Northampton Regional Information

Help and advice on buying property in Northampton and the surrounding villages

Northampton, the county town of Northamptonshire, is a historical gem nestled in the ‘secret shires’. Within easy reach of both Birmingham and London, it has grown and developed since receiving its New Town designation in 1968 and has much to offer those who live there.

Its history dates back to the Bronze Age, but many know Northampton for its shoe making heritage. And commerce is something that thrives in the area, for it’s also renowned for being a popular choice for entrepreneurs. But regardless of whether you’re planning to run a business or intend to commute, Northampton and its surrounding villages has something to offer everyone.

Transport Links

For those needing to get here, there, and everywhere, property in Northampton is very well-served travel wise. The station sits on the West Coast Main Line’s Northampton Loop, and offers very frequent services in to Euston (just 45 mins), Birmingham (roughly an hour), and further afield. Milton Keynes is also just a fifteen minute train ride away, offering easy access for work and shopping alike.  Insider note – For villages on the east side, commuters often choose from stations on the Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough lines : Make sure you research your particular combination of factors (speed, destination, season ticket, carpark) to get the right combo for you.

The road network too makes for uncomplicated travelling, with the M1 literally running past the edge of the town. Thus going south to London or Milton Keynes is a breeze, as is heading north to cities as far as Leeds. The M6 is just up the road, taking you across to Coventry, Birmingham and up to the north west. Plus there are very good bus links serving the outlying villages. However, if you’re needing to head across the country east, say to Cambridge or Felixstowe, the A14 is within convenient reach.

For those seeking easy access to an airport, with the motorway network available, both Luton and East Midlands airports are just under an hour away.

Looking for property near Northampton

With a population of just over 200,000, you’ll have realised that the town has significant infrastructure and amenities available on the doorstep. But there are some appealing urban locations edging the town that are worth checking out too. For example: Abington, which is known for its large Victorian and Edwardian family homes; Kingsley, which is in a conservation area and also plays host to some fine Victorian architecture; East and West Hunsbury, which now enjoy some lovely newly built developments; and Kingsthorpe, also in a conservation area, and definitely worth a peek if you’re looking for something listed or stone built.

However, for people attracted to a more rural location, there are plenty of very attractive villages surrounding the town that can provide the balance you seek. For example, if you head out east along the A428, you’ll soon discover popular little places like Great Houghton, Denton, and Yardley Hastings. Along the A45 you’ll soon hit Earls Barton and Great Doddington. There’s more this way on on our Corby, Wellingborough & Kettering page.  To the north, there is a smattering of little villages, including Moulton, Pitsford, and Boughton. And then slightly further west, Althorp, Chapel Brampton, and Lower Harleston. Heading further east you’ll discover Nobottle, Little Brington, Brockhall, and Whilton. And then directly on the road to Daventry, you’ll soon reach Upper Heyford, Flore, Weedon, and Dodford. Switching to a south westerly direction, you’ll find Kislingbury, Bugbrooke, Nether Heyford, and Upper Stowe. And directly south, you’ll discover delights such as Hardingstone, Blisworth, and Stoke Bruerne, find more on our Towcester page in this direction.

Schools serving the Northampton area and surrounding villages

Northampton is well-catered for school wise. With upward of fifty primary schools (80% of which are ranked either good or outstanding), eight secondary schools (two thirds being ranked highly too), and five special educational needs schools, the state provision is excellent.  More unusually, there are single sex state secondary schools – the highly regarded Northampton School for Boys and Northampton School for Girls.  However, there are also some high performing independent schools in the town, including Northampton High School, Bosworth Independent College, and Quinton House School.

Additionally, boarding options are open to you at Stowe, Uppingham, Oakham, Oundle, Wellingborough, Rugby, and Spratton Hall, so your choices are truly plentiful.

Points of local interest in and around Northampton

With Northampton being the county’s biggest town, as you’d expect it has a lot to offer within the centre itself, let alone further afield. The market square is one of the oldest in the country, and still hosts a market Monday to Saturday. There is also a pedestrianised zone which provides for a good selection of shops, though various retail parks dotted just out of town such as Weston Favell Shopping Centre, St James Retail Park, and Riverside Retail Park, extend the offering further. Plus there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to top up your reserves as you wander around, and you’ll have the choice of both chains and independents to whet your appetite.

For exercise buffs, there are four leisure centres, 170 parks… yes, you read that correctly… and plenty of places to walk, run, or cycle without needing to head out of town. And if you enjoy a bit of historical distraction, you’ll love Delapre Abbey, Coton Manor’s lovely gardens, and the remains of Northampton Castle. Not too far away also is the site of the Battle of Naseby, a significant encounter that took place during the English Civil War. And there’s always the opportunity to enjoy a cultural evening at the Royal and Derngate Theatre.

Slightly further afield, Pitsford Water is a draw for those who enjoy a sail or a splash, and Salcey Forest offers lovely walks over quite an extensive area. Plus the waterways network in the area is very popular and well maintained, so we’d highly recommend Stoke Bruerne and Weedon for those with an interest in the canals.

If you’re a sports fan, this is the home of Northampton Saints rugby team at Franklin’s Gardens, the Sixfields stadium is the home of the Cobblers – Northampton Town Football Club –  and of course the Silverstone Circuit is just up the road for those who revel in a bit of motor racing.

Future

There is now talk of expansion of the rail depot near Blisworth, towards Northampton. And the Proposed HS2 route does pass through the area, though that’s towards Brackley. Whilst it is obviously important to understand the impact of future developments, works on HS2 have started and it is possible to find out more detail regarding a location once you’ve pinned one down. Of course it is impossible to know for sure on any house purchase what might happen in the future, though, and this must be borne in mind. For example, the impact of HS2 will vary enormously from house to house, and sound can travel in unexpected ways rather than line of sight. Also, when it is built, the HS2 trains will be electric and far less nuisance than current trains. It is possible that some properties may be adversely affected during the construction phase, even a long way from the actual route. But with careful research and an open mind, you may feel that the eventual impact will not be significant for you, and you can potentially invest in a property at a good price.

How can we help?

As a property finder, we help not only with your house hunt but we also oversee the purchase process all the way to completion. And in taking on this role, we thus remove all the obstacles from your path, organising surveyors, conveyancers, and tradespeople etc. as necessary.

Our clients may be moving some distance, or be local; they may be too busy or not know where to begin; they may be unable to find a suitable house or have too much choice – see our case studies to see how we’ve helped people in your situation.