Twelve Days Starting in Northampton

"we will hire a car to take us to our base in Northampton."

To avoid confusion, in the UK to "hire a car" means to self drive (what you would call a rental), is that what you mean (not a good idea after a transatlantic flight) or do you mean a car service to Northampton?

what do you like to do and see?

Will you be in the town of Northampton, or a village?

Have you exhausted London? It is only 53 minutes to Euston from Northampton station.

There are thousands of things to do around here but without knowing what you like (and how many WE is) it is kind of like throwing darts in the general direction of a dartboard.

I agree that you shouldn't hire a car at Heathrow after a long flight. However, a car would be useful for your trip.

How many nights do you have in Northampton and how many other nights? You say 12 days, but that means 11 nights and does that include your flights to/from England?

York has plenty to keep you occupied for at least 2 days. Rather than visit the Cotswolds, as you are in Northampton, seek to visit the towns and villages around Rutland Water about an hour from Northampton, which are much closer, are just as pretty, but not as over run with tourists and cover a more compact area. You can take a boat trip on Rutland Water, hire bikes to cycle round the reservoir or walk. Nearby towns worth exploring include Stamford where Middlemarch was filmed, Uppingham and Oakham and there are many chocolate box villages and gardens to visit.

Are you intersted in Leicester for Richard III?

It's a little difficult to advise on where to go, as the number of nights isn't clear and you haven't given any clues as to what your interests are.

I am so sorry I was not more clear. We will hire a taxi/car to drive us to Northampton where we will be based. We do not plan to drive there after a long flight. We will have 12 full days to spend on an overnight somewhere like York and then mostly day trips from Northampton. We will have a car for our stay so driveable day trips will be great. We would appreciate any ideas. We know we will go to Stonehenge and up to York. Is it a good plan for 3 nights in York doing day trips to Manchester? Leeds? Liverpool? There are so many choices. We just want beauty/scenery/towns with shops and, of course, castles! There are 4 of us. Thank you!

Cobblers! the finest English shoes are made in Northampton - maybe you could visit a factory shop and pick up a bargain

http://www.northamptonshoes.com/news-and-shoes/2015/4/25/visiting-churchs-shoe-factory-shop-and-celebrating-englishness

Bletchley Park isn't too far away https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

There's also Silverstone if you're into motorsport http://www.silverstone.co.uk/

Manchester is just a regular city and although it has its attractions, it's not usually high on the tourist agenda. Ditto Leeds. Chester can be reached by train from York.

York itself needs a full day at least.

Just over an hour away from York by car is the atmospheric coastal town of Whitby, with the ruins of the abbey on the cliff tops. There are good coastal walking paths on the cliff tops and a fish and chip meal here is a must.

Harrogate is also worth a visit, about 40 minutes drive. If you enjoy gardens, the Royal Horticultural Society's Harlow Carr garden is a must in Harrogate.

From Northampton, you could cover Bletchley Park and keeping with the war theme, IWM Duxford is just over an hour away by road and has a great plane collection. There are a number of National Trust properties in the area and you could join as overseas members on a short term basis. Check out nationaltrust.org.uk for details.

For something very British, visit the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne and take a walk along the canal tow path - it's only 20 minutes from Northampton. Rutland is a must.

Rockingham Castle.

The scene of the Battle of Naseby.

Richard the Third's grave in Leicester Cathedral.

Peterborough Cathedral.

St Mary and All Saints Church (or what is left of it is incredible) at Fotheringhay. Check the juicy (and gory) history, (and castle site next door) especially if you are a Plantagenet or follow Mary Queen of Scots.

Castle Ashby

......

What possessed you to pick Northampton?

Thank you for these wonderful suggestions and ideas. Cobbers should expect a visit and Betchley Park will be so exciting to see. I'm so glad you mentioned that. I am writing it all down and it's just amazing to me how much is around there.

And why Northampton? (That made me laugh)! I know it's not a typical tourist place, which we love, but we are doing a house swap there. We have been to London before and most likely will not go back there. It was great but we want to focus on the countryside and the road less traveled. We want to hear English but only with that beautiful accent!

We have a car that is included in the swap so we just want to do as much as we can. So really? No Cotswolds? I'll check that out too and thank you for the small town recommendations.
Much appreciated!

you can also track down attractions near Northampton on these two sites

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

The Cotswolds are nice but England has so much more to see than just that one area.

The actual house lived in by Isaac Newton, with his drawings on the walls and the actual apple tree from whence fell the apple with gravity.

Iron Bridge

The Severn Valley Railway.

The Norfolk Broads.

Melton Mowbray.

What kind of shops?

Birmingham is only 58 minutes by train from Northampton - parking very difficult in Birmingham - with original back to back houses at a National Trust location right in the centre, and the house where the Lunar Society was founded and met.

Northampton has top level Rugby, football and Cricket grounds and teams.

Northampton also has a Toys r Us and two Starbucks.

Rugby, where Rugby was invented, is only 19 minutes away by train.

Bletchley with Bletchley Park and the National Computing Museum practically across the street from the station is only 20 minutes by train from Northampton - much faster than you can drive. The train goes at 100 mph, with some doing 110. The train would be there when you were only just reaching the motorway in the car, with 20 miles yet to drive.

Nigel, thank you so much. All these things are amazing and are now on my list, other than the Toys R Us and the Starbucks!

So maybe we will do a small day trip to the easily reachable part of Cotswolds and focus on all these great things you are all suggesting. It's also making me feel like Northampton might be a great base after all.

Eleanor Cross in Geddington, and the stone bridge.

Tresham Triangular Lodge - did you know that the Gunpowder Plot was hatched here?

Stockton Staircase.

Cambridge is only a one hour drive (in good traffic) to the east, somewhat longer by train from Kettering or Wellingborough.

Oxford is only a one hour drive and a little bit, much longer by train.

.

Amazing Grace was written in Olney, the same place as the Pancake Races, the house is a museum.

Outlet stores for some of the most amazingly good quality hand made shoes all made locally.

Despite all the proposed itineries that we often see on this forum with people wanting to visit the Cotswolds, you will note that us Brits think your time could be better spent! They have their attraction, but parking can be difficult and they are too busy these days. The villages around Rutland Water are like the Cotswolds were 30 years ago.

Oh, I forgot.

Of course there is the Shoe Museum right in Northampton, way less boring than it sounds. You should see some of them....

There's also the Derngate Theatre.