A Walk Around Northampton

One rainy Saturday in January 2021, I took to the streets of Northampton and captured some images of the town centre.

Up to the time I went travelling and then left to go and live in Thailand, I never took much notice of what the town of Northampton looked like. I was blase to the interesting features, some old, some new, I now see with ease.

Walking towards the town centre is Cafe Marseille, straddling Sheep Street and Broad Street, previously a nightclub, now a cafe/bar that I have yet to visit. For now, I’ll admire the lovely building from the outside.

You can see the spire of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre from there too.

Continue along Broad Street and you will come across the building of the former Friendly Societies Medical Institute. The sign at the top says it was erected in 1883.

Keep walking and cross over Lady’s Lane.

See if you can find the street art on the underpass at the bottom of Greyfriars.

Keep walking straight and turn left into Gold Street.

As you walk up the road, look above the shops to see how lovely the old buildings are.

There is also an old clock above the shop – sadly no longer working.

At the top of Gold Street, you will be treated to the sight of the beautiful All Saints Church.

To the right of the church, you will see Sessions House – which used to be the old courthouse.

Wood Hill is to the left of that.

Walk into St Giles Place.

Where you will see the stunning Guildhall.

And some signs in case you are lost.

Passed the Guildhall is St Giles Square.

To the right is Northampton’s very own “Cultural Quarter” where the theatre and museum is located.

From St Giles Square, you can go down Derngate if you fancy stopping for a refreshing drink at the Mail Coach.

Or, you can walk along St Giles Street and have a quick pit stop in the Optimist.

Turn left onto Fish Street, back towards the centre.

At the top of Fish Street, you can turn left or right into Abington Street. I turned right…

…and found the Francis Crick Statue. Crick co-discovered the DNA molecule (Source: West Northamptonshire Council.

Take a left up Wellington Street. At the top, on the right, you’ll see a little pocket park.

Across the road, you’ll see the (not so) new Crown & County Courts.

Wherever you are, it’s really up to you where you wander, just remember to keep your eyes open for the things you’ve probably bypassed many times before.

I only walked about a mile, but I saw loads and was very happy that’d I’d gone out with my camera! Peace and love 🙂