Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes lies 54 miles north of London – 1.5 hours by car and just half an hour by rail. It is a so-called ‘new town’ or ‘planned development’ – built just outside of the capital’s commuter belt. A thriving hub of commercial activity, MK (as it is also known by locals) is a large town, covering 119 square miles. It has been specifically built with the lifestyle of its inhabitants in mind. When you’re in Milton Keynes you’re never further than half a mile from a park, and 90% of England and Wales can be reached from the town within five hours’ drive via car or coach.
This desirability doesn’t go unnoticed. Its three main attractions (centre.mk, intuMK and Xscape) welcomed over 44 million visitors in 2015 alone. Other local facilities include Milton Keynes Museum, MK Gallery, Gullivers Land and stadiumMK, home of football club MK Dons. The town is littered with entertainment complexes, including cinemas, shopping centres and Planet Ice, its world-class ice rink.
Milton Keynes is also famous for its Concrete Cows, which have become a symbol of the soon-to-be city. 50% of the population are aged under 35, and this shows in the town’s youthful disposition and eclectic variety of independent coffee shops and trendy eateries. Its Xscape complex includes an indoor skydiving facility, indoor snow slope and cinema alongside shops and restaurants. Nearby the Bletchley Park Complex, Blue Lagoon Nature Reserve, Willen Lakeside Park and Embertone Country Park are all popular attractions.
Milton Keynes is easily accessible from north and south via frequent trains running between London and Manchester.