Northampton

Rolling between the M1 and the Grand Union Canal, this slice of West Northamptonshire offers a proper breath of fresh air from the county town bustle. The old Royal Ordnance Depot at Weedon Bec dominates the landscape - massive red-brick buildings that once stored gunpowder for Wellington's armies now house the fascinating Visitor Centre Weedon Depot, where you can wander through military history without the crowds you'd get at more famous sites.

Canal life moves at a lovely pace here. Whilton Marina buzzes with narrowboat activity, and the towpath walks through Canal Upper Belt and Canal Lower Belt woodlands are cracking for dog walkers and families. The waterway splits the area neatly - on one side you've got proper countryside with spots like Long Spinney for woodland rambles, on the other the more developed bits around the old depot.

Art lovers shouldn't miss The Artizen at Heart of the Shires Shopping Village, which showcases local talent alongside the usual retail therapy. It's a bit of an odd mix - military history, canal culture, and creative spaces - but that's what gives this area its particular character.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Junction 16 of the M1 puts you right in the thick of it, and Northampton's just ten minutes down the road if you need proper shops or a train station. The Grand Union Canal provides a gentler route in by narrowboat, naturally.

Staying at one of the local parks like Blisworth Park or the glamping options around Steepleton Lodge means you're perfectly placed for canal walks, depot tours, and quick escapes to the Cotswolds or Silverstone when the mood takes you.