Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked county of market towns, quiet villages and rolling countryside, with Northampton as its busy county town, offering shopping, history and a lively centre. Wellingborough, Corby, Daventry and Towcester are practical bases with good transport links, useful for those wanting amenities alongside easy access to the surrounding villages.

For a slower pace, Oundle offers handsome streets and independent shops, while Brackley suits travellers exploring the county's southern edge. Bulwick, Fotheringhay, Lower Boddington and Brigstock are peaceful villages with historic churches and stone cottages, and nearby Fineshade offers woodland walks, making this a county that rewards those keen to explore beyond its main towns.

Northamptonshire's hotels and B&Bs range from countryside farmhouses to town-centre stays, with Northampton, Kettering and Daventry offering the main concentrations of options. Many of the more characterful choices sit in the villages around these towns, where former farm buildings and rectories have been turned into guest accommodation, such as Murcott Mill Farmhouse and Dodford Grange.

For something grander, Fawsley Hall represents the county's country house end of the market, while smaller B&Bs like Eydon B&B, Threeways House and The Rear of the Plough Everdon suit those wanting a quieter base near the villages rather than the towns themselves.

Location matters here: staying near Daventry or Northampton puts you closer to the motorway network and business travel, while the villages around Kettering and further out towards places like Everdon and Newnham offer a more rural stopover for exploring the surrounding countryside.

Northamptonshire's 70 attractions cover a wide spread, from the treetop courses at Go Ape Salcey Forest to the indoor climbing walls of Clip 'n Climb Northampton and the skate ramps at Adrenaline Alley. Northampton and Wellingborough have the greatest concentration of indoor activities and family days out, while the countryside around Towcester and Brackley favours farm visits, pick-your-own sites like Grange Farm, and animal encounters such as Catanger Llama Trekking.

History and quirkier interests get a look-in too, with Sywell Aviation Museum near Wellingborough and trails like the Brackley Treasure Hunt exploring the town. Corby and Kettering add their own mix of adventure and entertainment venues, from Odyssey VR to woodland activity centres such as Iron Pit Woods. Between the towns, cider makers, pumpkin patches and outdoor courses make for easy half-day trips as well as longer outings.

Northamptonshire's dining scene runs from town-centre cafes to village pubs tucked along the county's old coaching routes. Northampton itself carries the biggest concentration, with everything from quick coffee stops like Lydias Coffee Shop to curry houses such as Bengal Spice, while Wellingborough and Rushden add their own mix of independents, including spots like Dessert House Rushden for something sweet.

Smaller towns have their own character: Towcester and Thrapston lean toward pubs and tea rooms, with places like Brudenell Estates - The Tea Rooms offering a slower pace, and Corby holding a broad spread of cafes and casual eateries. Sushi Daily and Cafe Luna show the range of quick, informal options now sitting alongside longer-established names.

With so many places across the county, it helps to think about what you want first, a proper sit-down meal, a fast bite, or just good coffee, since the choice really does shift from one town to the next.

Northamptonshire's countryside is quiet and rolling, and its campsites tend to be small, farm-based affairs rather than large holiday parks. Fineshade Wood Campsite sits within easy reach of woodland walks near Corby, while Catanger Llama Farm and Sunnyfield Culworth Campsite offer a more rural, animal-friendly stay close to Culworth. Around Brackley and Lower Boddington, sites such as The Orchard at Stowe and Coleman's Hill Certificated Location suit those touring the county's stately homes and gardens.

Further north and east, Fotheringhay and Bulwick provide a base near the Nene valley and its historic villages, with Walltree House Camping and New Lodge Farm offering straightforward pitches for tents and tourers. Daventry, Kettering and Irthlingborough add options for those wanting a stop closer to the motorway network. Facilities vary from basic Certificated Locations to fuller-service farms, so it's worth checking hook-up and shower provision before booking, particularly with smaller sites like Freestone Farm and Heygates.