Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire - 140 places to stay
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Principal towns: Corby Northampton Daventry Oundle
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.
Destinations
Recommended Hotels See Map
- Sun Inn Brackley *featured*
Licensed, Historic, Restaurant - Falcon Hotel Castle Ashby *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Hampton by Hilton Corby Corby *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Holiday Inn Corby-Kettering A43 Corby *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Spanhoe Lodge Corby *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - 101 Inn Daventry *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV - Fawsley Hall Daventry *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Rothwell House Hotel Kettering *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - The Comfort Royal Hotel Kettering *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Overstone Park Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Parking, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - The Langham Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant - The New French Partridge Hotel Northampton *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant - Oundle Bespoke Apartments Oundle *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant - Sharnbrook Hotel Rushden *featured*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Parking, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Globe Hotel Weedon *featured*
Licensed, Restaurant
Hotels bookable online See Map
- Rockingham Forest Corby *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Hellidon Lakes Daventry *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, TennisCourt, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Holiday Inn Northampton West Daventry *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Gym, Restaurant - Holiday Inn Northampton West M1 J16 Daventry *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant - 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 - Kettering Park Hotel & Spa Kettering *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Rushton Hall Kettering *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Falcon Hotel Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - 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 *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Holiday Inn Northampton West Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Gym, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Northampton Marriott Hotel Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Park Inn Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Park Inn Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Pool, Gym, Restaurant, Satellite TV, Conference Facilities - Sedgebrook Hall Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Satellite TV - The Worlds End Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Westone Manor Hotel Northampton Northampton *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - The Benefield Wheatsheaf Oundle *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Vine House Hotel & Restaurant Towcester *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Aviator Hotel Wellingborough *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant - Hind Hotel Wellingborough *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant, Conference Facilities - Whittlebury Hall Whittlebury *book online*
Licensed, Parking, Historic, Restaurant
More Northamptonshire Hotels
Recommended Bed and Breakfast See Map
- Old Vicarage Corby *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Inspected, Parking - The Raven Hotel Corby *featured*
TV in rooms - Kingsthorpe Guest House Daventry *featured*
TV in rooms - The Old Vicarage Daventry *featured*
TV in rooms - Coton Lodge Guilsborough *featured*
TV in rooms - Hawthorn House (Private) Hotel Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, Parking - Hawthorn House Private Hotel Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Home Farm House Kettering *featured*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Willow Cottage B & B Middleton *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Poplars Hotel Moulton *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking - Bridge Cottage Oundle *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Inspected, Parking, Disabled - The Old Post Cottage Silverstone *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - The Horseshoes Titchmarsh *featured*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, Historic, Inspected, Parking
Bed and Breakfast bookable online See Map
- Cedar Lodge Corby *book online*
TV in rooms, Children Welcome, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled Facilities - Drayton Lodge Daventry *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Church Farm Lodge Kettering *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Broomhill Hotel Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Heart of England Hotel Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled Facilities - Highgate House Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled Facilities - Lime Trees Hotel Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms, Historic - Northampton B&B Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms - Sunley Management Centre Northampton *book online*
TV in rooms - Marston House Southam *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking - Columbia Hotel Wellingborough *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking, Disabled Facilities - Coton Lodge West Haddon *book online*
TV in rooms, No Smoking, Historic, Parking
More Northamptonshire B&Bs
Pubs & Inns
- Crown Hotel Brackley *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Fox at Farthinghoe 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 - Village Inn Corby *featured*
Food, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - White Swan Corby *book online*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - The Olde Coach House Daventry *book online*
Food, 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 - 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 - Talbot Hotel Oundle *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 *featured*
Food, Historic, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards
Self-Catering See Map
- Cottages in Northamptonshire Countywide *featured*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards - Centro Northampton *book online*
Pub Nearby, Open all year, Parking, Credit Cards