Located in the Borough of Luton in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in the south-east of England, but administratively in the East of England area, Luton is a town in the south-east of the country. At the time of the 2011 census, the population of the Luton built-up area subdivision was 211,228 people, while the population of the built-up area was 258,018 people. In addition, it is the most populated town in the county of Bedfordshire. The town is located on the banks of the River Lea, about 50 kilometers north-northwest of London.

1. What makes Luton unique?
2. Luton's popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Luton
4. Sports in Luton
5. Food in Luton
6. Coffee Shops in Luton
7. Shopping in Luton
8. Luton living costs
9. Travel in and around Luton
10. Explore the UK from Luton

Photo Credit: Luton Indoor Market via Google

1. What makes Luton unique?

In addition to being the site of one of the busiest airports in the UK and one of the biggest one-day events in the world (Luton Carnival), Luton has a history that dates back 250,000 years and is rich in culture, entertainment, and history. The town is jam-packed with activities and entertainment, including fantastic zoos, gorgeous English gardens, indoor snow domes, museums, and theaters to check out and explore. Adding an exciting dining scene, an abundance of bars and clubs, a cinema complex, a premier football team, and an expansive town-centre mall with over 100 businesses, and you have a town that is really contemporary.

Photo Credit: UK Centre For Carnival Arts via Google

2. Luton's popular attractions

Luton is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Despite being just a town, within this wonderful place are numerous spots you can not miss, including:

• Stockwood Discovery Centre. A fascinating museum that delves into the region's history, beginning with ancient times and continuing to the current day.
• Wrest Park. An exciting children's play area and a sculpture gallery are just some of the highlights of this 92-acre park located 15 minutes north of Luton town centre.
• Whipsnade Zoo. A beloved UK zoo with over 2,500 species including cheetahs, lions, zebras, white rhinos, red pandas and more live on 600 acres.
• The Snow Centre. The main slope is 160m long and 30m broad, with the longest indoor ski instruction slope in the UK.
• Orbital Trampoline Park. Kids, teens and adults alike may enjoy a variety of activities everyday till 9 p.m.
• Wardown House, Museum & Gallery. The museum's hands-on, immersive exhibits and a variety of rooms that properly reflect Victorian life make it a terrific location to actively learn history.
• Woodside Farm Park. It does not matter what the weather is like, there is always something to do at the farm and zoo.

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3. Nightlife in Luton

The Bear Club, located just off Guildford Street, has live jazz and blues evenings every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and has a cocktail, beer, and wine selection that is every bit as fresh and funky as the location and the music. The Bear Club is perhaps the trendiest bar in Luton.

Ray's Area is literally just across the street, and it is the ideal place to attempt to 8-ball your friend or practice your breaks. With more than eight pool tables, it is the most popular pool bar in town. There are several televisions showing the latest sports events, as well as a well-stocked bar with a variety of beers, lagers, and spirits.

You need go no farther than Off The Wall for a dedicated sports bar. This modern bar and restaurant serves good-value pub and bar classics, as well as a well-curated cocktail menu, and broadcasts all of the current sporting action on drop-down screens and televisions.

The Exchange and Flame Bar are both excellent choices for a drink. Until 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, The Exchange is accessible to the public and features a variety of local DJs playing a variety of club classics, as well as affordable drink specials every weekend. Flame Bar, on the other hand, is Luton's premier LGBT venue, and it is open from Thursday to Sunday. The area, which has been in operation since 2002, consists of a main club room, a smoking terrace, a chill-out bar and lounge, giving visitors a variety of options to choose from.

In addition to these venues, The Edge Nightclub is the premier alternative club in town, hosting a variety of events every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday that include disco, indie and rock music, house music, and drum and bass, among other things.

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4. Sports in Luton

Luton has several sporting clubs. It is the home town of Luton Town Football Club, who presently play in the EFL Championship and have previously won the English League Cup in 1988. Power Court, a new stadium with a capacity of 15,000, is currently under development. The Hatters' moniker comes from Luton's former millinery industry, and their emblem is based on the town's coat of arms.

Bedfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the Minor Counties in English domestic cricket, representing the ancient county of Bedfordshire. Luton Rugby Club is a London 1 North rugby union club headquartered on Newlands Road, near Stockwood Park. From 1934 through 1937, Luton Stadium hosted speedway.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Lea Manor Gym & Swimming Pool
• Hightown Community Sports & Arts Centre
• Inspire: Luton Sports Village
• Lewsey Sports Park
• Lifelines Health Club & Gym

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5. Food in Luton

From modern cafés to late-night tapas bars, fine dining restaurants to the greatest fish & chips in the region, there is something for everyone. The Frog & Rhubarb is one of Luton's best restaurants for home-cooked meals with elegance and character. On the menu are frog legs and rabbit pie, as well as more traditional steaks, beer-battered fish filets, and slow-roasted belly pig. luo on Guildford Street in Luton is a step up in pricing. They are recognized for their pasta dishes, grilled beef, and mussels.

Wernher Restaurant in Luton Hoo raises the steaks even higher. The Sunday lunch and set menus are the best value for money at this high-end restaurant, which serves amuse bouche and sorbet courses.

Stopsley Cuisine is the top-rated Indian and Thai restaurant in Luton on TripAdvisor. There are wafer-thin poppadoms and curries from all 22 Indian regions, plus a Sunday buffet that is as wonderful as it is affordable. Alternatively, book a seat at Papa J's Indian Tapas on Wellington Street, a contemporary twist on Indian food that offers shared platters in a bright, airy restaurant with a vibrant bar.

Finally, Nakorn Thai Restaurant on Wellington Street has been offering delicious Thai cuisine since 2005.

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6. Coffee Shops in Luton

Luton Hoo is for those who value afternoon tea as much as breakfast, lunch, and supper. In the Mansion House, a magnificent resort and spa just south of Stockwood Park, they offer afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones and cakes to die for. It is not cheap, but if you want to feel like royalty while eating your fifth scone, this is a perfect location for you.

The Hardware Cafe is the poshest of the posh. It is affordable, cheery, and situated on the southern outskirts of Luton, halfway to New Town.

The Old Skool Pantry is located in between. The Maple Bacon Burger, handmade beans on sourdough toast and weekend brunch are among highlights of this modern and comfortable eatery.

The Cheese & Pickle Sandwich Bar serves customers a wonderful assortment of freshly filled buns and baguettes. Chicken George is the place to go for deep-fried chicken, spicy wings, and ribs. They earned the renowned Best British Takeaway Award in 2016, so they know their stuff.

Finally, fish and chip fans might visit The Wigmore Fish and Chips on the outskirts of Luton, near the airport. The menu includes six varieties of fried fish, pies, sausages, burgers, kebabs, and vegetarian alternatives.

Photo Credit: Afternoon Tea via Facebook

7. Shopping in Luton

The Mall is the major retail center in Luton and is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. It has over 100 retailers and a massive parking park that can accommodate 1,700 cars. A diverse assortment of boutiques, including high-street staples such as Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Next, Topshop and H&M as well as a variety of cafés and coffee shops, including Feast Street, which offers everything from Indian street cuisine to doughnuts, can be found here.

Photo Credit: The Mal via Twitter

8. Luton living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way ticket (Local transport): £3.00
• Meal out: £12.00
• Fast food (McDonald’s): £6.00
• Gasoline (1 litre): £5.75
• Cinema ticket: £12.00
• Taxi (normal tariff): £3.20

Photo Credit: Luton Today via Google

9. Travel in and around Luton

Luton Airport, home to EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air, is the fifth busiest airport in the UK. Every year, it handles about 16 million people, mostly from the US and Europe. You may also select from a variety of hotels near Luton Airport.

Luton Train Station is a short walk north of town. The five-platform station has frequent services to Derby, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, and London St Pancras. And the Luton Station Interchange is directly outside, with hourly local and regional bus services to Luton Airport.

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10. Explore the UK from Luton

Luton is an ideal base for you to start exploring neighbouring cities, towns, and the rest of the UK.

Milton Keynes

As Britain’s most successful new town, there is a lot to love about Milton Keynes. The town centre grid system makes getting around easy, and the dedication to open spaces means it is a spacious and green-fingered town perfect for a leisurely stroll around the town. As a newly built town, Milton Keynes has leading edge facilities, including the Xscape arena and a ski slope, F1 simulators, family-friendly theme parks, indoor skydiving and much more.

London

Located around 46 km away is the city of London that offers a plethora of interesting things to do, ranging from world-class theatre to royal landmarks. There is a lot to see and do in London, from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben and all in between. This is a perfect place for you to come and visit one of the most famous attractions in the world and also experience the bustling life in the capital city.

Reading

Located along River Kennet, Reading is a large, historically important town in Berkshire and the largest in Southern England. Best known for the Reading Festival and exclusive celebrations, there is no better place for you to enjoy parties and festivities. Whether it is music, sports, historical museum collections or beautiful landscapes, there is something for everyone.

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