Northampton Activities
Parks and Gardens
There are 152 parks and open spaces in Northampton! Here are
just a few of them ...
Abington Park
Northampton's most popular park, dating back to the 1300s.
The Abington Museum is located here amongst beautiful views, walks,
lakes and aviaries. William Shakespeare's granddaughter, Sarah
Bernard, is buried at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in the
park. The park is the site for the annual Northampton Town Show,
and regular concerts are also held in the band stand.
Beckets Park
Located close to the town centre and offering pleasant walks
along the River Nene, the park is named after Thomas a Becket,
who was imprisoned in Northampton Castle by Henry II. Becket is
said to have drunk from the nearby well when fleeing to London
after escaping from his trial in Northmpton. A variety of sports
facilities are available in the park including bowls, tennis,
pitch and putt.
Delapre Park
The park surrounds Delapre Abbey which was used as a Cluniac
Nunnery in1145 and later became the manor house for the Delapre
Estate. The parkland reflects the traditional nature of an 18th
Century estate. There is a walled garden, complete with a game
larder, Victorian greenhouses and a fine herbaceous border. This
leads to a hidden garden with walks and open views, lily ponds
and a selection of fine mature specimen trees.
Hunsbury Hill Country Park
A former Iron Age hill fort with commanding views of Northampton
and the surrounding countryside. Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway
Trust's museum and railway is located here.
 River and Canal
The River Nene and the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union canal
provide a wealth of scope for activities including boating, fishing,
walking, birdwatching and walking. A network of footpaths provide
a pleasant riverside walk along the whole length of the Northampton
Nene, forming a part of the 70 mile long footpath known as the
Nene Valley Way.
The picture shows the Grand Union Canal passing The Warf, Bugbrooke.
Photo: Dave Howes © Town-Index Limited 1999.
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