X47, Northampton to Raunds

The bus makes its way out of Northampton, past BBC Radio Northampton's striking office and the Old Savoy Theatre on the left and past independent shops aplenty towards the greenery and pond at Abington Park. The bus turns right, with the floodlights of Northamptonshire County Cricket ground on the left.

Down the Wellingborough Road the bus goes, weaving in and out of the popular Weston Favell Shopping Centre, then through the picturesque village of Earls Barton, with its stone buildings and delightful thatched cottage. Farmyards appear and a reservoir as Great Doddington is close by, before Wellingborough approaches , the Ye Golden Lion visible and Swansgate Shopping Centre in this fab town where old and new are perfectly infused. More pubs are passed - The Redwell and Gloucester, then the Castle Theatre and Wellingborough Museum in pretty green surrounds.

Past the idyllic looking cricket ground at famous old Wellingborough school, through Rushden and not far from Rushden Lakes, then off to Higham Ferrers the X47 goes and its church spire in the background and foliage climbing up the walls of buildings and it's over the River Nene with the beautiful East Pitt lake on the left, then in and out of Nene Park, past the hospital and back towards Rushden, but turning left to the charming village of Stanwick, with its allotments, lovely church, village hall and the Stanwick Hotel, before arriving in the wonderful small town of Raunds, passing The Kindness Shop and Community Hub, the World Upside Down pub and market square, a perfect finale to a journey that's crammed pack full of contrasts, that fully brings to life the joys of Northamptonshire life!

Begin your day in the centre of Northampton with breakfast at The Good Loaf, a well-loved artisan bakery where you can sit down with strong coffee and something freshly baked before heading to the nearby bus interchange. From there, spend an hour exploring the compact town centre: walk through the historic Market Square, then drift towards All Saints' Church, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1675, and continue to the peaceful Beckets Park by the River Nene for a short riverside stroll.

Board the X47, which runs roughly every hour and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes end-to-end, passing through suburban Northampton and out into Northamptonshire towns and countryside . Early on, the bus glides past Abington Park, one of the town’s oldest green spaces, before heading through residential districts toward Weston Favell .

Hop off at Weston Favell Shopping Centre for a short break. Here you can browse shops, grab a coffee, or simply enjoy the contrast between town centre heritage and modern suburban life. Back on the bus, the scenery gradually opens into fields and villages as you travel east.

Arriving in Wellingborough, take time to wander around the town centre. The Swanspool Gardens offer a pleasant green escape, while the Museum and Art Gallery gives insight into local history. The streets themselves reveal a mix of Victorian and modern development, reflecting the town’s industrial past.

Continuing on the X47, the route passes through smaller settlements and stretches of countryside before reaching Raunds, a quieter market town with a slower pace. Once there, explore the Saxon-era St Peter's Church, known for its striking tower and long history, then take a gentle walk through nearby green spaces or along local footpaths.

For lunch, settle into The Saxon Tavern, where you can enjoy a relaxed pub meal after your journey. By now, the rhythm of the bus ride, town, suburb, countryside, and small town, will have given you a rich cross-section of Northamptonshire in a single, easygoing day.