Quick Guide to Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. It is known for its stunning countryside, historic houses, and thriving culture scene.
Accommodation
The nearest hotel is the Sunley Hotel, which is located on the university campus, our venue for the 11th Global Healthy Workplace Awards & Summit.
Sunley Hotel
University of Northampton Waterside Campus, New South Bridge Rd, Northampton NN4 8RR
https://www.sunleyhotel.com
The next closest recommended hotels within walking distance to the summit venue are:
Premier Inn Northampton Town Centre hotel
Swan St, Northampton NN1 1FA
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/northamptonshire/northampton/northampton-town-centre.html
Travelodge Northampton Central
15 Gold St, Northampton NN1 1RA
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/439/Northampton-Central-hotel
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/uk/northamptonshire/northampton/index.html
ibis Northampton Centre
Sol Central, Mare Fair, Northampton NN1 1SR
https://all.accor.com/hotel/3657/index.en.shtml
Northampton Town Centre Hotel
Silver St, Northampton NN1 2TA
https://all.accor.com/hotel/C0W3/index.en.shtml
There are many other hotels slightly farther away.
How to get there
Northamptonshire is easily accessible from London, Birmingham, Oxford, and Cambridge. The county is well-connected by road, rail, and air.
Summit Venue
Learning Hub, Leatherseller’s Hide, 4th Floor (location 2 on below map)
University of Northampton
Waterside Campus, University Dr, Northampton NN1 5PH
https://www.northampton.ac.uk/ | Getting Here | Google Maps
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
Northampton Railway Station is one hour by train from both London Euston and Birmingham New Street. The number 18 bus connects the train station to campus Monday – Friday (at the weekends, visitors should walk to the Drapery and catch the 19/19A service to Waterside).
TRAVELLING BY BUS OR COACH
National Express and other coach services operate from Victoria Street (please check with your operator to confirm) which is located directly beside the Upper Mounts car park in the town centre. Local buses operate from Northgate Bus Station, just off the Market Square in the town centre. National Express locations: DAY 05:45-19:00: Victoria Street, next to Upper Mounts Car Park. NIGHT 19:01-05:44: North Gate Bus Station, Bay 14, Bradshaw Street.
The Uno 19 and 19A depart from the Drapery to Waterside every 12 minutes.
TRAVELLING ON FOOT
You can walk to campus via our footbridge which connects with Becket’s Park. It’s a 5 – 10 minutes walk from the town centre.
TRAVELLING BY BIKE
Cycle parking/storage is available on site and Waterside campus links with the National Cycle Routes 6 / 536, with many other traffic free and quieter roads making it easier to commute around Northampton.
TRAVELLING BY TAXI
We suggest you book a taxi through Bounds Taxis (01604 626262) or Amber Cars (01604 232666) as these are approved by the university. Bookings can be made over the phone, online via their website or by downloading their App.
Please ask your taxi driver to drop you off at Waterside Campus, taxi drop off laybys are available at both the east and west side of campus.
- Use the east entrance for Senate, ICLT, Logistics Hub, Sports areas
- Use the west entrance for Learning Hub, Creative Hub, Engine Shed
PARKING
Parking – Monday to Friday: we have limited visitor spaces at Waterside which can be pre-booked via https://www.northampton.ac.uk/guest-parking
Parking charges are applicable to all visitors, except Blue Badge holders and motorbikes. Parking payment must be made on arrival by cashless payment machine (contactless or chip and pin) or RingGo.
Payment and parking is linked via the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system so there is no need to display a ticket in your vehicle. To top up parking, users will either need to revisit the payment machine or use the RingGo app. If the payment machine is not working, visitors at Waterside can utilise another machine in an alternative car park or use the RingGo phone/app/website facility.
The Monday to Friday tariff is:
- Free for first 30-minutes in any day (to allow equipment drop-off/pick-up)
- £1.00 for up to three hours
- £2.00 for up to six hours
- £3.00 for whole day (between midnight and midnight)
- £0.50 for evening only (5pm to midnight)
- £1.00 for overnight only (5pm to 7am)
On Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holidays and Closed Days, the tariff (24 hours from midnight) is £1 all day.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON MAP
Take a virtual tour of our campus – https://tour.northampton.ac.uk/just-explore
Stretch of the legs, we also have a pathway around the perimeter of our campus with trim trail and history boards of the site.
Mother & Baby room located on the ground floor of the Learning Hub – ask for more details.
Conference and Events Brochure – Work Play Stay
Waterside Campus opened in September 2018; your main event location has history behind its name – The Leathersellers Hide (located in the Learning Hub)
When the campus was built, the original name of The Hide was The Thread. The name was chosen as each of the three catering areas in the building had the name ‘Common’ in common (Market, Ground, Thread). The original design of the building was as a learning commons, hence the use of the word common. The University was kindly donated leather by the Leathersellers’ Company, a philanthropic organisation in the City of London which had been working with the University since 1978 when the Leathersellers’ College was relocated from South East London to Northampton, for the furniture in the space. To recognise this, we renamed The Thread as The Leathersellers Hide. The Coat of Arms of the Leathersellers’ Company can be found on the wall. The roebuck which appears at the top of the Coat of Arms of the Leathersellers’ Company also appears at the top of the Coat of Arms for the University to recognise this important and long-standing relationship.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
Unveiling Northamptonshire | Visit Northamptonshire | Love Northampton
Places of interest:
Culture and tourism | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)
https://delapreabbey.org/about-us
Countryside
Northamptonshire is home to some of the most beautiful countryside in England. The county is dotted with rolling hills, forests, and rivers. There are also a number of stately homes and gardens to explore, including Althorp, the ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales.
History
Northamptonshire has a rich history dating back to the Roman period. The county was home to a number of important battles, including the Battle of Naseby, which took place in 1645 during the English Civil War. Northamptonshire is also home to a number of historic churches, including the cathedral at Northampton.
Culture
Northamptonshire has a thriving culture scene. The county is home to a number of theatres, museums, and galleries. There are also a number of festivals held in Northamptonshire throughout the year, including the Nene Valley Festival and the Oundle Music Festival.
Shoemaking
Northamptonshire is known as the “shoemaking capital of the world.” The county has a long history of shoemaking, and there are still a number of traditional shoemakers operating in Northamptonshire today.
Sports
Northamptonshire is also a popular destination for sports fans. The county is home to the Northampton Saints rugby team, the Northampton Town football team, and the Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. Northamptonshire is also home to the Silverstone racetrack, which hosts the British Grand Prix.
Why visit Northamptonshire?
Northamptonshire is a beautiful, historic, and culturally rich county. There is something for everyone in Northamptonshire, from stunning countryside to historic houses to thriving culture scene. If you are looking for a unique and unforgettable travel experience, then Northamptonshire is the perfect destination for you.
Here are some of the things you can do in Northamptonshire:
- Visit the historic houses of Althorp, Castle Ashby, and Cottesbrooke Hall.
- Explore the countryside on foot, bike, or horseback.
- Visit the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, which houses the largest collection of shoe heritage in the world.
- See a show at the Royal & Derngate theatre.
- Enjoy a day out at Silverstone racetrack.
- Sample the local food and drink, including Northamptonshire sausages and Northamptonshire cheeses.