Estate & Letting Agents In Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the East Midlands, bordered by nine other counties, stretching from the Welland Valley in the north to the fringes of the Chilterns in the south. With an estimated population of around 814,000, it is governed by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire.

The county town of Northampton is one of the largest towns in England, sitting on the River Nene roughly halfway between London and Birmingham. It grew as a centre for the boot and shoe trade during the Industrial Revolution — an industry that defined the town for over a century and is still remembered through the Northampton Museum’s world-famous shoe collection.

Beyond Northampton, the county is made up of a patchwork of market towns and hundreds of small villages, many of them built from the distinctive local ironstone that gives the county its warm, golden appearance.

Historically, Northamptonshire has been at the centre of major events. The Battle of Naseby in 1645 — the decisive engagement of the English Civil War — was fought on its soil. Fotheringhay Castle was the birthplace of Richard III and the place where Mary, Queen of Scots was executed.

Initially, a rural settlement, Corby blossomed into a large industrial town due to the formation of the steelworks and ironstone industries during the 19th century. 

• Estimated Population: 70,827 
• Points of Interest: Rockingham Castle, East Carlton Park, Rockingham Speedway, The Cube, Adrenaline Alley 
• Outstanding Public Schools: Brooke Weston Academy, Corby Primary Academy, Corby Technical School, Maplefields Academy, Oundle Church of England Primary School, Brooke Weston Academy 

Daventry

The area around Daventry was first settled during the Iron Age. Evidence of this can be found on the 199m high Borough Hill which is home to the remains of an Iron Age hill fort. 

• Estimated Population: 81,004 
• Points of Interest: Daventry Country Park, Drayton Reservoir, Borough Hill, Daventry Museum, Canons Ashby, Village Antique Market 
• Schools: East Haddon Church of England Primary School, Gayton Church of England Primary School, Maidwell Primary School, Naseby Church of England Primary Academy, Welton Church of England Academy, Falconer’s Hill Academy 

Kettering

The market town of Kettering has been in existence from as early as the 10th century. The towns prime location on the train line to London has meant a growing population of commuters travelling to and from the capital have brought a significant economic uplift for the area. 

• Estimated Population: 101,266 
• Points of Interest: Boughton House, Wicksteed Park, Bugtopia Education Centre, Manor House Museum, Lighthouse Theatre 
• Outstanding Public Schools: Bishop Stopford School, Cranford CofE Primary School, Hall Meadow Primary School 
• Private Schools: Kingsley School, St Peter’s School

Northamptonshire sits right in the centre of England, making it well placed for road, rail, and air travel alike.

• Car & road: The M1 motorway runs north to south through the county, providing direct links to London (around 70 miles south via Junction 15) and Birmingham (roughly 50 miles north-west). The A14 crosses east to west, connecting the Midlands to Cambridge and the east coast ports. The A1 skirts the county’s eastern border, while the A43 links the M1 to the M40, giving good onward routes into Oxfordshire. Driving to London takes approximately 90 minutes, and Birmingham around an hour.
• Bus: National Express operates coach services from Northampton to London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Local bus services run by Stagecoach and other operators link the county’s towns and villages, with Northampton’s North Gate bus station acting as the main interchange.

Property styles in Northamptonshire: The county’s property stock is remarkably varied. In the villages — particularly those across the south and east — you will find traditional cottages built from the local honey-coloured ironstone, many with thatched roofs, mullioned windows, and inglenook fireplaces. Market towns such as Oundle, Towcester, and Brackley feature handsome Georgian and Victorian townhouses alongside period stone terraces.

The northern towns of Corby, Kettering, and Wellingborough offer a good supply of post-war semi-detached houses and more recent new-build estates, while Northampton itself has everything from Victorian bay-fronted terraces around the Kingsthorpe and Abington areas to large modern family homes in suburbs like West Hunsbury.

Larger country houses, farmhouses, and rural estates are found throughout, particularly in South Northamptonshire and the Welland Valley.

Notable streets and areas: Some of the most sought-after properties in the county are found in villages such as Pitsford, Moulton, Great Brington, and Brixworth around Northampton, and in towns like Oundle and Towcester which are known for their period stone buildings.

The Althorp Estate area is particularly desirable for larger country homes. In North Northamptonshire, sought-after spots include Great Oakley near Corby, and the villages around the Rockingham Forest area.

Development in Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire has seen significant development in recent years. The Priors Hall Park scheme near Corby is delivering thousands of new homes alongside schools and local facilities.

Northampton itself has been a designated growth area since 2006, with major housing schemes at Buckton Fields, Dallington Grange, and around the university. Infrastructure investment continues, including improvements to the A43 and A45, and the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) has undergone further expansion.

Northamptonshire’s landscape of grand estates, medieval churches, and open countryside means there is no shortage of places worth visiting — whether your interests are historical, outdoors, or cultural.

• Althorp Estate — The ancestral home of the Spencer family for over 500 years and the final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales. The estate opens each summer, offering tours of the house, its art collection, and the surrounding parkland. (althorp.com)
• Silverstone Circuit — Home to the British Grand Prix since 1950 and one of the most famous motorsport venues in the world. The adjacent Silverstone Museum traces the history of British motor racing and is open year-round.
• Rockingham Castle — A 900-year-old castle set above the Welland Valley, originally built by William the Conqueror. It has been a family home since the Tudor period and is open for tours and events throughout the year.
• Canons Ashby — A National Trust property near Daventry, this Elizabethan manor house is surrounded by formal gardens, ancient parkland, and the remains of a medieval priory. It feels pleasingly unchanged by the centuries.
• Sulgrave Manor — The ancestral home of George Washington’s family, purchased by Lawrence Washington from Henry VIII in 1539. The manor offers a fascinating link between the Northamptonshire countryside and American history.

Northamptonshire’s position at the geographical centre of England has long shaped its economy.

The county sits within the ‘Golden Triangle of Logistics’ — the area between the M1, M6, and M42 where a significant proportion of the UK’s distribution activity is concentrated. Major logistics parks including the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT), Swan Valley, and Brackmills Industrial Estate have made warehousing and distribution one of the county’s largest employment sectors. Major names including Amazon, Primark, and Cummins operate substantial distribution operations here.

Beyond logistics, manufacturing and engineering remain important, building on the county’s industrial heritage. Northampton retains links to the shoemaking trade through specialist firms like Church’s and Crockett & Jones, while high-performance engineering businesses in the Silverstone Technology Cluster — sometimes known as ‘Motorsport Valley’ — contribute to the wider automotive and technology sector.