Northampton and the midlands

Northampton is a town but is far bigger than your average town and is known as England's largest town hence the hubbub of activity at all hours of the day. It was famous for its shoe manufacturing; even their football team is known as The Cobblers. Times have changed and it is probably better known for its close proximity to Silverstone Circuit and Santa Pod. The historic Market Square is over 750 years old. Open-air markets are still held there.
Better not miss out the premier league rugby with `The Saints`, football at Sixfields and county cricket.

Althorp - Experience 500 years of history at Althorp, home of the Spencer Family.
Explore the wonderful house - Discover beautiful interiors and one of Europe’s finest private collections of furniture, pictures and ceramics. Be touched by the award winning exhibition, Diana: A Celebration

Blisworth is a small Northamptonshire village alongside the Grand Union canal just north of the famous Blisworth Tunnel Mill Wharf Boat Co & Blisworth Tunnel - Rent a boat.

Boughton House - Northamptonshire home of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry

Castle Ashby Gardens, Castle Ashby. The house is not open to the public but the wonderful gardens are. The park surrounding Castle Ashby was landscaped by 'Capability' Brown. 5 miles east of Northampton, north of the A428 Web

Cottesbrooke Hall
Reputed to be the inspiration for Jane Austen's 'Mansfield Park', Cottesbrooke Hall represents a near-perfect example of Queen Anne architecture located in a quite stunning parkland setting. The building dates from 1702 and is home to the Woolavington Collection, one of the finest collections of sporting paintings in the world.

Deene Park - Deene is a largely sixteenth-century house incorporating a medieval manor. It is built around a courtyard and has important rooms added during the reign of George 111. Deene has belonged to the Brudenell family since 1514 and was the seat of the Earls of Cardigan, of whom the most notable was the 7th who led the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava in 1854.

Grand Union Canal - The trunk route of Britain's canal network, the picturesque Grand Union links London through the Chilterns with Birmingham via the longest single canal in Britain.

Holdenby House - Just across the Northamptonshire fields from Althorp lies Holdenby House, a stately home whose royal connections go back over 400 years. Built by Sir Christopher Hatton to entertain Elizabeth I, it became the Palace of James I and the prison of his son, Charles I. Now a family home, the house is the splendid backdrop to a beautiful garden and Falconry Centre, where visitors can watch magnificent birds of prey soar over the scene of so much history.

Sulgrave Manor - The ancestral home of the Washingtons in Britain. Tudor to Georgian furniture and artefacts, displayed in their natural settings. The largest UK collection of George Washington memorabilia demonstrating the British contribution to the origins of the USA with a separate exhibition on George's life and career in the US.

Rockingham Castle - Market Harborough, This remarkable castle, built on the instruction of William the Conqueror, has been my family's home for 450 years. Prior to the Watson's ownership the Castle was held by the monarch. There are very few other homes that have been continuously occupied for nearly 1000 years and have had just two owners