Northamptonshire - 114 places to stay
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Northamptonshire, or Northants, is situated in the very centre of England and is part of the East Midlands. Television garden guru Alan Titchmarsh described it as the 'Pancreas' of England, partly due to the shape of the county. It is an upland county, especially when compared to many of its neighbours, and includes the watershed between The Wash and The River Severn .
The central location of the county provides easy access to all areas of England, a fact which no doubt has led to its active and important role in British history since at least Roman times. The area was already inhabited by Pre-Celtic and Celtic people prior to the arrival of the Romans. The well known Roman Road, Watling Street, passes through the county and there was a Roman settlement known as 'Lactodurum' where Towcester stands today.
After the Romans departed, the area became part of Mercia, the Anglo Saxon kingdom. From this time Northampton began to operate as an important administrative centre and has since become the county town of Northamptonshire. Over the following centuries the area changed hands between the Danes and the Anglo Saxons, the legacy of this being that it is one of the few counties in England to have a mixture of Anglo Saxon and Danish town names.
Following the Norman Conquest, Rockingham Castle was built for King William. It was used as a royal fortress until Elizabethan times. Fotheringay Castle in Northamptonshire, now in ruins, is famous for being where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned whilst awaiting execution.
The importance of the area continued during later centuries as it became a stronghold for supporters of Cromwell during the English Civil War . The Royalist forces suffered a crushing defeat at The Battle of Naseby in 1645. As the political revolution was replaced by The Industrial Revolution, Northamptonshire became known as a centre for the boot and shoe industry. By the end of the 19th century, it was known as the boot and shoe making centre of the world.
George Washington, first president of the USA, was born of a family that had originally migrated from Northamptonshire. In fact the great-great-great-great-great-grandfather of George himself, Lawrence Washington had been Mayor of Northampton on several occasions during the 16th century. In more recent times the country estate of Althorp in Northamptonshire has become the centre of much attention as it is the family home and last resting place of Princess Diana . It has been in the Spencer family since the early 16th century and is currently owned by the 9th Earl Spencer, Diana's younger brother. The estate is open to the public and attracts many thousands of visitors. Althorp is, however, only one of many stately homes and castles worth visiting in Northamptonshire, which has been described as the county of 'squires and spires'.
The county is also home to the famous motor racing circuit Silverstone, host of the British Grand Prix , which was first held there in 1948. Northamptonshire also hosts the Santo Pod Raceway, a world famous centre for Drag Racing that has staged events such as the European Drag Racing Championships. The Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire is the largest stadium in Britain, with a capacity of 130,000 and house events such as British Superbikes.
In another part of Northaptonshire things move at a more relaxing pace. The county's history involves the British Waterways. The Oxford and Grand Union canals run through the county and join at Braunston. There is a flight of 17 locks on the Grand Union at Rothersthorpe and a canal museum at Stoke Bruerne.
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Destinations
Recommended Hotels See Map
- Sun Inn Brackley *featured*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant - Spanhoe Lodge Corby *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - The Granary Hotel Daventry *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Rothwell House Hotel Kettering *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Northampton Marriott Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Overstone Park Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Sedgebrook Hall Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Westone Manor Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Oundle Bespoke Apartments Oundle *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Sharnbrook Hotel Rushden *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Aviator Hotel Wellingborough *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant
Hotels bookable online See Map
- Falcon Hotel Castle Ashby *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Hampton by Hilton Corby Corby *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Rockingham Forest Corby *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Daventry Hotel Daventry *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Staverton Park Hotel Daventry *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Bridge Hotel Kettering *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Holiday Inn Express Kettering Kettering *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - The Red LIon Middleton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Campanile Hotel Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Falcon Hotel Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Highgate House Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Highgate House Conference Centre Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Hilton Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Holiday Inn Northampton West Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Park Inn Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - The Langham Hotel Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Restaurant - The Worlds End Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - The Benefield Wheatsheaf Oundle *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Vine House Hotel & Restaurant Towcester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Hind Hotel Wellingborough *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - The Stanwick Hotel Wellingborough *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV
Bed and Breakfast See Map
- Astwell Mill Brackley *featured*
TV in rooms - The Paddocks Corby *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - The Raven Hotel Corby *featured*
TV in rooms - Drayton Lodge Daventry *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Brooklyn House Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Parking - Church Farm Lodge Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Hawthorn House (Private) Hotel Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, Parking - Home Farm Barn Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Poplars Hotel Moulton *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Broomhill Hotel Northampton *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Lime Trees Hotel Northampton *featured*
TV in rooms, Historic - Murcott Mill Farmhouse Northampton *featured*
TV in rooms - Northampton B&B Northampton *featured*
TV in rooms - Sunley Management Centre Northampton *featured*
TV in rooms - The Old Post Cottage Silverstone *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Columbia Hotel Wellingborough *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled - Coton Lodge West Haddon *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Shepherds Row West Haddon *featured*
TV in rooms
Pubs & Inns
- Olde Coach House Inn Ashby St Ledgers *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Crown Hotel Brackley *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Raven Hotel Corby *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The White Swan Corby *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - George Hotel Kettering *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Royal Hotel Kettering *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Wheatsheaf Inn Kettering *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Globe Hotel Northampton *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Hopping Hare Northampton *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Plough Hotel Northampton *book online*
Food, Children Welcome, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Stags Head Northampton *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Stags Head Northampton *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Walnut Tree Inn Northampton *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Bridge Hotel Thrapston *book online*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Brave Old Oak Towcester *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Saracens Head Hotel Towcester *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
Self-Catering See Map
- Centro Northampton *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
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