QPR supporter in Northampton. Northampton is a medium/larger sized town nothing more nothing less pretty much the same as most middle/larger towns some good areas and bad. Will echo some of what has been said on the thread, good villages about and even Kettering is getting developed a bit, however it's more their residents (Kettering) that need bringing out of the dark ages I believe for entertainment they have muck throwing and witch burning.
Have relatives in Towcester which is alright and yeah Blisworth is mostly nice. Just depends on what you are looking for is you want a nice quiet scenic place to live Stoke Bruerne is beautiful. Northampton itself just keep away from certain parts, they are pretty obvious by a quick drive round. Best pub in the town is the King Billy, well if you like decent rock music, it's a bikers pub and they are pretty much to a man a decent lot, if it says anything about the sense of humour in there if you were by any chance to order Fosters, when they are ringing it through on the till it comes up as kangaroo piss.
Good luck but keep away from the 'rugby' Saints as they are mostly a bunch of self important twats, the type that don't actually like nor understand sport and would bore you senseless about how Tarquin is getting on in cello lessons, how he is allergic to pretty much everything and the latest wine they have discovered from Peru that is a steal at £40 a bottle, even though the local corner shop are peddling out the exactly the same stuff for £6.
“Best pub in the town is the King Billy“ - as you said, very much a rocker/biker pub.
This is why it is always difficult to make recommendations without knowing the person who is seeking the advice. To some, the King Billy would be the last place to visit. It’s all down to individual taste. The same
applies to recommending areas to live or not live. What is right for one is wrong for another.
I notice you describe Stoke Bruerne as “quiet” and it is a very scenic place, but also worth mentioning that it is virtually gridlocked any half decent weathered weekend and smells of over used cooking oil, within 200 yards of The Navigation pub. It does have a great Indian restaurant though: The Spice of Bruerne.
Towcester has good and bad parts, as does any town. Again, it’s all down to what people are used to and expect.
@jonny shuttle - Towcester does have a race course with free entry on all but two race meetings, along with a greyhound racing track - if that is your thing and of course Silverstone is five minutes down the road.
I did giggle at your rugby Saints comments - spot on to some that I know, but to be fair, not all of them.
Whereabouts do you live @Willhoops ?