tower and the Market Square. These monuments are surrounded by a rich and tangible history ready to be discovered – uncover the intriguing facts of Northampton including the town’s role in the English Civil War and the Great Fire of Northampton. This bustling hubbub of activity is surrounded by many lovely suburban areas.

Kettering

Kettering was a leading town in the manufacturing of boots and shoes, a craft which is still closely associated with the Northamptonshire area. As well as a variation of properties around the area, the town is also illustrated by a number of stunning natural spots including the River Ise which flows alongside the West side of the area and Wicksteed Park which has a number of activities including rides, petting zoos and events!

Corby

Corby, a fantastic picturesque town and borough, is situated in the North of the county. Here, you’ll find a friendly and inviting atmosphere in the main town and the pleasant neighbourhoods which surround it. There are an assortment of Grade I Listed Buildings in the area including Kirby Hall, Church of St Peter and Rockingham Castle which make the views and characteristics of the area all that more satisfying.

Wellingborough

This stunning market town is a great pairing of natural breaks and excellent properties – Croyland Park, Castle Fields and Eastfield Park are all situated closely around the town next to the picturesque Swanspool Brook which flows into the River Ise and River Nene in the South of the town. Irchester Country Park is also located nearby – a fabulous green space with a number of winding walking paths around beautiful woodlands and attractions including the Jungle Parc treetop adventure.

Daventry

A beautiful market town in the Northamptonshire county, Daventry has a whole lot to offer in terms of culture, amenities and property – these features are made furthermore intriguing by the captivating natural spaces which surrounds it. Daventry Country Park is a great example of this, visitors flock to the park to take in the natural and peaceful water bodies including Pitsford Reservoir which sits nearby a woodland and sprawling green countryside.

Schools in the area

An assortment of prosperous education facilities are dotted around the Northamptonshire area which range from primary and nursery education all the way to secondary education and beyond. Among the top primary schools are Hall Meadow Primary School in Kettering which has been given the ‘outstanding’ Oftsted seal of approval. Elsewhere, the Bozeat Community School, Boughton Primary School and Naseby Church of England Primary School are also among the favourites in a huge selection of primary education facilities.

There are also a huge amount of secondary schools too in the form of comprehensive, grammar and independents. Oundle School, an independent education facility, ranks as one of the top schools in the county and is situated right at the heart of the market town Oundle. Other facilities such as Sponne School, Campion School and Chendrit School also are considered among the best in the county.

Northamptonshire also has a lot to offer in terms of further education, The Latimer Arts College puts the interests and creative freedom of each student at the forefront of their interests. Northamptonshire also has its own university – The University of Northampton offers a huge number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses which sees high student satisfaction in terms of education and student life.

For a more comprehensive list of schools head to the Good Schools Guide.

Transport links

By train

Northampton acts as the county’s main train station with connections to the rest of the midlands and a direct connection to London Euston. The area also has a direct connection to Birmingham making the area a desirable commuter spot for the city.

By train

The Northamptonshire area is well connected internally by a number of A roads. The M1 cuts right through the middle of the county which is easily accessible from all A roads in the area. This means commuting to London and Sheffield, Leeds and beyond is an easy journey with the county lying almost equidistant between the capital city and the main Northern towns.