Milton Keynes at a Glance
• Milton Keynes is known by locals as ‘MK’
• MK is an urban area / city.
• The city covers an area of 89 km (34 square miles)
• It has a population of 229, 941
• It is situated 50 miles from London and is in the county of Buckinghamshire.
• The dialling code for MK is 01908
Milton Keynes is a large city in Buckinghamshire, about 50 miles north-west of London. The city was built in the 1960s, under a scheme from the government to ease housing congestion in London. It was the biggest site in this scheme and had a target population of 25,000.
Milton Keynes has one of the strongest economies in the UK: it has the 5th highest number of business start-ups per capital in the UK and is also home to several major and international companies.
The Weather
In general, the climate of the UK is cool and often cloudy and rainy. High temperatures are infrequent.
The United Kingdom straddles the higher mid-latitudes between 49° and 61°N on the western seaboard of Europe. Since the UK is always in or close to the path of the polar front jet stream, changes in pressure and unsettled weather are typical. Many types of weather can be experienced in a single day. You can get a five-day weather forecast at:
• www.metoffice.gov.uk
• www.bbc.co.uk/weather
Easy Connectivity
Milton Keynes has exceptional transport links – making it a popular place to settle and buy property. The city is located alongside the busy M1 and A5 – so everywhere is just a quick drive away.
Leaving Milton Keynes Central Station, you can be in London in 30 minutes, and in Birmingham in 45 minutes. And if you live outside of the centre there are plenty of other stations close by, such as Wolverton, Bletchley and Woburn Sands. You are also within easy reach of Bedford, Luton, Northampton and Cambridge.
Green Open Space
While Milton Keynes has been designed on an American grid system, the city has an incredible amount of green space and beautiful parks. There are over 200 parks in Milton Keynes including Willen Lake South Park, Campbell Park and the beautiful Linford Lakes Nature Reserve - which is home to a rich collection of animal and bird life, including herons, owls and deer. There are plenty of places to enjoy easy strolls, bike rides and runs in the evenings and at weekends.
An Enterprising City
Milton Keynes is a successful city. There is a wealth of enterprising, start-up businesses, as well as large multinationals such as Mercedes-Benz, BP, Dominoes, Red Bull Racing and Argos. Since MK is home to so many businesses, getting on the property ladder can be affordable.
Technological Innovation
Milton Keynes is the new home to unique technology trials: it is trialling Aurrigo self-driving pods within the city centre. With the ability to travel up to 15 miles per hour, the pods need only one single charge to last up to one hour – making them a really efficient transport alternative.
Water Wonderful
The city is home to 15 beautiful lakes and 11 miles of canals. Leisurely boat rides can be enjoyed down the Grand Union Canal, while Caldecotte Lake is a wonderful picnic spot.
Rich History and Culture
The area is famous for Bletchley Park – an estate that became the principal centre of Allied codebreaking during WWII, while Newport Pagnell is the birthplace of Aston Martin. The city is also a thriving hub for art and music, and is one of the UK’s busiest theatre centres outside of London’s West End. The MK Gallery offers a wealth of contemporary art, live performances and film screenings, while The Stables and The Bowl are famous venues for live music.
Exceptional Education
The MK area is home to many good schools and colleges: over 30 of which have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED. There are also several good independent schools in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire.
Exciting Adventure
Leisure-wise there are plenty of options, from skiing and snowboarding at SnoZone, to an indoor sky-diving experience. Willen Lake also offers some great sailing, paddle boarding and powerboating.
Superior Shopping
Milton Keynes shopping centres attract over 27 million visitors each year. ‘The Centre:MK’ is the 14th largest shopping centre in the UK, with thousands of brands under one roof, while the Intu Milton Keynes offers a two-floor food hall and a five-screen boutique cinema.
Cost of Living in MK
According to the average local monthly cost, London is 42% more expensive than Milton Keynes. Excluding rent, a single person’s estimated monthly costs are £698.12 without rent.
A meal for one in an inexpensive restaurant costs about £12 and a meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant would average £50.
Public Transport
When you arrive in the UK, no matter how you travel to Milton Keynes from the airport, it couldn’t be easier. Milton Keynes is just 50 miles from London, 60 miles from Birmingham, and equidistant from Oxford and Cambridge. The M1 is right on the doorstep, and it’s on the main train line from London to Birmingham.
The international airports of London Heathrow and Birmingham are an hour away, with London Luton even closer.
And once you’re in Milton Keynes, moving about the city couldn’t be simpler. You can choose to hop on a bike, take the bus, walk, or drive – you’ll see the layout and facilities really make easy going.
For local bus information visit: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways-and-transport-hub/bus-and-taxi/bus-timetables-maps-and-travel-updates
Traveling Abroad
It’s so easy to escape to a sunny spot and enjoy a great holiday.
The nearest airport to Milton Keynes is Birmingham (BHX). You can take a train from London Heathrow (LHR) to Milton Keynes via London Paddington Train Station, Paddington Station, Oxford Circus Station, Euston Station, and London Euston in around 1h 7m. Alternatively, National Express operates a bus from Luton Airport London to Milton Keynes Coachway, M1 Junction 14 every 2 hours. Tickets cost £4 - £6 and the journey takes 40 min. Stagecoach East also services this route hourly.
Some travel and transport links you may find helpful are:
• www.nationalexpress.com/en
• www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways-and-transport-hub/bus-and-taxi/bus-timetables-maps-and-travel-updates
• www.checkmybus.co.uk/milton-keynes
• www.nationalexpress.com/en/destinations/milton-keynes
• www.thetrainline.com/
Taxi
• https://001royalcabs.co.uk/
• www.247taxiline.com/
• www.starlinetaxismk.co.uk
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