Why move to Abington?
Geographically, Northampton is situated approximately 70 miles north of London, 55 miles east of Birmingham, and is bordered by eight counties, making it useful for young professionals and commuters alike. Northampton, and more specifically Abington, is steeped in history, with its former and current "Boot and Shoe" industry being the lynchpin of the local economy, where Northamptonshire became a world leader in production and style.
The local market
The demand for property in the Abington area remains high, with its character Victorian terraces, factory conversions, and well established homes in areas such as Weston Favell Village. This is magnified and boosted by the proximity to the Northampton General Hospital and popular schools such as Weston Favell Academy, Northampton School for Boys, and Northampton School for Girls. The area is well serviced with amenities, transport links, and doctors' surgeries.
Location
Northampton has excellent transport links, being situated next to the M1 Motorway, and is served by three separate Junctions, 15, 15a, and 16. The A45 joins the M1 to the A14, and in turn, the A1. The mainline railway station has been completely redeveloped and offers a direct line to London Euston and Birmingham New Street; also, the Grand Union Canal runs through the town.
History and Sport
Northampton boasts three major professional teams. Northampton Town Football Club is affectionately nicknamed 'The Cobblers' due to the town's proud history in the shoe industry. Northampton Saints play at Franklins Gardens and are one of the most prestigious clubs in the country, while Northamptonshire Steelbacks have a storied cricketing history and have won the Twenty20 competition multiple times. There are a number of amateur sports within the county that are extremely popular, competitive, and well supported in the community. There are a number of golf courses in the area, including Delapre, Collingtree, the Northamptonshire County Golf Club in Church Brampton, and a host of others. Northampton is also closely associated with motorsport, with close ties to Cosworth, AMG, and nearby Silverstone.
As previously mentioned, Northampton is famed for its rich history in the "Boot and Shoe" industry. The industry is still very much associated in the town, with top brands such as Edward Green, Church's, Barkers, Trickers, Crockett and Jones, and Jeffery West all remaining local. The popular film and musical 'Kinky Boots' is based on a true story from one of the many shoe factories in the town. The Guildhall and All Saints Church in the centre of town are fine examples of stunning architecture, but the eye is often drawn to the National Lift Tower when viewing the skyline. The town still has a close association with the Spencer family, with Althorp House, the family home and resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales, situated close by.
Development
Over recent years, Northampton has benefited from a vast number of developments. A large investment has been made in improving the Northampton Railway Station, Bus Terminal, along with the conversion of a number of former Boot and Shoe factories and shops into high-quality residential and student accommodation. The demand for houses in multiple occupation has been boosted tremendously by the construction of the University of Northampton Waterside Campus, which promises to attract investment into Northampton for years to come.
Properties
Within Abington, properties are predominantly of the Victorian/Edwardian era, with a good selection of modern purpose built developments, such as Abington Vale. Many fine properties line the main arterial routes such as the Wellingborough Road, Kettering Road, and Rushmere Road.
Restaurants and shopping
Abington has a number of restaurants and niche shops along the Wellingborough Road and Kettering Road. The town centre which is close by, still has a large open air market, and most of the shops are located in pedestrian zones or in the covered Grosvenor Centre. There are also a number of other retail parks within easy reach, such as Riverside and Rushden Lakes, which are home to Marks and Spencer, Boots, Frasers, JD Sports, River Island, Next, Primark, H&M, Moss Bros., Decathlon, Clarks, Barbour, Accessorize, Joules, Pandora, Mountain Warehouse, and White Stuff, to name a few.
Rushden Lakes is also a superb venue with many al fresco areas supported by Costa, Wagamama, Pizza Express, Nando's, Starbucks, Zizzi's, and Bills.
