To wonder what Northampton has got going for it?

[Bluebellsinseason]

Anything? Apart from some nice villages?

Unchartered - when is this meet up happening eh?! And I have pm'd u... Where's me reply?!
x

There was a castle?! Where?! It is a bit crap isn't it?!
I want to move now! Any suggestions?!

Castle mound still exists I think - from memory it was in the rough part of town, ummmm what was it called? If you're driving down the side of the train station there's a steep bank on the other side of the road from the station. The castle (hence 'Castle station') was, I think, at the top of that bank. It's where Thomas a Beckett was kept prisoner by Henry whatever (3rd? 4th?) and he escaped - hence Beckett's park & Beckett's Well (another wasted opportunity to make the most of local historical landmarks) - where he stopped for water whilst escaping so the story goes.

And, I found out today Alan Carr is from Northampton, so it's clearly a fine breeding ground for wit ;)

MsPaperbackWriter - depends how far, try the villages?

and it is 'Nenn', only 'Neen' after Peterborough as any true Northamptonian knows.

NEEN!!!!

I live in quite a green area anyway so it is ok really! I like where I live - just be nice if the town centre was better.

Unchartered... Better than being in Corbyyyy though... x

Don't make me slap you upside the head! Corby is great simply because I live here and I am amazing.

Lol x

I grew up there and moved when I turned 18! I have to go back and visit my family but at least west husbury has nice parks. Villiages hmmmm, Blisworth is quite nice and northants is good for the M1 and M40 for when you want to leave!

Also Gallones ice cream is lush, was dead upset when I moved and realised it was only made in northampton. My mum now buys its for me! Raspberry ripple anyone?!

The county of Northamptonshire is really under-rated in my opinion. There is some wonderful countryside and beautiful villages (my parents are in Maidwell - halfway between Northampton and Market Harborough, where I was born). Olney is in Bucks but also lovely (my mum has a cookshop there).

I lived in St James and Kings Heath in Norf'amp'on. Spent 5 years there and was so glad to get out.

Got the castle co-ordinates wrong. Apparently it was actually on the site of the train station, but Charlie 2 ordered it destroyed cos we supported the roundheads - bastard.

I'm home next weekend & will be meeting some friends in town; can any current Northampton dwellers recommend any trendy cafe's or coffee shops for a mid-morning cup of tea, then lunch (don't have to be in the same place IYSWM)? Preferably in the town centre as I'll have to walk down to the station for my train back.

Lunch is lovely at O'Neills on the Drapery, I would recommend their chicken and mushroom crock pot :)

O'Neills, ok- is it anywhere near Debenhams (if it's still Debenhams)?

Where is oneils?!

Try the mailcoach for lunch? It's nice there

Yes pretty much next door to Debenhams :)

The pub oneils? No no no!
Try the mailcoach or 'dreams' coffee shop does lovely sandwiches and homemade cake, on st giles st I think.

Cafe haus I think it's called behind back of debenhams too

Ooh, that reminds me, we used to love going to Soundhaus in Northampton - until it shut down :(

I like "Are you being served" on St Giles -great cafe run by really bubbly ex-teachers.

The cafe at All Saints Church (very central) is good for coffees and if the weather's nice (!!), you can sit outside on the Portico?

See I dont like 'are you being served' at all, I used to go in and on one occaision they served me burnt toast and cold beans and when I politely asked for new toast and the beans to be hot the waitress was a complete and utter arse who called funny (?!) and the two owner women are arses too so I would not piss on that place if it was on fire. You are better off going to Dreams.

I gre up in Kingsthorpe and hated it. A complete intellectual wasteland. I escaped at 18; my mum now lives in Weston Fave village (round the corner from the Bold Dragoon!), which is quite nice. The town is still devoid of anything resembling culture, though.

May I revive this thread just to let all Northantamptonshire lovers know that this afternoon on Radio 4 Open Country was in the county - recording nightingales in the woods, speaking to a local poet who says how cross he gets when people tear through it without appreciating its countryside and were in the Rockingham Forest/Glapthorn area.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvtj0

if you want to listen.