As your new base for family life, your golden years or even just as the most convenient of weekend retreats, the Secret Shire of Northants has it all…

Where should I live in Northamptonshire?

Northamptonshire has something for everyone, we’re gradually compiling area guides – check back here for more information coming soon.

For more information on why you should consider Northamptonshire as a great base if you are :

Accessibility & International links

Commuting into London is becoming quicker all the time, the most popular daily commute routes being:

  • Into Euston : Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes
  • Into Marylebone : Banbury & Bicester
  • Into Paddington : Bicester
  • Into Farringdon for easy access to The City : Bedford & Flitwick

The proximity of the M1 & M40 motorways give prompt access to the country’s road networks to nearby cities such as Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester.

Luton is the most convenient international airport, with Birmingham also easily accessible along the M40 or M1 / M6. The increasing scope of some of the small airports such as Oxford and Coventry is also proving valuable to Northamptonshire residents, without the drawback of noise pollution in their backyard.

Entertainment

Outdoor pursuits are well catered for in Northamptonshire, with fishing and horse riding being particularly enjoyable in the rolling scenery. The countryside itself is idyllic, perfect for idling time away or striding out across hill and vale.

The canal network is lovingly maintained and provides endless fun messing about on the water, as do the many reservoirs most of which host sailing and canoeing clubs. Stoke Bruerne’s Canal Museum is a mecca for aficionados of the waterways.  All watersports are surprisingly easy to access for being in the middle of the country, as Northants’ many lakes and reservoirs are action-packed daily.

There is a vibrant music scene too, including the internationally acclaimed “Fairport Cropredy Convention” just on the border with Oxfordshire.

Motorsport fans need no direction to find their way to Silverstone and Rockingham race circuits – you are also in easy reach of the National Motor Museum.

Education

High quality state schools abound, with a strong emphasis from the County Council in sustaining the small village local schools that are the lifeblood of communities. For some regions, access to grammar schools in Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire is also a realistic possibility.

A wealth of private prep (primary age) schools provide a steady stream of pupils to the top secondary schools in the country, many of which are also conveniently located in or near Northants.

For those wanting private schooling (also known as Public Schools or Independent Schools), the following schools are all easily accessible to residents of Northamptonshire, as the county can provide a great permanent family base for balancing the simultaneous demands of commuting and also being near enough to the school of choice.

Winchester House, Beachborough, Quinton House, Overthorpe, Princethorpe, Bloxham, Stowe, Thornton College, Rugby, Wellingborough, Bedford, Bedford Modern, Bedford Girls, Uppingham, Oundle, Maidwell Hall, Bosworth Independent College, Northampton High School, Overstone Park School, Pitsford School, Spratton Hall, St Matthews, St Peter’s, Bilton Grange, Bruerne Abbey, Akeley Wood, Swanbourne House, Great Houghton, The Grove, Milton Keynes Prep, Broughton Manor, The Webber, Carrdus, Sibford, Tudor Hall, St John’s Priory, Pilgrims, Ashfold Prep. Please let us know if we have missed any!

For more information, click here.    

Stacks has educational consultants working closely with us, so we can assist our clients in their school choice in the first instance, then find the ideal property to suit all your requirements.

Shopping

Within easy reach of Bicester Shopping Village, Milton Keynes mega-mall, Leamington Spa & Stratford’s individual boutiques, Northamptonshire’s towns and villages also support their local businesses, which sit alongside the national brands we all recognise. Quality Farm Shops are never very far away, with local butchers and bakers thriving (although maybe not many candlestick makers nowadays!) Antique hunting is a joy in Northamptonshire, with good quality stock available if you know where to look, at still reasonable prices.

Property

Northamptonshire as a county has such a variety of housing stock that there is something for everyone.  Discerning young families are moving out from London into village settings that give a warm welcome as well as value for money and freedom for noise!  Downsizers are staying in  – or returning to – the market towns, making their capital work for them in retirement, buying ease of living and peace of mind in more modern homes.  Weekend or holiday homes are increasingly to be found in Northamptonshire, as the reality of being an hour on the train from London and yet truly rural is dawning on those who can not fully escape the London yet.  Many more companies are taking premises in the Midlands, and with easy accessibility to Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Milton Keynes and Northampton, the value for money to be found in the #SecretShire makes it an attractive base for your highly valued employees.

For more information on househunting in TowcesterBanbury, Bicester, BrackleyDaventry, Northampton, Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, and all rural Northamptonshire, please do get in touch.

The hard truth

The future impact of the High Speed rail link (HS2) to the North is rightly causing concern for many contemplating a move into the countryside. Those considering a move along the Northants / Bucks border should also be aware of East West Rail link plans, and the plans for better road links in that direction too.

Stacks provides accurate and detailed guidance to their clients to ensure they are fully aware of the potential for impact.

 

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