Overlooked English county dubbed ‘Cotswolds without the crowds’ reveals plans to become the next big tourist hotspot
AN ENGLISH county has revealed plans to become a major tourist hotspot.
Dubbed the ‘Cotswolds without the crowds,’ Northamptonshire has recently welcomed a new tourism chairman who wants to put the county on the map for visitors.
Richard Clinton, now the Northamptonshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) chairman said he wants to make it a “destination of choice” for both UK and international tourists.
He said: “I think we’re undersold nationally and internationally.
“There is a clear vision to build a vibrant, sustainable visitor economy that showcases Northamptonshire as a destination of choice for both national and international audiences, delivering real benefits for businesses and those living in Northamptonshire.”
The county’s largest town is Northampton, also one of the largest in England – being bigger than some UK cities.
It is also undergoing a huge redevelopment, including a new £12.2million leisure space and market hall, set to open next year and and its main shopping street being upgraded.
Despite this, even some locals say the county is overlooked.
Model Edie Campbell, who moved to Northamptonshire in 2020, told Tatler: “‘Even English people don’t know where Northamptonshire is.”
It has since been dubbed the ‘Cotswolds without the crowds’ for a number of reasons, including being a popular destination with ex-Londoners.
It also has the most country houses, with around 55 and leading to its nickname of the “spires and squires” county.
One of the most famous is Althorp, the childhood home of Princess Diana.
There is also Boughton House, dubbed the English Versailles, as well as both Drayton House and Deene Park, used to film the movie Saltburn.
For more thrills, there are two well-known theme parks in Northamptonshire as well.
There is Wicksteed Park in Kettering, a free-to-visit Grade-II listed theme park.
Mum Catherine Lofthouse, who often visits, told Sun Travel: “It’s just good old-fashioned fun, which sits well with the heritage ethos of a park that has given visitors a free day out for more than a century.
“It’s a cost-effective option if some of your party aren’t interested in taking a turn around the track.”
And there is also Billing Aquadome, one of the UK’s oldest holiday parks which underwent a huge £8million revamp last year.
Mum Catherine added: “With free entertainment and soft play, it’s good for families on a budget as it seems like the kind of place where you can spend as much or as little as you like.”
And Go Ape opened their 37th site in the UK last year, in a forest in Northamptonshire.
Otherwise pretty villages such as Harrington are worth a visit, which is home to the UK’s best pub or the town of Kettering, named a top destination last year.
Thinking of visiting this year after all? Time is right for some 2025 events too, including the 50th Northampton Country Beer Festival in May or Summertime Live in July.
The Sun visit Northamptonshire
The Sun’s Deputy Dead of Features Dulcie Pearce recently explored the up-and-coming English county.
Hall Farm, where a collection of fabulous self-catering properties is run by owners Sarah and Geoff, offered the perfect Northants escape.
With beamed ceilings, original art on the walls, stylish furniture and all the high-spec touches you could ask for, it delivers the perfect mix of cottage style and creature comforts.
There is also the nearby village pub, The Cross Keys, a character-filled traditional local with oak beams, inglenook fireplace and lots of nooks and crannies – it was the perfect place to tuck into posh pub fare and a glass of red.
Nearby is the small village of King’s Cliffe – very picturesque and known for its artistic community.
But for my final day, I decided to combine walking, fresh air and sightseeing on a visit to Elizabethan stately home Burghley House, used as a stand-in for Windsor Castle in The Crown.
With amazing gardens and park-lands as well as magnificent inter-iors, it’s a fine wet-weather option although I was lucky enough to get sunshine so made the most of the outdoor sculpture trail.
As the weekend came to a close, I felt I’d enjoyed the best of a British autumn break, from cosy pubs and cream teas to crafts and historic houses.
This lesser-visited part of the country delivered it all.
Here’s another UK county named a trending holiday hotspot this year.
And the UK’s smallest county has been nicknamed the ‘Notswolds’ – here’s why.