Things to do in and around Northampton

Delapré Abbey and the riverside

Delapré Abbey began life as a twelfth century nunnery and is now a beautifully restored country house with gardens, parkland and a cafe, a short walk from the town centre. Paths lead from the abbey grounds along the River Nene, and the Eleanor Cross memorial stands at the edge of the park.

78 Derngate

78 Derngate is the only house in England designed by the celebrated architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The remodelled Georgian terrace is open for visits, with striking interiors, a small gallery and a popular cafe.

Museums and parks

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on Guildhall Road tells the story of the town through its world famous shoe collection. Abington Park, the town's oldest park, offers lakes, aviaries and a museum in the old manor house, while the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of only a handful of medieval round churches in the country.

Theatre, sport and live events

Royal & Derngate is one of the country's leading producing theatres, and The Deco hosts comedy, music and shows in a handsome 1930s building. Northampton Saints play rugby at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens, and the Cobblers play football at Sixfields. The regenerated Market Square hosts festivals and events through the year.

Day trips around the district

Salcey Forest has waymarked walks and a treetop trail, Brixworth Country Park loops around Pitsford Water, and the Northampton and Lamport Railway runs heritage trains from Pitsford and Brampton station. Brixworth itself is home to one of the finest Anglo-Saxon churches in England.

Closer to home, the villages of Moulton, Long Buckby and Bugbrooke make pleasant stops on a drive or cycle through the Nene Valley.