Hilton Northampton

The Hilton Northampton is set up for easy weekends away and short golf breaks, with a choice of room types that suit couples, small groups and families. If you're travelling with children, the family rooms can sleep up to two adults and four children, which is useful if you're trying to keep everyone together or manage the overall trip cost. Standard guest rooms are spacious enough, with plush bedding, a 43-inch flat-screen TV and a work desk if you need to catch up on emails between rounds or sort travel plans for the next day.

Rooms are comfortable and geared towards downtime between rounds. The hotel's central courtyard adds a bit of space and light, and it's a nice touch when you're coming back in after a day out. Everything feels clean and well-maintained, which matters when you're trying to relax before an early tee time.

Food-wise, Seasons Restaurant serves breakfast with a mix of familiar favourites and a few international options, ideal before heading out to the course. There's also an evening menu that sticks to reliable, crowd-pleasing dishes rather than anything too fussy, which suits most golf groups. Expect a good selection rather than anything overly fancy, but it's more than enough to fuel a morning round and keep everyone happy at the end of the day.

For a more relaxed setting after golf, Neil's Bar & Lounge overlooks the central courtyard and offers a comfortable spot to unwind. The seating area is generous, the atmosphere is laid-back and the bar menu covers the classics without trying to reinvent the wheel. It's the kind of place where you can settle in with a pint, compare scorecards and not feel rushed. The view over the courtyard is a nice bonus, especially if you're catching the last of the evening light.

Parking is available on site, although there is a small charge, so it's worth factoring that into the overall cost if you're driving up for the weekend. The motorway access means you can be at Collingtree or Whittlebury within a short drive of leaving the hotel, which makes logistics simple when you're coordinating tee times across a group.

For golfers, the appeal here is practicality. You're not paying for on-site golf or resort-style amenities you might not use. Instead, you're getting a well-run hotel in a spot that makes sense for exploring Northamptonshire's courses, with enough comfort and convenience to keep everyone in the group happy. If you want a base you can rely on, then spend your budget where it counts on courses and tee times, this one does the job.