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.

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

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1. What makes Milton Keynes unique?

From a fascinating insight into Bletchley Park and its codebreaking part in winning World War II, to the arts scene at one of the best public art galleries in the country, there is no shortage of museums, galleries and events in Milton Keynes. Thanks to its central planning, Milton Keynes is blessed with thousands of acres of parkland which encompasses everything from natural reserves, to modern sculptures and water sports. Plus, there is always something happening at Arena MK and Stadium MK, two state-of-the-art venues.

Whether it is the town centre galleries specialising in art that you can take home, or the Milton Keynes Museum that recounts the growth of the town through the ages, you will find plenty of history and culture here. Not to mention several stand-out events and festivals including the MK Food Fest.

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2. Milton Keynes’s popular attractions

Milton Keynes 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:

• Bletchley Park. It is impossible to overstate how crucial this 19th-century estate in the south of Milton Keynes turned out to be.
• National Museum of Computing. Opened in 2007 at Bletchley Park, this museum is devoted to acquiring and restoring historic computer systems.
• Woburn Abbey and Gardens. You can tour Woburn Abbey from around Easter to October to see one of the world’s finest private art collections.
• Milton Keynes Museum. The museum dips into the history of the town and its countryside from the 1800s onwards, dealing with agriculture, industry, domestic life and commerce.
• Willen Lakeside Park. In the eastern part of town is a massive open space formed around a “balancing lake” on the River Ouzel, which was built to capture floodwater to prevent damage downstream.
• Peace Pagoda. Facing the peaceful north lake at Willen is the first Buddhist peace pagoda to be built in the western world.
• Stony Stratford. It is by far the oldest settlement in Milton Keynes, earning town status in 1215 and dating back at least to Roman times.
• Woburn Safari Park. On Woburn Abbey’s immense grounds is a 360-acre animal park where many of the inhabitants live in enormous enclosures.
• Milton Keynes Theatre. If you are hankering for some live entertainment the Milton Keynes Theatre is one of England’s premier performing arts venues.
• National Radio Centre. The main exhibition at the National Radio Centre is a complete précis of the history of radio communications technology.
• Emberton Country Park. This is a 200 acres of mature and unblemished parkland on the Great Ouse River, perfect for you to cycle or take leisure walks.
• Xscape. An indoor adventure sports centre.
• Thrift Farm. For kids to interact with animals.
• Gulliver’s Land. Especially for younger children (aged 2-13), this is a theme park loosely based on Jonathan Swift’s satire and set next to Willen Lakeside Park.

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3. Nightlife in Milton Keynes

With more than 300 bars and clubs, it is fair to say there is lots going on in Milton Keynes. Whether you prefer a few quiet drinks or you like to party the night away on the dancefloor, a Milton Keynes night out has all the ingredients of a good one.

Right in the heart of Milton Keynes, Be At One is one of the leading bars in town. A cosy and friendly venue with an extensive outdoor area, they also have a very generous three-hour happy hour where you can slurp your way across 28 cocktails. Relax in one of their plush booths or sit up at the bar and watch the cocktail makers at work - Fun and lively.

If you have ever wanted to feel as if you are in an American Wild West-themed bar while in the middle of England, make sure you head to Missoula Montana Bar & Grill. A popular place, they open until 2am at the weekend where their impressive wine and cocktail list comes into play. You can also book their whisky cocktail making masterclass which includes six drinks and access to their buffet.

Another venerable drinking institution on the edge of town is Ye Olde Swan. With original Tudor features dating back to the 16th century, the pub was once reputed to be a watering hole for noted highwayman Dick Turpin, and with a gorgeous setting backing onto the village green and a strong reputation for good food and drinks, you can understand why.

Dating back to the 1600s, Old Beams is a converted barn that’s now a busy pub full of character and charm. The food is a mix of British classics and there is a roaring log fire for winter and a large beer garden for summer. As you had expect from a country pub, they take their beer very seriously and have a large selection of guest ales.

Photo credit: MK Lightning

4. Sports in Milton Keynes

Launched in 2004, Red Bull Racing has come a long way since then, with four F1 titles making them one of the leading Formula One teams in the world.

Planet Ice Arena is a 2,800-capacity ice rink that is home to the MK Lightning ice hockey team.

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

• Rutland Cycling Milton Keynes
• Woughton Leisure Centre
• Shenley Leisure Centre
• Freedom Leisure
• Abbey Hill Leisure
• Stantonbury Leisure Centre
• Oakgrove Leisure Centre
• Bletchley Leisure Centre
• Brooklands Sports Centre

Photo credit: Loch Fyne

5. Food in Milton Keynes

It couldn’t be easier to choose where to eat in Milton Keynes thanks to its orderly grid system, with dozens of restaurants located around Midsummer Boulevard in the centre of town. You are never far from a cup of good coffee either, whether it is from a cool independent roastery or a high street chain, and there are several food markets worth checking out.

Starting with high-profile chain restaurants, let’s open with Brasserie Blanc, a seriously stylish French restaurant in the heart of the business district. Run by TV chef Raymond Blanc, the upmarket restaurant on Avebury Boulevard blends French classics with well-travelled international dishes and serves up everything from luxurious breakfast dishes to bespoke cocktails.

Priding itself on having the freshest Scottish salmon, oysters, mussels and shellfish, the Loch Fyne Seafood & Grill Restaurant is located just around the corner on Midsummer Boulevard. Another exclusive chain restaurant, this is the place to come for quality seafood and, thanks to its Scottish roots, even haggis. A short walk from both restaurants is Turtle Bay, the famous Caribbean-inspired restaurant that dishes up some of the best spicy food and jerk chicken in the region. With a laid-back atmosphere and 2-for-1 happy hour cocktails, it can get busy like most of the restaurants in town.

Photo credit: Middletons Steakhouse

One of the leading Italian restaurants in Milton Keynes, Aqua uses mostly organic and seasonal ingredients to make sure the food is as tasty and healthy as possible. Also located on Avebury Avenue, in the heart of the town’s restaurant district, the attractive restaurant is open from breakfast to dinner daily as well as offering a popular Sunday roast. If you are looking for steaks as thick as your leg, Middletons Steakhouse and Grill is the place to come. Located on Midsummer Boulevard, all the meat comes in daily from their butchery in Norfolk, while they also do a good range of seafood and vegetarian dishes.

Blending classic dishes with more modern interpretations, Taipan is a busy Chinese restaurant just around the corner from the Milton Keynes Theatre. Their seafood and dim sum menus come highly recommended, as does their wine list, offering some inspired red, white and rosé choices from around the world. Heading into spicier territory, the Thai Modern Restaurant is located just off Midsummer Boulevard and mixes a traditional style interior with an adventurous menu that spans every conceivable Thai dish including their lip-lickingly good Tom Yum soup, a hot and sour soup usually cooked with shrimp.

Finally, The Grange is several miles to the east of the town centre. A high-class Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant where you can enjoy the all you can eat banquet nights.

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6. Coffee Shops in Milton Keynes

Right in the heart of the business and restaurant district, the Bogota Coffee Company opened in 2013 and was the town’s first independent coffee shop. Just as popular today, it imports its coffee from Colombia and as well as a mighty fine cup of joe, they also serve pastries, cakes and sandwiches, alongside craft beers, wine and coffee cocktails that really put a spring in your step.

Another notable café, nearby on Witan Gate West, is Fourth & Fifth, a coffee shop that serves up some of the best pancakes in the region. With a fresh interior edging on hipster, thanks to its rustic benches and stools, you can grab a flat white and indulge in the breakfast pancakes which come laden with bacon, blueberries, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, raspberries and cinnamon.

Xpresso Net might have lost some of its unique selling point thanks to smartphones and tablets, but this coffee shop/internet café is worth visiting just for its seriously good coffee which is some of the cheapest in town. The cakes are not bad, either, and if you are in need of internet facilities, they have several PCs which are linked up to scanners and printers.

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7. Flea Markets in Milton Keynes

Open Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday, The Open Market is a popular market located on the edge of The Centre: MK outside door 10. It is one of the best places to go to find farm-fresh fruit and vegetables as well as electronics, gadgets, arts and crafts, sweets and discount clothing.

Who knows what you will find at the MK Bowl Market and Car Boot sale. Stretching over a vast field, you will see row upon row of cars with people selling their unwanted items. From furniture to dusty vinyl and kitchenware to clothing, you could find literally anything on your visit. Thankfully, there are lots of catering vans on-site to get your breakfast and coffee fixed while you haggle to find your treasure in another person’s trash.

8. Milton Keynes living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way Ticket (Local transport): £2.50
• Meal out: £12.00
• Fast Food (McDonalds): £5.25
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.25
• Cinema ticket: £11.00
• Taxi (normal tariff): £3.00

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9. Travel in and around Milton Keynes

A new town built around an American-inspired grid system, with direct access to the M1 and just 25 miles away from Luton Airport, the Milton Keynes transport network is substantial which makes getting around a breeze.

By train

With seven platforms and around seven million passengers each year, Milton Keynes Central is the main train station for the region. West Midlands, Virgin and Southern all run services out of the station connecting passengers between London, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

10. Explore the UK from Milton Keynes

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

Buckinghamshire

Visit Buckinghamshire for National Trust manor houses, Chiltern landscapes that inspired literary residents and a rich sporting heritage. Walk in Roald Dahl's footsteps through medieval villages to historic coaching inns. Or nose in drawing rooms in Italianate mansions, the backdrop for scandals like the Profumo Affair. This colourful southeast county has a high-octane side. Formula One cars rev on Grand Prix circuits and crews of rowers paddle on Olympic rowing lakes. Drive or cycle slowly and you might spot the prime minister's 12th-century country house, Chequers tucked away near Aylesbury. Buckinghamshire has something for everyone.

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Luton

Thirty miles northwest of Central London, Luton grew dramatically in the 20th century, and its town centre is filled with functional architecture from this time. Most travellers heading to Luton will bypass the town completely on the way to the international airport. But there is a surprising amount to see and do in the town and surrounding countryside. The two main parks Stockwood and Wardown have riveting museums, both of which have recently been boosted by investment. Luton is also just below the northeastern escarpment of the Chiltern Hills, while one of the best zoos in the country, Whipsnade, is in range.

Bedford

Bedford is a historic market and county town in Bedfordshire. Dating back to the Medieval times, this used to be a bustling town that winds its way around the Great Ouse river. This is a perfect destination for any family trip or a weekend getaway with friends, especially for its fantastic neighbouring areas of London, Buckinghamshire, and Cambridgeshire.

Here, you can explore some of Bedford’s top attractions, from its beautiful green spaces at Bedford Park or The Embankment and Russell Park, to emerging yourself into some of the most anticipated music festivals in town. Alongside, you can also roam around some exquisite architecture such as epic country houses and medieval castles.