Things to do in Milton Keynes

The move of Wimbledon Football Club (now MK Dons) to the town also created more interest and was a further bonus to the continuing growth that Milton Keynes is enjoying.

Here is a brief roundup of some of the main attractions and a few ideas on what visitors can enjoy on a trip to MK that are suitable for all of the family.

Parks Trust

With offices located at the cricket pavilion in Campbell Park, Milton Keynes Parks Trust is a charitable body that took control of most of the town's green areas in April 1992 and manages the care of 4500 acres of park and woodland in Milton Keynes. The town was built with nature in mind and instead of trampling the vegetation to make way for houses, roads and shops, new constructions are built amongst lush green areas.

Parks

Also known as the 'city of trees', Milton Keynes is home to a massive 20 million trees and they are found in a variety of environs from ancient woodlands and river floodplains to the most central park of all: Campbell Park. From June through to September (dependent on the weather), this park is used for cricket matches and many choose to watch from the grassy knolls or simply chill out. Ouse Valley Park, Broughton Park and North Loughton Valley Park are just a few of the many other main parkland attractions.

Lakes

Caldecotte Lake is located just off the A5 close to the Walnut Tree estate and it attracts many visitors who enjoy dog walking round the lake, jogging the many paths, canoeing, sailing or simply sitting back with a cold drink at the Caldecotte Arms with great views of the lake and a children's play area. Willen Lake is much larger than its counterpart and is located in the east of the town, and there is plenty to do from feeding the ducks to enjoying the small train ride around the banks of the lake.

MK Theatre

The theatre was built in 1999 and formed part of a complex known as the Theatre District made up from a collection of bars and restaurants that were originally built to serve the theatre situated off to the side. It offers an impressive line-up of entertainment including dance, drama, musicals, opera, comedy and children's shows as well as Christmas pantomimes and other occasional shows. The building is impressive in itself and plenty of fun can be had for all ages in the MK Theatre with its vast choice of West End productions and world-class performances.

Xscape

The Xscape building was finished in November 2000 and prides itself as being the ultimate entertainment destination in the south-east of the country. The roof slopes at a sharp angle and bears a resemblance to a giant slug. The unusual shape on the outside is down to the indoor ski slope known as SNO!zone where many visitors flock to enjoy anything from skiing to snowboarding, and it is suitable for all the family with children's slopes as well. There is a Cineworld cinema, bowling, indoor rock climbing, restaurant chains including Nando's, MacDonalds and Old Orleans plus Airkix and a City Limits. So, whether you want to try your hand at indoor skydiving or enjoy a drink in Moon Under the Water, there is never a dull moment in Xscape.

Mk Gallery

The MK Gallery is located by the entrance to the theatre and admission is free. There are three separate rooms on the ground floor and they can be used for different displays or merged into one, depending on the work. Exhibitions vary from contemporary art to school displays, and there is also the chance to meet the artists and take part in workshops that can be arranged through the gallery.