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 Northampton
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Northampton's
position in the centre of England has given it national importance
ever since the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is the county
town of Northamptonshire, also know as the county of 'squires
and spires'.
For centuries
boots and shoes were manufactured here and this industrial
past is celebrated at the renowned Northampton Museum and
Art Gallery.
Since
the decline of the leather industry Northamptons's prosperity
has mainly derived from service industries, the transport
firms that now ring the town and brewing (Carlsberg's UK base
is located here).
The attractive
old town has a fine market square, one of the largest and
most impressive in England. Although the town
was seriously damaged by the Great Fire of 1675, many interesting
historic buildings have survived.
The well-preserved
Norman church of the Holy Sepulchre is one only four remaining
round churches in England. Founded in 1100 AD by Simon
de Senlis, first Earl of Northampton, the church is Northampton's
oldest standing building. All Saints Church in George
Row is a magnificent Grade I listed building, rebuilt in 1680
after the Great Fire.
The
Welsh House and Hazelrigg House in Northampton are also handsome
buildings and a social history museum in Abington Park is
housed in a 15th century manor house, once the home of Shakespeare's
granddaugher.
Northampton's
splendid Guildhall, a gem of Victorian architecture, was designed
by the celebrated architect, Edward Godwin.
Northampton
also boasts many modern facilities including the pedestrianised
shopping area of Abington Street and several indoor shopping
precincts.
Don't
miss 78 Derngate, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (
advance booking required - see below).
The town
has many attractive parks, gardens and riverside walks.
Members of the royal family have visited the town on many
occasions, from the time of Henry I right up to the the late
Princess of Wales, whose family home was at nearby Athorp.
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| Location
Map of Northampton |
What
To See -
Northampton Tourist Attractions
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 78
Derngate, Northampton, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh,
and previously owned by Northampton businessman Wenman Joseph
Bassett-Lowke , the house is now restored, and in the adjoining
house is a modern gallery. Pre-booked timed tickets only. Closed
in winter.
2005 opening: 23 Mar 2005 - 27 Nov 2005 Tel: 01604 603407  |
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| Mount
Baths, Upper Mounts, Northampton, steam baths, pool,
suana, fitness rooms. Tel: 01604 837400 |
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| Church
of the Holy Sepulchre, Sheep Street, Northampton. |
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| Guildhall,
splendid building in St Giles Square, built in 1864 by Edward
Godwin. Tours available Tel:; 01604 838400 |
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Northampton
Museum and Art Gallery, Central Museum and Art Gallery,
Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP
Special sections on footware together with art gallary and cermics,
temporary exhibits held.
Open: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 and Sun 14:00- 17:00 Tel: 01604 838111 |
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Abington
Museum, Abington Museum, Abington Park, Northampton,
in a 15th century manor house, local
exhibits with military history and fashion and leathercraft
galleries. Cafe in the park.
Open: Mar-Oct: Tue-Sun & Bank Holiday Mondays 13:00-17:00
Nov-Feb:Tue-Sun 13:00-16:00 Tel:01604 631454 |
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| Danes
Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Road, Hunsbury, Northampton.
Pool with flume, raincloud and jacuzzi, fitness centre, climbing
wall. Tel: 01604 837200 |
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Northampton
& Lamport Railway,
Chapel Brampton NN6 8BA, off A508 north of Northampton.
Operated by volunteers since 1995, steam and diesal locomotives
run on a stretch of the former Northampton to Market Harborough
branch line through picturesque Brampton Valley. Operates
short train rides and special events throughout the summer. 14
mile cycle and foot path running beside the line. Tel:
01604 820327 |
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| Hunsbury
Hill Country Park,
Hunsbury Hill Road, Danes Camp Wa, Northampton, off A43 Towcester
Road. 80 acres of park with nature reserve, picnic and barbeque
areas, playing fields, children's activity area, playground,
and view point. Site of the Northamptonshire
Ironstone Railway Trust's railway and museum. There is
also an Iron Age hill fort. Open:
all year Tel : 01604 233500 ext. 4469 |
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| Haddonstone
Show Gardens, Church Lane,
East Haddon NN6 8DB, north on A428, set in the walled grounds
of a manor house, these beautiful gardens are laid out on different
levels with shrub roses, clematis, climbers and conifers.
The gardens are a showcase for Haddonstone's classic garden
ornaments and display urns, statuary, troughs, bird baths, sundials
and balustrading. Open: Mon-Fri, excluding Bank Holidays
and Christmas. 09.00-17:30 |
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| Brixworth
Country Park, A508, 5 miles
north of Northampton, this country park overlooks Pitsford Water.
Bikes can be hired here and there are trails around the reservoir. |
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| Sywell
Country Park (off A4500 east
of Nothampton, woodland, a small wildlife display, a play area
and walks around the lake (a reservoir and waterworks opened
in 1906). Fishing is also permitted here. Tel: 01604 810970
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| Sywell
Country Park (off A4500 east
of Northampton, woodland, a small wildlife display, a play area
and walks around the lake (a reservoir and waterworks opened
in 1906). Fishing is also permitted here. Tel: 01604 810970
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Cottesbrooke
Hall & Gardens,
Northampton
NN6 8PF10,
miles north of Northampton at Creaton on A5199,
a magnificent Queen Ann house
set in beautiful gardens, reputed to be the original of Jane
Austen's Mansfield Park.The exterior of the house is little
since the early 18h century. Italianate
gardens, park,
formal forecourt garden.
Open 2005 :2nd
May-June: Wed-Thur,
14:00-17:30. Jul-Sept: Thur 14:00-17:30pm, Bank Holiday Mon
from May to Sept, 14:00-17:30
 Tel:
01604 505808
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Althorp,
6 miles west of Northampton on A428 Northampton - Rugby road,
the home of the Spencer family for 500 years. The
present Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess of Wales,
has converted the stable block to provide the setting for an
exhibition, "Diana: A Celebration". Set
in parkland, visitors can
view the house, the exhibition and grounds as well as the Island
were the Princess is buried. All
visits must be booked in advance.
Open 2005: Tickets
from the Gate House, House and Grounds: Jul-Sept 2005, closed
31st August, 11:00-last admission 16:00 Tel:
01604 770107 to book
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Holdenby
House Gardens & Falconry Centre,
Northampton, NN6 8DJ, 6
miles north-west of Northampton off A428 or A5199, built
in the 16th century by Sir Christopher Hatton
just two miles from Althorp. Holdenby
House provides a backdrop to the wonderful grounds.Elizabethan
Garden, Silver Border, Fragrant
Border and a Falconry Centre
are amongst the features here.
Open: 2005 House: Easter Mon (28th March) and Mon 30 May 12:00-17:00
other times by arrangement. Gardens and Falconry Centre: Sun
and Bank Holiday Mon from Easter Sun-25th Sept 13:00-17:00.
may vary if special events.
Tel: 01604 770074
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Canons
Ashby, A5,
on B525 Banbury - Northampton road, an
ancient courtyard house that time has hardly touched. Features
include the domed ceiling
of the drawing room, a painted
parlour with classical trompe-l'oeil,
a 70 acre parkand a formal
garden created around 1710 with a flight of terraces.
Open 2005: House: 23 Mar–28 Sep Mon-Wed, Sat-Sun 13:00-17:30
Oct 13:00-16:30 Gardens: 23 Mar–28 Sep & Oct Mon-Wed, Sat-Sun
11:00-17:30 ; 5 Nov–18 Dec Sat-Sun only 12:00-16:00
Tel: 01327 860044
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Lamport
Hall, Northampton
NN6 9HD,
8 miles north of Northampton on A508. The
home of the Isham family from 1560 to 1976, an extended and
modified Tudor house, Rooms
with furniture and pictures, with possibly the oldest garden
gnome in England. Gardens
and park.
Open: Easter-Sept:
Guided tours on Sun at 14:30, 15:30, except on fair days Hall
open 14:15-17:.15 (last admission 16:00) for non guided visits
Tel: 01604 686272
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| The
Menagerie
, 5 miles
south-east of Northampton. The
Menagerie is a very unusual house and garden.,an
outstanding 1750s rococo folly was built in the grounds- restored
in 1975.The garden has formal
pools with fountains and there is also a wetland and bog area.
Tel:
01604 870957 |
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| Coton
Manor Gardens,
Coton, Nr. Guilsborough, Northamptonshire, NN6 8RQ, 9
miles north-west of Northampton, -between A5119 and A428
Traditional English garden
on different levels around a stone manor house dating from 1662.
Features include lawns, rose
garden and herbaceous borders with an extensive range of plants. Tropical
house, water garden, bluebell
wood. Open
2005: Good Friday Mar 25th - 1 Oct: Tue-Sat and Bank Holiday
Weekends. Also Sun in April-May 12:00-17:30 Last admission 16:45.
Tel : 01604 740 219 |
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| Castle
Ashby Gardens,
between Bedford
and Northampton, off A428, the
ancestral home of the 7th Marquess of Northampton, was built
in 1574, the house is not open to the public but the gardens
are open throughout the year. The park surrounding Castle
Ashby was landscaped by 'Capability' Brown.
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Where
To Stay in Northampton
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Chapel Brampton near Northampton NN6 8BD MAP
Sedgebrook Hall is a 4 star style of property in Chapel Brampton, one of the most picturesque villages in the area. Very near to Althorpe House it has 102 en-suite bedrooms, indoor pool, gym (over 18s only!), sauna, tennis courts and snooker room..
More... |
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Price Guide shown for a room for 2 people per night is based on the lowest price per person per night available in the future
Price Guide: from £78 per room
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Eagle Drive Northampton NN4 7HW MAP
An innovative hotel set in landscaped gardens overlooking Delapre Lake and adjacent to Delapre Golf course. An excellent touring base for visiting Stratford, Oxford, Warwick, Cambridge and Northamptonshire. The hotel offers the stylish Chats bar ...
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £55 a room a LivePriceTM
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Ashley Way Weston Favell Northampton NN3 3EA MAP
Easily accessible from the A43 and A45, this traditional hotel is set in its own grounds and is located a few minutes drive from Northampton and is convenient for Silverstone.
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Price based on cheapest room for 2 people per night available in next few days
Prices from: £85 a room a LivePriceTM
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Crick near Northampton NN6 7XR MAP
Ideally located off junction 18 of the M11, this spacious, elegant and modern hotel is set in its own grounds on the outskirts of Rugby. The Holiday Inn Rugby/Northampton has 2 rooms equipped for customers with special mobility needs.
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Price Guide shown for a room for 2 people per night is based on the lowest price per person per night available in the future
Price Guide: from £45 per room
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Junction 15, M1 Cheaney Drive, Grange Park Northampton NN4 5FB MAP
The Express by Holiday Inn Northampton is ideally located off Junction 15 of the M1 with easy access to Northampton, Silverstone and Althorp House.
More... |
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Silver Street Northampton NN1 2TA MAP
Easily accessible from the M1 or by rail, this hotel is situated in the heart of the town centre. With the combination of 13 meeting rooms accommodating a maximum of 600 people, and 145 bedrooms this hotel is a prime location for the Business..
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Holdenby Road Near Northampton NN6 8LD MAP
Uniquely set in its own grounds of 16 acres of parkland, Broomhill overlooks some of Northamptonshires most beautiful countryside, offering fantastic A La Carte dining together with Table d'Hote and good value bar snacks. The hotel is..
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Guest
Houses, Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Other Hotels
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Around
The Northampton Area
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Tourist Information on Nearby Towns To Visit - straight line distance:
Towcester (8.48 miles) Wellingborough (9.63 miles) Olney (10.09 miles) Daventry (11.22 miles) Harrold (12.36 miles) Kettering (13.13 miles) Milton Keynes (15.38 miles) Market Harborough (16.69 miles) Buckingham (16.71 miles) Brackley (17.87 miles) Corby (19.21 miles) |
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Area
Telephone Code
01604 |
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Tourist
Information Office
The Visitor Centre, Guildhall
10 St Giles Square
Northampton
Tel: 01604 838800
Tel: 01536 407507 |
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Our
Hotel Booking Line
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Call
0870 4786316
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