Upper Weedon

[Nick3point2]

Considering the purchase of a house in Upper Weedon, but I'm new to the area (relocated to Northampton from Hertfordshire in February) so would like to know people's thoughts on the area. Not concerned over public transport links but it appears to be a low crime area and there are a selection of good schools, is this true?

Silly things like what is the broadband and mobile phone signal like in the area? How long does it take to get to the M1 (family still live in Herts and Essex) etc etc.

Many thanks in advance

[jwoffshore]

I live in Weedon and it's fine for me. It's a fairly large village and can sustain its own shops & PO, plus a few pubs. There's a whole mix of people types, so it's not an up-market exclusive kind of place (if that is what you prefer). We used to have a bit of low level anti-social behaviour from teenagers a few years ago, but that now seems to have been eradicated and I can't remember the last time I had any cause for concern.

The only school is a primary school, which also serves some surrounding smaller villages. I cannot vouch for the standard, as I do not have kids. There are at least a couple of nurseries too. For secondary education, I guess you'd be looking at Daventry (for a state school). I can't give you any specifiics.

M1 J16 is only about 5 minutes away, or longer in rush traffic when the A5/A45 crossing can back up. There are frequent accidents all along the M1 Northampton - MK stretch resulting in grid-lock. Helps to know the back lanes, which I prefer. Heading north on the A5 is usually quite successful. South on the A5 can reach a stop in Towcester during peak times or Silverstone big events. If you can get past Towcester, the A43 takes you quite nicely to M40. Birmingham airport is my usual escape route and is easily reached diectly along the A45 in less than 1 hour.

There are many other pleasant villages all around the area. The nearest town is Daventry (5 miles) which seems to be full of tattoed track suit wearing pondlife. 8 miles the other way is Northampton, bigger and growing. In the immediate future, the Northampton growth should hopefully be limited by the M1. Plans to dramatically expand Daventry (towards Weedon direction) seem to have been canned for the time being. Weedon itself is I believe "in-fill" only, which means that the few old farm and industrial plots are gradually being covered by housing, but the village boundary is fixed.

ETA My mobile on 02 is fine. Can't vouch for other providers. Broadband is OK, but I don't think it's on fibreoptic line yet, so not up to city standards.

Edited by jwoffshore on Wednesday 27th July 19:41

Edited by jwoffshore on Wednesday 27th July 19:51

[na]

Now for the really important bits – Northamptonshire has some great driving roads with lovely countryside and some excellent village pubs – south and north/east of Weedon has some particularly nice country roads, villages and pubs

Out Weedon way are at least two ‘shopping villages’ whatever they are

Near you is this excellent pub with a fabulous rear garden (and I don’t like gardens) and don't miss the skittles room (note opening times) -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrinsky/207250341/

http://www.farthingstone.org.uk/the-kings-arms

a few others in no particular order -
Old Red Lion, Litchborough, excellent pub with great plans for the future, fresh farm meat - http://northantscamra.referata.com/wiki/Old_Red_Li...

Althorp Coaching Inn (also know as Fox & Hounds), Althorp ((pronounced All–thorpe not Al–trup) - http://www.althorp-coaching-inn.co.uk/

Chequers, Ravensthorpe – good beer and good portions of good inexpensive food - http://northantscamra.referata.com/wiki/Chequers,_...

Ward Arms, Guilsborough for Nobby's beers - http://northantscamra.referata.com/wiki/Ward_Arms,...

Kislingbury, I’d recommend The Olde Red Lion, very nice, pub food in the front restaurant or posher food in the back restaurant, nice lounge (I’ve never eat in either), beer real ale can be excellent - http://www.theolderedlion.net/index.asp

Sun Inn, Kislingbury, not as nice as above but beer should be good and I’m told the food - http://www.kislingburyonline.co.uk/thesun.php

I'm sure all would let in well behaved parents and their off-spring

[Nick3point2]

Brilliant responses! Thanks! Unfortunately, the hose was a complete let down, no where near as big as I was expecting so the wife and I are looking elsewhere. It was the only place in weedon we'd seen, as really we're only looking in Towcester, so didn't know anything about the place!

[firesafetydave]

Maybe if you want a bit more space you should take a look at a house, always far more comfortable than a hose in my opinion;)

[obes]

All the villages on that a5 corridor from Weedon to Towcester are pretty nice.
Grew up in Upper Stowe and have now moved back that way after 10yrs in Northampton.
Love it.
V. good curry houses in Towcester, Fosters Booth and Weedon!

[mikey P 500]

I can recommend Towcester its self, is quite nice a place, good secondary school (which I teach at) most of the villages are also nice but tend to cost more for the same sort of house. Silverstone is very nice but expensive.

[Nick3point2]

I'm mainly focussing on towcester now. Had a bit of a set back on a great place because the owner wants about £30k more than the house is worth!

[Nick3point2]

What's east hunsbury like? Can get a much nicer house than Towcester for the same money!

[athomp04]

You have answered your own question!

[80quattro]

Its probably irrelevant now... the most annoying thing about Weedon is the guys who work at the BP always close at 9.45pm when it should be 10pm. Boils my p*ss. Also the local garage up the road, Clarks, still sell 4 star!