Oundle, Northamptonshire

[CyanDog]

I’m looking for some advice as my husband’s new job is in a small town called Oundle, Northamptonshire.
We are in the South West and do not know this area well. Can anyone shed any light on whether it’s a good place to live? The nearby towns and cities are Corby, Kettering, Peterborough and Northampton.
Also is there a lot of media or alternatively security presence with Prince George allegedly starting at the school?

thanks!

It is absolutely beautiful there. Very expensive as well. Pretty easy transport . The school is quite separate from the village so security will probably be on the grounds themselves .

Oundle is nice. I’m not so sure about the other places.

The other places are definitely not nice . Especially Corby . Some areas around Northampton are OK but it's quite a trek.

Corby isn't pretty but it has a reasonably ok town centre with a few decent shops, an Olympic size swimming pool, cinema, library and theatre all in the same area.
Peterborough has a much bigger shopping centre but I don't know much about the town.
Kettering and Northampton are a bit unloved but Kettering has a place called Wicksteed Park which is one of the oldest "theme parks" in the country and has many events that happen there and it's a nice place to go.
There's good train links from Peterborough, Northampton and Kettering/Corby (different train lines) so you can get to other places fairly easily.

There's some nice Country Parks in the area too.
One that has a reservoir that has a sunken village under the water.
I can't remember the Park name though.

Corby and Kettering aren't "nice" but they're fine enough and they do have lots of shops and a fast train to London. Kettering also has large hospital and Corby has a minor injuries / urgent care unit. I lived nearby until recently and I would go to Corby and Kettering for weekly shops etc.

Stamford and Oundle are lovely, as are Uppingham and Oakham in Rutland.

I'd be very surprised if Prince George ended up at Oundle (not saying it isn't a great school) so I wouldn't let that colour your decisions!

Kettering does have a cute little independent shopping place called The Yards which is good.

Oundle is lovely, Northampton is miles away from there, there are towns like Thrapston nearby which are much cheaper to buy houses, so you might be better looking at the towns and villages nearby if cost is an issue at all. Peterborough and Corby aren't so nice. Rushden Lakes shops are nice and not too far away but parking is bad there at the weekend

Really? I thought it was a given!

thanks all for your comments so far!

Oundle itself is lovely, quite wealthy and upmarket, some good restaurants in the area and old buildings if that's your thing. Surrounding countryside is very pretty and it's close to bigger towns and cities for amenities. Peterborough is not as bad as its reputation leads you to believe, though obviously it's not Cambridge. There are numerous country parks and reservoirs within a 30 min drive (Nene Park/ Ferry Meadows, Hinchingbrooke, Barnwell, Stanwick Lakes, Graffham Water, Rutland) and shopping outlets (Rushden Lakes). Crime rates generally for that part of Northants are low, some pockets of deprivation. Everything you want or need is within easy reach if you have a car. As it's a wealthy area, good schools.

avoid Peterborough

Stamford for the nearest very nice town if Oundle itself is too small for your needs

Have a look at Rightmove and decide if Oundle is affordable for you.
Stamford and the villages are usually more expensive, Thrapston as previous poster suggested is likely slightly cheaper, (also Raunds, but possibly not so nice).
It very much depends whether you want to live in a very small market town with some facilities but limited public transport, or if you like a bigger place with a train station, buses etc.
The local state schools in Oundle are on the up at the moment, with lots of people from surrounding areas choosing to go to them, Peterborough and surrounds are cheaper and some areas are fine, some to be avoided. You could have a look at the new build area of Hampton on the edge of Peterborough, which is a 15 minute drive.
Corby is 20 minutes, Kettering 30 minutes.
Plenty of activities in Oundle for kids, if you have kids.

I think it is just rumour about Prince George and the public school…regardless, unless you work at the school I can’t imagine it would affect you in any way.

This seems to be a theme, is it really unpleasant and dangerous? Or just a tired city centre?

Sorry that didn’t quote. I meant Peterborough

Thank you so much. From first impressions it looks like Oundle is Stamford’s poorer neighbour. Hopefully more affordable.
ive been told Prince George is going to the school therefore it will be a security heavy place.

Peterborough is fine! There are (same as any city) some rougher areas, but lots of good ones.

I thought George would be going to Eton or Marlborough College, never heard of him possibly going to Oundle...

Don't write off Peterborough. It has some of the issues that affect other cities, but a historic cathedral with frequent public events, spacious Lido, some good food options and country parks are all in its favour. Oundle itself feels like the Cotswolds - sedate and charming, but without the coachloads of tourists.

It’s a tired city centre, quite rough at times, surrounded by acres of new build housing estates.

Peterborough is fine, as others have said, probably safer than many other cities. It just isn’t a very wealthy place, lost its John Lewis, lots of shops gone to retail parks, so city centre feels like it has less than 10 years ago.
There is no way you would end up accidentally living in a less nice area, and there are plenty of good areas where normal working people live and bring up kids with no problem at all. It has a lot of green spaces, and much less of a traffic problem than other cities I have been to.

Peterborough is a shithole. Pretty sure George is going to Eton.

Oundle is lovely lovely lovely I went to Oundle School and parents aren't far away and I love it.

Small but has a lot in it for its size and I find everyone so friendly walking around, people smile and are charming (I once left a phone in a coffee shop and the lady ran after me to return it, it's that sort of place). Thanks to the school you've got amazing amneities, Top quality gyms, olympic pool, art gallery, theatre, hockey clubs, rugby (v good) - it feels like a miniature oxford, very this style with the boarding school.

Not sure what Oundle the others have visited above but the school is not separate to the town it is almost the town very much like a mini Oxford in this regard - probably one of the most integrated schools in its locale in the UK. In regard Prince George, there is zero confirm but the security detail is minimal and very hidden. It was at Eton and Marlborough for Will, Harry and Eugenie. It will have zero bearing on your life if it comes to pass. The towns around are pretty awful. We use Cambridge if we want a bit of culture NOT PETERBOROUGH. But mostly just London as its a quick 47 minute zip into the capital and frequent trains.

It's also younger crowd than you'd expect thanks to the school and the teacher population so I find it more sort of liberal in a way not just a town full of retirees which I think Stamford can be a bit.

All in all you've got a great place. Personally I have come to prefer it to Stamford, but Stamford is lovely. Oakham I think is a step down (the development has been poorly managed), Uppingham is nice but think Oundle nicer; the villages around them are beautiful and the drive between Oundle and Uppingham through the valleys and undulating countryside is one of England's best - recommend for walks.

Good luck.

And generally it's off the tourist trail so not touristy at all - let's keep it that way!