Why move to Kingsthorpe?
Kingsthorpe is an attractive suburb to the north of Northampton town centre and is an ideal location for first time buyers, families, investors, and commuters. Situated approximately 71 miles north of London, 51 miles from Birmingham, and 21 miles from Milton Keynes, Kingsthorpe is an ideal central base to call home. Formerly a county village, Kingsthorpe became a part of Northampton Town Borough in 1900. The green and many original houses still remain, and the St. John the Baptist Church at the centre has origins dating back to the 11th century. The area influenced the English Civil War and was affected by the Battle of Naseby in 1645. It has an eclectic mix of property and an array of local amenities that are ideal for all.
The local market
As an established area of Northampton, Kingsthorpe is an increasingly popular area to live. As the University of Northampton has recently moved from Kingsthorpe Park Campus to Northampton town centre, Kingsthorpe has welcomed more first-time buyers and families than ever before. Within Kingsthorpe, Kingsthorpe Village, Obelisk Rise, Spring Park, and Whitehills prove to be desirable locations with high demand for families wanting to access Whitehills Primary School, rated as outstanding by Ofsted at their last inspection, as well as Guilsborough Academy, rated as good by Ofsted in 2022.
Location
Kingsthorpe is ideally located to allow excellent and easy access to motorways, trains, and airports. Kingsthorpe is approximately 5 miles from the M1 Junctions 15 and 16, connecting Northampton and London. The suburb's amenities are centred on the main A508 and A5199 roads that link central Northampton with Market Harborough and Leicester, respectively. For commuters looking to travel by train, you have the options of Northampton, Long Buckby, and Wellingborough railway stations. International airports at London Luton, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham International, and East Midlands are within a two hour drive.
Development
Major expansions of housing stock have been recorded in Northampton, Kettering, Corby, and Wellingborough during recent years, which in turn has stimulated development and the upgrading of local infrastructure. Style and type of property cover most options, ranging from large family homes to shared ownership accommodation suitable for first-time buyers.
Properties
The majority of the surrounding towns and villages have a diverse range of period properties. These tend to be centrally located and start from worker cottages on the local country estates and shoe trade to the much grander homes of the owners, which tend to flank the main roads. Many of the housing developments are now well established and have been well looked after and maintained, so they retain their appeal.
History and sport
Northampton itself is famed for its rich history in the Boot and Shoe industry. The industry is still very much associated with 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. Kingsthorpe was once a rural village and is now a suburb to the northwest of Northampton town centre since being absorbed in the 1900s and the remainder in 1931. Still to this day, the village retains a lot of its original character away from the high street, where it is now formally called Kingsthorpe Village.
Kingsthorpe hosts a lot of keen golfers, saints, and cobbler fans. The town is home to Premiership rugby union team Northampton Saints, who play at Franklins Gardens in the St James area. "The Saints" had their greatest moment when they won the Heineken Cup in 2000 at Twickenham, beating Munster 9–8. Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, known in Limited Overs Cricket as "The Steelbacks", is one of the 18 major county clubs that make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structures, and their stadium is located in the heart of Abington.
Kingsthorpe Golf Club is an 18-hole course that provides a challenging yet fair test of golf, synonymous with the design skills associated with the legendary Harry Colt.
Restaurants and shopping
Kingsthorpe is ideally located just to the north of the lively Northampton town centre and is easily commutable by car, bus, on foot, or by utilising one of the electric scooters found throughout the area. Northampton's market square is one of Britain's largest and dates back to 1235.
There are several grocery stores on the Harborough Road that run straight through Kingsthorpe, including Waitrose, Asda, and Aldi, as well as multiple award-winning eat-in and take-away restaurants and major brands like Costa and Subway.
Kingsthorpe is also well known for being an extremely social area, and the abundance of local pubs, parks, and fantastic dog walking areas is paramount to the residents. The Brampton Valley is an ever-popular walk where there is a 14-mile rail trail linking Northampton to Market Harborough.
