The County of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a county in the East Midlands of England and is the southernmost county in the East Midlands region.
Northamptonshire is landlocked between, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland and Warwickshire.
There are two major canals running through Northamptonshire. The Oxford canal and the Grand Union canal both join in the county at Braunston. A branch of the Grand Union Canal connects to the River Nene in Northampton. It is famous for its guillotine locks.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the local specialisation was shoemaking and the leather industry and by the end of the 19th century it had become the boot and shoe making capital of the world.
Northamptonshire has Stately homes and ancestral seats, miles of walks, beautiful country parks and large areas of ancient woodland to explore.
It also has more modern attractions, being home to Silverstone and Rockingham motor racing circuits.
Northamptonshire is known as ‘The Rose of the Shires’.
Northamptonshire's Surrounding Counties
Other counties neighbouring Northamptonshire include: Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire .
Northamptonshire is a county with a great selection of places to visit including ruins, villages, castles, towns, woodlands, hiking areas, historic buildings, parks, country parks, lakes, bluebell woods, rivers and streams, gardens, disused railway lines, nature reserves, historic monuments and museums.
There are a several good ruins in Northamptonshire county like Lyveden New Bield, and Overstone Hall (ruin).
Lilbourne, Aldwincle, Harringworth, Gretton, Great Brington, Ravensthorpe, and Earls Barton are great places to visit in Northamptonshire if you like villages.
Northamptonshire's best castles can be found at Lilbourne Castle.
Don't miss Kettering, Burton Latimer, Rothwell, Corby, Northampton, Kingsthorpe, and Duston's towns if visiting Northamptonshire.
There are a several good woodlands in Northamptonshire county like Fineshade Wood, Salcey Forest, and Coton Manor Garden.
There are a several good hiking areas in Northamptonshire county like Fineshade Wood, Salcey Forest, Ravensthorpe Reservoir, and Brampton Valley Way at Northampton.
There are a several good historic buildings in Northamptonshire county like Deene Park, Kirby Hall, Welland Viaduct, Delapre Abbey, The Guildhall, National Lift Tower, and The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Northampton).
Parks to visit in Northamptonshire county include Deene Park, Abington Park, Coton Manor Garden, and Higham Ferrers Riverside Park.
Country Parks to visit in Northamptonshire county include Sywell Country Park, Brixworth Country Park, Stanwick Lakes, and Irchester Country Park.
Northamptonshire's best lakes can be found at Sywell Reservoir, Ravensthorpe Reservoir, Sixfields Reservoir, Pitsford Water, Stanwick Lakes, and Boddington Reservoir.
There are a several good bluebell woods in Northamptonshire county like Coton Manor Garden.
There are a several good rivers and streams in Northamptonshire county like Northampton Marina.
Cottesbrooke Hall is a great place to visit in Northamptonshire if you like gardens.
Don't miss Brampton Valley Way at Northampton's disused railway lines if visiting Northamptonshire.
There are a several good nature reserves in Northamptonshire county like Summer Leys Nature Reserve, Stanwick Lakes, and Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve.
Don't miss Wellingborough War Memorial's historic monuments if visiting Northamptonshire.
Northamptonshire features a number of interesting museums including Rushden Museum.
