The Best Places to Live in Northamptonshire

A popular county in the East Midlands, Northamptonshire is also known as ‘The Rose of the Shires’, thanks to its key part in the War of the Roses and the beautiful countryside that surrounds its many towns.

If this is an area you’re thinking about settling down in, you might be wondering what the best places to live in Northamptonshire are.

This is why we’ve put together a short list to help you decide, as we delve into what makes each of them so special and why they’re such great places to live in.

What is Kettering like to live in?

One of Northamptonshire’s best-connected towns, with direct links to London St Pancras, commuters from Kettering can expect to get into London within an hour, while other direct services will take you to the likes of Derby, Leicester, Luton, Nottingham and Sheffield.

However, more than just a commuter town, Kettering also has plenty of things to do if you enjoy an active lifestyle.

For example, there’s the Kettering community swimming pool to take advantage of, or the Kettering Sports Club, which specialises in a whole host of outdoor activities like archery, cricket, rifle shooting, tennis, and football.

It’s also near some of the most beautiful stately homes in the county, such as Drayton House (which can be visited via a guided tour) and Boughton House.

Living in Kettering also means living in a town with plenty of great schools, making it an ideal location to settle down as a family.

Aside from the large number of primary and secondary school options, you’ll also find one of Tresham College and Further Education’s campuses there, which offers several vocational courses including hairdressing, beauty therapy, hospitality, and catering.

What is Northampton like to live in?

As one of the largest towns in the United Kingdom, living in Northampton is equal parts fast paced and exciting, which is why it was always going to be on our list of the best places to live in Northamptonshire!

Firstly, the town is incredibly well connected, thanks to Northampton Railway Station offering regular direct services to places like London Euston (which is only an hour away), as well as Birmingham and Crewe.

As for greenery, Northampton has over 170 parks and open spaces, which is ideal if you like to make the most of the outdoors.

People with an active lifestyle will want to look into the Delapré Public Golf Course, the Radlands Plaza Skatepark, as well as the impressive King's Park Sports, which combines two state-of-the-art sports facilities where you can practice football, tennis, archery, badminton, trampolining, and roller-skating, among others.

On the music front, Northampton has an incredible live entertainment scene, with the annual (and free) Northampton Music Festival being a must-attend for any lover of live music.

Finally, the town is also home to the University of Northampton, as well as around 50 primary schools, eight secondary schools and the further education institution, Northampton College.

Living in Wellingborough

Situated in a hilly region of Northamptonshire, Wellingborough is a beautiful town that overlooks the River Nene.

One of Northamptonshire’s prominent market towns, with a market taking place three times a week in the town centre, it’s also got its own shopping centre, Swansgate Shopping Centre, where you can find pretty much everything else you need.

Life in Wellingborough isn’t just all about shopping, though, as anyone wanting to play sports will want to head straight to Diana's Health and Fitness, which is home to five squash courts, a swimming pool, a spa, a bar, and a restaurant.

Additionally, Wellingborough has a lovely community theatre, The Castle Theatre, where groups such as the Castle Youth Theatre and the Youth Dance regularly make use of the space.

As for commuting, the town has its own Grade II-listed railway station, providing direct links to London St Pancras every 30 minutes, while also offering regular services to the likes of Bedford, Corby, Derby, Leicester, Luton, Nottingham, and Sheffield.

Life in Desborough

Slightly removed from Northamptonshire’s busier and more commercial towns, Desborough might not be on everyone’s list of the best places to live in Northamptonshire, but we’ve added it as it’s perfect for people looking for a more relaxed pace.

Families with young children will be glad to know the town has a hybrid primary school, infant and junior school made up of the Loatlands Primary and the combined Havelock Infant and Junior Schools, allowing for a steady and continuous educational growth.

There’s also lots of family friendly activity spots, making planning afternoons out with the kids incredibly simple.

For example, the Desborough Leisure Complex has a football pitch, a basketball court, a gym, and a skate park, while Targetcraft Archers, an archery club for all abilities and ambitions, is another great place for children to get involved in.

Not only that, its proximity to the A6 makes it ideal for commuters looking to move somewhere quieter while still retaining access to bigger town amenities, and while Desborough doesn’t have its own major railway station, the neighbouring towns of Corby, Kettering and Market Harborough do, and are all just a short five-mile drive away from the town.

So, if this sounds like the right place for you, why not visit Viridian Meadows, our development of new build homes in Desborough?