Car Hire Northampton

One of the advantages of basing yourself in the East Midlands is that nothing feels too far away by car. In fact, with a hire car in Northampton you’re in a great spot to visit London (just under two hours south on the M1), or Birmingham (around an hour and a quarter west via the M1 and M6), as well as other major cities.

The M1 helped shape Northampton, and its proximity means you can head north or south with ease. There’s an extensive network of A-roads here too, with the A508 and A5 connecting you with Milton Keynes, the A43 passing through Towcester and Silverstone, and the A4500 and A45 taking you west towards Coventry. Both of the Oxbridge universities are easily accessible from here too – Cambridge to the east, and Oxford to the south-west.

The River Nene splits the town into two, with the centre situated in the north. The A4500 and A5123 combine with the A428 and Lower Mounts to form a ring road around the town. While in the centre, there are several one-way streets and ample parking at the various multi-storeys such as Grosvenor Centre, Mayorhold Shoppers and both St. Johns and St. Michaels.

Driving rules are similar to home – you’re on the same side of the road, mobile phone use while driving is illegal, and seatbelts are compulsory for all. That said, speeds are shown in miles per hour, with 30mph (48km/h) in towns and cities typical, and 70mph (112km/h) generally the maximum on motorways and dual carriageways. Always check signs however, as these can vary.

Some of the major areas of natural beauty are within easy driving distance too. The Chilterns sit directly south of Northampton, while the Cotswolds are to the south-west – take the A43 out of town and you can then take a number of routes to access the north, centre or southern side of this picturesque place.

You don’t amass thousands of years of history without making your mark. And Northampton has many centuries of grandeur behind it.

Explore the town’s heritage with your hire car and you’ll come across architecture that saw action in the English Civil War and the War of the Roses, as well as an abundance of beautiful parks.

Grand buildings

In many ways the pride of the town, Northampton’s Guildhall plays host to the area’s council these days, but its striking architecture is well worth recognition. Built in the 1860s, it is lavishly decorated with numerous carvings encompassing saints, kings and more.

A smattering of impressive churches also add to the town’s charms. St. Peter’s Church is a renowned place of worship standing since 1150, with some fine carvings, while the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a rare and beautiful round church.

Simon I de Senlis, the Norman Earl responsible for its construction, also constructed the All Hallows church, which was burned down in the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675. The replacement has a notable barrel-vaulted ceiling and elements from both the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Racing post

While Northampton may have a sizeable racecourse in its town, it no longer holds races here. In fact, they stopped in 1904 due to a number of accidents from the tight corners and the public having access to the track.

Before that, it was used for more grisly purpose, as a site for public executions. Today, it is popular with local sports teams, has an adventure park, and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. 

If you want to see an actual race, then just drive a few miles to Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. The site holds a number of other events, including rallycross and superbike races as well as vintage car festivals.

Castles and code-breakers

Get out in your hire car to explore the multitude of attractions and activities surrounding Northampton. Just a short drive to the east, you’ll find Castle Ashby Gardens, a beautiful, old estate with a stately home at its centre.

The gardens were designed by famous landscape architect Capability Brown and contain numerous charming features such as an Orangery and Buttery, Arboretum and cricket pitch. Children will love the menagerie including miniature ponies, marmosets and meerkats.

South of the town, close to Milton Keynes, is the famous Bletchley Park. Once housing the codebreakers who played a key role in World War II, the museum gives a fascinating glimpse into the work that took place here. Wander the various rooms and exhibitions and you’ll see the machine that helped break the Enigma code.

Ensure you experience all that this charming town and the region beyond has to offer with car hire in Northampton.