What to do in Northampton
As someone who doesn’t like being at home all the time, it was very important for me to find a university and city that offered a lot of things to do. I wanted to find somewhere that not only became a temporary home, but somewhere where I actually enjoyed living. This is one of the reasons why I chose Northampton. Whilst it is not a major city, it’s still located right the heart of the UK, with places like London, Birmingham and Milton Keynes only a short train ride away. But if you don’t want to travel, Northampton still offers plenty of things to do.
Royal & Derngate
One of my favourite landmarks in the town (and only a short walk from campus) is the Royal & Derngate, right in Northampton’s cultural quarter. Composed of a theatre (with a really nice student discount for most productions!) where West End tours such as Six or Operation Mincemeat and Made in Northampton productions live. It is the perfect place for a calmer night out with your friends without breaking the bank.
The Northampton Filmhouse
In the same building as the Royal and Derngate, there’s also the Northampton Filmhouse. It’s a really nice two screen movie theatre that offers anything from national theatre livestreams to the newest blockbusters. They also offer a fantastic deal for students where you can get tickets for only £5 (the cheapest you will find in town). Also in the same theatre there is Lola’s Tapas Bar – a nice place to grab a drink or dinner before your show or movie!
Silverstone Museum
If you’re someone who is more into exploring new places, Silverstone is just a bus ride away, and also home to the British Grand Prix. There you can find the Silverstone Museum, where you can see where history is made and challenge your friends to a go-kart race.
Night Life in Northampton
Northampton also offers a vibrant nightlife for students. The Cordwainer pub is great place to have a drink with your friends while chatting or playing UNO. NB’s night club has a student night once a week, so you can go out with your friends while feeling safe.
The University’s Waterside Bar also hosts really cool events all week, from pub quizes, to music bingo and karaoke. There is always something to do there if you want to spend time with your friends in a familiar place.
Shopping
UON is located right in the centre of Northampton town, which means you can spend your time between classes exploring. If you want to grab a quick bite there are a ton of affordable restaurants to choose from (most which also offer some sort of deal for students) and a shopping centre where you can browse around to your heart’s content (I love going to Primark and getting some new clothes without spending all my savings). One of my favourite things to do with my friends in between lectures is going to the big Morrisons that is located right outside the campus so we can get a meal deal and eat it while watching the animals on the lake.
Some other really cool places to check out:
- Delapre Abbey
- Vue Cinema
- Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
- Fat Fugu Collective
- The Boston
- Akasaka (really nice restaurant if you want to celebrate!)
- All the charity shops in town
- Spun Out
Northampton is a really cool student-friendly place. You can find your community and family in a safe and multicultural environment. I am really happy with my choice of living here, and I’m sure you’d love it too if you decided to study here.
You can explore Northampton town by taking one of our town tours at an Open Day!
