Explore the region
Luton is a remarkable place. It’s an energetic and youthful town which owes its social and ethnic diversity, as well as a legacy of declining industry, to impressive productivity in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to the rich legacy of hat production, for almost 100 years, the town was dominated by a Vauxhall car plant. As a result, many diverse communities have made their home in the borough, and thousands of people depend on the Council’s services.
The great outdoors
The bustle of the town may not suit everyone, and if you’re more at home in open country, you won’t be disappointed by Bedfordshire’s natural beauty.
If canoeing or kayaking is up your creek, you’ll be right at home on the Bedfordshire Canoe Trail. Starting from Kempston Outdoor Centre, you can experience canoeing lessons and courses, expedition trips, camp trips, and social events.
Do you like a round of golf on a sunny day? There is an abundance of Golf clubs dotted all around the County, so you’ll be spoilt for choice! There are three courses close to Luton – Stockwood Park Golf Centre, Luton Hoo Hotel Golf Course, and Caddington Golf Course.
Open 365 days a year, 24/7, the Millennium Country Park is a 16 time Green Flag Award Winner and home to 225 hectares of woodlands, grasslands, meadows and a stunning Wetlands Nature Reserve. Walk, explore and experience nature on an assortment of trails. The whole family can venture throughout the communal forest grounds and enjoy family friendly events at all times of the year.
Stuck for weekend ideas? In around an hour from Luton, you can be in the heart of Greensand Country. It’s an area of countryside rich in distinctive landscapes including heathland, woodland, rivers, villages and town. Stretching from Gamlingay to Leighton Buzzard, the 40 miles of scenic landscape follows the Greensand Ridge and reaches three neighbouring counties, from Cambridgeshire in the east, across Bedfordshire to Buckinghamshire in the west. It’s an ideal location for walking, running, cycling or a gentle trot on horseback.
History and heritage
Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers, is a vibrant heritage attraction, open daily to visitors. It’s a place of exceptional historical importance, and the birthplace of modern computing which has shaped life as we know it today.
What about the Wenlock Jug? It’s a rare medieval masterpiece which was cast in bronze in the 15th century. However, it’s so much more than it looks and can unlock the industry and commerce of the time, and chart the rising interest in such artefacts. Against the odds, thieves thwarted the high-security measures at Stockwood Discovery Centre, successfully spiriting the jug away. It took a high-profile campaign, including an appearance on the BBC’s Crimewatch, before the jug was recovered in Surrey in 2012. Find out all about the Wenlock Jug in its very own museum surrounded by beautiful gardens and other attractions at Stockwood. Best of all? It’s free!
Useful links:
https://www.experiencebedfordshire.co.uk/things-to-do/museums-history-and-heritage