Introduction to Oundle

Oundle is a historic ancient market town in Northamptonshire on the river Nene, near the Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire borders.

Its market has existed for over a thousand years and there continues to be a weekly market (on Thursdays) and a Farmers Market (first Saturday of the month). The current population is about 5,500 with new developments on the periphery blending in with the medieval and classic architecture of the centre of Town. See the Town Guide for a full historical background and description of the modern-day town. The town is on the northern A605 near main routes, including the A1, A14 and A47 and some 20 minutes away from Peterborough Mainline train station to Kings Cross and Wellingborough Station to St Pancras and Eurostar.

The Town boasts 2 large schools, the well known Oundle School (Independent) and Prince William Comprehensive School, as well as lower, middle schools and a preparatory school. The thriving town centre has a variety of shops of all types, a fairly large Co-Op supermarket and a Tesco Express. In our where-to-go section you will find details of a hotel in the Town Centre and nearby at Barnwell Mill, local bed and breakfasts, restaurants, a range of pubs with eating and some active tea-shops and wine bars. On our Events page, you will find hat Oundle has a large cultural and sporting base for all people including Amateur dramatic, Gilbert and Sullivan, the Stahl Theatre and a variety of Festivals including a Book Festival. All sports are played including cricket, rugby, soccer, badminton, squash, rifle shooting to name a few. Oundle boasts a fine Museum based in part of the Old Court House (now the Council Offices), a large Doctors' Clinic and several Churches, listed in our Local Directory. Oundle has a large variety of business, including Fairline a large company based at the Marina, employing over 1,000 people in luxury boat building, mainly for the international market.

The industrial zone is deliberately based between the town and the A605 by-pass, separate from residential areas. Buses run through Oundle on a regular basis to local towns, including Peterborough, Wellingborough, Corby, Milton Keynes and Northampton. There is regulated on-street parking in the Town Centre, a large car park at the Co-Op and a long-term car park. A petrol station, car hire and Ford garage are in North Oundle. Further information is available to welcome visitors and potential residents at the Tourist Office, at the Town Council Offices and on this web-site.

Date Published: 10/03/09