Kettering town centre has recently become quite run down compared to what it used to be, although I think with the credit crunch and the closure of more and more shops, this is becoming true of a lot of town centres. Every day another shop seems to close. Over the last month I have noticed Woolworths, Birthdays, the card shop in the high street and the photo processing shop all closed down. There are at least 4 or 5 shops in the middle of the town centre all next to each other which are empty and this is making the whole town look drab and depressing. I don't really think it looks very clean either and there are always loads of dirty pigeons all over the place, although I'm not sure there is much you can do about that. The Newlands centre is quite small, but offers a good range of shops, and I like the fact that the market is situated on the street on a Friday, it makes it much more accessible for people passing through and they are more likely to spend money on the market rather than if it was situated on the market square out of the way. If you need essential items and you live fairly close, then Kettering is a good place to go as there are still quite a good range of shops, but if you are looking to do some serious shopping, then I would head for Northampton which offers much more. read more

Kettering town center is terrible; it seems to have lost all of its soul, as more and more shops close down. There is now but a handful of quality shops left to choose from among the empty shop fronts. In all fairness the town is trying to regenerate its town center but as more and more shops close will it be more like a ghost town (centre) before long?! The odd one way system around the center and the lack of decent parking makes it complicated to non locals to get parked and get to the shops. The town center also looks really shabby and grubby with lots of litter and boarded up buildings. read more

Kettering is like a stale doughnut: a circle of architecturally questionable residential development around a vacuous centre, out-dated and dying. I last visited the town 30 years ago when it was a market town of character. All gone now. Where the vibrant market was is now a soulless deserted concourse where children can't play as they wish. Of course, the recession has not helped but the city fathers sadly need the advice of that generation that made the place proud to be part of. Sadly Kettering is not the only market town to suffer at the hands of councillors and planners who do not understand the needs of the people they serve. read more

I hadn't been to Kettering town in a while, and I would usually go to Corby or even Leicester to shop. But I was really surprised by the changes that have been made in the town..it's exciting to know that the developments have only just begun and I am looking forward to what Kettering will look like in the future. There is a huge vintage and retro scene in Kettering town, and I really didn't know! I am a massive fan of all things quirky, and The Blitz tea room, Flashbacks and Finders Keepers at Lollyrocket are now my favourite local finds. I thought Kettering was quite run down but now I have visited and seen the changes, I would definitely recommend it as a traditional market town. read more

kettering town centre could do with some updating, it is ok when the weather is fine but not very nice if it is raining or very cold a lot of the shops are outside marks and spencers, woolworths, clinton cards, the small currys digital, and travel agents, mcdonalds as the shops are well spread out, although there are plenty of stores, of course there is the newlands centre which is inside and has free parking on sundays here there are plenty of shops game, hmv, poundland, whsmiths, early learning cente, boots, adams, home bargains plus many more, at the top end of the centre is a wilkinsons and an argos. read more