Living in Northampton
Jobs in Northampton | Pictures of Northampton
If you are considering a move to Northamptonshire, the county town itself is
without doubt the place that offers a faster pace of life than its Kettering,
Wellingborough or Corby neighbours. Designated a ‘new town' in the 1960s,
Northampton's population currently stands at around 203,000 and is anticipated
to break the 300,000 mark by 2018-2021 with a number of new housing and retail
developments over the next few years.
Unassuming yet steeped in a history that saw it positioned as the most important
English city during Saxon times, Northampton is a modern town that is growing
faster than anywhere else in the UK and proving to be an increasingly desirable
place to live and work for shoe fetishists and everyone else alike.
Getting around Northampton
Northampton Castle Station has regular services coming from London and
Birmingham , with frequent stops at Rugby , Long Buckby, Wolverton and Milton
Keynes Central. The railway station is located approximately 15 minutes walk
from the town centre.
Buses are predominantly operated by Stagecoach, First Group and MK Metro
(Arriva) and pull into the main bus station on Greyfriars – a hideous 1970's
structure that has been voted one of Britain 's ugliest buildings - just behind
the Grosvenor Shopping Centre. Whereas bus routes across the county can be
sporadic, commuting into Northampton from neighbouring villages and towns such
as Daventry, Wellingborough, Rushden, Kettering , Corby and Market Harborough is
facilitated by a number of services.
However, the morning rush-hour is prone to congestion - but at a lower level
than that suffered by towns of a similar size - with much of the traffic exiting
the M1 motorway ay Junctions 15, 15A and 16, all about 15 minutes from the
centre of town (on a good day). At time of writing, the Council is looking to
address this with a number of proposals being considered for a series of Park &
Ride schemes throughout the area, at Weedon Road near the Princess Marina
Hospital site and on the Harlestone Road near Harlestone Firs.
Eating, drinking and shopping in Northampton
Northampton is a compact town centre that boasts a harmonious mixture
of both new and old architecture. Despite being a ‘new town', it has a
significant number of classical buildings and fine architecture largely centred
around the Market Square area – one of the largest market square's in England .
And this area is the starting point for Northampton 's shopping experience.
The Grosvenor Centre contains a wide range of high street shops, department
stores and many smaller individual speciality shops including Boots, Body Shop,
BHS and Lush. Whereas it's neighbour, Peacock Place, offers much of the same but
on a smaller scale and is home to such names as Laura Ashley and Next. And
Weston Favell Centre, which has been refurbished in recent years, has over 50
shops – the majority of which are smaller, specialist stores.
But if you are looking for a bargain, Northampton Market is one of the oldest of
its kind in the country and operates daily, out of Market Square , just off The
Drapery and Abington Street .
For its size, Northampton has a good range of eateries and restaurants to suit
any budget, from national chains to traditional pub grub. Head along Marefair,
Kettering Road , Derngate and Wellingborough Road for the best choice of
European, Oriental and other international cuisine in the town centre. And this
is where you will find the greatest choice of pubs, clubs and modern bars.
Of all the towns in the county, Northampton certainly offers the best choice of
things to do in your spare time. The Museum and Art Gallery is worth a trip and
houses a collection of artifacts from Northampton 's past with particular homage
to the shoe industry that caused the town to first boom, including some
celebrity footwear such as the huge Doctor Martin's worn by Elton John in
Tommy . Whilst the Royal Theatre and Derngate are central to Northampton 's
cultural scene that play host to a full programme of arts, music, opera and
drama productions throughout the year. And for film fans, there are two
multi-screen cinemas close to the town centre – Vue is on Doddridge Street and
UGC is in the Upton area.
However, if Northampton could claim to have a tourist industry then it would be
thanks to nearby Althorp, family home to the Spencer family and final resting
place of Diana, Princess of Wales. Indeed, the county's reputation as being one
of ‘spires and squires' is manifested in a number of other stately homes in and
around the region. Fotheringhay is where Mary Queen of Scots was executed,
whilst Kirby Hall – the ‘jewel of the English Renaissance' - are also worth a
visit.
When it comes to sport Northampton is first and foremost a rugby town, with the
‘Saints' plying their trade in the Guinness Premiership. Northampton Town FC is
a mainstay of the third tier of English football whilst Northamptonshire County
Cricket Club combine to form the best offering for armchair sports fans. But if
you prefer to participate rather than simply observe, Esporta, Canon's, Virgin
Active and Living Well are some of the health and fitness clubs in Northampton
along with a number of leisure centres open to the public.
For motorsport fans, Silverstone, home of the Grand Prix, Santa Pod and
Rockingham Speedway are all close at hand.
Main residential areas
Northampton 's population has increased greatly over the last forty
years, largely due to planned expansion under the New Towns Commission in the
early-1960s. And being within the Government's designated expansion zone,
further development is underway with an additional 37,000 being built with some
expansion already underway, with new roads and housing developments in West
Northampton at Upton and St Crispins.
The most desirable places to live in Northampton include Weston Favell,
Blisworth, Harpole, Harlestone, Roade and Dodford – characterised by traditional
three and four bedroom houses.
