Make a self catering villa or holiday rental in Northamptonshire, England your home away from home
Northamptonshire is a county with a delightful cross section of fields and pastures, forests and urban areas. This historic area, once the Royal hunting grounds, has a wealth of historic attractions and country estates including Althorp, the family home of Lady Diana Spencer, Holdenby House and Kelmarsh Hall among others. Once known as the county of “spires and squires”, Northamptonshire has many churches to visit. The county town of Northampton is known for its shoe-making industry.
Things to Do in Northamptonshire Bird Watching
Rockingham Forest is an area of ancient woodland where many rare and unusual birds can be seen and heard. The Red Kite, an eagle-like bird of prey, was extinct in Britain but breeding pairs have been successfully reintroduced to the area. Bird-watchers may also enjoy a visit to the Red Kite Visitor Centre. Boating
The historic Grand Union Canal runs through Northamptonshire and its towpaths make an excellent traffic-free walking trail. It is also possible to hire boats for the day to explore these rural waterways, including the 3km long Blisworth Tunnel and the nearby Waterway Museum.
Walking and cycling
The quiet green lanes around Northamptonshire are ideal for exploring on foot or by bicycle. The rural farmland and fresh air offer a great way to enjoy nature at its best.
Places to Visit in Northamptonshire Woburn Abbey
Set in 3,000 acres of deer forest, Woburn Abbey is a delightful historic home to visit. It has one of the most important private art collections in the world, including paintings by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Reynolds and Canaletto as well as fine antique furniture, porcelain and gold. Stroll around the grounds and browse the Antiques Centre of this excellent attraction.
Sulgrave Manor
Sulgrave Manor is the home of George Washington’s relatives. It is a modest manor house with beautiful English country gardens and a gift shop. The former buttery is now a café.
All Saints Church
This historic church at Earl’s Barton is typical of many in the area. All Saints Church is known for its fine tower with battlements and observation posts, its Norman door and unique Saxon architecture. The interior of the church has a medieval rood screen, a Victorian font and some fine stained glass windows.
Weather in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire has warm but cloudy summers with some showers. Expect summer temperatures to average 73°F (23°C) during the day. The winters are generally mild with more rainfall and occasional snow.
Getting to Northamptonshire
There are several airports close to your Northamptonshire holiday rental. Coventry Airport is 26 miles from the centre of Northampton. London’s Luton Airport is 34 miles from Northampton and Birmingham International Airport is 39 miles away.
A car is essential to make the most of exploring this scenic area. A hire car can be picked up from the airport, or consider driving to this beautiful area via the M1 from the north or from London.
