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Northampton is located in central England, 108 kilometers northwest of London and 80 kilometers south-north of Birmingham. The city spans both sides of the Nine River and is the administrative center of the province of Norentypestershire.
The citys history has its roots in the Bronze Age, around the 7th century, when Northeastmont was a small farming and farming community. By the 8th century, according to historians, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Mersea. Before it became Northampton, it was called Gémon (which roughly translates as a village next to a flooded field) and was only about two square kilometers in size. Then the city was given the name North, which became North Gamma, and then transformed into the final version Northgemeont. Historians say that the purpose of the name change was to distinguish the city from another English city, Southampton.
In the Middle Ages, when England was overrun by the Normans, Northampton was transformed by them into a fortified fort: the city was fortified by a sturdy wall and a castle was built in the center. The memories of those events are now well incorporated into todays cityscape. During the time that the normans were there, the city grew rapidly in size, including beyond the sturdy walls. The Northampton has gradually exerted its influence, for a time even serving as a court of justice of the Court of England.
In the time of the English Revolutionary War in 1642, the city was supported by the Parliamentarians, for which Charles II later ordered its walls and castle to be demolished as a punishment. The site of the castle is now the railway station at "Northampton Castle Station".
Northampton was known in the early 20th century for its developed shoe manufacturing industry, but now the shoe factory buildings are mostly rebuilt as offices or demolished altogether to make way for new construction. Most of the citys population is now employed in the financial and service sectors. The city has a university, the University of Northeastern, which offers a variety of humanities degrees.
The city has monuments of ancient architecture such as the Church of All Saints, the Norman Cathedral of the Holy Sepulchre, the Norestroman Rathaus and the underground tunnels with catacombs. There are two theaters in North York City: the Corrolet and the Dyersgate Theaters, located across from the North York City Museum. The museum, which also houses the Museum of Art, has a rich collection of shoes from all periods and peoples, as well as many pieces of Italian art, glass and ceramics. It also has an exhibit dedicated to local history.
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- Air quality: 37 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
- Population: 220,000 people
- GDP: $40,249 / year
- Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 27 Mbps
- Best wireless: Three
- Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
- Tipping: At restaurants in the UK a tip of around 10% is expected if you order at your table. A ‘service charge’ or ‘optional charge’ may be included so check your bill. If there is a service charge, don’t tip extra. If there is a service charge you may like to ensure that it goes to the waiter or waitress.
- Apartment listings: Gumtree
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Uber
- Online electronics shop: Amazon
- Best hospital: Three Shires Hospital
- Best short-haul air carrier: RyanAir
- Best intl air carrier: British Airways
- Monthly costs for expat: $2600
- Monthly costs for family: $5000
- Monthly costs for local: $1400
- Meal: $17
- Small Cola: $3
- Beer 1 Pint: $5
- Coffee: $3
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