Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY? </h2>



<p>In the east of Northants and close to the borders of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, Higham, as it&#8217;s locally known, is within easy reach of a myriad of shops and restaurants. The the sense of local pride is palpable and it&#8217;s not hard to see why, with its historic market square and gorgeously characterful buildings dating back hundreds of years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="991" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/EMBER-LBB-009-1024x991.jpg" alt="Ember Restaurant Northamptonshire" class="wp-image-44863" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/EMBER-LBB-009-1024x991.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/EMBER-LBB-009-300x290.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/EMBER-LBB-009-768x743.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/EMBER-LBB-009.jpg 1179w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ember</figcaption></figure>



<p>The absolutely amazing <a href="https://restaurantember.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ember</a> restaurant is a few minutes up the road in Wellingborough and it&#8217;s a must visit, set in a double-height former gaslight factory. Expect small plates cooked on an open fire as you sit on high stools at the bar or at cosy tables with Ember’s creative (and apparently heat-proof) chefs conjuring up their magic right in front of your eyes. Just next door is <a href="https://restaurantember.com/about-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No. 13</a> cocktail bar, serving up the most fabulous drinks in dark and velvety surroundings, and it&#8217;s just a hop, skip and a jump to Rushden Lakes, where you can choose from family favourites including Bill&#8217;s, Wagamama&#8217;s, Pizza Express and Lago Lounge. We&#8217;re also huge fans of <a href="https://www.chirestaurants.co.uk/chi-rushden" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chi</a> for pan-Asian food. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1536" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n.jpg" alt="Willow and Grey homeware store Higham Ferrers Northants" class="wp-image-51801" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n.jpg 2048w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/10/460387020_1046377864155638_7035368202128551421_n-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Willow and Grey</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WillowandGrey/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Willow and Grey</a> is a bijou lifestyle store selling candles, gifts, homewares, antique furniture and other gorgeous things. We also love <a href="https://highamrefill.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higham Refill</a> on the Market Square for all things zero waste and <a href="https://www.marketsquarebakery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Market Square Bakery</a> for freshly baked bread and cakes. If you&#8217;re musically minded, there&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gordon Smith Guitars</a>, for bespoke, handmade acoustic and electric guitars, plus there&#8217;s a farmers market on the last Sat of each month to keep you stocked up with the best local produce. For high street and big name brands like M&amp;S, Next, Boots etc, head to <a href="https://rushdenlakes.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rushden Lakes</a>, which is just a 5 min car journey, with loads of free parking, and there&#8217;s a big Waitrose here too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Take your pick from a swathe of gyms and fitness studios nearby. We love <a href="https://www.chloegoodman.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chloe Goodman Pilates &amp; Wellness</a>, which is just over the road in Irthingborough and offers reformer and mat pilates, ballet and sports massage in a lovely converted chapel space, and there&#8217;s an enormous <a href="https://www.puregym.com/gyms/rushden/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pure Gym</a> in Rushden with loads of classes and all the equipment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a really strong offering when it comes to clubs and societies in the the village, including cricket, bowls, tennis and a running club (Higham Harriers), as well as a skate park. There&#8217;s also a library and wellbeing hub with crafternoons and kids activities and a popular annual horticultural show.</p>



<p>The annual Christmas Sparkle involves rides and stalls in the market square to mark the switching on of the Christmas lights, whilst Duchy Barn Garden is a beautiful community gardening project accessible to all and tended by volunteers. There are wheelchair friendly paths and performance areas for music and events. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="786" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/STANWICK-LAKES-LB-019.jpeg" alt="Stanwick Lakes Rushden Northamptonshire" class="wp-image-51414" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/STANWICK-LAKES-LB-019.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/STANWICK-LAKES-LB-019-300x236.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/STANWICK-LAKES-LB-019-768x604.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stanwick Lakes</figcaption></figure>



<p>Rushden Lakes is fantastic for shopping of course, but there&#8217;s also a picturesque walking route around the lake, as well as canoeing down the River Nene with <a href="https://www.canoe2.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canoe2</a>. <a href="https://stanwicklakes.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stanwick Lakes</a> is also just a few minutes up the road, perfect for exploring the great outdoors, and kids will love the enormous adventure playground and cycle trails, plus there&#8217;s a heritage museum on site as well as organised runs, talks, craft activities, den building and pond dipping for kids, guided wildlife walks, writing workshops, heritage craft courses (spoon carving, blacksmithing, willow-weaving) and craft fairs. You can even go for a dip in the lake in the summer season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/higham-ferrers-tourism/chichele-college-gardens" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chichele College</a> is a rare surviving example of a chantry college, founded way back in 1422. The chapel and neighbouring Bede House are now regularly used for community events and art and heritage exhibitions.&nbsp;You’re only a 15 min drive from Wellingborough, so head to the wonderful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/castle-theatre" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Castle Theatre</a>, or 20 mins south to Northampton&#8217;s<a href="https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Royal and Derngate</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Property here is a real mix with lots of new development as well as more characterful period homes. The overall average is £291,120, with detached homes selling for £423,291, semis £245,043 and terraced properties £220,411.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Higham-ferrers-property.jpg" alt="Walnut Tree Farm is an 4 bed 18th century house at the historic heart of the village, with a self-contained annexe. On the market for £795,000. Higham Ferrers Northants" class="wp-image-51412" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Higham-ferrers-property.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Higham-ferrers-property-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Higham-ferrers-property-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Walnut Tree Farm is an 4 bed 18th century house at the historic heart of the village, with a self-contained annexe. <a href="https://www.simpsonandweekley.co.uk/search/buy/north-end-higham-ferrers-33024289" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £795,000</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s lots to choose from in the village itself, try <a href="http://www.littlesteps-nursery.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Steps</a> at the centre of the village, which takes babies from 3 mths; or there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Alpha-Pre-School-Higham-Ferrers-100063744092539/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alpha Pre-School</a> and <a href="https://www.highamferrersinfants.org.uk/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higham Ferrers Nursery and Infant School</a>, both in the village and you don&#8217;t have to travel far for more options in Rushden, so lots of flexibility.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a choice of state primaries within easy reach but in terms of current Ofsted ratings, try Denfield Park, Irthlingborough or Whitefriars Primary. For secondary, Chelveston Road, The Ferrers School and Rushden Academy are all rated Good and for top notch independent schooling, try <a href="https://www.wellingboroughschool.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wellingborough</a> or <a href="https://www.kimbolton.cambs.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kimbolton</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Archbishop of Canterbury and founder All Souls College, Oxford, Henry Chichele (1364-1443) was born right here in Higham Ferrers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Higham is good for traveling to Leicester, Coventry or Cambridge, as well as London. The 58 mile commute to London St Pancras from nearby Wellingborough takes 47 mins minimum. An annual season ticket currently costs £7,900.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Higham Ferrers

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