Moving to Northampton

With the combination of a bustling town centre and peaceful countryside Northampton offers the best of both worlds.

Here's a guide to what type of property is available in the town and what you could expect to find if you were a resident there.

For buyers, the current average asking price in Northampton is £260,279. The table, below, shows how many properties have sold in Northampton over the past 12 months, the average sale price and the current average value based on Zoopla's data.

Average asking rents for homes in Northampton currently stand at £814 per month. Renters will need to budget £742 per month for a two-bedroom flat and £1,371 for a four-bedroom house.

Whether you’re buying or renting, you can choose the right agent with our handy AgentFinder tool. It allows you to compare the number of listings and time it takes to sell from local agents. There's a total of 61 sales and letting agents in Northampton listed on Zoopla.

Northampton’s been undergoing something of a facelift over recent years, with around £20million spent on the train station alone. The North Gate Bus Station has also been updated, improving services across the town.

Plenty more projects are in the pipeline too, including a new cultural quarter which hosts museums, art galleries, a theatre as well as bars, restaurants and shops.

Northampton's marketplace, one of the country’s oldest, is now an updated focal point of the town. The waterside has also been improved so that locals can walk and cycle along the Grand Union Canal.

Away from the town's urban bustle, there are more than 150 parks and open spaces, with more than 50 play areas for children. Salcey Forest, for example, is just seven miles from the town centre and great for families or just a peaceful retreat.

Northampton's East Midlands location is conveniently central for the rest of the country, too. Birmingham is just over an hour’s drive away, while Nottingham can be reached in 90 minutes.

• Abington is just two miles from the town centre and next to the large park of the same name. Look here for large Victorian and Edwardian homes or bay-fronted terraces. Wellingborough Road is a particular hot spot, lined with large detached properties.

• East Hunsbury, to the south of the town, is good for comfortable family semis. Check out roads such as Muncaster Gardens, or take a look at new-builds on the St George’s Fields development.

• You'll find more modern houses for sale in West Hunsbury, including detached, semi-detached and good-value terraces.

• Kingsley is a conservation area that boasts some fine Victorian Gothic architecture. Take a look down St George’s Avenue and Kingsley Road for bay-fronted family homes.

• Delapre is another popular area to the south. Substantial three-bedroom detached homes can be found down London Road.

• A couple of miles from Northampton station is Kingsthorpe, another conservation area. Look here for listed buildings and stone cottages. For 1920s homes with bay windows, search Towcester Road in Far Cotton. You can also find Victorian terraces on streets such as Southampton Road.

Popular villages around Northampton include Broughton, Great Houghton, Little Brington and Wootton.

• Find large country homes in Broughton as well as barn conversions and some thatched cottages. You can also find some modern developments on its outskirts.

• The conservation area of Great Houghton is just over two miles from the town centre. Its high street features handsome and traditional red-brick buildings.

• Country houses and large detached homes are features of Little Brington, but old character can be found in the village of Wootton. The roads leading off its high street are home to some old sandstone cottages while 1950s semis are available off Green Lane.

• Search new developments like Scholars Green for new-builds. This new estate sits in the suburb of Kingsthorpe to the north of the town centre and offers two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes.

• For a smaller development try Loxton Fields, which comprises of just 52 four- and five-bedroom homes.

Two-bedroom flat for £140,000

For first-time buyers that want to be in the middle of the action this town centre 10th floor apartment is ideal. The move-in ready home offers panoramic views of Northampton from both bedrooms and the open plan kitchen and living room. There’s also the added perk of a balcony and secure parking is available.

Available viaConnells

Four-bedroom terraced house for £270,000

This traditional Victorian terrace has been refurbished to create a home that’s fit for modern family life. Original features such as cast-iron fireplaces and stained-glass windows are still in place, but a contemporary kitchen, open plan living and dining space and fresh décor have helped to transform the house.

Available viaPurplebricks

Two-bedroom flat to rent for £750 pcm

A short walk from the town centre is this unfurnished two-bedroom flat with views over the Northampton arm of the Grand Union Canal. Both bedrooms in this well-kept apartment are doubles making it ideal for flat sharing or for a young family. Off-street parking is available and double glazing and central heating are in place.

Available viaYour Move

Two-bedroom terraced house for £199,950

In the village of Kingsthorpe to the north of the city you’ll find this charming three-storey stone cottage. It’s been lovingly maintained with the kitchen and bathroom both having been updated by the current owner. If you did want to make any other changes, the fact that it’s been reduced by £45,000 should give you room to negotiate a great deal.

Available viaHorts

Two-bedroom semi-detached house for £140,000

If you’re bold enough to take on a project, this dated bungalow could become the perfect first home. It sits in the leafy suburb of Spinney Hill roughly 2.5 miles from the centre of town and offers two good-sized bedrooms, a large rear garden and the potential for off-street parking at the front of the property.

Available via Connells       

There are 115 schools and colleges within five miles of Northampton, 11 of which have earned Ofsted’s highest 'Outstanding' rating. You can compare school and college performance and find more information on the Government website.

By train: Four trains an hour run to London Euston from Northampton station, each with a journey time of around 60 minutes. Direct journeys to Birmingham also take an hour.

By car: Northampton is in close proximity to the M1 which connects the town with London and Leeds. The M6 is also nearby, meaning residents can get to the North West in about two hours. The A14 provides links east and west of the town.

By air: The closest airport is East Midlands Airport. Operators such as Flybe and RyanAir offer flights to Europe as well as domestic destinations. Alternatively, residents can head down the M1 to London Luton Airport or Birmingham Airport. Heathrow Airport is also only an hour’s drive away.

History and culture: Take a look at the remains of Northampton Castle and The Holy Sepulchre to get a sense of the town’s lengthy history. You can also admire the Romanesque architecture of the Norman St Peter’s Church.

A little out of town is the site of the Battle of Naseby – a decisive encounter between the King and Parliament in the English Civil War. Take a tour around the site or follow one of its many walks.

You can also venture into the Oxfordshire countryside to see the ancestral home of George Washington. Explore the Tudor and Georgian Sulgrave Manor and take a moment to walk around its gardens and grounds.

Visit the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery to learn about local history and see its impressive shoe collection. For theatre, head to The Deco or the Royal & Derngate. Productions include music, plays, pantomimes and live bands.

Food and drink: Combine a love of history and food at The Church Restaurant. Set in a 12th-century listed building, this restaurant offers up a historical environment in which to enjoy a traditional home-cooked meal.

Quirky cocktails can be enjoyed at Haycock & Tailbar – if you can find it. Hunt down the unremarkable doorway and ring the bell for entrance. Down the corridor you’ll find a stylish bar serving quirky drinks and a variety of unusual meats.

Fresh Mediterranean food is served up at La Terraza Tapas Bar in Grange Park where you can tuck into a variety of classic Spanish small plates.

Shopping: Grosvenor Centre and Market Walk service residents with popular high-street retailers. Other major shopping roads include Abington Street.

Locals can also head to St James’ Retail Park in the south of the town.

Stroll along the stalls of the new monthly market held in the marketplace to buy local produce. Gourmet sausages, beers and ciders are all available.

Outdoor activities: Abington Park is Northampton’s oldest park. Take a relaxing stroll around the boating lake or rest your feet in the park’s café. If you’re feeling more energetic, try the outdoor fitness equipment.

The park also has its own museum. Take some time to look around and see images of domestic and military life of the people of Northampton.

For some adventure head to Salcey Forest and take the Tree Top Way. This route sits 15 metres above the forest floor and offers views across Northampton.

Billing Aquadrome Leisure Park is another attraction for families. It has a marina, funfair, bar and a converted water mill.

For those who enjoy rugby union, Premiership side Northampton Saints play at Franklin's Gardens to the west of the town centre, with the nearby Sixfields stadium hosting the local football club, Northampton Town, who play in the English Football League and are fondly known as the Cobblers.

Festivals and events: The Northampton Carnival takes place every summer and brings residents together to enjoy a parade of floats as well as lots of stalls and stage performances.

The Dragon Boat Race by the rotary club is also not to be missed. Cheer on your favourite team from the riverbank – money raised by the event goes to charity.

The Silverstone Circuit offers more than Grand Prix racing. Check its events calendar for the chance to see classic cars or the highly popular truck festival.

The Errol Flynn filmhouse is a pint-sized cinema with 88 comfortable leather seats.  All profits go to the Northampton Theatres Trust – and you can even take in a bottle of wine to drink during the film.

• One-hour journey times into London

• Long and fascinating history

• Affordable and diverse property for sale

• Plenty of regeneration underway

• Wide choice of schools

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Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments if there’s anything we’ve missed...