Traveling from Aberdeen to Northampton, UK

Reason #593 I'm spending too much time on StyFo: "Aberdeen" conjurs to mind an Alden last

There's a direct train from Aberdeen to Northampton, probably take about 8-9 hours. Save trying to find a way from a London airport to Northampton.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Fly from Aberdeen to Birmingham International - 90 minute flight.

Direct train from Birmingham International to Northants - less than an hour.

Train information

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

I couldn't see a direct train, the train journey involves changes at Glasgow or Edinburgh and Birmingham. Travelling time is 8 or 9 hours.

If you don't want to visit London, try flying to Birmingham (which has direct trains to N.) There is a lot of travelling involved to get from any of the London Airports to Euston station and then to Northampton, (Even Luton involves two train changes to reach Northampton.)

Hope that helps.

I just checked it on-line.

Birmingham International (the airport) has it's own train station which is on the route Birmingham to Northampton.
You don't have to go into town (other direction) but go straight to Northampton (50 minutes).

Edinburgh is pretty terrible for shopping. If you're after Cashmere/Wool jumpers one of the shops on the Royal Mile or Rose Street are probably your best bet but they all look like tourist traps so I never go in there. I was home last weekend and the only decent shop in town at the moment is Corniche but it might not have what you're after - Nigel Cabourn, CDG, Pedaled. To be honest, your best bet might be to go in there and ask Ian and Nina for their help, super friendly people. You've got places like Harvey Nichols which have your usual designer stuff although do have some that was pretty good (Pal Zileri, Gieves and Hawkes and some interesting streetwear brands that I hadn't seen up north before).

Actually, Jenners might be a good bet but in general it has gone really downhill since it was taken over by House of Fraser several years back.

Also, and this might be a bit late but won't flying into London Luton be the easiest for getting to Northampton? It's one of these airports that the cheap airlines market as London but isn't really. I know from experience that it's about 30 mins to Milton Keynes and Northampton isn't that much further north from there.

In Edinburgh, Walker Slater in Victoria Street (old town) is definitely worth a swatch. Always drop by when I'm 'back hame'. Jenners is a pale imitation of the old institution sadly but Harvey Nichols (St Andrew Square) is worth a look too. There's a small Ede & Ravenscroft in Frederick Street and George Street had some of the usual suspects (higher end high street, Lewin, Brooks Bros).
For cashmere, factory stores in the borders might be a better bet but would involve car hire (beautiful countryside though so could make a day of it a visit some abbeys etc).
For Northampton, fly to Luton, public transport or taxi to Dunstable (or Milton Keynes if you're flush or on expenses), and the train's only a 30 mins or so.
Edited by Oleg - 3/30/13 at 6:01am