[1][2] It runs between Madingley Road and Queen's Road to the west and Castle Street, by Castle Hill, Chesterton Lane (then Chesterton Road), and Magdalene Street to the east.
Northampton Street is part of the Cambridge inner ring road and thus has heavy traffic.
[2] The majority of properties on the south side of Northampton Street are owned by University of Cambridge colleges.
To the south is St John's College, one of the largest University of Cambridge colleges, and the River Cam.
Historic buildings include the School of Pythagoras[3] and Kettle's Yard.