Northamptonshire exudes quaint English charm. The county is dotted with tiny villages complete with thatched-roof cottages, picturesque fields and streams and some of the finest historic houses in the country. Visit this beautiful area to experience manors and gardens, churches and museums, family attractions, tiny villages and bustling market towns.
The late Diana, Princess of Wales had a connection to Northamptonshire. Just outside the county town of Northampton is her family’s estate, Althorp House, which is also her final resting place. Pay your respects at her memorial and be moved by the beauty of the estate.
Another fascinating historic house is Sulgrave Manor. This grand Tudor mansion was built and lived in by the Washington family before Colonel John Washington, the great-grandfather of America’s first president George Washington, left for the New World in 1656.
Northamptonshire’s bucolic villages and thriving market towns are a true delight. Visit, among many wonderful examples, Ashby St Ledgers, home of the infamous Gunpowder Plot, or the pretty villages of Kettering, Oundle and Cosgrove.
Northampton is also a charming place to explore. Discover the décor of 78 Derngate, the fascinating Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and the unique round shape of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Indeed, you could spend your whole trip exploring the county’s impressive churches, including the Saxon churches at Brixworth and Earls Barton.
Sports fans and families will delight in the world-class motor sport venues of Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix, the Rockingham Circuit and Santa Pod Raceway. Take younger children to one of the country’s oldest theme parks, Wicksteed Park, for a fun day out.
Get out into the countryside and enjoy walking the footpaths and trails. Or head to one of the beautiful green spaces such as Sywell Country Park or Brixworth Country Park for a leisurely picnic. Alternatively, embark on a canal cruise and then visit the excellent Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne.
Located in the heart of England, Northamptonshire is accessible from several international airports including Birmingham, East Midlands and London Luton. Rent a car to get out into the true depths of the countryside and set off on a classic English adventure.