Places to Stay Near a Train Station in Northamptonshire

What's on offer near a station

BritStays lists 29 places to stay near a train station in Northamptonshire, and 28 of them are hotels. There is one camping option, but if you're hoping for a cottage or self-catering flat close to the platform, you'll find little choice here. What you do get is a good spread of hotels in the main towns. That suits weekend breaks without the car, family visits, business-and-pleasure trips and overnight stopovers.

Facilities vary more than you might expect, so read each listing carefully. Across the 29 stays:

• WiFi is listed at 14, so roughly half
• Disabled Access is listed at 10
• Parking is listed at 9
• Restaurant is listed at 8 and Bar at 4
• Pet Friendly is listed at 7
• Takeaway Food is listed at 4

If any one of these matters to you, filter for it rather than assuming it's included. Even WiFi isn't a given.

Choosing your base town

This is an inland county, so the choice isn't coast versus countryside. It's about which town makes the best base for the heritage sites and days out you have in mind. The stays are concentrated in a handful of places:

• Northampton (8 stays): the widest choice. Premier Inn Northampton Town Centre lists WiFi, and Langham Hotel is another option in town. Travelodge Northampton Central and Travelodge Northampton Wooton both list a restaurant, disabled access and pet-friendly rooms. Sedgebrook Hall, with a swimming pool, gym and bar, is the one to look at if you want a bit more from your hotel.
• Milton Keynes (7 stays): Holiday Inn Milton Keynes is among them, and the number of options here gives you a useful fallback if your first choices are full.
• Kettering (4 stays): Barton Hall and the Royal Hotel, plus Kettering Park Hotel, whose listing highlights a swimming pool, gym and spa.
• Wellingborough (4 stays): Premier Inn Wellingborough lists disabled access and WiFi. High View Hotel is the other named example.
• Market Harborough (2 stays): The Angel Hotel is one of them.

Two more, The Plough Hotel and The Hind Hotel, are listed simply under Northamptonshire. Check their exact address before you book so you know which station you'll be using.

Which stays suit which trip

Couples after a relaxing break should look first at Kettering Park Hotel or Sedgebrook Hall. These are the two examples with a pool and gym, and Kettering Park adds a spa.

Families will also find a pool a big plus on a wet afternoon, so those two are worth comparing. If you're mainly after a bed near the station before a day out, a budget chain in Northampton or Wellingborough keeps things simple.

Dog owners have 7 pet-friendly stays to choose from. Travelodge Northampton Central and Travelodge Northampton Wooton both list it. Always confirm the hotel's pet policy and any extra charge directly.

If you need step-free access, 10 stays list disabled access, including Premier Inn Wellingborough and both Northampton Travelodges. Ask the hotel what that means in practice, such as lifts, accessible bathrooms and ground-floor rooms.

Things to do once you're there

Northamptonshire's landmarks lean towards heritage. On your list could be:

• Castle Ashby House
• Canons Ashby House, cared for by the National Trust
• Captain Cook's Monument, also National Trust
• Triangular Lodge and Bury Mount, both castle and heritage sites
• Gulliver's Land, a theme park that families tend to head for
• The Canal Museum

If you don't mind crossing the county line, nearby options include:

• Rutland Falconry & Owl Centre in Rutland
• Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Museum in Leicestershire
• Rushden Hall and Museum and Moot Hall in Bedfordshire
• Oak Farm Animal Park and Buckinghamshire County Museum in Buckinghamshire
• The Wave water park in Warwickshire

Many heritage sites and attractions aren't right next to a station. Before you rely on public transport for a day out, check how you'll get from the station to the door and back.

When and how to book

With only 29 stays, and just a few in some towns, choice can narrow quickly. That's especially true in Kettering, Wellingborough and Market Harborough. A few things to do:

• Book early if you need something specific, such as a pet-friendly room, an accessible room or a hotel with a pool. Only a handful of stays offer each.
• School holidays and weekends are likely to be busier, particularly if you're planning a theme-park day. Check attraction opening dates before you commit to hotel dates.
• Ask the hotel how long the walk to the station takes. 'Near a train station' covers a range of distances, and it matters with luggage or children.
• If you're arriving by car after all, check for parking. Only 9 of the 29 list it.
• Check whether breakfast or an evening meal is available on site. Just 8 list a restaurant.