To think Northamptonshire isn't that much worse than Oxfordshire?

[MandrakeLake]

We are moving and it looks like it will likely be to one of these two places. Everyone I've spoken to has gone on and on about how beautiful and lovely Oxfordshire is and how crap Northamptonshire is. Objectively I don't see that much difference. Both have lovely stone villages and commute times of roughly an hour into London. But what I keep hearing is that the people in Northamptonshire aren't so great but no one will elaborate beyond "parochial" and "less educated". The housing in NH is MUCH cheaper. So AIBU to think there isn't that much difference?

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Well I live in Northamptonshire and I'm lovely

Whereabouts are you looking to live?

[scurryfunge]

Ignore those who make general sweeping statements about any area of the country.

[Goldenphoenix]

I live in Northants, the countryside and villages are lovely! Northampton itself isn't up to much but Milton Keynes is only half an hour away and has a huge shopping centre. Where are you looking?

[RedRedDogsBeg]

More fool you if you actually listen to these people!

[NigelMolesworth]

I grew up in North Northamptonshire and like Woolly, I am also lovely!

[Archietheinventor]

I think they may be basing assumptions on the CITIES, as opposed to the counties themselves. Oxford is lovely, Northampton is a shit hole. But the villages around it are nice - not as posh as Oxfordshire villages, but that’s why they are much cheaper. Countryside is similar and like you said, some lovely stone cottages etc. Where are you looking at?

[DuggeeHugs]

Northamptonshire is very variable. Villages are generally nice but less so towns. House prices aren't too bad though. It's becoming a warehouse county though.

The county council is in financial meltdown (government are having to step in) and they're trying to close all but eight libraries as well as cutting other services to the bone.

You may get more for your money here than Oxfordshire but there are reasons for that.

[crumble82]

The hospitals/health care in parts of Northamptonshire are not great. I think if health is a consideration then go for Oxfordshire.

[cautiousoptimist1]

That depends where on Oxfordshire crumble, North Oxfordshire is facing cuts everywhere!

[TheFaerieQueene]

I live in Oxfordshire and I love it 😍 I don’t know Northamptonshire though.

[Archietheinventor]

What’s a warehouse county?

[greathat]

If you have kids, look carefully at the schools in Northants. A lot seem very poor. Said as a teacher living in Northants...

[frasier]

I was surprised to learn that Oxford was only 1 point less pollution than London. Something to do with slo moving traffic.

Don’t know about Northampton. But it can’t be worse!

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

As said above, the villages are lovely in both counties but the towns in Northants are dire.

It depends what you want. Personally, I would opt for some where where I could access theatre, museums etc easily which would mean Oxfordshire rather than Northamptonshire.

[DuggeeHugs]

Archietheinventor it's probably a local term but it means that most of the new building is either housing or warehousing. Councils local to us are encouraging warehouses which create a relatively small number of jobs and little community input. Our small towns get bigger with the warehouses and housing but our services are closed, while goods and people commute in and out without becoming a community.

[Archietheinventor]

Aha, thank you. Makes sense. Whenever I have driven past Towcester or Brackley recently all I see are huge new housing estates. Though Bicester is even worse - every week a new estate goes up. It’s totally unrecognisable from 15 years ago.

[WeAreGerbil]

The shops are crap in Northampton but there's quite a bit of arts stuff, and various community projects. Some nice country parks too, though I'm more familiar with the north of the county. I was even going to say Corby is all right now, but I guess that's relative. Still a lot of poverty although again posh villages nearby.

[WeAreGerbil]

Oh and there's all the water too and lots of water-based activities if you're into that!

[sirlee66]

Northampton town itself is an absolute shit hole but the surrounding villages can be lovely!! Like all places, you have nice areas and not so nice areas.

[frankchickens]

Good grief this thread is bloody depressing.

[WeAreGerbil]

I quite like Northamptonshire, though not enough to actually live in it....

[gemplusthree]

Northampton Town centre is dreadful but Milton Keynes is only half hour away.
The stretch of m1 has almost daily accidents (at least it feels like it)
Lots of wearhouses being built.
County Council in a huge financial mess.
Roads full of pot holes.
Some terrible schools.
Risk of flooding in certain parts.
Lovely villages
Nice parks and museums
Some good schools.
Lived in Northampton all my life. Don't hate it, don't care for the town centre, wouldn't go clubbing at the weekend there, but nothing so horrific that I want to move. Perhaps living in a village on the edge helps that feeling. Quite a central part of the country and you can get to most areas of the country easily.

[Chienrouge]

I used to live in a really, really lovely village in Northamptonshire.
Northampton is dire though.

[Jellytussle]

I grew up in Northamptonshire. The countryside is lovely and most of the villages are very picturesque. There's not much for teenagers to do unless you're in one of the larger towns, though.

I quite like Northampton itself, too. If you think that's shit you should try Peterborough.

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

No, don't try Peterborough. Bloody place, full of racist inbreds. Mind you, DW is a Weldon girl, and she's lovely.