Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


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



<p>Towcester has had something of a renaissance in recent years, with the redevelopment of the town&#8217;s Moat Lane area and the opening up of the Water Meadows parklands (previously a part of Easton Neston estate, the Hawksmoor designed stately home now owned by Russian fashion designer Leon Max) prompting a swathe of new independent businesses to pop up in sync with lots of new housing development. The A5 Watling Street cuts through the middle of town, allowing for easy access to Milton Keynes, and the A43 will take you straight up to the M1. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="774" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Escapade-Silverstone.jpeg" alt="Esc restaurant at Escapade Silverstone Northamptonshire" class="wp-image-51525" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Escapade-Silverstone.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Escapade-Silverstone-300x232.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Escapade-Silverstone-768x594.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Esc at Escapade</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.bellplantation.co.uk/cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bell Plantation Café</a> is always buzzing, <a aria-label="Clarke and Dean (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.instagram.com/clarke_and_dean/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarke and Dean</a> and <a aria-label="Ten Hands (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.tenhands.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ten Hands</a> are both perfect pitstops for coffee and brunch. <a href="https://moghulrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Moghul Rooms</a> is a fantastic Indian reataurant and <a aria-label="The Folly Inn (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.follyinntowcester.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Folly Inn</a> is an excellent gastropub serving exquisitely presented, locally produced food. <a aria-label="Olive Tree (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.olivetreerestaurants.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olive Tree</a> and <a aria-label="Truva (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.truvagrill.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Truva</a> both serve mountains of heavenly Turkish grub, <a aria-label="185 Watling Street  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://northants.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/185-watling-st/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Watling Street Village</a> is a funky, modern bar and restaurant on the site of a historic coaching inn with a lovely beer garden. </p>



<p>Just out of town Esc restaurant at the snazzy new <a href="https://escapade.silverstone.co.uk/eats-drinks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Escapade</a> development at Silverstone Circuit is a motorsport lover&#8217;s dream and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whittlebury.com/dining/murrays" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Murray’s</a>&nbsp;restaurant at Whittlebury Park, just up the road, offers top notch fine dining, whilst Muddy Award Winning <a href="https://www.forgecoffee.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Forge Coffee</a> have just opened a new branch here too. </p>



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



<p>There&#8217;s a Waitrose, praise be, plus a burgeoning clutch of independent shopping in town. <a href="https://hoppinghare.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hopping Hare</a> make gorgeously scented artisan candles and home fragrances. <a aria-label="Popsy and Peanut (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.popsyandpeanut.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Popsy and Peanut</a> sell cool children&#8217;s clothes and toys, <a href="https://silversixpencebridal.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silver Sixpence</a> bridal shop is an absolute belter for upcoming nuptials. <a aria-label="Bell Plantation (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.bellplantation.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bell Plantation</a> garden centre has a popular cafe and a number of concessions on site including a vintage emporium, beauty and hair salon, a vets and dog groomers. There&#8217;s also a monthly farmers market. </p>



<p>Just out of town <a href="https://watlingreclamation.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Watling Reclamation</a> is an absolute treasure trove if you&#8217;ve got a fixer upper. Don&#8217;t miss one of our favourite local farm shops at <a href="https://www.stoweheightsfarm.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowe Heights Farm</a> too, it&#8217;s only open at weekends currently but they also deliver their seasonal veg, pasture raised poultry and Jacob lamb locally. For designer gear, hop in the car for 30 mins to luxury outdoor designer outlet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tbvsc.com/bicester-village/en">Bicester Village</a>&nbsp;with 160+ boutiques and restaurants, or Milton Keynes is also within easy reach.</p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="986" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/04/THE-ALFRESCO-SPA-003.jpg" alt="Al Fresco Spa" class="wp-image-45911" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/04/THE-ALFRESCO-SPA-003.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/04/THE-ALFRESCO-SPA-003-300x296.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/04/THE-ALFRESCO-SPA-003-768x757.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Alfresco Spa</figcaption></figure>



<p>There are a couple of GP practices in town to choose from. <a href="https://thechapelwellness.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chapel Wellness Studios</a> offer personal and small group training and treatments in a gorgeous space (formerly a chapel, obvs), <a href="https://www.rubyhookhairdressing.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ruby Hook</a> and <a href="https://www.thebeautyworkstowcester.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Beauty Works</a> are both great hair and beauty studios. Nearby, <a href="https://www.whittlebury.com/spa" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Whittlebury Park</a> has a spa and health club with all the facilities you could need and if you can drive out of town for 10 mins <a href="https://www.thealfrescospa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Alfresco Spa</a> is an absolute must for open air lake swimming, wooden hot tubs, cold plunge and a sauna.</p>



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



<p>There&#8217;s an ever popular Midsummer Music Festival with venues all over town, a weekly Farmers&#8217; Market, numerous orchestras, a table tennis club, TOWS Rugby Football Club, a tennis club, cycling club and even very popular archery club to name but a few. The library lives in a fairly new building that also houses the council offices, and there are regular toddler groups here, plus there&#8217;s a lovely flat Parkrun course around the Watermeadows. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="989" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/canons-ashby-house-01.jpeg" alt="Canons Ashby National Trust Northants" class="wp-image-45018" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/canons-ashby-house-01.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/canons-ashby-house-01-300x297.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/03/canons-ashby-house-01-768x760.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">National Trust Canons Abbey</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="http://towcestermuseum.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Towcester Museum</a> showcases the town&#8217;s Roman roots whilst, heralding the 21st century, <a aria-label="Silverstone Circuit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.silverstone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silverstone Circuit</a> is just outside town, hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix and Moto GP, the biggest events of the year in the area, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Towcester and the surrounding villages and prompt many locals to Airbnb their homes for a fairly decent profit. <a href="https://www.silverstonemuseum.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silverstone Museum</a> is a fantastic day out for families and motorsports lovers, <a aria-label="Stowe Landscape Gardens (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stowe Landscape Gardens</a> and <a aria-label="Canons Ashby National Trust  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canons-ashby" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canons Ashby National Trust </a>are both a 10 min drive. </p>



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



<p>Milton Keynes is half an hour away, where both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miltonkeynes-theatre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milton Keynes Theatre&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://mkgallery.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MK Gallery</a>&nbsp;offer a high calibre of arts and performance. In the opposite direction, <a href="https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal and Derngate</a>&nbsp;in Northampton is a thriving arts hub, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northamptonfilmhouse.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Filmhouse</a>, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theoldsavoy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deco Theatre</a>&nbsp;at the Old Savoy offering further choice, as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theroadmender.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roadmender</a>&nbsp;for edgy alternatives.</p>



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



<p>The overall average house price for Towcester is currently £371,644. Detached homes fetch £471,742, semis £312,669 and terraced houses £295,898.</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="670" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Shutlanger-towcester-BPTL.jpg" alt="Brookbank House Shutlanger Northamptonshire" class="wp-image-51519" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Shutlanger-towcester-BPTL.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Shutlanger-towcester-BPTL-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2024/09/Shutlanger-towcester-BPTL-768x515.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brookbank House comes with 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, so there&#8217;ll be no fighting over the shower in the morning. <a href="https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-TOW240109" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £1.5m</a>.</figcaption></figure>



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



<p>Many of the nurseries in town have long waiting lists, so get in early. <a href="https://www.towcestertots.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Towcester Tots</a> take babies up to pre-schoolers, <a href="https://www.tinytowspreschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tiny Tows</a> pre-school is within the grounds of Towcester Primary fro, children aged 2 – 5 yrs. Further afield, <a href="https://www.beststartnurseries.com/nursery/hedgehog-hill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hedgehog Hill</a> in Greens Norton is great for babies up to pre-schoolers.</p>



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



<p>Towcester has Good state primaries, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Towcester C of E Primary and the newly built Marie Weller. The surrounding villages also have some great little schools such as St Loys Primary Academy in Weedon Lois. Sponne state secondary school is rated outstanding. <a aria-label="Akeley Wood (opens in a new tab)" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/akeley-wood-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Akeley Wood</a> and <a aria-label="Northampton High School  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://northants.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/northampton-high-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northampton High School </a>both offer good independent options. </p>



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



<p>Local resident Jo Whiley is single handedly raising the Towcester cool factor by a significant wedge (she&#8217;s often seen walking her dogs at the Watermeadows and grabbing a coffee at Ten Hands) and Jay-Z has even been a house guest. </p>



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



<p>There&#8217;s no train station but it&#8217;s a 20 min belt down the A5 to Milton Keynes Central, from where the 44 mile journey takes just 33 mins. An annual season ticket will cost £5,884. Alternatively, you can drive to central London in around 1 hour 30 mins</p>



<p><em>View the full <a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Towcester

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