Northampton

1974Anna

I'm sorry if this is on the wrong board and maybe not moneysaving enough.
DS1 is considering attending Northampton University. I have never been to Northampton and my quick google search brought up pictures of hen nights and police cars. DS1 is pretty street-wise and maybe I'm too protective.
Both of my boys "like boys" and have an active social life. I'm worried that their openness could be a problem outside of Soho and London. Is Northampton gay friendly / good place to be?
I don't mean to sound "soft" but I only have my two boys now and just want to look out for them.
We will visit the Uni over the next couple of weeks but any thoughts would be appreciated.

kford224

I wouldn't worry too much. If he is going to be on campus then it is completely separate from the City and very much a community itself. All the areas close to the University will be aimed at and full of students and there will be plenty of people in the same boat.

Alybea

Pfft city??? It's a big town.
There are two campus one near town and one a bit further out.
It's an ok place to live, has everything you need really. Not very exciting though... tell him that a proper city would be better.

kford224

Alybea wrote: »

Pfft city??? It's a big town.

Sorry I haven't been there myself!

Was just thinking about student life in Birmingham as a comparison

evoke

Anything north of Watford is actually a hole. You liive oop Norf because you have to, not because you want to. LOL.

Q. What's the best bit about Northampton?
A. The signs to London.

Alybea

kford224 wrote: »

Sorry I haven't been there myself!

It's fine - I've lived here all my life (except for when I was having fun being a student elsewhere)

Tre-beam

I studied there quite a while ago (1994!) and so things may have changed since then. As already mentioned, it's not the most exciting place but there is a good student life. I was there for four years and didn't really come across much trouble, I'm not gay myself but don't recollect my gay friends (male and female) having any problems. We didn't really mix much with 'townies'.

HTH

kford224

Tre-beam wrote: »

I studied there quite a while ago (1994!) and so things may have changed since then. As already mentioned, it's not the most exciting place but there is a good student life. I was there for four years and didn't really come across much trouble, I'm not gay myself but don't recollect my gay friends (male and female) having any problems. We didn't really mix much with 'townies'.

HTH

No, I think it is important to remember that Uni students generally stay very separate to 'townies', so it doesn't matter where the Uni is to an extent. I don't think I even met another Brummie whilst I was up there other than in pubs and shops?!

SuzieSue

kford224 wrote: »

No, I think it is important to remember that Uni students generally stay very separate to 'townies', so it doesn't matter where the Uni is to an extent. I don't think I even met another Brummie whilst I was up there other than in pubs and shops?!

Agreed. There will be a Gay and Lesbian society at whichever Uni he decides to go to so there will be plenty of advice.

1974Anna

Thanks for the replies. It's quite random because he's been talking about going to Imperial for months and I have no idea where Northampton came from. We'll see! Thank you.

DannyboyMidlands

Hi Anna. I was born and bred in Northampton, left for Uni and never went back. I don't think he'll find problems because he's gay but there is the normal small town Friday and Saturday night trouble to be aware of.

I went "home" last Friday night by train and walked through the town centre. Total savages. Having said that, on Saturday I'd had a few drinks and was in there with the best of them.

I would suggest that the main problem will be total and utter boredom. Imperial sounds like a much better bet and failing that he should go for a bigger town than Northampton. Even Leicester would be more lively.