Places of interest

From taking the whole family on an action-packed day out or watching one of the local sports teams to exploring the local museums or relaxing in one of the many parks, the Milton Keynes area is full of fun and exciting things to do. For history fanatics or people who simply want to learn more about the area then there are some great places to explore.

The Milton Keynes Museum is in Wolverton and has an extensive range of displays which portray the rich history of the local community and surrounding area from 1800 to the present day. Bletchley Park is the historic site of secret British codebreaking activities during World War Two and was the birthplace of the modern computer. Different activities and exhibitions make it a fun day out for all the family and visitors can also see one of the famous Enigma Machines. Meanwhile the remains of a medieval Benedictine Priory can be found at the ancient site of Bradwell Abbey, to the north-west of the city.

Gulliver’s Land is a family theme park for children between 2 and 13 and has over 30 rides and 30 attractions which promise to be fun for everyone. The site also includes Gulliver’s Farm & Dinosaur Park, a unique hands-on discovery experience for youngsters where they can learn about farm animals and dinosaurs, and SplashZone, a fully heated indoor water play factory for children of all ages. Woburn Safari Park is a fantastic family day out where you can see over 80 species of animal. A drive through the park allows you to enjoy close encounters with some of the world’s most magnificent and endangered animals. Set in 3,000 acres of beautiful grounds, nearby Woburn Abbey has been the historic home to the Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years. Visitors can explore the Abbey and grounds and observe the 10 species of deer which roam freely.

Milton Keynes is also a hotbed of sport with prominent teams in some of the nation’s biggest leagues. The MK Dons, founded in 2004, play League One football at the impressive Stadium:MK which can currently hold 22,000 fans. The MK Lions basketball team compete in the British Basketball League, the country’s highest professional level and play their home games at Middleton Hall in thecentre:mk. Meanwhile the hugely successful MK Lightning ice hockey team has won the English Premier Ice Hockey League, considered to be the second-tier league in the UK, on more than one occasion and they play at the Planet Ice Arena. Music fans have the opportunity to see some of music’s biggest names at the Milton Keynes National Bowl, the UK’s premier open-air concert venue. With a capacity of 65,000, it has played host to world-class entertainers such as Queen, Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Oasis and Take That.