Nice areas of/ around Northampton

Jibjab_2

Due to job relocation, we're currently looking to move to/ near Northampton, but dont really know the area. Any advice about where's nice and where to avoid would be very much appreciated!
Thanks for any help

Hi guys,
firstly thanks to everyone who replied last time, all the information was really useful.
our search is now picking up pace as we've accepted an offer on our house, very exciting!

We've viewed a few houses in Wootton and east hunsbury, really like the areas, nice and peaceful but prices are high due to being in the new, highly performing school catchment area, which isnt important to us (no kids).

We're seeing a few more tonight in Moulton, which a few of you reccommended, thankyou and also one in Brixworth, which I don't think anyone mentioned, so any information/ opinions on Brixworth would be greatly appreciated.

Also we're going to start looking in/ around Kettering as you seem to get slightly more bang for your buck there, we're thinking probably leisure village area. Also seen a few houses we like the look of in Broughton, Kettering (not to be confused with Boughton, Northampton!) and wondered if anyone had info on these 2 areas.

Once again many thanks for all your input

snid

Quite a bit depends on if you have kids. The secondary education provision is pretty awful. Two good single sex schools, but the Boys' School (NSB) has no catchment area admission, so its pot luck if you get in. The rest of the Schools are below 50% for 5 good GCSEs, some below 30%.

Duston has nice parts, but it isn't all great. Abington area is not bad, but again there would be parts of it you would avoid. I wouldn't touch the Eastern areas like Blackthorn, Goldings, Thorplands etc and wouldn't live in Kings Heath, Semilong, St James, Far Cotton. (I'm sure there are good bits in all these areas.) There is a lot of new development South of the town - Hunsbury & Wootton Fields ok, Grange Park seems well thought of - Camp Hill or Briar Hill not so.

If it was me I would look at villages just outside. Moulton would be a good bet, its virtually continuous with Northampton. Bugbrooke, Wootton are other options.

Hope this helps.

hellokitty08

Depnds on your budget and circumstances. Needs for a family will be different then for young couple or single person. Are you concerned with re-sale value, safety, community, Schools, commuting time, Size of property required.
Give us a bit more detail and we can offer some more advice.

DannyboyMidlands

Where will your jobs be? Whats your budget? What size house?

I agree with snid. Moulton, Boughton and other villages nice but comapartively pricey. Abington nice if you want larger, older houses in town.

Loads of more modern suburbs that are ok if a little boring.

babyemily

Definitely aim towards the villages - Theres so many to choose from! Moulton is a nice area but there is a huge college there and a secondary school! Broughton is lovely but pricey. Duston is nice but the new houses are built around a hospital for people with mental health issues. Would you be ok living next to that? Some of old Duston is lovely and Kingsthorpe Village is lovely although there are parts of Kingsthorpe to avoid like the plague. Secondary schools are poor as has been said; Guilsborough School is a fairly good school for academics and sporty types. Campion is a fab school for all round learning. They do have catchment areas though. It really does depend on what you need from the area you live in.

Jibjab_2

moved this comment to original post

snid

Jibjab wrote: »

What's the Hunsbury, Wootton, Hardingstone area like? Seems not too bad on the crime maps.
Thanks again

These parts are fairly 'nice'. There is quite a lot of new housing if that's your bag. Its also on the Bedford side of Northampton which would be useful. Not that close for the station, but again, not too bad. There are buses from Hunsbury to town & station is 5-10 mins walk from Town Centre.

DannyboyMidlands

Some people do it but commuting to London from Northampton is a terrible waste of your life. At least an hour on the train and another half hour at either end. Grim. I did it for a week before deciding to move to south London. It was that bad.

babyemily

You could try a village like Long Buckby if you need a train station and good ameneties? Its a good village, within Guilsborough catchment and has all the usual Drs, Dentists, Co-op etc... It is a !!!!!! for parking though if u need to park at the train station!

lovethymini

I hope that you will be able to visit Northampton and get a good feel, as well as the online research! My brother lives there, on not a particularly nice road near the hospital.
We live in Olney (halfway between Northampton and Bedford) and my husband commutes down the M1 every day, to Hatfield. Usually takes about 1hr 15mins but he can't leave later than half six or he gets stuck in all the traffic!
Good luck with the move though, it's a lovely part of the country.

Brallaqueen

Avoid most of it - says one who was born there!

Central areas of Northampton are very ropey, I wouldn't even live in Abington these days as the lovely victorian buildings are prime student rentals. The council have recognised this and have just put measures in to stop it but the damage has been done. I could reel off all the nasty areas so PM if you want. The area around the train station is particularly poor.

Everyone I know that lives in Moulton loves it - it has a very quaint high street and community feel about it. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21796656.html

Same for Earls Barton, which has great amenities for a small village. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-20293452.html

The inner villages (where the town has grown around them) are nice

Duston V. is out of range but surrounded by new builds if that is your thing, or solid semi detached 50s houses. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21836868.html

Hardingstone V has a nice mix too http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-18963825.html?premiumA=true

Weston Favel V. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-19629714.html

Hardingstone & Weston Favel are on the south side of the town.

Westone and Abington Vale are solidly middle class and have a good reputation, but nothing special.

Will children factor into your future plans as there are about 3 primary schools that get top ofsted ratings out of the whole place & I wouldn't want any child of mine to go there as they struggle dealing with large populations of BME and ESL pupils.