Northampton for a fresh start?

[BigMacAttack]

Looking to move to an area where we could buy a 4/5 bedroom house and Northampton is on the radar.

Would need to have primary and secondary school provision for our children.

Specifically thinking North Northampton as seems to have amenities and local parks plus good motorway connections.

Any thoughts on this area?

I live in a village on the Northants / Beds / Bucks border. The villages here are lovely to live in, the towns in the county not so much, although there is a lot locally - Rushden Lakes for shopping and leisure, lots of stately homes, good parks in towns and fab country parks, museums and galleries.

You say north Northampton yet posted in rural living so not sure if you mean the town or the county?

Either really.

What is it about the towns that you are not fond of

Wet?
Why not just move to West Sussex with lots of nice 4/5 bedroom houses near to airports and sea ports and not far from London ( M25 and M23 if you like motorways).

Villages are definitely nicer than the towns. Have you got a particular area in mind

The towns in Northants aren’t what I’d class as rural living if that’s what you’re looking for.

No. Completely open to suggestions and recommendations.

We need a bigger property. Need to be able to be near main roads/motorway plus all the other usual things such as good schools and local community plus amenities.

I wouldn't say Northampton is a rural area at all. I think you should visit Northampton itself as the town centre is not great (to put it nicely)
North Northamptonshire could be classed as slightly more rural, but is further away from the motorways, it depends how close you need to be. Again, the town centres aren't good.
Daventry and the surrounding areas might be worth a look.
Milton Keynes would be well connected for motorways, but again not rural.

Is there another board that is more suitable to ask?

Try the Property DIY pages.

I come from Daventry which has improved in recent years but is still not fabulous.

The villages around Daventry are much nicer. And you're about 20 minutes from the M1.

The villages are much more expensive than the towns in general though. Also bear in mind that when your kids are teenagers you'll be ferrying them around to friends houses because of the rubbish public transport.

Just to add that there are academies in Daventry for primary and secondary and they are ok, but no great shakes iyswim. Village schools are nice but again only fiiiiine. Opportunities around Daventry for vocational qualifications are very limited and people travel a long way to do certain courses. My nephew has had terrible trouble finding a post-16 course that he wanted to do.

What is your budget @BigMacAttack and we could perhaps show you what you could get for your money in nice places.

I was born in Rushden and also lived in Daventry. Unfortunately, haven't been back since the 1960s!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138419948#/?channel=RES_BUY

£325k gets you a 4 bed detached on the edge of a village (that Northampton has grown out to meet) with good schools, 10 minutes from the M1 as a suggestion.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140096042#/?channel=RES_BUY
A bit further out of Northampton but still a nice village location with good schools, close to Junction 18 of the M1 and the A14, and ten minutes from Long Buckby station (1 hourish to Euston)