If it’s a UK city break with boatloads of open green spaces you’re after, Milton Keynes has you covered. This place first got started in the 1960s, initially as a spot to help relieve housing shortages within central London. Since then, it’s blossomed into a must-visit in its own right, complete with over 20 square kilometres of parkland and woodland – that’s over 25% of the area’s entire landmass. Willen Lake, Campbell Park and Furzton Lake are the spots to visit if wildlife watching and scenic strolls are your thing. If you’d prefer something more adventurous, Gulliver’s Land, a family friendly theme park, is close by, too. History fans, meanwhile, are in for a treat at Bletchley Park. This historic estate was used by Alan Turing and his team of codebreakers to crack the Enigma code during the Second World War.

Top three things to do in Milton Keynes:

1. Retrace Alan Turing’s footsteps at Bletchley Park

Alan Turing and a team of the UK’s best codebreakers spent the Second World War at this estate in small wooden huts focusing on a single goal, cracking the Enigma code. During your visit, you can step inside where they did their work, as well as get up close to a life-size replica of the machine they built to crack Germany’s infamous secret communication system.

2. Recharge your batteries with a laidback walk at Willen Lake

Despite its name, this place is actually a public park that’s packed with two lakes. In fact, there’s over 100 acres of open space here. Activity-wise, paddle-boarding, kayaking and sailing are all on the watersports menu. And, if staying on dry land is more your style, there’s always archery and golf. Little ones also have their own play area to let loose in, and there’s plenty of quieter spots that are more suited to picnics.

3. Let loose at Gulliver’s Land

A runaway train ride, a jungle river cruise, a splash park – you name it, this family-friendly theme park has it. This place has been putting smiles on faces since it first opened in 1999, and it’s a firm favourite for locals around Milton Keynes and further afield around the rest of Bedfordshire. On top of its mishmash of kid-friendly rides, you’ll also find a dinosaur and farm park, a splash zone and a whole line-up of snack spots.

Milton Keynes

Things to do in Milton Keynes