EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

From Northampton train station , which has regular services to London Euston and Birmingham, it's a ten-minute walk east to the Market Square - just follow the signs. Buses pull into the bus station on Lady's Lane, behind the hideous Grosvenor Shopping Centre, just to the north of the Market Square. The tourist office (late May to Aug Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm; rest of year closed Sun; tel 01604/622677) is opposite the Guildhall on St Giles Square, a minute or so to the south of Market Square. They operate an accommodation-booking service, have oodles of information on the county and issue bus timetables.

The smartest hotel in the centre is the Northampton Moat House , a dependable chain hotel in a large modern block on Silver Street (tel 01604/739988; £90-110). More distinctive is the Lime Trees Hotel , 8 Langham Place, Barrack Road (tel 01604/632188, ; £70-90), in pleasant Georgian premises half a mile north from the centre. The pick of the more central B&Bs is the St Georges Private Hotel , 128 St Georges Ave (tel 01604/792755, ; £40-50). This attractive place has spacious, comfortable guest rooms and occupies a large Edwardian house about a mile and a half from the centre, overlooking Racecourse Park.

A good spot for daytime snacks and coffee is Caffe Nero , just behind All Saints at 6A Abington St. For more substantial meals , try Joe's Diner , an American-style joint just along the street at no.104A (closed Sun).