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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU- really worried about moving to Northampton

214 replies

up1978 · 03/12/2018 09:50

we are looking to move to Northampton (Weston Favell area) or maybe somewhere else still not 100% sure from London. I have 2 children one going into high school in September and i am really worried that he wont do as well in school as he will be an in year transfer and I wouldnt really get a choice on where he gets a place as most good schools are oversubscribed. Just really anxious about it all. If any of you live in the area please let me know what its like living there with kids.

OP posts:
chopsypombears · 03/12/2018 13:18

Call the relevant schools to ask about admissions post-transfer deadlines.

Re Northampton, i grew up there - in Favell Green near Weston Favell actually - and to be honest i think you'd be mad to move there. The area is not far from about 7 council estates (Lings, Bellinge, Thorplands, Lumbertubs etc) and in my opinion the neglect is starting to spread. Weston Favell shopping centre is a complete dump, and Northampton town centre is even worse. You couldnt pay me to move back there.

CarrieBlu · 03/12/2018 13:20

I grew up in a village in Northampton. So pretty familiar with Weston Favell and still follow the news for that area. I would seriously look at other options if you can. It’s not a great area.

skybluee · 03/12/2018 13:22

Every area has its good and bad and to a certain extent is what you make of it. I'm sure there will be sports teams, hobbies, things to do and other advantages to living over London. It also will be significantly cheaper.

If you're making the move while he is in year 7, I think that's a good time because people are not yet settled and making friends, as opposed to say year 11 or something similar when friendship groups are already well established.

Have you thought about somewhere like Worcester - not too far from there and really nice.

QuinionsRainbow · 03/12/2018 14:13

"Have you thought about somewhere like Worcester - not too far from there and really nice."

Google maps says 80 miles, 2 hours, give or take, and I can confirm this from experience. Not what I would call "not too far", but would agree about "nice". However, I would go along with the comments about Northampton. It has become rather depressing over the past ten years.

Knittedfrog · 03/12/2018 14:18

I lived in East Hunsbury for a while. It was really nice.

Kemer2018 · 03/12/2018 14:23

My mum moved to East hunsbury 2 years ago and loves it. Her husband, I'm not so sure. He's finding it hard to make social links and misses having ye olde boozer down the road 😂
My brother lives near the canal, loves the house and green spaces, doesn't like the transient neighbours.

HerBigChance · 03/12/2018 14:24

It used to be a proper civic market town and it's a real shame how it's gone downhill.

GlamourBear · 03/12/2018 14:52

I live in a small town about 25 miles from Northampton and have done since I was born. I would not recommend Northampton as a place to move to. It's a shame as I remember lots of shopping trips to both Northampton and Weston Favell as a child. Try one of the smaller towns in the surrounding area as there are lots of nice places to choose from Smile

MutantDisco · 03/12/2018 15:50

What about Oxfordshire, OP?

Original poster
up1978 · 03/12/2018 20:39

It's near the Abington/Weston favell border. So not far from Edgemont Road. I was told this area was nice. Was I misinformed. I currently live in NW London and my local town centre is not great. I'm even more anxious now Confused

OP posts:
Fernicktylo · 03/12/2018 20:44

Northampton council is in dire straits despite recent bailout so don't expect any regeneration or much civic service in the near future. even bin collections could be at risk. it is at the sharp edge of austerity.

Bananacentral · 03/12/2018 20:48

Not the best area of Northampton but on the better side of Weston Favell at a push IMO.
Northamptonshire has some nice areas, but you need more outskirts that this is you want nice area/good schools.
Where will your family be working? What else do you need from the are?

WellyWoolly · 03/12/2018 20:56

There are good and bad parts as with all towns.
What has been said about the council is true but mis-management etc could happen anywhere at anytime.
Definitely gone downhill since I was a child, though. It's no longer the place to go for shopping.
Do you have to be in Northampton? There are some lovely villages (although more pricey)

Original poster
up1978 · 03/12/2018 20:57

We both work from home so don't need to commute anywhere. Just looking at schools and thought Northampton international academy, Moulton maybe for my elder child and the younger one to an independent school (as elder one would have been in a private school fro prep). Really looking for outdoor space/parks and bus route's to school/town. But as we drove guess that's not necessity just be great for when kids get older. I just don't want to make the wrong move and live to regret it. Especially as we don't really know the area that well.

OP posts:
Crimbobimbo · 03/12/2018 21:04

Do you know anyone there? Why not stay in London?

OlennasWimple · 03/12/2018 21:09

The Telegraph has it as one of their 10 "perfect commuter towns"

Hmm

I doubt anyone from the Telegraph offices has ever been to Northampton TBH. It's not somewhere I would recommend living in

Original poster
up1978 · 03/12/2018 21:11

Well my partner is from Corby although hasn't lived there for 20 years!!! Northamptonshire seemed good as nr there (still have family there). Need to upside and would love a quieter life!! If there's such a thing

OP posts:
Stilllivinginazoo · 03/12/2018 21:12

Moulton is a feeder school for villages,and is super highly subscribed
NIA is a newish school and therefore has less of a reputation,good or bad.that said I know two families that have very bright children who are doing very well there.i can't say for sure if it's the school of the children in question would do well anywhere iyswim...Abington's better than Weston favell,but like previous posters have said surrounding villages are nicer

user1471462115 · 03/12/2018 21:12

Used to know this area well.
Weston Favell and Abington Vale are lovely .
Buses were good, but this may change due to the fact that the council has no money.
Good schools are the boys school on Billing Road and the girls school in Spinney Hill. You can walk to both from WF or AV.

Northampton has good trains north to Birmingham and south to London.
The Derngate theatre is fabulous
There is county cricket and rugby and football.
Abington Park is gorgeous. So is Delapre Abbey and the park there.

Some of the other schools are not so great, but things change so much from year to year .

I liked living in Northampton and think there is a lot going on.
There are a lot worse places to live.

Worcester also has cricket, rugby and a footy team but it really is miles away !

MrsDrudge · 03/12/2018 21:13

Northampton town centre has gone downhill, but there are some nice small towns and villages in the area, particularly around Althorpe (Church Brampton, Chapel Brampton, Holdenby, East Haddon, West Haddon). There is a station at Long Buckby, 5 mins away, London Euston about an hour on train. Lovely village schools here, and the secondary school st Guilsborough (also nice village/small town) has an excellent reputation. HTH and good luck with your move

BishBoshBashBop · 03/12/2018 21:15

Have you thought about somewhere like Worcester - not too far from there and really nice

There are good and bad parts of Worcester, just like there is everywhere else.

Athena51 · 03/12/2018 21:43

I've got family in West Hunsbury and it's pretty nice. They have a nice house in a quiet area, it's fine.

R3b3kah · 03/12/2018 21:49

I’ve not long moved away from Northampton, very glad of that.

It’s a dump and crime rate is horrendous, the local riff raff Weston favell end (and everywhere else in Northampton) is a put off.
The only thing I miss is friends.

Sure it has nice parts, but Weston favell would not be my choice that’s where I moved from (well Lings)

Doodlebug5 · 03/12/2018 21:52

I like it. I live in Upton now but used to live in Kingsley. It's not too bad honestly

WhiteVixen · 03/12/2018 21:56

Northampton town centre has gone downhill, but there are some nice small towns and villages in the area, particularly around Althorpe (Church Brampton, Chapel Brampton, Holdenby, East Haddon, West Haddon). There is a station at Long Buckby, 5 mins away, London Euston about an hour on train. Lovely village schools here, and the secondary school st Guilsborough (also nice village/small town) has an excellent reputation. HTH and good luck with your move

I grew up in one of the villages mentioned here, and attended Guilsborough School ( back in the 90s). I loved growing up in a village, my parents still live there. Guilsborough was, and by all accounts, still is a great school. I’dove to move back to the area, and would choose village life over Northampton town life any day.

I’m sure thing have improved since my youth. Back then we had one bus to Northampton at 9am and you couldn’t come home until 4 😂 My school friends all lived in surrounding villages so my parents spent a lot of time ferrying us around everywhere. Learning to drive at 17 was essential, I started saving for my first car at 16 years old. All a lot cheaper 20 years ago mind.