University of Northampton - Sunley Hotel

[Year13novice]

DD is struggling to work out which universities to visit and this one has made the shortlist. We’re going to go for the open day in November and I was thinking about staying over the night before at the Sunley Hotel which is on campus. Is this a crazy idea? I’m assuming as it’s a “real” hotel it’s not just going to be mobbed with students. Any tips? What have others done for open days here?

It looks like it's the university's conference hotel - lots have them (I've stayed at the university of Birmingham one several times - both the old Lucas House, which is now a facility for international students, I think, and the swish new Edgbaston Park Hotel - and DH stayed at the University of York equivalent when he went to an open day with DS1 a few years ago). I've only been to Northampton once, and that was due to a failure of my elderly satnav to engage with the 'signal' for a reconfigured junction on the M6, so can't recommend anywhere else, but that place looks fine to me.

As PP said it is the on site hotel for people attending short courses.

There is nowhere stunning to stay in Northampton but for similar price you could stay at the Hilton by the M1 or Marriott / Holiday Inn nearby, which would have a bar and restaurant etc

I don’t know about the university but I lived in Northampton for a few years, it was god awful. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, especially someone young!

I know it’s not what you asked, sorry, I was triggered by the word ‘Northampton’

Northampton town is bleak as fuck. Are there any prettier/ nicer/ more happening unis on her list?

Haha thank you that’s all really helpful. I’m not sure why she has got it on her shortlist but perhaps we need to look into it more carefully!

@Year13novice , yes I agree, possibly view it on social media sites or uni website first of all. It's a very bleak town and an overnight stay should be carefully considered!

I’m so disappointed! I was quite pleased as it’s within a couple of hours drive from home and the entry requirements work for us. Nothing positive about Northampton at all???

We visited UON last year with my daughter. I wasn't blown away with the uni at all.
Don't let you daughter be tempted by the unconditional offer they're very likely to send out. They send out about 50% unconditional offers to students to try to tempt them in.
No idea about the hotel. We walked past it but we didn't go in.

Well I’m relieved I asked as this will save me some money on the hotel and a wasted trip up there!

Northampton university is where a lot of the local students go and apparently it's pretty good,infact a friends niece who moved up to Nottingham really didn't get on there and changed to study at Northampton.
The town isn't great,it's a dump infact. Says alot when I prefer to have a coffee out in Daventry, but Milton Keynes is close and there are some really good pubs and places to eat,it's just the town centre and shops really are not great.

I really don't think Northampton is a dump. It's all relative to where you come from... certainly it has a lovely theatre (currently closed ...RAAC) and a county cricket ground.

I do think it's rather dull.

Hi OP so sorry you are disappointed. Can you say what your DD wants to study and what her predicted grades are? People might be able to give you a steer on some better choices.

Tbh I have never heard of Northampton uni an the town is not the most exciting. IME there are unis in dullish places but which are themselves well worth attending (Lboro, Lancaster, Warwick); but there are also unis that are less highly rated but still pretty good, but that are in places that are exciting, busy, interesting - these might suit your DD better?

Under that head I would class Sheffield Hallam, Notts Trent, Leeds Beckett, City of Birmingham, UWE, Uni of Kent. There are others of course.

You don't say where you live tho and I infer that she is looking for somewhere close to home. If Northampton is close bc you are in the south, most of my ideas are a bit unhelpful. Kent is good tho if you are SE.

Btw I wouldn't class a two-hour open day trip as requiring a hotel stay necessarily (tho you may have other reasons for staying over); IME you can see all you need to see in a day from 10-3.

The university itself has a new multimillion pound campus on the river. so it's a hell of a lot better than it used to be.

I went there as a mature student in a 'local uni for local people' kind of a way. Quite a few people on my course had done their undergrad there and seemed happy enough.

Academically it won't blow anyone away, it's just your bog standard ex poly, really.

I think the university is probably OK but the town of Northampton itself is indeed bleak beyond belief as another poster has observed. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a more soulless, depressing place.

Gosh.

May I recommend Dunstable, Kettering, Bedford, Corby, Peterborough....?

Not sure what the course is but it has a genuinely solid reputation for health care.

Can I also add Middlesbrough (where a friend's DD is at uni!), Boston, Gainsborough?

Apols to anyone who lives in and loves those places. I am allowed to say them as one is where I am from, one is near where I used to live and the other is where DH went to school.

No uni in Boston or Gainsboro as far as I am aware tho. Sorry for theflippancy @Year13novice

Ah Northampton is not that bad. At least not totally.

The cultural quarter is lovely, some nice shops on the Guildhall and lovely architecture in that part. There are lovely parks - the Uni is next to Beckets Park / Midsummer Meadow and close to Delapre Abbey.

The bus service is pretty good and there are good out of town shopping options at Sixfields and Rushden Lakes.

Student accom is good in new blocks by the campus.

Wow lots of new messages. We are in the south east. Also looking at Brighton and Nottingham Trent. I think Sheffield Hallam might be asking for out of reach grades as she’s predicted probably BCC. I will have another look.

@clary We thought it would be “fun” to stay over and check out the local areas when we visit unis if possible. We could do it in a day but I’d like DD to see a bit more of each place too. She’s keen to be somewhere with some kind of nightlife though!

She’s interested in Business or Finance so any other recommendations with BCC or similar predicted grades are very welcome. I’ll go and look at Middlesbrough online now.

Thank you for these suggestions it’s really helpful to give me some ideas of places to look up.

nooooooo I and i suspect @Piggywaspushed as well was listing places that are soulless and grim.

Please don't consider Middlesbrough. Not only is it a really long way away from you, it is also really really grim. And Peteborough and Kettering are less enticing than Northampton tbh.

@Year13novice we've stayed there 3 or 4 times when taking/collecting ds from uni and we stayed for 2 nights for graduation.

It's clean, comfortable and friendly. Bar service was a tad slow but everything else was just fine. Perfect location too. Enjoy.

Ermmmm...
Yes! I was.

Business and management at Hallam is 96 pts (=CCC) in clearing this year so might be a shout. I also recommend (really this time) Canterbury - a friend's DD liked it so much she has stayed in the area.

Brighton is nicer than Northampton tho I believe v expensive; UWE in Bristol is worth a look maybe or perhaps Worcester - know a couple of people there and they say it is a vey supportive uni if that's important?