Holiday rental in Northamptonshire: History, parks and stately homes

Northamptonshire is centrally located in the United Kingdom, in the heart of England. One of its notable visitor attractions is Chester House Estate, which showcases more than 10,000 years of human activity. The historic visitor attraction is free to access and offers a programme of events throughout the year. It is located directly off the eastbound exit of the A45 between Wellingborough and Rushden.

History and culture

The history of Delapré Abbey stretches back almost 900 years. The estate was the scene of important historical events, including the Battle of Northampton in 1460. A tour of the gardens and parkland traces 900 years of landscape history. Groups can pre-book one- or two-course lunches as well as cream teas in a historic room.

At Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, the shoe gallery presents more than 7,000 years of footwear history, from 5300 BC to the present day. Althorp has been the Spencer family residence for more than 500 years and houses a diverse collection of paintings, furniture and ceramics, as well as finely appointed interiors. The entrance to Althorp House is a 15-minute walk from the West Gate visitor car park.

Kirby Hall is a 17th-century Elizabethan mansion. Exhibitions in the state rooms trace its rise and decline. The gardens have been reconstructed in their late-17th-century form; Kirby Hall also offers a tapestry trail. Rockingham Castle was built around 1070 on the orders of William the Conqueror as a motte-and-bailey castle. Boughton House is considered one of the grandest and best-preserved stately homes in Britain and features 18th-century landscaped gardens, woodland and an extensive country park.

Nature and trails

Irchester Country Park is a 200-acre woodland area with trails, an adventure course with zip wires and a children's playground. The 3.8-kilometre Ironstone Heritage Trail also runs through the park. A railway museum there explores the history of ironstone mining in the park.

Sywell Country Park has trails along the lake and through meadows. There is also the 1-kilometre Waterworks Heritage Trail and a 2.5-mile circular route around the reservoir. The lake at Sywell Country Park was opened in 1906 as a water-supply reservoir for Rushden and Higham Ferrers.

Delapre Park comprises 8 acres of gardens, adjoining approximately 500 acres of open parkland. Wicksteed Park is a free-to-access 281-acre Grade II park and garden of English Heritage, with parkland, meadows and lakes. It also has rides for all age groups.

Getting there

The M1, A5 and A14 roads, as well as the connecting roads between the M1 and A1, cross Northamptonshire. By rail, East Midland Railway connects London St Pancras with Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby and continues towards South Yorkshire.

Other places

Other places in Northamptonshire include Whittlebury, Wellingborough, Warkworth, Towcester, Sywell, Syresham, Stoke Albany, Oundle, Kettering, Desborough, Deanshanger, Daventry, Corby, Castle Ashby, Brackley, Ashby Saint Ledgers, Flore, Aynho, Braunston, Greatworth, Harringworth, Easton On The Hill, Ringstead, Wootton, Rothwell, Ecton, Crick, Blisworth, Weedon Bec, Harpole, Nassington, Staverton, Woodford, Quinton, Long Buckby, Brigstock, Rushden, Harrington, Hackleton, Roade, Maidwell, Hellidon, Gretton, Thurning, East Haddon, Wappenham, Helmdon, Hartwell, West Haddon, Byfield, Hardingstone, Collyweston, Overstone, Sulgrave, Finedon, Potterspury, Wollaston, Pattishall, Church Stowe, Kilsby, Upton, Maidford and Northampton.

For the higher-level travel overview: East Midlands.