Northampton ( (listen)) is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, 60 miles (97 km) north-west of London and 50 miles (80 km) south-east of Birmingham. It is the historic county town of Northamptonshire, but since local government changes in 2021, it has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; In the 2021 census its urban area had a population of 245,899, increased from 215,273 at the 2011 census.

Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates to the Bronze Age, Romans and Anglo-Saxons. In the Middle Ages, the town rose to national significance with the establishment of Northampton Castle, an occasional royal residence which regularly hosted the Parliament of England. Medieval Northampton had many churches, monasteries and the University of Northampton, all enclosed by the town walls. It was granted a town charter by Richard I in 1189 and a mayor was appointed by King John in 1215. The town was also the site of two medieval battles, in 1264 and 1460.

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