Covering 119 square miles, Milton Keynes was awarded city status in 2022. Here’s how to explore with your group.
10am: start your experience at Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers. A place of exceptional historical importance, Bletchley Park is also the birthplace of modern computing and was the venue for the first global AI Safety Summit in November 2023.
Hour-long guided outdoor walking tours are available to groups who visit Bletchley Park and can be booked at the information desk on arrival. Alternatively, discover the history of Bletchley Park with a self-guided multimedia tour, and if you’re tight on time, you can return free for a year.
1pm: feeling hungry? There are more than 350 restaurants to choose from in Milton Keynes from independent eateries and tasting menus to pub grub and international flavours. The city has seen a big increase in ’indie’ restaurants over recent years and a number of exciting new street food festivals are regularly popping up across MK.
Known as the Fashion Quarter, Midsummer Place is where more than 50 stores include some of the very best in designer fashions and accessories, as well as outlets such as Apple and Lego. Eight cabins hosting small independent eateries bring a fresh vibe to the centre, where you can try everything from Greek-inspired street food dishes and Lebanese grills to Mexican desserts and more.
centre:mk, which has been at the heart of the city for more than 40 years, is ideal for those who fancy a quick shopping spree in more than 150 stores.
2:30pm: discover the city’s modern heritage, art, architecture and design with ‘Look Again’, a tour that takes you off the beaten track and tells the story of the new city’s people and places.
The 24-stop free trail runs from Fred Roche Gardens to Lloyds Court and includes artworks in and around centre:mk. Scanning a QR code on any of the trail signs allows you to learn more about that specific piece of art, building or green space, giving a fresh view of the cityscape.
5pm: for afternoon alfresco drinks and dining, The Hub in Milton Keynes has recently undergone a multi-million-pound makeover, with a new garden piazza surrounding its restaurants, bars and hotels.
Bringing the outdoors in, Blossom Room’s interior includes a grand cherry blossom ceiling, creating a breath-taking canopy above where food and drink is served. By day, it’s a sophisticated and relaxed venue, but as the night fades Blossom Room transforms to a different beat. Large plush booths, a stage area for live music and DJ sets and plenty of other surprises await.
7pm: a visit to Milton Keynes wouldn’t be complete without heading to one of the region’s leading live entertainment venues. Milton Keynes Theatre showcases the best West End and touring productions from across the UK, offering a wide and varied programme including first class dance, drama, musicals, opera, comedy and shows.
For more ideas and inspiration in the city, head to www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk.
