Famous for roundabouts and concrete cows, Milton Keynes surprises visitors with Bletchley Park, lakes, parks and one of the country’s biggest shopping centres.
Milton Keynes is one of the youngest cities in Britain. It was designated a new town in 1967, planned from scratch on a grid of roads across the Buckinghamshire countryside, and it became a city in 2022. People joke about its roundabouts and its concrete cows, but visitors are often surprised by how green it is, with parks, lakes and hundreds of miles of paths.
Milton Keynes is also home to one of the most important historic sites of the Second World War, Bletchley Park, where codebreakers helped shorten the war. This guide covers six things to see and do in and around the city.
1. Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park, in the south of Milton Keynes, was the home of Britain’s codebreakers during the Second World War. Thousands of people worked here in secret, breaking the codes used by Germany and its allies, including the famous Enigma cipher. Their work is thought to have shortened the war by as much as two years.
Among the codebreakers was Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician whose work laid the foundations for modern computing. His office has been recreated, and the museum tells the story of his life and work. The codebreakers were sworn to secrecy, and many never told their families what they had done.
The site has been restored to how it looked during the war, with the Victorian mansion, the wooden huts where the codebreakers worked, and exhibitions about their achievements. You can see Enigma machines and learn how the codes were broken. Interactive displays let you try codebreaking yourself.
The National Museum of Computing, on the same site but with a separate ticket, has a working rebuild of Colossus, one of the world’s first electronic computers, used at Bletchley to break German codes. Bletchley Park tickets usually let you return for free for a year. Allow at least half a day, and it is very close to Bletchley station.
2. The Concrete Cows
The Concrete Cows are the most famous sculpture in Milton Keynes, and a much loved symbol of the city. They were made in 1978 by the artist Liz Leyh, who created them as a parting gift when her time as the city’s artist in residence came to an end. The herd of cows and calves was made from scrap materials and concrete.
The cows became a national joke, and they have been the target of many pranks over the years, painted as zebras, dressed in pyjamas and even kidnapped. But local people grew fond of them. They are now a proud part of the city’s identity.
The herd you see grazing in its field today is made up of replicas, and the originals are kept safely indoors. Visitors still come to take photographs with them. It is a quirky and fun spot to visit.
Milton Keynes has many other public artworks, from sculptures in the parks to installations in the shopping centre. The city was planned with art as part of its design. A trail of public art can be followed across the city.
3. Willen Lake and the parks
Willen Lake, on the eastern side of the city, is one of the most popular green spaces in Milton Keynes. The lake is divided into two parts, one for watersports and one for wildlife. It has walks, play areas and cafés around its shores.
On the northern shore stands the Peace Pagoda, built by Buddhist monks in 1980, the first of its kind in the western world. Its white dome and gold decorations are beautiful. Nearby, a grove of trees has been planted in memory of those who have died in war.
The south lake has watersports, including sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding, and there is a high ropes course and other activities. The north lake is quieter, with birds and walks. The lakeside path makes a lovely circular walk.
Milton Keynes was designed with huge amounts of green space, and its network of redways, shared paths for walking and cycling, runs for well over a hundred miles across the city. You can cycle almost anywhere without going near a car. It is one of the most cycle friendly places in Britain.
4. centre:mk and the city centre
centre:mk, in the heart of the city, is one of the largest shopping centres in Britain, with hundreds of shops. It was opened in 1979, and its long, light filled glass arcades are so admired for their design that the building is now protected as a listed building. It is unusual to find a shopping centre with that honour.
Next door, Midsummer Place adds more shops, and there is a large market. The city centre also has Xscape, an entertainment complex with an indoor ski slope using real snow, a climbing wall, a cinema and restaurants. It is popular in any weather.
The MK Gallery, a contemporary art gallery, and Milton Keynes Theatre, which stages big touring shows, are close by. There are plenty of restaurants and bars. The centre is designed to be easy to walk around.
Parking in central Milton Keynes is plentiful, as the city was designed around the car. But the centre is also easy to reach by bus from the station.
5. Campbell Park and the MK Rose
Campbell Park is a large landscaped park on the eastern edge of the city centre, sloping down to the Grand Union Canal. It has lawns, woodland, a lake and wonderful views across the city. It was designed as the green heart of Milton Keynes.
The MK Rose, in the park, is a striking modern monument made up of a circle of tall pillars, designed as a place for remembrance and celebration. Special dates are carved into the pillars. It is a peaceful and thoughtful place.
Also in the park is the Light Pyramid, a sculpture on a hill with views across the city, and a number of other artworks. The park hosts events and concerts in summer. It is a lovely place for a picnic.
The Grand Union Canal runs along the edge of the park, and its towpath makes a lovely walk or cycle ride. You can follow it north or south for miles. Narrowboats pass through the city.
6. Woburn, Silverstone and Stowe
Some of the best days out in the area are just outside the city. Woburn Abbey, about eight miles east of Milton Keynes, is a great country house, the home of the Dukes of Bedford, with an art collection and beautiful gardens. Next to it, Woburn Safari Park lets you drive through enclosures of lions, tigers, rhinos and other animals.
Silverstone, about twenty miles north west, is the home of the British Grand Prix, one of the most famous races in motor sport. The Silverstone Museum tells the story of British motor racing, with cars, engines and interactive displays. On race weekends, the roads around the circuit are extremely busy.
Stowe, about fifteen miles west, is one of the greatest landscape gardens in England, looked after by the National Trust. Its lakes, temples and monuments are spread across a huge park. It is a wonderful place to walk.
These places are all easy to reach by car from Milton Keynes. A driver by the hour makes it simple to combine a couple of them in one day. For the Grand Prix, a car booked well in advance is the most relaxed way to arrive.
Getting there and getting around
Milton Keynes Central station is on the West Coast Main Line, with fast trains to London Euston in around thirty five minutes, and to Birmingham, Manchester and the North. The M1 runs along the eastern edge of the city.
London Luton Airport is about twenty five miles south east, around half an hour by road, and Heathrow and Birmingham airports are each about an hour away. A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Milton Keynes and the airports, and to reach Bletchley Park, Woburn and Silverstone.
Ride with ZeroLanes. From your door, the station or the airport to anywhere in Milton Keynes, at a price fixed before you confirm. Travelling between cities? Get a fixed price for the journey, or keep a car and driver for the day with hourly hire.