The scenery is idyllic. Ponies graze in fields, boats bob in the local Marina and the buildings all have a distinctive soft-brown stone.
Picturesque villages nestle around the market town; the shops are all independent and the houses reassuringly expensive.
And although you may hear a twang of the odd American accent, this is not the Cotswolds - it's an area that has been nicknamed 'the Notswolds', the latest go-to place for Londoners seeking refuge from the maddening crowds.
Unlike the actual Cotswolds which spans six counties, this slice of countryside is a more isolated gem, encompassing the PE8 postcode district.
And at its centre is the market town of Oundle, the site of a prestigious public school since 1556 where parents pay over £58,000-a-year for a sixth form boarding place.
