Northampton BID

From the Collection: Landscapes
2025-07-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
For centuries, landscape was considered an unworthy subject for serious artistic exploration.
Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
Until Sunday 4 October
When landscape did appear in paintings, it was often relegated to the background—merely a setting for religious or historical scenes.
This perception began to shift in the 17th century with the work of Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorrain. These pioneering artists crafted idealised rural vistas to illustrate the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome, imbuing natural elements with metaphorical meaning. Through their romantic and structured visions of the countryside, landscape painting began to gain recognition as a meaningful art form.
It was not until the 19th century, however, that landscape truly came into its own. Artists such as J.M.W. Turner and John Constable redefined the genre, capturing the drama, emotion, and grandeur of the natural world. Their work affirmed landscape as a powerful subject in its own right—one that continues to inspire artists to this day.
Drawing from the museum collections, this exhibition explores the evolution of landscape painting, where nature takes centre stage.
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Gladiators of Britain
2025-07-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 12:00 - 17:00 | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
Explore the history of gladiatorial fights in Britain.

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The events of the amphitheatre – its wild beasts and enslaved fighters – are one of the most enduring aspects of Roman culture that still capture the public imagination today.
This touring exhibition brings together some of the countryâ€™s most important objects to tell the story of Britainâ€™s entertainment venues and the people who died to the roar of the crowd. It will reveal the violence of the arena, and the importance of spectacle within Roman culture.
Highlights include the Colchester Vase loaned by Colchester Museums, which records an actual battle between two real gladiators, and the Hawkedon Helmet, the only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain. These iconic loans will be supported by a selection of other items that reveal the popularity of gladiators throughout Roman society.
This tour is in partnership with Colchester and Ipswich Museums and is inspired by the recent exhibition at Colchester Castle, Gladiators: A Day at the Roman Games which featured British Museum loans. It will explore Roman spectacle in the local region, following in the footsteps of the gladiators who fought in the amphitheatres of Britain.

GamesWorld: Interactive Video Gaming Experience
2025-07-30 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Royal and Derngate Theatre, 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP
**EARLY BIRD OFFER** Just £6 a ticket and £25 for Groups of 5+ when purchased before Fri 30 May

Back by popular demand and it’s even bigger!
Player One: Ready? Player Two: Ready? Then prepare to level up your nostalgia as GamesWorld spawns in to Royal & Derngate for seven days of interactive video gaming mayhem.
With 100 consoles and a high-score-worthy selection of games spanning the last 50 years – from Atari to Xbox, Sega to PlayStation and Virtual Reality experiences, there is something for every kind of gamer.
Whether you’re an old-school joystick warrior or a competitive button-masher, challenge your friends and family in multiplayer battles, rediscover your childhood favorites, and press X to relive gaming history.
Book your start time and stay to play all day!
Slots run from 10am with last admittance at 3.30pm. Event closes at 5pm.

All Child Under 16 ticketholders must be accompanied by an adult.
There will be a Relaxed Event on Monday 28 July

Group Offer: Buy 5 Tickets for £35

Terms & Conditions: The experience is open 10am – 5pm, with last entry at 3.30pm. You should arrive at your allocated arrival time that is displayed on your ticket, however during quieter periods you may be admitted into the experience earlier at the discretion of the venue. The average visit to the experience lasts 90 minutes, although there is no time limit imposed on your stay. Please note there is no re-admission into the experience if you leave the venue.

BIG Summer Booksale
2025-07-30 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 09:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-28 09:00 - 17:00 | Northampton Central Library, Abington Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 2BA, United Kingdom
There is no better way to enjoy your favourite books than outdoors, whether youâ€™re gardening, boating or exploring faraway places! Come and have your best pick from the BIG Summer Booksale, where youâ€™ll find a wide selection of books at great prices, starting from just 50p.

The Giant, Immersive Murder Mystery Game
2025-07-30 00:00, 2025-07-29 00:00 | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
June – 7 September 2025
Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
£25 per team
Step into the role of a detective and solve a series of curious and whimsical mysteries in your local museum. Using our companion app, youâ€™ll explore the museum to uncover hidden clues and encounter life-sized cardboard characters—each one a possible suspect, witness, or victim.
Work together to connect the dots, follow the twists in each story, and put your problem-solving skills to the test. It’s the perfect activity for families, friends, or anyone with a curious mind looking for a fun and unique experience.
What to Expect
A Unique Blend of Games
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind adventure that combines elements of a murder mystery, escape room, scavenger hunt, and even a touch of Where’s Wally. Team up and see if you can crack the case.

An Immersive Museum Adventure
Watch the museum transform into a crime-solving playground. Track down cardboard clues, solve puzzles, and interact with quirky characters—surprises await around every corner.

Three Curious Cases to Solve
Your adventure lasts between 1 to 2 hours and includes three entertaining cases, from a vandalized moustache to a victim flattened by an ancient sarcophagus.
Ready to solve the mystery? Gather your team and start your investigation.
Perfect for friends, families, and curious minds – this is not your typical museum visit. It’s an adventure where YOU become the detective!
Just £25 per team
Timed slots
Only one phone needed to play

El Spanish Club
2025-07-29 19:00 - 21:00 | V and B, 10 St Giles' Square,, Northampton, NN1 1DA, United Kingdom
El Spanish Club. 7-9pm. All levels welcome!

Unicorn Fun – A chance to meet a real life unicorn!
2025-07-29 12:00 - 13:00 | The Old Savoy â€“ The home of The Deco Theatre, Abington Square, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 4AE
Would your child like to meet a real life Unicorn?
We have a unique summer special coming up especially for those unicorn lovers! Book your tickets and come for a super fun and exciting session where you can meet and greet our Unicorn Tinkerbelle and her mini shetland friends Jazz and Indie. Give them a brush and have lots of photos! The children will also take part in unicorn / pony themed arts and crafts.
One ticket admits one child and one adult.
PLEASE NOTE ALL CHILDREN WILL NEED TO WEAR TRAINERS / BOOTS. NO OPEN TOE SHOES!!
SRP Pony Parties licence number – LN/00000319

Paint your own trainers
2025-07-29 11:00 - 14:00 | Grandbies, 26 St Giles' St, northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1JA, United Kingdom
Get ready to unleash your creativity and give your kicks a colorful makeover at the â€œPaint your trainersâ€� event!

? Paint Your Trainers
Get creative and design your own custom sneakers at this fun, all-levels painting event! We’ll provide the plain trainers, all painting materials, and inspiration—you just bring your imagination.
Enjoy a relaxing day of art, conversation, and great coffee at Grandbies.? Ticket includes a free kids meal!

Bootcamp Britannia – Where Young Gladiators Are Made!
2025-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
Enlist your little ones this summer for an epic ancient adventure at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery!
Tuesdays on 29 July, 12, 26 August
11am – 12pm, 1 – 2pm, 2:30 – 3:30pm
Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
£7.50 per child
The Romans have taken over Northampton Museum & Art Gallery this summer!
Do you have a fearless fighter at home—a Likely Legionary or a Glory-Hunting Gladiator? Then get them signed up for Bootcamp Britannia and let them step into the world of ancient Rome!
What’s in store for your mini warrior?

Experience life in Roman-occupied Britain like never before
Handle real weapons used by Rome’s legendary soldiers and gladiators
Train like a warrior and complete your epic bootcamp challenges
Then, enter the arena and battle it out just like Rome’s greatest gladiators!

Suitable for children over 5 years of age. Children must be accompanied by an adult (maximum of one adult per booking).
Spaces are limited, so sign up now and let the battles begin!
Are your little warriors ready to fight for glory?
Tickets are also available to purchse direct from the museum, in person or over the telephone 01604 526322, Tuesday â€“ Saturday 10am â€“ 5pm, Sunday 12pm â€“ 5pm.

Endangered and Extinct by creative recycling artist Val Hunt
2025-07-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 12:00 - 17:00 | Northampton Museum And Art Gallery, 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP, United Kingdom
With inspiration, ingenuity, humour and skill, creative recycling artist Val Hunt has created a fascinating selection of large and small sculptural pieces which are both appealing and informative
Saturday 28 June â€“ Sunday 10 August 2025
Animals, exotic birds, fish, dinosaurs and species of flora, all on the edge or now extinct, have been made from a selection of throwaway material especially Val’s favourite medium, drinks can metal.
This exhibition presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation, raising awareness of why the creatures on show are endangered or extinct. Find out why species are disappearing from this planet at an alarming rate.

IN EXTREMIS: Landscape Reimagined
2025-07-29 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-27 10:00 - 17:00 | 78 Derngate, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1UH
We are very pleased to be hosting this exhibition across all our galleries here at 78 Derngate. Simon James is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores themes of nature and the urban environment in mostly abstract or semi-abstract forms and takes inspiration from his surroundings in the cities of Asia and Europe or, more recently, the English countryside. James trained in Fine Art and Printmaking at London’s Royal Academy and Royal College of Art and he now works across the spectrum from painting and drawing to video and photographic works, having adopted the expressive potential of digital media while working as a designer and independent artist in Asia. Having held solo shows in London, Berlin, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo, whilst also designing for TV, publishing and the music industry, Simon was also a university lecturer in multimedia and photography.

www.simonjames.com

ASTRONOMY
2025-07-28 19:30 - 21:30 | Northamptonshire Natural History Society, The Humfrey Rooms, 10 Castilian Terrace, Northampton, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1LD, United Kingdom
TELESCOPIC TOPICS A meeting comprising member contributions on various astronomy themes. Your chance to show the section observations you have made, equipment you are using or anything else that has interested you enough to share it with the section. If you have a special interest and would like to participate as a speaker please let the secretary know beforehand. Guests are very welcome.

PiL THIS IS NOT… THE LAST TOUR:
2025-07-27 19:00 - 22:30 | Roadmender, 1 Lady's Ln, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 3AH, United Kingdom

Matcha Candle making event
2025-07-27 18:00 - 22:00 | Grandbies, 26 St Giles' St, northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1JA, United Kingdom
Matcha Candle making event
Event Synopsis: Matcha Candle Making with Reverie Candle Company
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Grandbies, in collaboration with the artisan fragrance experts at Reverie Candle Company, proudly hosted a sensory-rich, hands-on workshop centered around the art of candle making—with a unique twist: matcha-inspired scents.
Held in an intimate and ambient setting, the event brought together a vibrant community of creatives, wellness enthusiasts, and scent lovers. Participants were guided through the full candle-making process, from blending fragrance oils to pouring and setting their very own matcha-infused soy wax candles. Reverie’s founder shared insights into the therapeutic properties of matcha and the mindfulness behind the craft, creating a truly immersive and calming experience.

Fiori Musicali Castle Ashby Concert
2025-07-27 18:00 - 19:45 | Castle Ashby, Castle Ashby Church, NN7 1LQ
Castle Ashby NN7 1LQ

Castle Ashby Church, Northampton (9 miles), NN7 1LQ

Sunday 27th July 2025

The Castle Ashby Concert
part of Fiori Musicali’s summer series 2025 â€“ Hortus Musicus â€“ the musical garden.
The romantic Italian gardens at Castle Ashby with their topiary and orangery are the inspiration for our popular midsummer concert in the idyllic church at Castle Ashby.
The nightingale makes a passing appearance in the music of Italian early baroque composer Merula. Flute and recorder represent other members of the feathered world and Uccellini’s Sinfonie Boscarecie is a nod to the arboretum and parkland of this heavenly venue. Brandenburg too had wonderful baroque gardens, so JS Bach must make an appearance. And an intriguing alternative portrayal of Summer from the Four Seasons captures the time of year – not by Vivaldi this time, but by his rarely heard Italian contemporary Giovanni Guido.
Telemann - Violin concerto in A Imitiert die Reelinge
Merula - La lusignuola (the nightingale)
Uccellini â€“ Sinfonie Boscarecie no.34 ‘Gran Battaglia’
Telemann - Concerto for recorder & flute in E minor
Guido â€“ Summer from the Four Seasons
JS Bach â€“ Brandenburg concerto no.4

Kerstin Linder Dewan solo violin, Eva Caballero flute/recorder, Heidi Fardell recorder with the Fiori Musicali Chamber Orchestra, Penelope Rapson harpsichord/director
picnic from 4pm in the grounds (extra to concert ticket) picnic ticket: £5.00

"Wig & Pen" Northampton. Hosting. "Submachine"
2025-07-27 16:00 - 18:30 | The Wig And Pen, 19 St Giles' St, northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1JA, United Kingdom
SUNDAY Jly 27th (Afternoon) We had a brill time on our first visit on a very cold Sunday in February. The audience were super receptive and we were asked when would we be returning to this well established music venue. Let’s hope they haven’t forgotten us. We provide an exciting rock show from 60’s to modern, covering popular songs from â€“ The Who, Focus, The Knack, Rush, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Guns.n.Roses, Foo Fighters, Metallica, + many more. Something for everyone. (Start 4pm)

DEE-JA-VU
2025-07-27 16:00 | The King Billy Music Bar, 2 Commercial Street, Northampton, NN1 1PJ, United Kingdom
DEE-JA-VU
Feel-Good Hits. Live Energy. Real Music. 5-Piece Band • Big Sound • Unforgettable Night!Sunday the 27th of July Band wakes you up at 18:00 Free entryGet ready to experience Dee-Ja-Vu – a dynamic 5-piece band bringing the very best in pop, rock, disco and everything in between. With rich vocals, tight grooves, and a setlist packed with crowd-pleasers, they’ll have you singing, dancing, and shouting for more! Whether you’re reliving the classics or vibing with modern hits, Dee-Ja-Vu delivers every time

SUBMACHINE
2025-07-27 16:00 | The Wig And Pen, 19 St Giles' St, northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1JA, United Kingdom
Live Music

Blues Week 2025
2025-07-27 15:00 | University of Northampton, Waterside Campus, University Dr, northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 5PH, United Kingdom
Blues Week 2025 Update: Someone just dropped out for personal reasons and we now have one place available. Get in touch straight away so you wonâ€™t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn how to play the blues and make new friends who share your passion.

Bands in the Park 2025
2025-07-27 14:00 - 17:00 | Abington Park Bandstand, Abington Park, Wellingborough Road, Northampton, NN3 3HN, United Kingdom
125th Anniversary year
Every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from 6th April to 28th September
2 â€“ 5pm
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Enjoy live performances from local bands and musicians at the Abington Park Bandstand, every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from April through to September.*
Bring your own chairs, picnic blankets/rugs and relax within the picturesque surroundings of Abington Park.
This yearâ€™s performances start on 6th April and run through to 28th September.
Please view the full 2025 schedule below.
*There will be no Bands in the Park performance on 21st September, but you can enjoy the Rockinâ€™ Roadrunner Festival instead!
Please note that performances may be shortened or cancelled in the case of inclement weather. Updates will be provided on our social media accounts when possible.

125th Anniversary Celebration Event â€“ Saturday 17th May 11am â€“ 4pm

Marking 125 years of the bandstand in Abington Park with fun for all the family with activities, stalls and musical performances.

MORE INFORMATION: www.northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/bandsinthepark
Bands in the Park 2025 calendar
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Community Open Day - Delapre Abbey
2025-07-27 11:00 - 16:00 | Delepre Abbey, London Rd, Northampton, Northants, NN4 8AW, United Kingdom
Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, along with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Danielle Stone and partners, are inviting you to join us at one of our Community Open Days this July!
Come along and meet your local emergency service personnel as they demonstrate what they do on a daily basis to keep the community safe.
Climb onboard our Joint Command Unit, get an up close look at the police operational kit, and see some of our police dogs in action â€“ with a chance to meet PD Socks and PD Bonnie!
Whether youâ€™re interested in joining the emergency services or just want to find out more about what we do, thereâ€™s something for everyone at our Community Open Days, so come along to your closest event.
We are holding two open days, one in the north of the county and one in the west:
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 11am to 4pm â€“ Wicksteed ParkSunday, July 27, 2025, 11am to 4pm â€“ Delapre Abbey
Further information will be announced closer to the time.
Please note, some displays will be subject to operational demand on the day.
