Northampton

Northampton sits almost dead centre in England, a market town turned county town that grew rich on leather. For centuries its workshops made boots and shoes for soldiers, aristocrats and everyone in between, and that heritage still shapes the place today, from the cobbled yards of the old shoe quarter to a museum built around one of the finest footwear collections in the world. The town spreads along the River Nene, with a compact, walkable centre anchored by the vast market square, one of the largest in England, and the spire of All Saints Church rising above it.

Beyond the centre, Northamptonshire opens out into gentle farmland, parkland estates and quiet villages, giving Northampton the feel of a working town with genuine countryside on its doorstep. It is well placed for exploring the wider county, from the racehorses training on Harlestone Heath to the historic villages along the Nene Valley, and its central position makes it a sensible base for anyone touring the Midlands or East Anglia.

Top things to do in Northampton

Northampton rewards a couple of days of unhurried exploring, mixing industrial heritage with parkland and a genuine design curiosity in the shape of 78 Derngate.

• Northampton Museum & Art Gallery — reopened in 2021 after a major redevelopment, its Shoe Gallery tells the story of the town's boot and shoe trade through one of the largest footwear collections anywhere in the world.
• 78 Derngate — the only house in England designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a strikingly modern 1916 remodelling with bold geometric interiors, stencilled friezes and stained glass, now restored and open to visitors.
• Delapre Abbey — a former 12th-century nunnery turned country house, set in parkland on the edge of town, with restored period rooms, walled gardens and a cafe in the old stable block.
• Northampton Racecourse — once a Victorian racecourse and now a large public park, its open grassland and mature trees make it a favourite spot for walking, running and picnics close to the town centre.
• Sixfields — the leisure park on the western edge of town, home to Northampton Town FC's Sixfields Stadium and a cluster of restaurants, cinema and bowling for an evening out.
• The Guildhall — a Victorian Gothic Revival town hall, richly decorated with statues and stone carving, and one of the most photographed buildings in the county.
• The Church of the Holy Sepulchre — one of only four surviving round churches in England, built by Norman crusaders returning from the Holy Land.
• Eleanor Cross, Hardingstone — one of the surviving medieval crosses erected by Edward I to mark the funeral route of his queen, Eleanor of Castile, on the southern approach to town.

Getting to Northampton

Northampton's central location makes it easy to reach from most of England. The town sits just off the M1, with junctions 15 and 15a serving it directly, and it is around an hour's drive from London or Birmingham in normal traffic. Northampton railway station has direct services to London Euston in around an hour, as well as connections north to Birmingham and beyond. Long-distance coaches and National Express services also call at the town, and the local bus network links Northampton with surrounding villages and towns across the county.

Best time to visit Northampton

Northampton is a year-round destination thanks to its indoor attractions, museums and shopping, but late spring through early autumn is the most rewarding time to explore its parks and the wider county on foot or by bike. Delapre Abbey's gardens and Northampton Racecourse are at their best from May to September, while the Northampton Balloon Festival, historically held in August at Little Billing, has drawn crowds for its mass balloon launches. Winter brings a Christmas market to the town centre, and the museum and 78 Derngate make for comfortable indoor visits whatever the weather.

Where to stay in Northampton

Northampton has accommodation to suit most budgets, from budget and mid-range chain hotels near the town centre and railway station to larger hotels around the ring road and out towards Sixfields and the motorway junctions, handy for business visitors and event-goers alike. Guesthouses and B&Bs in the surrounding villages offer a quieter, more rural alternative for those wanting to explore the wider Northamptonshire countryside, while self-catering cottages can be found scattered through the county towards Althorp, Fotheringhay and the Nene Valley.

Food and drink in Northampton

The town centre has a growing food scene alongside its traditional pubs. Opium Northampton serves Indo-fusion cooking in the heart of town, while Cartel offers a two-floor dining experience with a garden setting. The Market Square and surrounding streets host a mix of independent cafes and long-standing pubs, and out at Sixfields a cluster of chain restaurants, including TGI Fridays, Bella Italia and Frankie & Benny's, sit alongside The Sixfields pub for a casual bite before or after a match at the nearby stadium.