To wonder what Northampton has got going for it?

[Bluebellsinseason]

Anything? Apart from some nice villages?

Awful place... Lived in Milton Keynes for 5 years (a long cry from Devon where I was born and bred and thankfully have now moved back to!), which actually was a surprisingly great place - especially for young people. The downside of Milton Keynes is that it's too close to the dive that is 'Northampton'. Truly awful place. Although my exP did find a nice little American Diner on some backstreet somewhere. That was quite nice. But it really is an awful place.

I'm with Fanjo & Poppy!!!
I always call it 'the arse-end of nowhere'!

its not the arse end of nowhere at all, it's no where near as arse end as st austell in Cornwall or Aldershot, bordon or Palmerston North in New Zealand, come see for yourself byt Princess Diana's family estate is here and it's very beautiful indeed

I spent three years there while failing to get my degree. Best thing about Northampton was the Welly Road pub crawl . Can't think of any reason why I would go back, although DD was there recently and reckons the town centre was OK.

Not a lot when I lived there. Only visit a couple of times a year now luckily!

F**k all. I grew up there- and then had to spend about five years of my adult life going back there when various family members got ill and died.
The best things? Er- Abington park is beautiful, and the Roadmender had some great bands.
I always think it's the ideal place to grow up as it makes you desperate to leave

I agree, not much going for it. Although the Derngate theatre is good and I have seen some great comedians and other shows there. However, those same shows have toured all over the country so that is no reflection on Northampton really!

sod all - spent three miserable years there (higher education) was very relieved when I finished and have never ever returned

The library is very modern, free. Internet, good range of magazines, can get a coffee there too

Sorry that should say it's got free Internet access

Stanwick Lakes is great

Otherwise Northampton, Kettering, Corby should be bulldozed

Spoke to a vicar in Northants who said the county suffered from having no intellectual hub, city or culture!

Had to spend a day there once (don't ask!)

People seemed friendly. And I loved the museum which was excellent. I think there is also a Mackintosh House?

Probably wouldn't choose to live in the town ... The countryside looked nice?

1. The Pantos in the Derngate

1. It's not far from Milton Keynes

1. Erm, My SILs live there?

1. Erm...

Nope, that's it, I'm out.

I thought of a 4! - Danes camp fun pool is nice.

The county is nice, the town not so.

Free parking on a Sunday?

Ooh ooh the drive thru Starbucks [easily pleased country bumpkin emoticon]

The houses are cheap

We have a lot of Greggs

erm... F1 close by?

It's quite pretty in places? The people are reasonably friendly?

Also clutching at straws. The whole county is commuter belt which sucks out the soul somewhat.

Villages/towns like Oundle, Thrapston, Denford and Aldwincle are pretty and have nice restaurants, shops and cafe. (Thrapston in particular is undergoing a bit of a revival at the moment, with posh florists and gift shops and delis apparently opening up all over the place). Local Authority is trying to revive Kettering as well - this will take a while IMO, as it has all the appeal of Scunthorpe at the moment. I am waiting to see how their plans for a 'restaurant quarter' materialise. Although it has a great independent Italian restaurant we really love.

Some of the country pubs are great, and do lock ins.

Wicksteed Park in Kettering is a brilliant small theme park with lots of play equipment (fee to use) and a really rural atmosphere.

Stanwick Lakes is brilliant, as discussed in other posts. We go there a lot.

Northampton itself is a bit dull, could be anywhere in the Midlands, but the shoe museum is really interesting (free, just rebuilt and extended), and there are some nice restaurants there.

It's quite a relaxing place to spend time, but I do find I am popping into Cambridge and London for clothes and things when I spend a lot of time there (have a shared cottage on the Nene).

Our first house was in Olney - I loved it there. It's also on the M1 so you can get pretty well everywhere.

stoatie - were you at Nene College too? Or are you more recent (University College Northampton)?

Woburn is nice. We always stop off there on the drive up the M1.