NorthamptonUnited Kingdom

Sitting amid Northamptonshire’s abounding natural beauty, Northampton is a vibrant, historic and picturesque town. Visit this cultural hub to discover ancient roads, impressive churches, modern museums and a thriving arts scene.

Northampton was completely destroyed by a great fire in 1675. When it was rebuilt it was done so in a much more open-plan style than was usually seen in England. The result is an attractive town which centers around the spacious Market Square at its heart. Begin your explorations here and then venture off to discover Northampton’s great appeal.

Go in search of the town’s impressive churches. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a unique architectural gem dating back to 1110 and mirroring the original in Jerusalem. It is one of only a handful of round churches in the country. Visit, too, the Grade I listed All Saints’ Church.

Look for buildings such as Hazelrigg House and Welsh House which survived the great fire. The latter was built in 1595 by Welsh cattle farmers. Discover the ancient craft of boot, shoe and leather manufacturing at the Central Museum and Art Gallery. The once major industry plays an important role in the town’s heritage. You can see items such as David Beckham’s football boots and Queen Victoria’s slippers here.

There are numerous high quality museums to visit, including 78 Derngate, an architectural masterpiece by the late Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Visit the rooms he designed and feel his creativity. Housed in a 15th-century manor house, Abington Park Museum offers beautiful grounds and a fascinating collection of military, natural history and cultural exhibits.

When it comes to culture, Northampton puts on a good show. The Royal Theatre, which dates to 1884, is one of the country’s most prominent companies and is today comprised of a theatre and film house.

Northampton is well served by public transportation and offers plenty of parking too. Fly into one of the nearby airports, which includes Birmingham Airport and East Midlands Airport. There are good links to London and its airports too.