Milton Keynes

{{For-multi|Milton Keynes, the original village|Middleton, Milton Keynes|the built-up area|Milton Keynes urban area|the local authority area|City of Milton Keynes}}

{{Infobox UK place

| type = City

| area_total_km2 = 89

| area_footnotes =

| coordinates = {{coord|52.04|-0.76|display=inline,title}}

| official_name = Milton Keynes

| statistic_title = Founded

| statistic = 23 January 1967{{Efn|Date of the "new town designation order"}}

| unitary_england = Milton Keynes City Council

| lieutenancy_england = Buckinghamshire

| region = South East England

| country = England

| constituency_westminster = Milton Keynes North

| constituency_westminster1 = Milton Keynes Central

| constituency_westminster2 = Buckingham and Bletchley

| post_town = MILTON KEYNES

| postcode_area = MK

| postcode_district = MK1–15, MK17, MK19

| dial_code = 01908

| os_grid_reference = SP841386

| london_distance = {{convert|50|mi|abbr=on}}{{efn |name=londist|From Milton Keynes Bowl to Marble Arch via Watling Street is {{convert|46|mi}}. By rail from {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}} to {{rws|Euston}} is {{convert|49|mi|65|ch|mi km|2|lk=on}}. From Central Milton Keynes to Charing Cross via the M1 motorway is {{convert|55|mi}}.}}

| london_direction = SSE

| static_image_name = {{multiple image

| border = infobox | total_width = 260

| image_style = border:1; | perrow = 2/2/2

| image1 = MiltonKeynesChristtheCornerstone01.jpg

|caption1 = Church of Christ the Cornerstone

| image2 = Peace Pagoda - geograph.org.uk - 340248.jpg

|caption2 = The Peace Pagoda

| image3 = Stony Stratford - the Cock and the Bull.jpg

|caption3 = Stony Stratford High Street

| image4 = Bletchley_Park_House_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3563770.jpg

|caption4 = Bletchley Park

| image5 = Lonsdale, Wolverton - geograph.org.uk - 1818817.jpg

|caption5 = Wolverton Canal-side

| image6 = MK Gallery. Photo - 6a.jpg

|caption6 = Milton Keynes Gallery

}}

| website = {{URL|https://milton-keynes.gov.uk}}

| module = {{Infobox demographics

| type =Population

| group1 = District ({{United Kingdom statistics year}})

| pop1 = {{English district population|GSS=E06000042}}

| group2 = Major urban area (2021)

| pop2 = 264,349

| source = {{cite web|url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/ua/|title= UNITED KINGDOM: Countries and Major Urban Areas|access-date=8 May 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Figure 1: Explore population characteristics of individual BUAs |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc2257a/fig1/datadownload.xlsx |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805183245/https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc2257a/fig1/datadownload.xlsx |url-status=live }}

}}

| shire_district = City of Milton Keynes

}}

Milton Keynes ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-MiltonKeynes.ogg|k|iː|n|z}} {{respell|KEENZ}}) is a city{{efn|The area that is the subject of this article, the contiguous urban segment of the City of Milton Keynes local authority area, does not have legal city status itself although it is usually known as "the city". The Letters Patent were awarded to the responsible local authority rather than to the settlement itself. See section {{slink||Formal award of city status}} below for more details.}} in Buckinghamshire, England, about {{convert|50|mi}} north-west of London.{{efn|name=londist}} At the 2021 Census, the population of its urban area was 264,349. The River Great Ouse forms the northern boundary of the urban area; a tributary, the River Ouzel, meanders through its linear parks and balancing lakes. Approximately 25% of the urban area is parkland or woodland and includes two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The city is made up of many different districts.

In the 1960s, the government decided that a further generation of new towns in the south east of England was needed to relieve housing congestion in London. Milton Keynes was to be the biggest yet, with a population of 250,000 and area of {{convert|22,000|acre|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}. At designation, its area incorporated the existing towns of Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Wolverton and Stony Stratford,{{efn|The adjacent towns of Newport Pagnell and Woburn Sands were not included in the original 1967 designated area of the new town but have become part of the Milton Keynes urban area since then.}} along with another fifteen villages and farmland in between. These settlements had an extensive historical record since the Norman conquest; detailed archaeological investigations before development revealed evidence of human occupation from the Neolithic period, including the Milton Keynes Hoard of Bronze Age gold jewellery. The government established Milton Keynes Development Corporation (MKDC) to design and deliver this new city. The {{notatypo|Corporation}} decided on a softer, more human-scaled landscape than in the earlier English new towns but with an emphatically modernist architecture. Recognising how traditional towns and cities had become choked in traffic, they established a grid of distributor roads about {{convert|1|km}} between edges, leaving the spaces between to develop more organically. An extensive network of shared paths for leisure cyclists and pedestrians criss-crosses through and between them. Rejecting the residential tower block concept that had become unpopular, they set a height limit of three storeys outside Central Milton Keynes.

Facilities include a 1,400-seat theatre, a municipal art gallery, two multiplex cinemas, an ecumenical central church, a 400-seat concert hall, a teaching hospital, a 30,500-seat football stadium, an indoor ski-slope and a 65,000-capacity open-air concert venue. Seven railway stations serve the Milton Keynes urban area (one inter-city). The Open University is based here and there is a small campus of the University of Bedfordshire. Most major sports are represented at amateur level; Red Bull Racing (Formula One), MK Dons (association football), and Milton Keynes Lightning (ice hockey) are its professional teams. The Peace Pagoda overlooking Willen Lake was the first such to be built in Europe. The many works of sculpture in parks and public spaces include the iconic Concrete Cows at Milton Keynes Museum.

Milton Keynes is among the most economically productive localities in the UK, ranking highly against a number of criteria. It has the UK's fifth-highest number of business startups per capita (but equally of business failures). It is home to several major national and international companies. Despite economic success and personal wealth for some, there are pockets of nationally significant poverty. The employment profile is composed of about 90% service industries and 9% manufacturing.

History

=Birth of a 'new city'=

{{see also|History of Milton Keynes#Milton Keynes Development Corporation: designing a city for 250,000 people}}

{{Blockquote|It may startle some political economists to talk of commencing the building of new cities ... planned as cities from their first foundation, and not mere small towns and villages. ... A time will arrive when something of this sort must be done ... England cannot escape from the alternative of new city building.

| source = T. J. Maslen, 1843{{cite book |title=Suggestions for the improvement of Our Towns and Houses|last=Maslen |first=T. J. |year=1843 |publisher=Smith, Elder |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/suggestionsfori00maslgoog}} (Quoted in Walter L Crease, The search for Environment, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1966, p319).{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|page=265}} }}

In the 1960s, the UK government decided that a further generation of new towns in the South East of England was needed to relieve housing congestion in London.{{cite report |title=South East Study 1961–1981 |publisher=HMSO |location=London |date=1964 |quote=A big change in the economic balance within the south east is needed to modify the dominance of London and to get a more even distribution of growth |url=https://archive.org/details/op1265576-1001}} cited in The Plan for Milton Keynes (Llewellyn-Davies et al (1970), page 3 Since the 1950s, overspill housing for several London boroughs had been constructed in Bletchley.{{cite web |url=http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/eaton-overspill00/begining.html |title=Bletchley Pioneers, Planning, & Progress |publisher=Clutch.open.ac.uk |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927072106/http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/eaton-overspill00/begining.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/eaton-overspill00/housing.html |title=Early days of overspill |publisher=Clutch.open.ac.uk |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927072059/http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/eaton-overspill00/housing.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Need for more planned towns in the South-East |newspaper=The Times |date=2 December 1964}} Further studies{{cite news |title=Urgent action to meet London housing needs |newspaper=The Times |date=4 February 1965}} in the 1960s identified north Buckinghamshire as a possible site for a large new town, a new city,{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=xi}}{{efn|The Plan for Milton Keynes begins (in the Foreword by Lord ("Jock") Campbell of Eskan): "This plan for building the new city of Milton Keynes ... "}} encompassing the existing towns of Bletchley, Stony Stratford, and Wolverton.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=8}} The New Town (informally and in planning documents, 'New City') was to be the biggest yet, with a target population of 250,000,{{cite news |title=Area of New Town Increased by 6000 acres |newspaper=The Times |date=14 January 1966}}{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=4}} in a 'designated area' of {{convert|21883|acre|ha|1|abbr=on}}. The name 'Milton Keynes' was taken from that of an existing village on the site.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=3}}

On 23 January 1967, when the formal "new town designation order" was made, the area to be developed was largely farmland and undeveloped villages. The site was deliberately located equidistant from London, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford, and Cambridge,{{cite book |last=Llewellyn-Davies |author2=Forestier-Walker |author3=Bor |title=Milton Keynes: Interim Report to Milton Keynes Development Corporation |publisher=Milton Keynes Development Corporation |date=December 1968}}{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=xii}} with the intention that it would be self-sustaining and eventually become a major regional centre in its own right. Planning control was taken from elected local authorities and delegated to the Milton Keynes Development Corporation (MKDC). Before construction began, every area was subject to detailed archaeological investigation: doing so has exposed a rich history of human settlement since Neolithic times and has provided a unique insight into the history of a large sample of the landscape of North Buckinghamshire.{{cite book| first1= R. A. |last1=Croft | first2= Dennis C. |last2=Mynard |first3= Margaret |last3=Gelling |title= The Changing Landscape of Milton Keynes |publisher=Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society | series= Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society Monograph Series |number =5 |isbn= 9780949003126 | quote = "The creation of Milton Keynes provided an opportunity to study an extensive rural landscape before it was changed irreversibly. This book brings together the results of 20 years of excavation, fieldwork and documentary studies carried out by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation." | location = Aylesbury | date = 1993 }}

The corporation's strongly modernist designs were regularly featured in the magazines Architectural Design and the Architects' Journal.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=107}}{{cite web| url=http://www.mkcdc.org.uk/shop/architectural-design.html| title=Architectural Design 6, 1973. Special issue: Milton Keynes| publisher=Architectural Design| date=1973| access-date=26 February 2019| archive-date=26 February 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226172922/http://www.mkcdc.org.uk/shop/architectural-design.html| url-status=live}} Staff of MKDC on the cover of Architectural Design{{cite magazine| url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/culture/aj-archive-milton-keynes-planning-study-1969/10016661.article| title=AJ archive: Milton Keynes planning study (1969)| magazine=The Architects' Journal| date=1969| access-date=10 February 2019| archive-date=19 January 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121727/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/culture/aj-archive-milton-keynes-planning-study-1969/10016661.article| url-status=live}} reprint 23 January 2017 MKDC was determined to learn from the mistakes made in the earlier new towns,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=1, 47}}{{cite news |author=Barkham, Patrick |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/03/struggle-for-the-soul-of-milton-keynes |title=The struggle for the soul of Milton Keynes |date=3 May 2016 |access-date=11 May 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=23 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723174633/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/03/struggle-for-the-soul-of-milton-keynes |url-status=live }} and revisit the garden city ideals.{{sfnb|Clapson|2014|p=3}}{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=xii}} They set in place the characteristic grid roads that run between districts ('grid squares'), as well as a programme of intensive planting, balancing lakes and parkland.Milton Keynes: A Living Landscape, Fred Roche Foundation, 2018 Central Milton Keynes ("CMK") was not intended to be a traditional town centre but a central business and shopping district to supplement local centres embedded in most of the grid squares.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=33}} This non-hierarchical devolved city plan was a departure from the English new towns tradition and envisaged a wide range of industry and diversity of housing styles and tenures.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=14}} The largest and almost the last of the British New Towns, Milton Keynes has 'stood the test of time far better than most, and has proved flexible and adaptable'.{{cite book |first=Jeffrey |last=Bishop |title=Milton Keynes{{snd}} the Best of Both Worlds? Public and professional views of a new city. |publisher=University of Bristol School for Advanced Urban Studies |date=1981 |isbn=9780862922245 |oclc=756979521}} The radical grid plan was inspired by the work of Melvin M. Webber,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=46}} described by the founding architect of Milton Keynes, Derek Walker, as the 'father of the city'.Walker The Architecture and Planning of Milton Keynes, Architectural Press, London 1981. Retrieved 13 February 2007 Webber thought that telecommunications meant that the old idea of a city as a concentric cluster was out of date and that cities which enabled people to travel around them readily would be the thing of the future, achieving "community without propinquity" for residents.{{cite book|first=M |last=Webber |date=1963|chapter=Order in Diversity: Community Without Propinquity|editor-first= L|editor-last= Wingo |title=Cities and Spaces|publisher= Hopkins|location= Baltimore}}

The government wound up MKDC in 1992, 25 years after the new town was founded, transferring control to the Commission for New Towns (CNT) and then finally to English Partnerships, with planning functions returning to the local council (Milton Keynes Borough (now City) Council). From 2004 to 2011 a government quango, the Milton Keynes Partnership, had development control powers to accelerate the growth of Milton Keynes.{{cite web |url=https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=pKuWcI%2Bd%2BN8WSDJ%2F4qLBt3sRSvp4j6yR9bkyofvUDqCG6ml%2BsAsXfg%3D%3D&rUzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvYtyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYGoBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3D |title=MILTON KEYNES PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE ROLE AND REMIT |date=7 September 2005 |access-date=18 February 2019 |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229130857/https://milton-keynes.cmis.uk.com/milton-keynes/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=pKuWcI%2Bd%2BN8WSDJ%2F4qLBt3sRSvp4j6yR9bkyofvUDqCG6ml%2BsAsXfg%3D%3D&rUzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvYtyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYGoBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3D |url-status=live }}

=Formal award of city status=

Along with many other towns and boroughs, Milton Keynes competed (unsuccessfully) for formal city status in the 2000, 2002 and 2012 competitions.{{cite web |url=https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/geography/not-city-milton-keynes |title=This is not a city: Milton Keynes |publisher=The Open University |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021240/https://www.open.edu/openlearn/society-politics-law/geography/not-city-milton-keynes |url-status=live }} However the Borough (including rural areas, in addition to the MK urban area{{cite web |title=Milton Keynes city status application |date=December 2021 |url= https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/Milton%20Keynes%20city%20status%20application.pdf|access-date=31 October 2023 |publisher=Milton Keynes City Council}}) was successful in 2022, in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours competition. On 15 August 2022, the Crown Office announced formally that Queen Elizabeth II had ordained by letters patent that the Borough of Milton Keynes has been given city status.{{cite journal |title=Crown Office|journal=The London Gazette |date=18 August 2022 |issue=63791|url= https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4142642|access-date=19 August 2022 |publisher=TSO}} In law, it is the Borough rather than its eponymous settlement that has city status; nevertheless it is the latter that is more commonly known as the city.{{cite news |title=Milton Keynes named one of the best places to live in the UK |work=Bucks Free Press |date=16 March 2024 |first=James |last=Richings |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/24188276.milton-keynes-named-one-best-places-live-uk/ |quote= Forget the 1970s image of concrete cows, endless roundabouts and ugly architecture, the new town turned city deserves its place on the Sunday Times list.}}{{cite news |first=Matthew |last=Davis |title=Why Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, is one of the best places to live 2024 |work=Sunday Times |date=15 March 2024 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/milton-keynes-buckinghamshire-england-best-place-to-live-uk-2024-25ltsjsxq}}

=Name=

{{Quote box|Labour Minister Dick Crossman …looked at [a] map and saw [the] name and said "Milton the poet, Keynes the economic one. 'Planning with economic sense and idealism, a very good name for it.'"

| source = Jock Campbell, Baron Campbell of Eskan{{cite web |url=https://www.livingarchive.org.uk/content/local-history/topics/area-development/father-of-the-new-city |title=Father of the New City |author = Dave Persaud |publisher= Living Archive |location=Milton Keynes }}

| align = right

| width = 33%

}}

The name 'Milton Keynes' was a reuse of the name of one of the original historic villages in the designated area, now more generally known as 'Milton Keynes Village' to distinguish it from the modern settlement. After the Norman conquest, the de Cahaignes family held the manor from 1166 to the late 13th century as well as others in the country (Ashton Keynes in Wiltshire, Somerford Keynes in Gloucestershire, and Horsted Keynes in West Sussex). The village was originally known as Middeltone (11th century); then later as Middelton Kaynes or Caynes (13th century); Milton Keynes (15th century); and Milton alias Middelton Gaynes (17th century).{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp401-405 |chapter= Parishes : Milton Keynes |series= Victoria History of the Counties of England |title= A History of the County of Buckingham |volume= 4 |date= 1927 |pages= 401{{ndash}}405 |publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. |access-date= 17 February 2019 |archive-date= 18 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081919/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp401-405 |url-status= live }}

=Prior history=

File:Milton Keynes Hoard.jpg of torcs and bracelets, on display at the British Museum ]]

The area that was to become Milton Keynes encompassed a landscape that has a rich historic legacy. The area to be developed was largely farmland and undeveloped villages, but with evidence of permanent settlement dating back to the Bronze Age. Before construction began, every area was subject to detailed archaeological investigation: this work has provided an insight into the history of a very large sample of the landscape of south-central England. There is evidence of Stone Age,{{cite web | publisher = Milton Keynes Heritage Association | url = http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Web%20pages/stoneage.html | access-date = 3 January 2007 | title = Archaeology in the Milton Keynes District: Stone Age | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061108044829/http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Web%20pages/stoneage.html | archive-date = 8 November 2006 | url-status = dead }} late Bronze Age/early Iron Age,{{cite web | publisher = Milton Keynes Heritage Association | url = http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Web%20pages/Bronze%20Age.html | access-date = 3 January 2007 | title = Archaeology in the Milton Keynes District: Bronze Age | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061108044714/http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Web%20pages/Bronze%20Age.html | archive-date = 8 November 2006 | url-status = dead }} Romano-British,{{cite web | publisher = British Museum | url = https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/g/gold_stater.aspx | access-date = 10 September 2009 | title = Object 2234: "Gold stater ('Gallo-Belgic A' type) Roman, mid-2nd century BC Probably made in northern France or Belgium; found at Fenny Stratford near Milton Keynes, England" | archive-date = 18 October 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151018121026/http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/g/gold_stater.aspx | url-status = live }}{{cite web | publisher = Milton Keynes Heritage Association | url = http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Index.html | access-date = 3 January 2007 | title = Archaeology in the Milton Keynes District: archaeological sites and artefacts found at Bancroft and Blue Bridge, part of the old farmland of Stacey Hill Farm, now Milton Keynes Museum. | archive-date = 9 December 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061209140707/http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkm/mkarchaeology/Index.html | url-status = live }} Anglo-Saxon,{{cite book| last1=Mynard |first1=Dennis |last2=Hunt |first2=Julian | title=Milton Keynes, a pictorial history | location=Chichester, West Sussex |publisher=Phillimore |isbn=978-0-85033-940-6|year=1994 }} Anglo-Norman,Domesday Book, Buckinghamshire Medieval, and late Industrial Revolution settlements such as the railway towns of Wolverton (with its railway works) and Bletchley (at the junction of the London and North Western Railway with the Oxford{{ndash}}Cambridge Varsity Line). The most notable archaeological artefact was the Milton Keynes Hoard, which the British Museum described as 'one of the biggest concentrations of Bronze Age gold known from Britain and seems to flaunt wealth.'{{cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-milton-keynes-hoard/QQGgqMW-vTh2rA|title=The Milton Keynes hoard|publisher=British Museum/Google Cultural Institute|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-date=20 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220173407/https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-milton-keynes-hoard/QQGgqMW-vTh2rA|url-status=live}}

Bletchley Park, the site of World War II Allied code-breaking and Colossus, the world's first programmable electronic digital computer,{{sfnb|Copeland|2006|loc=Introduction p. 2}} is a major component of MK's modern history. It is now a flourishing heritage attraction, receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.{{cite web |url=https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/v.rhtm/Bletchley_Park_welcomes_2015s_200000th_visitor-908901.html |title=Bletchley Park welcomes 2015's 200,000th visitor |publisher=Bletchley Park |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043901/https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/v.rhtm/Bletchley_Park_welcomes_2015s_200000th_visitor-908901.html |url-status=live }}

When the boundary of Milton Keynes was defined in 1967, some 40,000 people lived in four towns and fifteen villages or hamlets in the "designated area".{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=273}}

Urban design

{{hatnote|The concepts that heavily influenced the design of Milton Keynes are described in detail in article urban planning{{spaced ndash}} see 'cells' under Planning and aesthetics (referring to grid squares). See also article single-use zoning.}}

The radical plan, form and scale of Milton Keynes attracted international attention. Early phases of development include work by celebrated architects, including

Sir Richard MacCormac,{{cite web|url=https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/richard-maccormac-1938-2014/8668266.article|title=Richard MacCormac (1938–2014)|date=12 August 2014|first=Jeremy|last=Melvin|website=Architectural Review|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120194547/https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/richard-maccormac-1938-2014/8668266.article|url-status=live}}

Norman Foster,{{cite book |last=Hatherley |first=Owen |date=2010 |title=A guide to the new ruins of Great Britain |url=https://the-eye.eu/public/concen.org/Nonfiction.Ebook.Pack.Apr.2016-PHC/9781844678082.Verso.Guide%20to%20the%20New%20Ruins%20of%20Great%20Britain%2C%20A.Owen%20Hatherley.Jul%2C%202011.pdf |location=New York |publisher=Verso |page=60 |isbn=978-1-84467-700-9 |access-date=20 January 2019 |archive-date=20 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120213048/https://the-eye.eu/public/concen.org/Nonfiction.Ebook.Pack.Apr.2016-PHC/9781844678082.Verso.Guide%20to%20the%20New%20Ruins%20of%20Great%20Britain%2C%20A.Owen%20Hatherley.Jul%2C%202011.pdf |url-status=live }}

Henning Larsen,{{cite web| url=https://c20society.org.uk/botm/heelands-housing-milton-keynes/ | title=Building of the month: Heelands Housing, Milton Keynes |work= Twentieth Century Society |date= January 2008 | access-date=10 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130220457/https://c20society.org.uk/botm/heelands-housing-milton-keynes/|archive-date=30 January 2019}}

Ralph Erskine,{{cite news |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/twentieth-century-society-calls-for-conservation-of-post-war-estates/10028882.article |title=A Milton Keynes housing estate designed by Ralph Erskine in the 1970s should be designated a conservation area, a heritage body has urged |first=Greg |last=Pitcher |work=The Architects' Journal |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=30 January 2019 |archive-date=30 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130162732/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/twentieth-century-society-calls-for-conservation-of-post-war-estates/10028882.article |url-status=live }}

John Winter,{{cite magazine|url=https://c20society.org.uk/publications/c20-magazine/john-winter/ |title=Obituary: John Winter |first= Henrietta |last = Billings |magazine=Twentieth Century Society|date= February 2013 | access-date=5 February 2019|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210170627/https://c20society.org.uk/publications/c20-magazine/john-winter/}}

and Martin Richardson.

Led by Lord Campbell of Eskan (chairman) and Fred Roche (General Manager), the Corporation attracted talented young architects,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=95}} led by the respected designer,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=95}}{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=104}} Derek Walker. In the modernist Miesian tradition is the Shopping Building designed by Stuart Mosscrop and Christopher Woodward, a grade II listed building, which the Twentieth Century Society inter alia regards as the 'most distinguished' twentieth century retail building in Britain.{{cite web | url=http://www.c20society.org.uk/100-buildings/1979-milton-keynes-shopping-building/ | title=1979: Milton Keynes shopping building | publisher=The Twentieth Century Society | access-date=6 June 2014 | archive-date=6 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606205422/http://www.c20society.org.uk/100-buildings/1979-milton-keynes-shopping-building/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1393882|title=Shopping building, Milton Keynes: Grade II listed|publisher=English Heritage|access-date=6 June 2014|archive-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621011553/http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1393882|url-status=live}}

The Development Corporation also led an ambitious public art programme.{{cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/arts-and-heritage/commissions |title=Public Art in MK |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218083522/https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/arts-and-heritage/commissions |url-status=live }}

The urban design has not been universally praised. In 1980, the then president of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Francis Tibbalds, described Central Milton Keynes as "bland, rigid, sterile, and totally boring."{{cite web |url=https://placesjournal.org/assets/legacy/pdfs/milton-keynes-who-forgot-the-urban-design.pdf |title=Milton Keynes: Who forgot the urban design |access-date=1 May 2019 |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127113803/https://placesjournal.org/assets/legacy/pdfs/milton-keynes-who-forgot-the-urban-design.pdf |url-status=live }} Michael Edwards, a member of the original consultancy team,{{efn|and erstwhile lecturer in urban planning at University College London}} believes that there were weaknesses in their proposal and that the Development Corporation implemented it badly.{{cite journal | doi= 10.1080/13574800120032905 | title= City Design: What Went Wrong at Milton Keynes? | first= Michael | last= Edwards | journal= Journal of Urban Design | year= 2001 | volume= 6, 2001 | issue= 1 | pages= 87–96 | s2cid= 108812232 | url= http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/4642/1/4642.pdf | access-date= 30 August 2019 | archive-date= 9 August 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170809081750/http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/4642/1/4642.pdf | url-status= live }}

=Grid roads and grid squares=

{{Quote box|The geography of Milton Keynes{{spaced ndash}} the railway line, Watling Street, Grand Union Canal, M1 motorway{{spaced ndash}} sets up a very strong north-south axis. If you've got to build a city between (them), it is very natural to take a pen and draw the rungs of a ladder. Ten miles by six is the size of this city{{spaced ndash}} 22,000 acres. Do you lay it out like an American city, rigid orthogonal from side to side? Being more sensitive in 1966-7, the designers decided that the grid concept should apply but should be a lazy grid following the flow of land, its valleys, its ebbs and flows. That would be nicer to look at, more economical and efficient to build, and would sit more beautifully as a landscape intervention.

| source = David Lock{{cite book |title='The story of the original CMK' ... told by the people who shaped the original Central Milton Keynes (interviews) |last=Kitchen |first=Roger |author2=Hill, Marion |year=2007 |publisher=Living Archive |location=Milton Keynes |isbn=978-0-904847-34-5 |page=17 |url=http://www.livingarchive.org.uk/ |access-date=26 January 2009}} (Lock is visiting professor of town planning at Reading University. He was the chief town planner for CMK.) (Ten miles is about 16{{nbsp}}kilometres and 18,000{{nbsp}}acres is about 7,300{{nbsp}}hectares),

| align = right

| width = 33%

}}

{{Main|Milton Keynes grid road system|List of districts in Milton Keynes}}

The Milton Keynes Development Corporation planned the major road layout according to street hierarchy principles, using a grid pattern of approximately {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} intervals, rather than on the more conventional radial pattern found in older settlements.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=16}} Major distributor roads run between communities, rather than through them: these distributor roads are known locally as grid roads and the spaces between them{{snd}} the neighbourhoods{{snd}} are known as grid squares (though few are actually square or even rectilinear).{{cite book|first=Derek |last=Walker |title=The Architecture and Planning of Milton Keynes |publisher=Architectural Press |year=1982 |page=8 |location=London|isbn=978-0-85139-735-1}} cited in {{cite book|first=Mark |last=Clapson |title=A Social History of Milton Keynes: Middle England/Edge City |url=https://archive.org/details/socialhistorymil00clap |url-access=limited |pages=[https://archive.org/details/socialhistorymil00clap/page/n60 40] |publisher=Frank Cass |location=London |year=2004|isbn=978-0-7146-8417-8}} This spacing was chosen so that people would always be within six minutes' walking distance of a grid-road bus-stop.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=33}}{{efn|In reality, the bus operators have specified many bus routes that go through, rather than between, neighbourhoods.}} Consequently, each grid square is a semi-autonomous community, making a unique collective of 100 clearly identifiable neighbourhoods within the overall urban environment.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=175{{ndash}}178}}{{efn|Bendixson & Platt report the Corporation as concerned at this outcome, which was an unanticipated emergent behaviour. In later developments, it aimed for increased permeability through the grid.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=175}}}} The grid squares have a variety of development styles, ranging from conventional urban development and industrial parks to original rural and modern urban and suburban developments. Most grid squares have a local centre, intended as a retail hub, and many have community facilities as well. Each of the original villages is the heart of its own grid-square. Originally intended under the master plan to sit alongside the grid roads,{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=36}} these local centres were mostly in fact built embedded in the communities.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=177}}

Although the 1970 master plan assumed cross-road junctions,{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=36}} roundabout junctions were built at intersections because this type of junction is more efficient at dealing with small to medium volumes. Some major roads are dual carriageway, the others are single carriageway. Along one side of each single carriageway grid road, there is usually a (grassed) reservation to permit dualling or additional transport infrastructure at a later date.{{efn|An additional ten-metre wide strip was originally specified to satisfy Buckinghamshire County Council's belief in a future fixed-track public transport system. In 1977 MKDC decided to cease to specify it.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=170, 171}}}} {{As of|2018}}, this has been limited to some dualling. The edges of each grid square are landscaped and densely planted{{snd}} some additionally have noise attenuation mounds{{snd}} to minimise traffic noise from the grid road impacting the adjacent grid square. Traffic movements are fast, with relatively little congestion since there are alternative routes to any particular destination other than during peak periods. The national speed limit applies on the grid roads, although lower speed limits have been introduced on some stretches to reduce accident rates. Pedestrians rarely need to cross grid roads at grade, as underpasses and bridges were specified at frequent places along each stretch of all of the grid roads.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=36}} In contrast, the later districts planned by English Partnerships have departed from this model, without a road hierarchy but with conventional junctions with traffic lights and at grade pedestrian crossings.{{cite news |url=http://urbaneden.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/p17-october-2012.pdf | work=Milton Keynes Business Week | first=Theo | last=Chalmers | title=The curse of the living planners | date=19 September 2012 | access-date=14 May 2019 | archive-date=13 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513194121/http://urbaneden.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/p17-october-2012.pdf | url-status=live }}{{efn|The 'western expansion area' is what became Fairfields and Whitehouse. The 'eastern expansion area' is Broughton including Brooklands. 'The Hub' is a development of residential tower, hotels and restaurants in CMK.}}

=Redways=

File:Milton Keynes Redway.gif

{{Main|Milton Keynes redway system|Segregated cycle facilities|Shared use path}}

There is a separate network (approximately {{convert|270|km|-1|order=flip}} total length) of cycle and pedestrian routes {{snd}} the redways {{snd}} that runs through the grid-squares and often runs alongside the grid-road network.{{cite web|title=Milton Keynes Redways|url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/milton_keynes_redways|work=Destination Milton Keynes|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=29 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529065059/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/milton_keynes_redways|url-status=live}} This was designed to segregate slow moving cycle and pedestrian traffic from fast moving motor traffic.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=175}} In practice, it is mainly used for leisure cycling rather than commuting, perhaps because the cycle routes are shared with pedestrians, cross the grid-roads via bridge or underpass rather than at grade, and because some take meandering scenic routes rather than straight lines. It is so called because it is generally surfaced with red tarmac.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=178}} The national Sustrans national cycle network routes 6 and 51 take advantage of this system.{{cite web |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-6 |title=National cycle route 6 |publisher=Sustrans |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=16 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516000216/https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-6 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-51 |title=National cycle route 51 |publisher=Sustrans |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218082023/https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/route-51 |url-status=live }}

=Height=

File:Hotel La Tour, Central Milton Keynes.jpg in CMK.{{cite news |title=Tallest and shiniest building in Milton Keynes is topped out at 50 metres this week |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/tallest-and-shiniest-building-in-milton-keynes-is-topped-out-at-50-metres-this-week-3235438 |first=Sally |last=Murrer |date=13 May 2021 |access-date=6 May 2023 |work=Milton Keynes Citizen}}]]

The original design guidance declared that commercial building heights in the centre should not exceed six storeys, with a limit of three storeys for houses (elsewhere),{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=107}} paraphrased locally as "no building taller than the tallest tree".{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36210591 | title=Milton Keynes high-rise plan revealed | date=5 May 2016 | access-date=17 February 2019 | publisher=BBC News | archive-date=19 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219022141/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-36210591 | url-status=live }} In contrast, the Milton Keynes Partnership, in its expansion plans for Milton Keynes, believed that Central Milton Keynes (and elsewhere) needed "landmark buildings" and subsequently lifted the height restriction for the area. As a result, high rise buildings have been built in the central business district.{{efn|Large-scale buildings include

Jurys Inn (10 storeys){{cite web|url=http://www.mcaleer-rushe.co.uk/projects/jurys-inn-milton-keynes/|title=Jurys Inn, Milton Keynes (McAleer & Rushe, Design and build)|website=www.mcaleer-rushe.co.uk|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015118/http://www.mcaleer-rushe.co.uk/projects/jurys-inn-milton-keynes/|url-status=live}}

The Pinnacle:MK on Midsummer Boulevard (9 storeys){{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=6483|title=The Pinnacle, Milton Keynes – Building #6483|website=www.skyscrapernews.com|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=7 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020945/http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=6483|url-status=live}} and the

Vizion development on Avebury Boulevard (12 storeys),{{cite web|url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5201|title=Vizion, Milton Keynes – Building #5201|website=www.skyscrapernews.com|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308030833/http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5201|url-status=live}}}}

More recent local plans have protected the existing boulevard framework and set higher standards for architectural excellence.{{cite web |url=http://cmktowncouncil.gov.uk/referendum-on-cmk-business-neighbourhood-plan/ |title=The CMK Business Neighbourhood Plan |publisher=Central Milton Keynes town council |date=October 2014 |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=22 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322065110/http://cmktowncouncil.gov.uk/referendum-on-cmk-business-neighbourhood-plan/ |url-status=live }}{{efn|The Network Rail National Centre is at the western limit of Silbury Boulevard near the Central station; this building complex occupies a large land area but only rises to the equivalent of six storeys;{{cite news |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/network-rail-opens-the-quadrantmk.html |title=Network Rail opens The Quadrant:MK |work=Railway Gazette International |date=11 June 2012 |access-date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113164805/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/network-rail-opens-the-quadrantmk.html |url-status=live }} The Hotel la Tour (Marlborough Gate and Midsummer Bvd) opens April 2022 and is 50 metres tall.{{cite news |title=Tallest and shiniest building in Milton Keynes is topped out at 50 metres this week |work=Milton Keynes Citizen |date=13 May 2021 |first=Sally |last=Murrer |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/tallest-and-shiniest-building-in-milton-keynes-is-topped-out-at-50-metres-this-week-3235438 |access-date=31 December 2021 |archive-date=31 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231174359/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/tallest-and-shiniest-building-in-milton-keynes-is-topped-out-at-50-metres-this-week-3235438 |url-status=live }}}}

=Linear parks=

File:NCR 51 MiltonKeynes east.JPG on National Cycle Route 51 ]]

The flood plains of the Great Ouse and of its tributaries (the Ouzel and some brooks) have been protected as linear parks that run right through Milton Keynes; these were identified as important landscape and flood-management assets from the outset.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=27}} At {{convert|1650|ha|abbr=on|order=flip}}{{snd}} ten times larger than London's Hyde Park and a third larger than Richmond Park{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=174}}{{snd}} the landscape architects realised that the Royal Parks model would not be appropriate or affordable and drew on their National Park experience.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=174}} As Bendixson and Platt (1992) write: "They divided the Ouzel Valley into 'strings, beads and settings'. The 'strings' are well-maintained routes, be they for walking, bicycling or riding; the 'beads' are sports centres, lakeside cafes and other activity areas; the 'settings' are self-managed land-uses such as woods, riding paddocks, a golf course and a farm".{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=174}}

The Grand Union Canal is another green route (and demonstrates the level geography of the area{{snd}} there is just one minor lock in its entire {{convert|10|mi|adj=on}} meandering route through from the southern boundary near Fenny Stratford to the "Iron Trunk" aqueduct over the Ouse at Wolverton at its northern boundary). The initial park system was planned by Peter Youngman (Chief Landscape Architect),{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jun/17/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1 |title=Peter Youngman, Architect of the modern British landscape |newspaper=The Guardian |date=17 June 2005 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202111054/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jun/17/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1 |url-status=live }} who also developed landscape precepts for all development areas: groups of grid squares were to be planted with different selections of trees and shrubs to give them distinct identities. The detailed planning and landscape design of parks and of the grid roads was evolved under the leadership of Neil Higson,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=171{{ndash}}174}} who from 1977 took over from Youngman.{{cite book |last1=Pevsner|first1= Nikolaus |author-link1=Nikolaus Pevsner |last2=Williamson |first2= Elizabeth |title=The Buildings of England: Buckinghamshire |series=Pevsner Architectural Guides |publisher=Yale University Press |date=11 March 1994 | page= 487}}

In a national comparison of urban areas by open space available to residents, Milton Keynes ranked highest in the UK.{{cite news | url = https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/milton-keynes-ranks-top-green-space-2551060 | title = Milton Keynes ranks top for green space | author = Clare Turner | work = Milton Keynes Citizen | date = 27 April 2020 | access-date = 29 April 2020 | quote = Research by the think tank [the] Centre for Cities shows the varying amounts of space{{snd}} inside and out{{snd}} available to residents in 62 urban areas across Britain. | archive-date = 1 May 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200501110753/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/milton-keynes-ranks-top-green-space-2551060 | url-status = live }} Milton Keynes is unusual in that most of the parks are owned and managed by a charity, the Milton Keynes Parks Trust rather than the local authority, to ensure that the management of the city's green spaces are largely independent of the council's expenditure priorities.{{cite web|url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/about-us/about-the-parks-trust/|title=About the Parks Trust|work=The Parks Trust}}

=Forest city concept=

The Development Corporation's original design concept aimed for a "forest city" and its foresters planted millions of trees from its own nursery in Newlands in the following years. Parks, lakes and green spaces cover about 25% of Milton Keynes;{{cite web |url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Parks-and-Lakes |title=Parks & Lakes |publisher=Destination MK |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042912/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Parks-and-Lakes |url-status=live }} {{As of|2018|lc=y}}, there are 22 million trees and shrubs in public open spaces.{{cite news | url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/our-region/milton-keynes/millions-of-trees-in-milton-keynes-to-be-spruced-up-in-2019-1-8726346 | title=Millions of trees in Milton Keynes to be spruced up in 2019 | first=Paige | last=Browne | work=Milton Keynes Citizen | date=23 December 2018 | access-date=6 February 2019 | archive-date=7 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072233/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/our-region/milton-keynes/millions-of-trees-in-milton-keynes-to-be-spruced-up-in-2019-1-8726346 | url-status=live }} When the Development Corporation was being wound up, it transferred the major parks, lakes, river-banks and grid-road margins to the Parks Trust,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|p=259}} a charity which is independent of the municipal authority. MKDC endowed the Parks Trust with a portfolio of commercial properties, the income from which pays for the upkeep of the green spaces.{{cite web |url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/about-us/the-parks-trust-model/ |title=The Parks Trust model |publisher=The Milton Keynes Parks Trust |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042834/https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/about-us/the-parks-trust-model/ |url-status=live }} {{As of|2018}}, approximately 25% of the urban area is parkland or woodland.{{cite web |url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/about-us/facts-and-figures/ |title=Facts and Figures |publisher=Milton Keynes Parks Trust |access-date=20 February 2019 |archive-date=21 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221054800/https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/about-us/facts-and-figures/ |url-status=live }} "The Parks Trust looks after over 6,000 acres of parkland and green space". The urban area measures approximately {{convert|30000|acres|ha}}. It includes two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Howe Park Wood and Oxley Mead.

=Centre=

{{Main|Central Milton Keynes|Central Milton Keynes shopping centre|Milton Keynes Central railway station}}

As a key element of the planners' vision,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=129{{ndash}}154}} Milton Keynes has a purpose built centre, with a very large "covered high street" shopping centre,{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Shopping | title=Shopping | publisher=Destination Milton Keynes | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=16 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035204/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Shopping | url-status=live }}

a theatre,{{cite web | url=https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/2833 | title=Milton Keynes Theatre & Art Gallery Complex | publisher=Architects' Journal Building Library | access-date=8 February 2019 | archive-date=9 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124510/https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/2833 | url-status=live }} Includes photographs, drawings and working details.{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK | title=Culture | publisher=Destination Milton Keynes | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=16 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035127/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK | url-status=live }}

municipal art gallery,

a multiplex cinema,{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Entertainment | title=Entertainment | publisher=Destination Milton Keynes | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=16 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035129/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Entertainment | url-status=live }}

hotels,{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Where-to-stay | title=Where to stay | publisher=Destination Milton Keynes | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=15 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215740/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Where-to-stay | url-status=live }}

central business district,{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|pp=129{{ndash}}154}}

an ecumenical church,{{cite web | url=https://www.cornerstonemk.co.uk/ | title=The Church of Christ the Cornerstone | publisher=Baptist Union / Church of England / Methodist Church / Roman Catholic Church / United Reformed Church | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=15 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215235923/https://www.cornerstonemk.co.uk/ | url-status=live }}

Milton Keynes Civic Offices{{cite web | url=http://catalogue.mkcdc.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/architectural-models-collection/milton-keynes-civic-offices | title=Milton Keynes Civic Offices | publisher=Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=16 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216040653/http://catalogue.mkcdc.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/architectural-models-collection/milton-keynes-civic-offices | url-status=live }} and central railway station.{{cite magazine|title=Milton Keynes Central opened|magazine=Railway Magazine|date=June 1982|volume=128|issue=974|page=258|issn=0033-8923}}

Campbell Park, a formal park extending east from the business area to the Grand Union Canal, is described in the Pevsner Architectural Guides as "{{nobr|...the largest and}} most imaginative park to have been laid out in Britain in the 20th century".{{cite book| title = Buckinghamshire |first1= Nikolaus |last1=Pevsner |first2= Elizabeth |last2=Williamson | first3= Geoffrey K. |last3=Brandwood| series=The Buildings of England | publisher = Penguin | location = London | date =2000 | page = 487}} The park is listed (grade 2) by Historic England,{{National Heritage List for England |num=1467405 |desc=Campbell Park, Milton Keynes|accessdate=23 August 2020}}

=Original towns and villages=

File:Bletchley Park.jpg broke a large number of Axis codes and ciphers, including the German Enigma and Lorenz ciphers.]]

File:Bradwell-windmill.JPG village, beside the playing fields]]

File:StonyStratford HighStreet01.jpg

File:MiltonKeynesPeacePagoda01.JPG]]

Milton Keynes consists of many pre-existing towns and villages that anchored the urban design,{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=8}} as well as new infill developments. The modern-day urban area outside the original six towns (Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Newport Pagnell,{{efn|name=outside|Not in original designated area but subsequent expansion has grown to include it.}} Stony Stratford, Wolverton, and Woburn Sands{{efn|name=outside}}) was largely rural farmland but included many picturesque North Buckinghamshire villages and hamlets: Bradwell village and its Abbey, Broughton, Caldecotte, Great Linford, Loughton, Milton Keynes Village, New Bradwell, Shenley Brook End, Shenley Church End, Simpson, Stantonbury, Tattenhoe, Tongwell, Walton, Water Eaton, Wavendon, Willen, Great and Little Woolstone, Woughton on the Green.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=8}} These historical settlements were made the focal points of their respective grid square. Every other district has an historical antecedent, if only in original farms or even field names.Milton Keynes Heritage (map){{snd}} English Partnerships, 2004.

Bletchley was first recorded in the 12th century as Blechelai.{{cite book | chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp274-283 | chapter= Parishes: Bletchley with Fenny Stratford and Water Eaton | series= Victoria History of the Counties of England | title= A History of the County of Buckingham | volume= 4 | date= 1927 | pages= 274{{ndash}}283 | publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. | access-date= 17 August 2009 | archive-date= 22 December 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151222205511/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp274-283 | url-status= live }} Its station was an important junction (the London and North Western Railway with the Oxford-Cambridge Varsity Line), leading to the substantial urban growth in the town in the Victorian period. It expanded to absorb the village of Water Eaton and town of Fenny Stratford.

Bradwell is a traditional rural village with earthworks of a Norman motte and bailey and parish church.{{cite book | chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp283-288 | chapter= Parishes: Bradwell | series= Victoria History of the Counties of England | title= A History of the County of Buckingham | volume= 4 | date= 1927 | page= 283{{ndash}}288 | access-date= 17 February 2019 | publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. | archive-date= 18 February 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081840/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp283-288 | url-status= live }} There is a YHA hostel beside the church.{{NHLE| num=1159928 | desc= Youth Hostel | access-date=18 February 2019}}

Bradwell Abbey, a former Benedictine Priory and scheduled monument,{{NHLE| num=1009540 | desc= Bradwell Abbey: a Benedictine priory, chapel and fishpond | access-date=17 February 2019}} was of major economic importance in this area of North Buckinghamshire before its dissolution in 1524.{{cite book | chapter-url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol1/pp350-352 | chapter=Houses of Benedictine monks: The priory of Bradwell | series=Victoria History of the Counties of England | title=A History of the County of Buckingham | volume=1 | date=1905 | page=350{{ndash}}352 | access-date=22 September 2009 | publisher=Constable & Co. Ltd. | archive-date=19 February 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219113018/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol1/pp350-352 | url-status=live }} Nowadays there is only a small medieval chapel and a manor house occupying the site.{{NHLE |num=1125271 |desc=Chapel to North of Bradwell Abbey House |access-date=6 January 2009}}{{sfnb|Woodfield|1986|page=19{{ndash}}24}}

New Bradwell, to the north of Bradwell and east of Wolverton, was built specifically for railway workers. The level bed of the old Wolverton to Newport Pagnell Line near here has been converted to a redway, making it a favoured route for cycling.{{cite web | url=http://www.mkheritage.org.uk/nbhg/transport/railways/ | title=From Railway line to Railway Walk | work=New Bradwell Heritage | publisher=Milton Keynes Heritage Association | access-date=17 February 2019 | archive-date=18 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218104933/http://www.mkheritage.org.uk/nbhg/transport/railways/ | url-status=live }} A working windmill is sited on a hill outside the village.{{cite web | url=http://www.miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk/home/bradwell-windmill/ | title=Bradwell Windmill | publisher=Milton Keynes Museum | access-date=17 February 2019 | archive-date=18 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018091954/http://www.miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk/home/bradwell-windmill/ | url-status=live }}

Great Linford appears in the Domesday Book as Linforde, and features a church dedicated to Saint Andrew, dating from 1215.{{cite book | chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp387-392 | chapter= Parishes: Great Linford | series= Victoria History of the Counties of England | title= A History of the County of Buckingham | volume= 4 | date= 1927 | page= 387{{ndash}}392 | access-date= 17 February 2019 | publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. | archive-date= 18 February 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190218082059/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp387-392 | url-status= live }} Today, the outer buildings of the 17th century manor house form an arts centre.

Milton Keynes (Village) is the original village to which the New Town owes its name.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=3}} The original village is still evident, with a pleasant thatched pub, village hall, church and traditional housing. The area around the village has reverted to its 11th century name of Middleton (Middeltone).{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp401-405 |chapter= Parishes: Milton Keynes |series= Victoria History of the Counties of England |title= A History of the County of Buckingham |volume= 4 |date= 1927 |page= 401{{ndash}}405 |access-date= 17 February 2019 |publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. |archive-date= 18 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081919/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp401-405 |url-status= live }} The oldest surviving domestic building in the area (c. 1300 CE), "perhaps the manor house", is here.{{sfnb|Woodfield |1986 |page=84}}

Stony Stratford began as a settlement on Watling Street during the Roman occupation, beside the ford over the Great Ouse. There has been a market here since 1194 (by charter of King Richard I).R. H. Britnell, 'The Origins of Stony Stratford', Records of Buckinghamshire, XX (1977), pp. 451–3 The former Rose and Crown Inn on the High Street is reputedly the last place the Princes in the Tower were seen alive.{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp476-482 |chapter= Parishes: Stony Stratford |series= Victoria History of the Counties of England |title= A History of the County of Buckingham |volume= 4 |date= 1927 |page= 476{{ndash}}482 |access-date= 17 February 2019 |publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. |archive-date= 31 August 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180831003937/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp476-482 |url-status= live }}

The manor house of Walton village, Walton Hall, is the headquarters of the Open University and the tiny parish church (deconsecrated) is in its grounds.{{sfnb|Bendixson|Platt|1992|page=74}}

The small parish church (1680) at Willen was designed by the architect and physicist Robert Hooke.{{cite web |url=http://www.roberthooke.org.uk/willen.htm |title=Willen Church |publisher=Westminster School |date=2007 |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002203130/http://www.roberthooke.org.uk/willen.htm |url-status=live }}{{sfnb|Woodfield |1986 |page=165}} Nearby, there is a Buddhist Temple and a Peace Pagoda, which was built in 1980 and was the first built by the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist Order in the western world.{{cite web | url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/public-art-in-our-parks/public-art-at-newlands-and-willen-lake/peace-pagoda/ | title=Peace Pagoda | publisher=Milton Keynes Parks Trust | access-date=17 February 2019 | archive-date=18 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081751/https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/public-art-in-our-parks/public-art-at-newlands-and-willen-lake/peace-pagoda/ | url-status=live }}

The original Wolverton was a medieval settlement just north and west of today's town.{{cite book |chapter-url= https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp505-509 |chapter= Parishes: Wolverton |series= Victoria History of the Counties of England |title= A History of the County of Buckingham |volume= 4 |date= 1927 |page= 505{{ndash}}509 |access-date= 17 February 2019 |publisher= Constable & Co. Ltd. |archive-date= 22 January 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190122094741/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp505-509 |url-status= live }} The ridge and furrow pattern of agriculture can still be seen in the nearby fields.Buckinghamshire Historical Service plaque on site The 12th century (rebuilt in 1819) 'Church of the Holy Trinity' still stands next to the Norman motte and bailey site. Modern Wolverton was a 19th-century New Town built to house the workers at the Wolverton railway works, which built engines and carriages for the London and North Western Railway.

Among the smaller villages and hamlets are three{{snd}} Broughton, Loughton and Woughton on the Green{{snd}} that are of note in that their names each use a different pronunciation{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|ɔː|t|ən}}, as in brought; {{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|aʊ|t|ən}}, as in bough; and {{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ʊ|f|t|ə|n}}, as in enough, respectively}} of the ough letter sequence in English.{{cite web | url=https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=5004&context=wordways | title=Kickshaws | page=228 | last=Morice | first=Dave | publisher=Butler University | year=2005 | access-date=4 March 2019 | archive-date=1 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101063440/https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=5004&context=wordways | url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=The 6 most mispronounced Milton Keynes place names people are always getting wrong | work=Milton Keynes Citizen | first=Sally |last=Murrer |date=13 June 2022 |access-date=14 June 2022 |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/the-6-most-mispronounced-milton-keynes-place-names-people-are-always-getting-wrong-3730262}}

Education

=Schools=

In early planning, education provision was carefully integrated into the development plans with the intention that school journeys would, as far as possible, be made by walking and cycling. Each residential grid square was provided with a primary school (ages 5 to 8) for c.240 children, and for each two squares there was a middle school (ages 8 to 12) for c.480 children. For each eight squares there was a large secondary education campus, to contain between two and four schools for a total of 3,000 – 4,500 children. A central resource area served all the schools on a campus. In addition, each campus included a leisure centre with indoor and outdoor sports facilities and a swimming pool, plus a theatre. These facilities were available to the public outside school hours, thus maximising use of the investment.{{cite conference|last=Cooksey |first=G. W. | title = The Scope Of Education And Its Opportunities For The 80s | conference = Goldsmiths College March Education Conference |date= 6 March 1976| pages= 8–10 |editor-first=A. V. |editor-last=Kelly | location = Goldsmiths College, University of London}} Changes in central government policy from the 1980s onwards subsequently led to much of this system being abandoned. Some schools have since been merged and sites sold for development, many converted to academies, and the leisure centres outsourced to commercial providers.

As in most parts of the UK, the state secondary schools in Milton Keynes are comprehensives,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/an-extremely-select-spot-1338969.html |title=An extremely select spot |date=27 June 1996 |access-date=15 February 2019 |work=The Independent |archive-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216094119/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/an-extremely-select-spot-1338969.html |url-status=live }} although schools in the rest of Buckinghamshire still use the tripartite system.{{cite news |url= https://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-15/explainer-the-rise-and-fall-of-grammar-schools-and-what-the-future-is-for-selective-schooling/ |title= Explainer: The history of grammar schools |date= 15 October 2015 |access-date= 17 February 2018 |publisher= ITV News |archive-date= 15 March 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170315004912/http://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-15/explainer-the-rise-and-fall-of-grammar-schools-and-what-the-future-is-for-selective-schooling/ |url-status= live }} Private schools are also available.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/buckinghamshire/milton-keynes/|title=Independent schools in Milton Keynes – ISC|website=www.isc.co.uk|access-date=18 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219020022/https://www.isc.co.uk/schools/england/buckinghamshire/milton-keynes/|url-status=live}}

=Universities and colleges=

The Open University's headquarters are in the Walton Hall district; though because this is a distance learning institution, the only students resident on campus are approximately 200 full-time postgraduates. Cranfield University, an all-postgraduate institution, is in nearby Cranfield, Bedfordshire. Milton Keynes College provides further education up to foundation degree level. A campus of the University of Bedfordshire provides some tertiary education facilities locally.

{{as of|2023}}, Milton Keynes is the UK's largest population centre without its own conventional university, a shortfall that the Council aims to rectify.{{cite web |url=http://www.mkfutures2050.com/projects/mku |title=Project Two: MK:U A new University for Milton Keynes |publisher=MK2050 Futures Commission |date=October 2017 |access-date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123752/http://www.mkfutures2050.com/projects/mku |url-status=usurped }} In January 2019, the council and its partner, Cranfield University, invited proposals to design a campus near the Central station for a new university, code-named MK:U.{{cite news |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions/competition-mku-milton-keynes/10039394.article |title=Competition: MK:U, Milton Keynes |first=Merlin |last=Fulcher |work=The Architects' Journal |date=31 January 2019 |access-date=6 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124030/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/competitions/competition-mku-milton-keynes/10039394.article |url-status=live }} However this project seems unlikely to proceed, following a government decision in January 2023 to deny funding.{{cite news |title=Milton Keynes' plan to create world-class university in tatters after government refuses multi million pound funding | work=Milton Keynes Citizen | date=19 January 2023 |access-date=20 January 2023 |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/people/milton-keynes-plan-to-create-world-class-university-in-tatters-after-government-refuses-multi-million-pound-funding-3993522 |first=Sally |last=Murrer}} In June 2023, the Open University announced that it would "initiate work on the strategic and financial case to relocate [from] the OU's existing campus at Walton Hall to a new site adjacent to the central railway station" and possibly commence teaching full-time undergraduates.{{cite news |title=World famous Open University could move lock stock and barrel to new site in Central Milton Keynes |first=Sally |last=Murrer |date=26 June 2023 |work=Milton Keynes Citizen}}

Through Milton Keynes University Hospital, the city also has links with the University of Buckingham's medical school.

=City development archive and library=

Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre at Bradwell Abbey holds an extensive archive about the planning and development of Milton Keynes and has an associated research library. The centre also offers an education programme (with a focus on urban geography and local history) to schools, universities and professionals.{{cite web |url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-City-Discovery-Centre |title=MK City Discovery Centre |publisher=Destination Milton Keynes |access-date=14 February 2019 |archive-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035400/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-City-Discovery-Centre |url-status=live }}

Culture, media and sport

=Music=

File:MK Bowl Concert.jpg Bullet in a Bible concert at the National Bowl]]

The open-air National Bowl is a 65,000-capacity venue for large-scale events.{{Cite web|url=http://www.psam.uk.com/mk-bowl-development-partners|title=National Bowl at Milton Keynes, UK – seeking expressions of interest from developers and partners|publisher=PanStadia & Arena Management|date=6 August 2013|website=www.psam.uk.com|access-date=12 February 2019|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210170628/http://www.psam.uk.com/mk-bowl-development-partners|url-status=live}}

In Wavendon, the Stables{{snd}} founded by the jazz musicians Cleo Laine and John Dankworth{{snd}} provides a venue for jazz, blues, folk, rock, classical, pop and world music.{{cite web |url=http://www.stables.org/ |title=World Class Music and Entertainment |publisher=The Stables |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130075108/http://www.stables.org/ |url-status=live }} It presents around 400 concerts and over 200 educational events each year and also hosts the National Youth Music Camps summer camp for young musicians.{{cite web |url=http://www.stables.org/Learning/music_camps |title=National Youth Music Camps |publisher=The Stables |access-date=14 February 2017 |archive-date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215120103/http://www.stables.org/Learning/music_camps |url-status=live }} In 2010, the Stables founded the biennial IF Milton Keynes International Festival, producing events in unconventional spaces and places across Milton Keynes.{{cite news | url=https://www.heart.co.uk/miltonkeynes/events/milton-keynes-international-festival-2018/ | title=Milton Keynes International Festival 2018 | date=15 June 2018 | access-date=26 February 2019 | work=Heart FM | archive-date=26 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226234031/https://www.heart.co.uk/miltonkeynes/events/milton-keynes-international-festival-2018/ | url-status=live }}

Milton Keynes City Orchestra is a professional freelance orchestra based at Woughton Campus.{{cite web|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/coin/group/541?l=M&page=4 | title=MK City Orchestra | publisher=Milton Keynes Council | access-date=28 January 2020}}

=Arts, cinema, theatre and museums=

The municipal public art gallery, MK Gallery, presents exhibitions of international contemporary art.{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-Gallery|title=Milton Keynes Gallery|publisher=Destination MK|access-date=8 February 2019|archive-date=16 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216035432/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-Gallery|url-status=live}} The gallery was extended and remodelled in 2018/19 and includes an art-house cinema.{{cite web | url= http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Entertainment/Cinema-in-Milton-Keynes | title= Cinema in Milton Keynes | publisher= Destination Milton Keynes | access-date= 11 March 2019 | archive-date= 5 April 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190405160450/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Entertainment/Cinema-in-Milton-Keynes | url-status= live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/mk-gallery-by-6a-architects-to-open-doors-this-weekend/10040683.article | title=MK Gallery by 6a architects to open doors this weekend | date=11 March 2019 | work=The Architects' Journal | first=Fran | last=Williams | access-date=11 March 2019 | archive-date=3 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603135335/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/mk-gallery-by-6a-architects-to-open-doors-this-weekend/10040683.article | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/our-region/milton-keynes/new-cinema-set-to-open-in-milton-keynes-this-month-1-8830087 | title=New cinema set to open in Milton Keynes this month | date=1 March 2019 | work=Milton Keynes Citizen | first=Paige | last=Brown | access-date=11 March 2019 | archive-date=1 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301151138/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/our-region/milton-keynes/new-cinema-set-to-open-in-milton-keynes-this-month-1-8830087 | url-status=live }} Elsewhere in the city, there are two multiplex cinemas; one in CMK and one in Denbigh.

In 1999, the adjacent 1,400-seat Milton Keynes Theatre opened.{{cite web |url=https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/2833 |title=Milton Keynes Theatre & Art Gallery Complex |publisher=Architects' Journal Building Library |date=1999 |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124510/https://www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk/projects/display/id/2833 |url-status=live }} Includes photographs, drawings and working details. The theatre has an unusual feature: the ceiling can be lowered closing off the third tier (gallery) to create a more intimate space for smaller-scale productions.{{cite book |last=Barron |first=Michael |title=Auditorium Acoustics and Architectural Design |publisher=Spon Press |date=28 September 2009 |isbn=9780419245100}} There is a further professional performance space in Stantonbury.{{cite web |url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Stantonbury-Theatre |title=Stantonbury Theatre |publisher=Destination MK |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124228/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Stantonbury-Theatre |url-status=live }}

File:ConcreteCows.jpg]]

There are three museums: the Bletchley Park complex, which houses the museum of wartime cryptography;{{cite web |url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Bletchley-Park |title=Bletchley Park |publisher=Destination MK |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123816/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Bletchley-Park |url-status=live }} the National Museum of Computing (adjacent to Bletchley Park, with a separate entrance), which includes a working replica of the Colossus computer;{{cite web |url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/National-Museum-of-Computing |title=National Museum of Computing |publisher=Destination MK |access-date=8 February 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206194326/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/National-Museum-of-Computing |url-status=live }} and the Milton Keynes Museum, which includes the Stacey Hill Collection of rural life that existed before the foundation of MK, the British Telecom collection, and the original Concrete Cows.{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-Museum|title=MK Museum|publisher=Destination MK|access-date=8 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180101/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/MK-Museum|url-status=live}}

Other numerous public sculptures in Milton Keynes include work by Elisabeth Frink, Philip Jackson, Nicolas Moreton and Ronald Rae.{{cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/arts-and-heritage/trails-guides-and-walks |title=Trails, Guides, Walks & Maps: Arts & Cultural Venues Map |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |access-date=9 August 2017 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171230/https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/arts-and-heritage/trails-guides-and-walks |url-status=live }}

Milton Keynes Arts Centre offers a year-round exhibition programme, family workshops and courses. The centre is based in some of Linford Manor's historical exterior buildings, barns, almshouses and pavilions.{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Milton-Keynes-Arts-Centre|title=Milton Keynes Arts Centre|publisher=Destination MK|access-date=8 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124357/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Milton-Keynes-Arts-Centre|url-status=live}} The Westbury Arts Centre in Shenley Wood is based in a 16th-century grade II listed farmhouse building. Westbury Arts has been providing spaces and studios for professional artists since 1994.{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Westbury-Arts-Centre|title=Westbury Arts Centre|publisher=Destination MK|access-date=8 February 2019|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123914/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Culture-in-MK/Cultural-Places/Westbury-Arts-Centre|url-status=live}}

=Communications and media=

For television, the city is allocated to BBC East and ITV Anglia.{{cite web |url=https://www.itvmedia.co.uk/advertising-on-itv/regional-advertising/anglia |title=ANGLIA |publisher=ITV media |access-date=17 November 2022}}{{Efn|some areas may receive BBC South and ITV Meridian, but it is outside their allocated area.{{cite web |url=https://www.itvmedia.co.uk/advertising-on-itv/regional-advertising/Meridian |title=Meridian |publisher=ITV media |access-date=17 November 2022}}}} For radio, Milton Keynes is served by Heart East (a regional commercial station based locally) and two community radio stations (MKFM and 1055 The Point).{{cite web |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2015/four-new-licenses-march-15 |title=Ofcom awards four new community radio licences |publisher=OFCOM |date=19 March 2015 |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526105729/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/media/media-releases/2015/four-new-licenses-march-15 |url-status=live }} BBC Three Counties Radio is the local BBC Radio station.{{cn|date=October 2024}} CRMK (Cable Radio Milton Keynes) is a voluntary station broadcasting on the Internet.{{cite web |url=http://www.crmk.co.uk |title=Radio for Milton Keynes |publisher=CRMK |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=22 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322115414/http://crmk.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}

{{As of|September 2021}}, Milton Keynes has one local newspaper, the Milton Keynes Citizen,{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/18616 |title=Milton Keynes Citizen |publisher=Audit Bureau of Circulation |access-date=9 February 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180021/https://www.abc.org.uk/product/18616 |url-status=live }}{{efn|A competing paper, MK News, closed in October 2016.{{cite news | url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/trinity-mirror-closes-newspapers-in-milton-keynes-luton-and-northampton-as-local-world-purge-continues/ | title=Trinity Mirror closes newspapers in Milton Keynes, Luton and Northampton as Local World purge continues | work=Press Gazette | date=19 October 2016 | access-date=8 February 2019 | archive-date=28 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628044158/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/trinity-mirror-closes-newspapers-in-milton-keynes-luton-and-northampton-as-local-world-purge-continues/ | url-status=live }}}} which has a significant online presence.

=Sport=

File:Denbigh stadium east stand 16 May 07.JPG

Milton Keynes has professional teams in football (Milton Keynes Dons F.C. at Stadium MK), in ice hockey (Milton Keynes Lightning at Planet Ice Milton Keynes), and in Formula One (Red Bull Racing).{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Sports-and-Activities | title=Sports and activities | publisher=Destination Milton Keynes | access-date=15 February 2019 | archive-date=15 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215155927/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/What-to-do/Sports-and-Activities | url-status=live }}

The Xscape indoor ski slope and the iFLY indoor sky diving facility are important attractions in CMK; the National Badminton Centre in Loughton is home to the national badminton squad and headquarters of Badminton England.{{cite web | url=https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/ | title=Badminton England | access-date=14 April 2019 | archive-date=14 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414215007/https://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/ | url-status=live }}

Many other sports are represented at amateur level.

Near the central station, in a space beside the former Milton Keynes central bus station, there is a purpose-built street skateboarding plaza named the Buszy.{{cite news |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/best-practice-dont-repel-the-borders/523615.article |title=Best practice don't repel the borders |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=Local Government Chronicle |archive-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142254/https://www.lgcplus.com/best-practice-dont-repel-the-borders/523615.article |url-status=live }}

Willen Lake hosts watersports on the south basin.{{cite web | url=http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/News/News-Archive/WakeMK-relaunches-with-new-management | title=WakeMK relaunches with new management | date=10 May 2016 | access-date=17 February 2019 | publisher=Destination MK | archive-date=10 December 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210155103/http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/News/News-Archive/WakeMK-relaunches-with-new-management | url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/parks/willen-lake-north |title=Willen Lake North |publisher=The Parks Trust |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142352/https://www.theparkstrust.com/parks/willen-lake-north |url-status=live }}

=New technologies=

In recent years, the City Council has promoted MK as a test-bed for experimental urban technologies. The most well-known of these is the Starship Technologies' (largely) autonomous delivery robots: Milton Keynes provided its world-first urban deployment of these units in 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-46045365 |title=Robot company Starship Technologies start Milton Keynes deliveries|date=31 October 2018 |access-date=3 December 2023 |work=BBC News}} By October 2020, said Starship, Milton Keynes had the 'world's largest autonomous robot fleet'.{{Cite press release|title=Milton Keynes now has 'world's largest autonomous robot fleet' as Starship expand further|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/10/25/tiny-self-driving-robots-trying-win-locals-milton-keynes/|access-date=2023-12-03|via=The Telegraph|work=Starship Technologies}} Other projects include the LUTZ Pathfinder pod, an autonomous (self-driving) vehicle built by the Transport Systems Catapult.

Government

=Local government=

The responsible local government is Milton Keynes City Council, which administers the City of Milton Keynes, a unitary authority, and non-metropolitan county in law, since May 1996.{{cite web | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1769/part/II/made | title=The Buckinghamshire (Borough of Milton Keynes) (Structural Change) Order 1995 | publisher=Government of the United Kingdom | access-date=15 July 2020 | archive-date=26 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826154345/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1769/part/II/made | url-status=live }} Until then, it was controlled by Buckinghamshire County Council. Historically, most of the area that became Milton Keynes was known as the "Three Hundreds of Newport".{{cite book | url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp268-269 | series=Victoria History of the Counties of England | title=A History of the County of Buckingham | volume=4 | chapter=Newport Hundred: Introduction | date=1927 | page=268{{ndash}}269 | access-date=14 April 2019 | archive-date=14 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414222229/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp268-269 | url-status=live }}

The unitary authority area, which extends beyond the ONS-defined Milton Keynes built-up area and encompasses the town of Olney and many rural villages and hamlets, is fully parished.{{cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/coin/group/772?l=P |title=Parishes and Town Councils in Milton Keynes |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111512/https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/coin/group/772?l=P |url-status=live }}

=International co-operation=

Although Milton Keynes has no formalised twinning agreements, it has partnered and co-operated with various cities over the years. The most contact has been with Almere, Netherlands, especially on energy management and urban planning.{{cite web |url=http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP6_PROJ&ACTION=D&DOC=608&CAT=PROJ&QUERY=0124f6c835a9:79bd:137665bc&RCN=85715 |title=Crescendo: Combined rational and renewable energy strategies in cities, for existing and new dwellings and optimal quality of life |publisher=Cordis.europe.eu |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405144629/https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/85715/factsheet/en |url-status=live }} For several years from 1995, the city co-operated with Tychy, Poland,{{citation|publisher=Darts PL|website=www.dartspl.net|date=22 August 2020|title=Stolica darta|url=https://www.dartspl.net/post/stolica-darta|language=pl|author=Arkadiusz Salomon|access-date=5 April 2022|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406201344/https://www.dartspl.net/post/stolica-darta|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.etychy.org/tychy-dzisiaj|title=Tychy dzisiaj | Tychy - Portal|access-date=20 November 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129174339/http://www.etychy.org/tychy-dzisiaj|url-status=live}} after participating in the European City Cooperation System in Tychy in March 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://umtychy.pl/artykul/3678/1994-marzec|title=1994 - Marzec|website=umtychy.pl|access-date=5 April 2022|archive-date=15 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815213536/http://umtychy.pl/artykul/3678/1994-marzec|url-status=live}}

Due to the twinning of the borough and the equivalent administrative region of Bernkastel-Wittlich, the council worked with Bernkastel-Kues, Germany, for example on art projects.{{Cite web|title=Nikolaus Von Kues|url=https://catalogue.mkcdc.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/poster-collection/arts/nikolaus-von-kues|access-date=13 May 2021|website=Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre Archive Catalogue|language=en|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128171610/https://catalogue.mkcdc.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/poster-collection/arts/nikolaus-von-kues|url-status=live}}

In 2017 they partnered with the Chinese fellow smart city of Yinchuan.{{cite news|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/milton-keynes-secures-new-global-smart-city-partner-1074188|title=Milton Keynes secures new global Smart City partner|work=MK Citizen|date=18 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2020|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128073710/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/milton-keynes-secures-new-global-smart-city-partner-1074188|url-status=live}}

Infrastructure

=Hospitals=

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in the Eaglestone district, is an NHS general hospital with an Accident and Emergency unit.{{cite web | url = https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=732 | title = Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | publisher = NHS England | date = 29 June 2016 | access-date = 4 March 2019 | archive-date = 6 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044622/https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=732 | url-status = live }}

It is associated for medical teaching purposes with the University of Buckingham medical school.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/07/buckingham-university-medical-degree-applications| title=Private university gets 500 applications for £35,000-a-year medical degree| first=Richard| last=Adams| work=The Guardian| date=8 January 2015| access-date=7 February 2019| archive-date=4 July 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704124214/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/07/buckingham-university-medical-degree-applications| url-status=live}} There are two small private hospitals: BMI Healthcare's Saxon Clinic and Ramsay Health Care's Blakelands Hospital.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Hospitals/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=398|title=BMI The Saxon Clinic|publisher=National Health Service|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212013338/https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Hospitals/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=398|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=318 | title = Blakelands Hospital | publisher = NHS England | date = 20 February 2017 | access-date = 4 March 2019 | archive-date = 5 April 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220405144623/https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/services-near-you/ | url-status = live }}

=Prison=

There is a Category A male prison, HMP Woodhill, on the western boundary.{{cite web | url=https://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/woodhill/visiting-information | title=Woodhill prison visiting information | website=Justice.gov.uk | access-date=17 February 2019 | archive-date=17 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217084945/https://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/woodhill/visiting-information | url-status=live }} A section of the prison is a Young Offenders Institution.{{HM prison|woodhill|Woodhill}}

=Transport=

File:BradwellAqueduct-GUC.JPG passes over Grafton Street at New Bradwell via the modern New Bradwell Aqueduct.]]

The Grand Union Canal, the West Coast Main Line, the A5 road and the M1 motorway provide the major axes that influenced the urban designers.{{sfnb|Llewellyn-Davies|Weeks|Forestier-Walker|Bor|1970|p=27}}

The urban area is served by seven railway stations.{{cite web | url=http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/lnr_map%202019.pdf | title=London Northwestern Railway network | work=West Midlands Trains | publisher=Project Mapping | date=March 2019 | access-date=7 May 2019 | archive-date=25 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125200447/http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/lnr_map%202019.pdf | url-status=live }} {{rws|Wolverton}}, {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}} and {{rws|Bletchley}} stations are on the West Coast Main Line and are served by local commuter services between London and Birmingham or Crewe. Milton Keynes Central is also served by inter-city services between London and Scotland, Wales and the North West and the West Midlands of England; express services to London take 35 minutes.{{cite web |url=http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search? |title=Journey Plannner |publisher=National Rail |access-date=12 June 2019 |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612064024/http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search |url-status=live }} Bletchley, {{rws|Fenny Stratford}}, {{rws|Bow Brickhill}}, {{rws|Woburn Sands}} and {{rws|Aspley Guise}} railway stations are on the Marston Vale line to {{rws|Bedford}}.

The M1 motorway runs along the east flank of MK and serves it from junctions 13 and 14 within the environs of the city, and junctions 11a and 15 slightly further away via other connecting roads. The A5 road, designated as a trunk road, runs right through the west of the city centre, as a grade separated dual carriageway. Other main roads are the A509 to Wellingborough and Kettering, and the A421 and A422, both running west towards Buckingham (and Oxford) and east towards Bedford (and Cambridge). Additionally, the A4146 runs from (near) junction 14 of the M1 to Leighton Buzzard.{{cite web | url = http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=484500&y=238500&z=120&sv=Central+Milton+Keynes&st=3&tl=Map+of+Central+Milton+Keynes,+Milton+Keynes+[City/Town/Village]&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf | title = Map of Central Milton Keynes (sub-region scale) | work = Ordnance Survey | publisher = Streetmap.co.uk | access-date = 7 May 2019 | archive-date = 7 August 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200807215826/https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=484500&y=238500&z=120&sv=Central+Milton+Keynes&st=3&tl=Map+of+Central+Milton+Keynes%2C+Milton+Keynes+%5BCity%2FTown%2FVillage%5D&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf | url-status = live }} Proximity to the M1 has led to construction of a number of distribution centres, including Magna Park at the south-eastern flank of Milton Keynes, near Wavendon and M1 J13.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazeley.com/Our_Site/Details/52 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129181903/http://www.gazeley.com/Our_Site/Details/52 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2012 |title=Magna Park, Milton Keynes |work=Gazeley.com |publisher=Gazeley Limited |access-date=15 January 2012 }}

Many long-distance coaches stop at the Milton Keynes Coachway,{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach_ims/pdf/destination_guides/Milton%20Keynes%20AtoZ%202010.pdf |title=Services to and from Milton Keynes Coachway, Park & Ride |publisher=National Express Coaches |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829090122/http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach_ims/pdf/destination_guides/Milton%20Keynes%20AtoZ%202010.pdf |url-status=live }} (beside M1 Junction 14), about {{convert|3.3|mi}} from the centre and {{convert|4.3|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Milton Keynes Central railway station.{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Central+Milton+Keynes/Milton+Keynes+Coachway/@52.0442749,-0.7513048,14z |title=CMK to Coachway |publisher=Google Maps |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309012930/https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Central+Milton+Keynes/Milton+Keynes+Coachway/@52.0442749,-0.7513048,14z |url-status=live }} There is also a park and ride car park on the site.

The city is also served by a number of local and regional bus services run by national operators such as Stagecoach and Arriva, with most regional services stopping at major centres in the city, such as CMK (including {{rws|Milton Keynes Central}} railway station), Bletchley, Wolverton and Magna Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways-and-transport-hub/bus-and-taxi/bus-timetables-maps-and-travel-updates|title=Bus and Taxi, Bus Timetables, Maps and Travel Updates|work=Milton Keynes City Council}} The City Council also operates an on demand bus service known as "MK Connect", which serves the whole unitary authority area.{{cite web|url=https://city.ridewithvia.com/mk-connect|title=On-Demand Rideshare in Milton Keynes powered by Via|work=Via}}

Milton Keynes is served by (and, via its Redway network, provides part of) routes 6 and 51 on the National Cycle Network.

The nearest international airport is London Luton and is easily reached by coach.{{cite web |url=https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/east/99/milton-keynes-luton-airport/xeao099.o |title=99 Bus Route & Timetable: Milton Keynes – Luton Airport |publisher=Stagecoach |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042909/https://www.stagecoachbus.com/routes/east/99/milton-keynes-luton-airport/xeao099.o |url-status=live}} Cranfield Airport, an airfield, is {{convert|8|mi|0}} away.{{cite web |url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?vr=apes&fromplace=Milton%20Keynes,%20Buckinghamshire,%20England,%20UK&toplace=Cranfield%20Airport,%20Cranfield,%20Central%20Bedfordshire,%20England,%20UK |title=Milton Keynes to Cranfield Airport |publisher=Globefeed.com |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=26 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226141656/https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?vr=apes&fromplace=Milton%20Keynes,%20Buckinghamshire,%20England,%20UK&toplace=Cranfield%20Airport,%20Cranfield,%20Central%20Bedfordshire,%20England,%20UK |url-status=live }}

Demographics

{{hatnote|Data on the demographics of Milton Keynes are collected at borough level and are detailed at City of Milton Keynes § Demographics.}}

File:BofMiltonKeynesUA-popn.png

At the 2011 census, the population of the Milton Keynes urban area, including the adjacent Newport Pagnell and Woburn Sands, was 229,941. The population of the borough in total was 248,800,{{NOMIS2011 |id=1946157283 |title=Borough of Milton Keynes|access-date=29 April 2019}} compared with a population of around 53,000 for the same area in 1961.[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10100215/cube/TOT_POP Vision of Britain: historic census populations for modern Milton Keynes UA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202711/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10100215/cube/TOT_POP |date=29 October 2013 }}. Accessed 11 October 2006. In 2016, the Office for National Statistics estimated that the Borough population will reach 300,000 by 2025.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38461928 |title=Milton Keynes at 50: Success town has 'nothing to be ashamed of' |publisher=BBC |date=1 January 2017 |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214004739/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38461928 | url-status=live }} The 2021 census records the population of the Milton Keynes Built-up Area as 264,349, and that of the Borough (now City) as 287,060.{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000042|title=Milton Keynes Local Authority|access-date=8 February 2024}}

According to the 2011 census, the average age of the population is lower than is typical for the UK's 63 primary urban areas: 25.3% of the borough population were aged under 18 (5th place) and 13.4% were aged 65+ (57th out of 63). The mean age is 35.7 and the median age is 35. 18.5% of residents were born outside the UK (11th). At the 2011 census, the ethnic profile was 78.9% white, 3.4% mixed, 9.7% Asian/Asian British, 7.3% Black/African/Caribbean/Black British, and 0.7% other. The religious profile was that 62.0% of people were reported having a religion and 31.4% having none; the remainder declined to say: 52% are Christian, 5.1% Muslim, 3.0% Hindu; other religions each had less than 1% of the population.

Economy, finances and business

{{hatnote|Data on the economy of Milton Keynes are collected at borough level and are detailed at City of Milton Keynes § Economy}}

File:CMK Holiday Inn + Sainsburys-Argos.jpg

In 2014 and 2017, Milton Keynes ranked third in terms of contribution to the national economy, as measured by gross value added per worker, of the 63 largest conurbations in the UK.{{cite web |title=Milton Keynes |publisher=The Centre for Cities |date=2015 |url=http://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126075844/http://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |archive-date = 26 January 2016}} (2014 data){{cite web |title=Milton Keynes |publisher=The Centre for Cities |date=2018 |url=http://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109092529/http://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |archive-date = 9 November 2018}} (2017 data) In 2020, its ranking slipped to seventh.

=Major businesses=

Milton Keynes has consistently benefited from above-average economic growth, ranked as one of the UK's top five cities.{{cite report |title= Fast Growth Cities |url= https://www.centreforcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Fast-Growth-Cities.pdf |publisher= Centre for Cities |date= |access-date= 8 February 2019 |archive-date= 17 April 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180417052339/http://www.centreforcities.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Fast-Growth-Cities.pdf |url-status= live }} In 2020 it was ranked sixth of 63 for business startups (per 10,000 people).{{cite web |date=2021 |url=https://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |title=Milton Keynes |publisher=Centre for Cities |access-date=10 February 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208175315/https://www.centreforcities.org/city/milton-keynes/ |archive-date=8 February 2022 }} (2020 data)

Milton Keynes is home to several national and international companies, notably

Domino's Pizza,{{cite web |url=https://corporate.dominos.co.uk/head-office |title=Head Office |publisher=Domino's Pizza UK |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130932/https://corporate.dominos.co.uk/head-office |url-status=live }}

Marshall Amplification,{{cite web|url=https://marshall.com/about/contact-us|title=Contact us|publisher=Marshall Amplification|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130708/https://marshall.com/about/contact-us|url-status=live}}

Mercedes-Benz,{{cite web |url=https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/passengercars/the-brand/contact-us/enquiries.module.html |title=Contact us |publisher=Mercedes-Benz UK |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212070653/https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/passengercars/the-brand/contact-us/enquiries.module.html |url-status=live }}

Suzuki,{{cite web |url=https://cars.suzuki.co.uk/contact-us/ |title=Contact us |publisher=Suzuki UK |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212070642/https://cars.suzuki.co.uk/contact-us/ |url-status=live }}

Volkswagen Group,{{cite web |url=http://volkswagengroup.co.uk/content/sites/vwcorporate/volkswagengroup_couk/en/home/contact_us.html |title=Contact us |publisher=Volkswagen Group UK |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130735/http://volkswagengroup.co.uk/content/sites/vwcorporate/volkswagengroup_couk/en/home/contact_us.html |url-status=live }}

Red Bull Racing,{{cite web |url=https://redbullracing.redbull.com/article/contact-us |title=Contact us |publisher=Red Bull Racing Group UK |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212072154/https://redbullracing.redbull.com/article/contact-us |url-status=live }}

Network Rail,{{cite press release |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/network-rails-new-national-centre-opens-for-business-in-milton-keynes |date=11 June 2012 |title=Network Rail's New National Centre Opens for Business in Milton Keynes |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130721/https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/network-rails-new-national-centre-opens-for-business-in-milton-keynes |url-status=live }} and Yamaha Music Europe.{{cite web|title=Selected Headquarters in Milton Keynes |url=http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/investmk/documents/Headquarters_List.pdf |work=Invest MK |access-date=8 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122104313/http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/investmk/documents/Headquarters_List.pdf |archive-date=22 January 2013 }}

Santander UK and the Open University are major employers locally.{{cite web |url=https://www.santanderjobs.co.uk/ask.php?app_data=app%2Fdiscussions%2Fview%2F41869%2Fhow-many-employees-work-at-the-milton-keynes-office |title=How many employees work at the Milton Keynes office? |publisher=Santander Group |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002537/https://www.santanderjobs.co.uk/ask.php?app_data=app%2Fdiscussions%2Fview%2F41869%2Fhow-many-employees-work-at-the-milton-keynes-office |url-status=live }} (The answer is "about 3,000").{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40262288 | title=Open University overhaul risks job cuts | publisher=BBC | date=13 June 2017 | first=Judith | last=Burns | access-date=13 February 2019 | archive-date=13 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213204449/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-40262288 | url-status=live }} "The University ... employs 4,400 academics and support staff" (90% of whom are based in Milton Keynes),

=Small and medium enterprise=

In 2013,{{efn|An updated report for 2016 is available but does not give this data.{{cite web|url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/assets/attach/36431/Local%20Economic%20Assessment%20Final%202016.pdf |title=Local Economic Assessment 2016 |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |date=January 2016 |access-date=7 May 2019}}}} 99.4% of enterprises being SMEs, just 0.6% of businesses locally employ more than 250 people (but more than one third of employees),{{cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/assets/attach/13924/Local_Economic_Assessment_Refresh_March_2013_Final.pdf |title=Milton Keynes: Local Economic Assessment Refresh, March 2013 |page=18 |date=March 2013 |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507181842/https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/assets/attach/13924/Local_Economic_Assessment_Refresh_March_2013_Final.pdf |url-status=live}} whereas 81.5% employ fewer than 10 people. The 'professional, scientific and technical sector' contributes the largest number of business units, 16.7%. The retail sector is the largest contributor of employment. Milton Keynes has one of the highest number of business start-ups in England, but also of failures. Although education, health and public administration are important contributors to employment, the contribution is significantly less than the averages for England or the South East.

=Employment=

75% of the population is economically active, including 8.3% (of the population) who are self-employed. 90% work in service industries of various sorts (of which wholesale and retail is the largest sector) and 9% in manufacturing.

=Social inequality=

In 2015, the City of Milton Keynes had nine "lower super output areas"{{efn|A "lower super output area" is a small geographic area defined by the Office of National Statistics to contain 1,000 to 1,500 residents and thus to permit consistent national comparisons.{{cite web | url= https://www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/nhs_business_definitions/l/lower_layer_super_output_area_de.asp?shownav=1 | title= Lower Layer Super Output Area | publisher= NHS | access-date= 13 March 2019 | archive-date= 9 August 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200809223605/https://datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/nhs_business_definitions/l/lower_layer_super_output_area_de.asp?shownav=1 | url-status= live }} }} that are in the 10% most deprived in England, but also had twelve 'lower super output areas' in the 10% least deprived in England.{{cite web |url=https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/statistics/index-of-deprivation |title=Index of Deprivation |publisher=Milton Keynes Council |date=30 September 2017 |access-date=12 March 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117032035/https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/statistics/index-of-deprivation |url-status=live }} This contrast between areas of affluence and areas of deprivation in spite of a thriving local economy, inspired local charity The Community Foundation (in its 2016 "Vital Signs" report) to describe the position as a "Tale of Two Cities".{{cite web | url= https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/files/4514/7819/4217/LONG_REPORT_Vital_Signs_MK2016.pdf | title= Vital Signs Milton Keynes 2016 | publisher= Milton Keynes Community Foundation | date= 2016 | access-date= 12 March 2019 | archive-date= 21 January 2021 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210121073553/https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/files/4514/7819/4217/LONG_REPORT_Vital_Signs_MK2016.pdf | url-status= live }}

In 2018, the number of homeless young people sleeping rough in tents around CMK attracted national headlines as it became the apex of a national problem of poverty, inadequate mental health care and unaffordable housing.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/milton-keynes-ymca-homelessness-rough-sleeping-poverty-mental-health-housing-a8559956.html | title=From underpass to underclass: How Milton Keynes became the youth homelessness capital of Britain | first=Emily | last=Goddard | date=10 November 2018 | access-date=13 March 2019 | work=The Independent | archive-date=28 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128215412/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/milton-keynes-ymca-homelessness-rough-sleeping-poverty-mental-health-housing-a8559956.html | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url = http://theconversation.com/four-myths-about-homelessness-voices-from-a-tent-city-96943 | title = Four myths about homelessness: voices from a tent city | work = The Conversation | first1 = Karen | last1 = Snedker | first2 = Jennifer | last2 = McKinney | date = 5 June 2018 | access-date = 13 March 2019 | archive-date = 19 March 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190319055421/http://theconversation.com/four-myths-about-homelessness-voices-from-a-tent-city-96943 | url-status = live }} On a visit to refurbishment and extension work on the YMCA building, Housing Minister Heather Wheeler declared that "Nobody in this day and age should be sleeping on the street".{{cite news | url= https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/minister-for-housing-says-nobody-in-this-day-and-age-should-be-sleeping-on-the-street/ | title= Minister for Housing says 'Nobody in this day and age should be sleeping on the street' | work= MKFM | date= 7 March 2019 | access-date= 13 March 2019 | archive-date= 25 March 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200325130552/https://www.mkfm.com/news/local-news/minister-for-housing-says-nobody-in-this-day-and-age-should-be-sleeping-on-the-street/ | url-status= live }}

Geography

=Location and nearest settlements=

Milton Keynes is in south central England, at the northern end of the South East England region,{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/gor/2013265928/report.aspx?town=Milton%20Keynes |title=Labour Market Profile – South East |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=3 March 2016 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128013550/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/gor/2013265928/report.aspx?town=Milton%20Keynes |url-status=live}} about {{convert|50|mi}} north-west of London.

The nearest larger{{efn|population over 50,000.}} towns are Northampton, Bedford, Luton and Aylesbury.{{cite web |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Milton%20Keynes#map=10/52.0430/-0.7590 |title=Regional scale map of region |publisher=OpenStreetMap |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043013/https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Milton%20Keynes#map=10/52.0430/-0.7590 |url-status=live}} The nearest larger{{efn|population over 100,000. St Albans, a cathedral city of 57,000, is closer.}} cities are Coventry, Leicester, Cambridge, London and Oxford.{{cite web |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Milton%20Keynes#map=9/52.0430/-0.7590 |title=National scale map of region |publisher=OpenStreetMap |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043013/https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Milton%20Keynes#map=9/52.0430/-0.7590 |url-status=live}}

=Geology=

Its surface geology is primarily gently rolling Oxford clay or, more formally:

{{blockquote|... a portion of more or less dissected boulder clay plateau, with streams falling fairly steeply to the [Great] Ouse and Ouzel flood plains, across slopes cut chiefly in Oxford clay. Middle Jurassic rocks, in particular the Blisworth limestone and cornbrash, form strong features in the lands bordering the Ouse valley in the north.{{citation |url=https://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/pubs.cfc?method=viewRecord&publnId=19864650 |title=The geology of the new town of Milton Keynes |publisher=Natural Environment Research Council Institute of Geological Sciences |last1=Horton |first1=A. |last2=Coleman |first2=B. E. |last3=Cox |first3=B. M. |last4=Shephard-Thorn |first4=E. R. |last5=Morter |first5=A. A. |last6=Penn |first6=I. E. |last7=Thurrell |first7=R. G. |last8=Ivimey-Cook |first8=H. C. |date=1974 |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042726/https://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/pubs.cfc?method=viewRecord&publnId=19864650 |url-status=live }} }}

Its highest points are in the centre ({{convert|110|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}) and at Woodhill on the western boundary ({{convert|120|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}).{{cite web | url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=485105&y=238957&z=115 | title=Central Milton Keynes 1:25000 (Ordnance Survey mapping) | access-date=3 March 2019 | archive-date=6 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044036/http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=485105&y=238957&z=115 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=481485&y=235897&z=126 | title=Woodlhill 1:25000 (Ordnance Survey mapping) | access-date=3 March 2019 | archive-date=6 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044359/http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=481485&y=235897&z=126 | url-status=live }} The lowest point of the urban area is in Newport Pagnell, where the Ouzel joins the Great Ouse ({{convert|50|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}).{{cite web |url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=488035&y=244032&z=115 |title= Newport Pagnell 1:25000 (Ordnance Survey mapping) |access-date= 3 March 2019 |archive-date= 6 March 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044401/http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idld.srf?x=488035&y=244032&z=115 |url-status= live }}

=Parks and environmental infrastructure=

Because of the (poorly drained) clay soils and the urban hard surfaces, the development corporation identified water runoff into the Ouzel and its tributaries as a significant risk to be managed and so put in place two large balancing lakes (Caldecotte and Willen) and a number of smaller detention ponds.{{cite news | url= https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/city-has-been-built-to-avoid-worst-flooding-1-5873959 | title= City has been built to avoid worst flooding | work= Milton Keynes Citizen | date= 13 February 2014 | access-date= 15 April 2019 | archive-date= 14 April 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190414231039/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/city-has-been-built-to-avoid-worst-flooding-1-5873959 | url-status= live }} These provide an important leisure amenity for most of the year.{{cite web | url=https://www.theparkstrust.com/activities/ | title=Activities | publisher=Milton Keynes Parks Trust | access-date=7 May 2019 | archive-date=7 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507114336/https://www.theparkstrust.com/activities/ | url-status=live }} Building in the floodplains of the Ouse and Ouzel was precluded too, thus providing long-distance linear parks that are within easy reach of most residents.

The north basin of Willen Lake is a bird sanctuary.

The two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Howe Park Wood and Oxley Mead, are the most significant of a number of important wildlife sites in and around MK.{{cite web | url= https://mknhs.org.uk/wildlife-sites-2/ | title= Wildlife Sites | work= Milton Keynes Natural History Society | date= 6 September 2015 | access-date= 11 March 2019 | archive-date= 20 April 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180420190835/http://mknhs.org.uk/wildlife-sites-2/ | url-status= live }}

Just outside the Milton Keynes urban area lies Little Linford Wood, a conservation site and nature reserve managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. It is considered to be one of the best habitats for dormice.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/little-linford-wood|title=Little Linford Wood|publisher=Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust|access-date=31 January 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126234010/https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/little-linford-wood|url-status=live}}

=Climate=

Milton Keynes experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) as is typical of almost all of the United Kingdom.

The nearest Met Office weather station is in Woburn, Bedfordshire,{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-synoptic-and-climate-stations |title=Synoptic and climate stations (map) |publisher=Met Office |access-date=23 July 2022 }} just outside the south eastern fringe of Milton Keynes.{{efn|The Woburn weather station is located {{convert|7.0|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Milton Keynes city centre. There is another station at Stowe, just outside Buckingham about {{convert|12|miles|0}} distant. On 19 July 2022, the temperature here reached {{convert|38.7|C}}.}} Recorded temperature extremes range from {{convert|39.6|C}} during July 2022,{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/2022/2022_03_july_heatwave.pdf |title=Unprecedented extreme heatwave, July 2022 |publisher=Metoffice.gov.uk |access-date=23 July 2022 }} to as low as {{convert|−20.6|C}} on 25 February 1947; this is the lowest temperature ever reported in England in February.{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/wea.66|title=1947 minimum|journal=Weather|volume=62|issue=3|pages=61–68|year=2007|last1=Booth|first1=George|s2cid=123612433}} On 20 December 2010, the temperature fell to {{convert|−16.3|C}}{{cite news

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/20/winter-weather-coldest-places-britain

|title=2010 minimum

|access-date=3 March 2011

|location=London

|work=The Guardian

|first=Simon

|last=Rogers

|date=21 December 2010

|archive-date=9 January 2021

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144858/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/20/winter-weather-coldest-places-britain

|url-status=live

}}

{{Weather box|location = Woburn,{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|7.0|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the city centre.}} (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–present)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 15.0

|Feb record high C = 18.9

|Mar record high C = 22.8

|Apr record high C = 27.1

|May record high C = 29.4

|Jun record high C = 33.3

|Jul record high C = 39.6

|Aug record high C = 35.5

|Sep record high C = 32.8

|Oct record high C = 27.3

|Nov record high C = 19.4

|Dec record high C = 16.0

|Jan record low C = -20.0

|Feb record low C = -20.6

|Mar record low C = -15.0

|Apr record low C = -7.3

|May record low C = -5.6

|Jun record low C = -1.1

|Jul record low C = 1.2

|Aug record low C = 1.7

|Sep record low C = -2.8

|Oct record low C = -7.8

|Nov record low C = -13.9

|Dec record low C = -17.4

| Jan high C = 7.4

| Feb high C = 8.0

| Mar high C = 10.6

| Apr high C = 13.8

| May high C = 17.0

| Jun high C = 20.0

| Jul high C = 22.4

| Aug high C = 22.1

| Sep high C = 19.0

| Oct high C = 14.7

| Nov high C = 10.3

| Dec high C = 7.7

|year high C = 14.4

|Jan mean C = 4.5

|Feb mean C = 4.8

|Mar mean C = 6.7

|Apr mean C = 9.0

|May mean C = 11.9

|Jun mean C = 14.9

|Jul mean C = 17.2

|Aug mean C = 17.1

|Sep mean C = 14.4

|Oct mean C = 11.0

|Nov mean C = 7.2

|Dec mean C = 4.8

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 1.6

| Feb low C = 1.5

| Mar low C = 2.7

| Apr low C = 4.1

| May low C = 6.8

| Jun low C = 9.8

| Jul low C = 11.9

| Aug low C = 12.0

| Sep low C = 9.8

| Oct low C = 7.3

| Nov low C = 4.1

| Dec low C = 1.8

|year low C = 6.1

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 55.4

| Feb precipitation mm = 44.6

| Mar precipitation mm = 39.6

| Apr precipitation mm = 48.3

| May precipitation mm = 51.9

| Jun precipitation mm = 54.2

| Jul precipitation mm = 51.2

| Aug precipitation mm = 58.6

| Sep precipitation mm = 55.4

| Oct precipitation mm = 70.7

| Nov precipitation mm = 64.5

| Dec precipitation mm = 58.2

|year precipitation mm = 655.3

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 11.7

| Feb precipitation days = 10.0

| Mar precipitation days = 9.3

| Apr precipitation days = 9.7

| May precipitation days = 8.7

| Jun precipitation days = 9.2

| Jul precipitation days = 8.5

| Aug precipitation days = 9.4

| Sep precipitation days = 9.1

| Oct precipitation days = 11.0

| Nov precipitation days = 11.7

| Dec precipitation days = 11.5

| year precipitation days =119.7

| Jan sun = 53.0

| Feb sun = 72.3

| Mar sun = 114.9

| Apr sun = 152.2

| May sun = 191.5

| Jun sun = 185.7

| Jul sun = 198.4

| Aug sun = 185.3

| Sep sun = 141.6

| Oct sun = 104.5

| Nov sun = 62.0

| Dec sun = 48.3

|year sun = 1509.4

|source 1 = Met Office{{cite web | url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpxfm7hf| title = Woburn Climate Station, Climate period:1991–2020 | access-date = 11 February 2024 | publisher = Met Office }}

| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php

|title= Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature

|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather

|access-date= 16 December 2024

}}

Notable people

=Sports=

Charles Ademeno, former professional footballer{{ENFA}}
Dele Alli, professional footballer{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29251977|title=MK Dons' Dele Alli has the makings of next Steven Gerrard|author=Osborne, Chris|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930081258/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29251977|url-status=live}}
Andrew Baggaley, English table tennis champion{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewbaggaley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=7|title=Andrew Baggaley Biography|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-date=21 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321142335/http://www.andrewbaggaley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=7|url-status=live}}
Brothers George and Sam Baldock, professional footballers.{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2017/june/baldock-makes-blades-move/|title=Baldock makes Blades move|date=13 June 2017|publisher=MK Dons|access-date=30 November 2020|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124152546/https://www.mkdons.com/news/2017/june/baldock-makes-blades-move/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mkdons.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10420~36062,00.html |title=Sam Baldock Biography |access-date=11 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907205627/http://www.mkdons.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10420~36062%2C00.html |archive-date=7 September 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/november/the-long-read--baldock-on-playing-a-sibling-education-and-more/|title=The Long Read: Baldock on playing a sibling, education and more! – Striker sits down for extended chat|date=6 November 2018|publisher=Reading F.C.|access-date=30 November 2020|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929140341/https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2018/november/the-long-read--baldock-on-playing-a-sibling-education-and-more/|url-status=live}}
Ben Chilwell, professional footballer{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/ben-chilwell-249895/ |title=Ben Chilwell |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215000548/https://www.11v11.com/players/ben-chilwell-249895/ |url-status=live }}
Chris Clarke, English sprinter{{cite news|url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/other-sport/chris_clarke_set_for_worlds_final_update_gb_finish_7th_1_3020712|title=Chris Clarke set for Worlds final – Update GB finish 7th|date=2 September 2011|work=Milton Keynes Citizen|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-date=1 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501125318/http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/other-sport/chris_clarke_set_for_worlds_final_update_gb_finish_7th_1_3020712|url-status=live}}
Lee Hasdell, professional Mixed martial artist and Kickboxer{{Citation |last=Lewis |first=Peter |title=A Total Fighter |newspaper=Fighters – Kickboxing news |page=45 |date=April 2004 }}
James Hildreth, professional cricketer{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/player/james-hildreth/|title=James Hildreth – profile|publisher=Somerset County Cricket Club|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621062007/http://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/player/james-hildreth/|url-status=live}}
Liam Kelly, professional footballer{{cite web | url=https://www.11v11.com/players/liam-kelly-227201/ | title=Liam Kelly | publisher=11v11.com | access-date=19 February 2019 | archive-date=20 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002826/https://www.11v11.com/players/liam-kelly-227201/ | url-status=live }}
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong the only Ghanaian winter Olympian.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8325000/8325753.stm|title=The Snow Leopard: from Ghana to the Olympics via MK|date=26 October 2009|publisher=BBC Beds Herts and Bucks|access-date=8 January 2022|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108134038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8325000/8325753.stm|url-status=live}}
Craig Pickering, English sprinter{{cite news|url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/other-sport/campbell_backs_pickering_to_come_good_again_in_2012_1_3453556|title=Campbell backs Pickering to come good again in 2012|date=25 January 2012|work=Milton Keynes Citizen|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=1 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501124558/http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/other-sport/campbell_backs_pickering_to_come_good_again_in_2012_1_3453556|url-status=live}}
Ian Poulter, PGA & European Tour golf professional. Member of the 2010 and 2012 European Ryder Cup Teams{{cite news|url=http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/poulter_s_back_in_the_swing_at_woburn_1_866648|title=Poulter's back in the swing at Woburn|date=29 July 2008|work=Milton Keynes Citizen|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=1 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501123730/http://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport/poulter_s_back_in_the_swing_at_woburn_1_866648|url-status=live}}
Mark Randall, professional footballer{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27735129MK|title=MK Dons: Mark Randall signs longer deal|access-date=31 July 2014}}
Antonee Robinson, professional footballer{{cite news |last1=Tenorio |first1=Paul |last2=Sutcliffe |first2=Richard |title=Fulham sign Antonee Robinson, left-back nicknamed 'Jedi' who nearly joined Milan |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1991795/2020/08/20/fulham-sign-antonee-robinson-left-back-nicknamed-jedi-who-nearly-joined-milan/ |access-date=27 March 2021 |work=The Athletic |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405144635/https://theathletic.com/1991795/2020/08/20/fulham-sign-antonee-robinson-left-back-nicknamed-jedi-who-nearly-joined-milan/ |url-status=live }}
Greg Rutherford, long jump gold medallist for Team GB at the 2012 Olympic Games{{cite web|url=http://www.buckssport.org/en/twentytwelve/sporting_legacy/bucks_athletes_to_follow_up_to_2012/greg_rutherford/|title=Greg Rutherford – Long Jumper|work=Bucks Sport|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424201427/http://www.buckssport.org/en/twentytwelve/sporting_legacy/bucks_athletes_to_follow_up_to_2012/greg_rutherford/|url-status=live}}
Ed Slater, professional rugby union player{{cite news |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/gloucesters-ed-slater-a-life-less-ordinary-96536 |title=Gloucester's Ed Slater – a life less ordinary |work=Rugby World |first=Alan |last=Pearey |date=10 January 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405144654/https://www.rugbyworld.com/news/gloucesters-ed-slater-a-life-less-ordinary-96536 |url-status=live }}
Fallon Sherrock, professional darts player.{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|title=First woman to beat a man at PDC world darts overwhelmed by response|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/22/fallon-sherrock-first-woman-to-beat-man-pdc-world-darts-championship-billie-jean-king|first=Josh|last=Halliday|date=22 December 2019|access-date=23 December 2019|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222235202/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/22/fallon-sherrock-first-woman-to-beat-man-pdc-world-darts-championship-billie-jean-king|url-status=live}}
Sam Tomkins, professional rugby league player{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/16775814|title=Sam Tomkins targets more trophies with Wigan|date=3 February 2012|last=Hudson|first=Elizabeth|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=6 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206014029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/16775814|url-status=live}}
Dan Wheldon (1978–2011), Indy car driver{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16031002|title=Stars race to honour Dan Wheldon in Milton Keynes|date=5 December 2011|publisher=BBC|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=6 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206032330/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-16031002|url-status=live}}
Leah Williamson, professional footballer{{cite web|url=http://sport.bt.com/sport-football/football/williamson-set-to-be-a-superstar-S11363906952194|title=Williamson set to be a superstar|publisher=BT Sport|date=31 May 2014|access-date=25 February 2016|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406132537/http://sport.bt.com/sport-football/football/williamson-set-to-be-a-superstar-S11363906952194|url-status=live}}

=Business=

Jim Marshall (1923–2012), founder and CEO of Marshall Amplification was living in and ran his business from Milton Keynes when he died{{cite news|url=http://www.heart.co.uk/miltonkeynes/news/local/death-announced-jim-marshall/|title=Death Is Announced of Jim Marshall|last=James|first=Huw|work=Heart FM|date=5 April 2012|access-date=8 April 2012|archive-date=9 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409033240/http://www.heart.co.uk/miltonkeynes/news/local/death-announced-jim-marshall/|url-status=live}}
Pete Winkelman, Chairman of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, owner of Linford Manor recording studios, long-term resident{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Jamie|title=From Wimbledon to Winkelman, a crazy new journey|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/mar/30/football.newsstory2|work=The Observer|access-date=9 January 2012|date=30 March 2008|location=London|archive-date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930195230/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/mar/30/football.newsstory2|url-status=live}}

=Academic=

Christopher B-Lynch, (visiting) Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cranfield University, responsible for inventing the eponymously named B-Lynch suture{{cite web|url=http://www.cblynch.co.uk/category/awards-honours/|title=Awards & Honours – Professor Christopher B-Lynch (GORSL)|work=cblynch.co.uk|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=2 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005131/http://www.cblynch.co.uk/category/awards-honours/|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|title=A worldwide review of the uses of the uterine compression suture techniques as alternative to hysterectomy in the management of severe post-partum haemorrhage|journal=Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology|volume=25|issue=2|pages=143–149|doi=10.1080/01443610500040752|pmid=15814393|year = 2005|last1 = El-Hamamy|first1 = E.|last2=B-Lynch|first2=C.|s2cid=43454496}}
Alan P. F. Sell (1935–2016), academic and theologian lived in Milton Keynes in his later years and died there{{cite web |url=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61579&h=41141481&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=djv878&_phstart=successSource |title=Alan P Sell in the UK, Electoral Registers, 2003-2010 (2005) |publisher=Ancestry.com |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |url=https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/1908-revd-professor-alan-sell.html |title=A tribute to the Revd Professor Alan Sell |website=The United Reformed Church |access-date=29 November 2018 |archive-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100119/https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/1908-revd-professor-alan-sell.html |url-status=dead}}
Alan Turing (1912–1954), played a significant role in the creation of the modern computer. He lodged at the Crown Inn, Shenley Brook End, while working at Bletchley Park{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8683638/Google-backs-Bletchley-Park-restoration-project.html|title=Google backs Bletchley Park restoration project|date=5 August 2011|last=Douglas|first=Ian|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=12 February 2012|location=London|archive-date=22 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222080240/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8683638/Google-backs-Bletchley-Park-restoration-project.html|url-status=live}}

=Stage, screen and media=

Errol Barnett, an anchor and correspondent for CNN{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/barnett.errol.html| title=Errol Barnett profile at CNN.com| access-date=11 February 2012| archive-date=11 February 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211025038/http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/barnett.errol.html| url-status=live}}
Emily Bergl, an actress known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and Shameless{{cite news | url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/mar/23/news/chi-mxa0323tvclosemar23 | title=Close-up – Movies, Dakota Fanning, Colorado | newspaper=Chicago Tribune | access-date=12 February 2019 | archive-date=25 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325075540/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/mar/23/news/chi-mxa0323tvclosemar23 | url-status=live }}
Emika, born Ema Jolly, a musical artist{{Cite web |title=Emika · Biography |url=https://ra.co/dj/emika/biography |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Resident Advisor |language=en}}
Richard Macer, documentary maker{{cite news|url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/documentary-maker-milton-keynes-returns-celebrate-his-and-citys-50th-birthday-1088744|title=A documentary maker from Milton Keynes returns to celebrate his and the city's 50th birthday|newspaper=Milton Keynes Citizen|date=15 August 2017|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301040815/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/documentary-maker-milton-keynes-returns-celebrate-his-and-citys-50th-birthday-1088744|url-status=live}}
Clare Nasir, the meteorologist, TV and radio personality, was born in Milton Keynes in 1970{{cite web|url=http://www.miltonkeynes.nhs.uk/default.asp?ContentID=142|title=TV's Clare says Wrap Up for Winter|work=NHS Milton Keynes & Northamptonshire |publisher=NHS Milton Keynes|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115180840/http://www.miltonkeynes.nhs.uk/default.asp?ContentID=142|url-status=live}}
Kevin Whately, professional actor{{cite web |url= https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/aO1RC-VcKehunzO0ohQYk2eQSM8/appointments |title= Kevin WHATELY |publisher= Companies House |access-date= 19 February 2019 |archive-date= 20 February 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003351/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/aO1RC-VcKehunzO0ohQYk2eQSM8/appointments |url-status= live }} lives in Woburn Sands

=Literature=

Sarah Pinborough, English horror writer{{cite web|url=http://www.omegasapple.com/site/2010/03/21/sarah-pinborough-interview/|title=Sarah Pinborough Interview|work=omegasapple.com|access-date=12 February 2012|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118174017/http://www.omegasapple.com/site/2010/03/21/sarah-pinborough-interview/|url-status=live}}
Jack Trevor Story, novelist, was a long-term resident of Milton Keynes{{cite web|url=http://www.jacktrevorstory.co.uk/independent_obituary.htm |title=Independent Obituary – Jack Trevor Story |work=jacktrevorstory.co.uk |access-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122103911/http://www.jacktrevorstory.co.uk/independent_obituary.htm |archive-date=22 January 2013 }}

=Politics=

Frank Markham (Sir Sydney Frank Markham, MP) (1897{{ndash}}1975), born in Stony Stratford and was local MP (1951{{ndash}}1964).{{cite web |title=Sir Frank Markham |first=John |last=Taylor |publisher=Milton Keynes Heritage Association |date=n.d. |url=https://www.mkheritage.org.uk/archive/jt/tw/docs/63.html |access-date=25 January 2022 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125111135/https://www.mkheritage.org.uk/archive/jt/tw/docs/63.html |url-status=live }}
Nat Wei, Baron Wei, member of the House of Lords (born in Watford, grew up in Milton Keynes){{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08zc1z9| title=A place called home| publisher=BBC| access-date=19 February 2019| archive-date=20 February 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003326/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08zc1z9| url-status=live}}

=Music=

==Individual==

Bob Leith, drummer for the Kingston upon Thames band Cardiacs and others went to school in Milton Keynes and formed his first bands there including Part 1{{Cite book |last=Glasper |first=Ian |url=https://archive.org/details/Day_Country_Died_9781604869880/ |title=The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980-1984 |publisher=PM Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-60486-516-5 |location=United States |orig-date=2006}}
Adam Ficek, drummer of London band Babyshambles{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/8d1f22da-dd1c-4c17-9b3c-3ed9fcd2997c|title=Adam Ficek profile|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-date=12 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312032456/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/8d1f22da-dd1c-4c17-9b3c-3ed9fcd2997c|url-status=live}}
Gordon Moakes, the bassist for the London-based rock band Bloc Party{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jan/07/popandrock.features1|title=21st-century boy|date=7 January 2007|last=McLean|first=Craig|work=The Guardian|access-date=12 February 2012|location=London|archive-date=29 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929063058/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jan/07/popandrock.features1|url-status=live}}

==Bands==

Capdown, a ska punk band, came from and formed in Milton Keynes in 1997{{cite web|url=http://www.capdown.co.uk/|title=The Capdown Fansite|access-date=12 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304065242/http://www.capdown.co.uk/|archive-date=4 March 2012}}
Fellsilent, a metal band, come from and formed in Milton Keynes in 2003{{cite web|url=http://miltonkeynes.com/fell-silent-milton-keynes-metal-heros.html |title=Fell Silent Milton Keynes Metal Heros |work=miltonkeynes.com |access-date=12 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127144419/http://miltonkeynes.com/fell-silent-milton-keynes-metal-heros.html |archive-date=27 November 2010 }}{{cite news | url = https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/music/fell-silent-fall-silent-band-announces-split-1-872339 | title = Fell Silent fall silent – band announces split | work = Milton Keynes Citizen | date = 9 April 2010 | access-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190421214854/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/music/fell-silent-fall-silent-band-announces-split-1-872339 | url-status = live }}
Tesseract, a djent band, formed as a full live act in Milton Keynes in 2007.{{cite news | url = https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/music/tesseract-have-a-big-surprise-1-2968682 | title = Tesseract have a big surprise | work = Milton Keynes Citizen | date = 16 August 2011 | access-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190421214855/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/music/tesseract-have-a-big-surprise-1-2968682 | url-status = live }} Tesseract's guitarist, songwriter and producer Acle Kahney is also a former member of Fellsilent.
Hacktivist, a Grime and djent band{{cite news | url = https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/lifestyle/hacktivate-your-senses-1-4156528 | title = Hacktivate your senses | work = Milton Keynes Citizen | date = 16 August 2012 | access-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190421214856/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/lifestyle/hacktivate-your-senses-1-4156528 | url-status = live }}
RavenEye, the rock band, formed in Milton Keynes in 2014{{cite news | url = https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/music-in-and-around-mk-your-guide-to-the-next-few-days-1-7671813 | title = Music in and around MK: your guide to the next few days | work = Milton Keynes Citizen | date = 9 November 2016 | access-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-date = 21 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190421214854/https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/music-in-and-around-mk-your-guide-to-the-next-few-days-1-7671813 | url-status = live }}

=Freedom of the City=

{{hatnote|For the list of people, military units, organisations and businesses that have been formally honoured with Freedom of the City (or Freedom of the Borough), see City of Milton Keynes#Freedom of the City.}}

Notes

References

= Citations =

{{reflist|35em|refs=

{{NOMIS2011|id=E34005056|title=Milton Keynes built-up area|access-date=3 August 2020}} (2011 census)

{{cite web |title=United Kingdom: Countries and Major Urban Areas |website=citypopulation.de |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/ua/ |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=23 November 2022}} (2021 census)

{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/l/lec1.shtm |title=Engineer's Line References |publisher=RailwayCodes.org |date=28 July 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024340/http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/l/lec1.shtm |url-status=live |access-date=15 February 2019}}

{{cite journal |journal=The London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44233/page/827 |title=North Buckinghamshire (Milton Keynes) New Town (Designation) Order |date=24 January 1967 |issue=44233 |page=827 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221125836/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44233/page/827 |url-status=live |access-date=14 January 2014}})

According to a nearby historic milestone (see {{cite map |author = Ordnance Survey | title =OS Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952 |map = Buckinghamshire Sheet XV | map-url = https://maps.nls.uk/view/102340115#zoom=6&lat=5570&lon=3497&layers=BT |date = |year = 1885 |url = |scale = 1:10,560 |publisher = Ordnance Survey |via=National Library of Scotland }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Central+Milton+Keynes/Charing+Cross,+London/@51.7831303,-0.6011838,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4877aaa273a751bd:0x48c187787e8bd0b3!2m2!1d-0.7679071!2d52.0375851!1m5!1m1!1s0x487604ce4a482bad:0x1d97d582ce284abc!2m2!1d-0.12755!2d51.5073!3e0 |title=Central Milton Keynes to Charing Cross |publisher=Google Maps |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308161356/https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Central+Milton+Keynes/Charing+Cross,+London/@51.7831303,-0.6011838,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x4877aaa273a751bd:0x48c187787e8bd0b3!2m2!1d-0.7679071!2d52.0375851!1m5!1m1!1s0x487604ce4a482bad:0x1d97d582ce284abc!2m2!1d-0.12755!2d51.5073!3e0 |url-status=live}}

}}

= General and cited references =

{{cite book |last1=Bendixson |first1=Terence | last2=Platt |first2=John | title=Milton Keynes: Image and reality | publisher = Granta Editions | year=1992 |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0906782729 }}
{{cite book | editor-last = Copeland | editor-first = B. Jack | editor-link = Jack Copeland | title = Colossus: The Secrets of Bletchley Park's Codebreaking Computers | place = Oxford | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-19-284055-4 }}
{{cite book |last1=Clapson |first1=Mark|title=The Plan for Milton Keynes |publisher = Routledge |year=2014 |location=Abingdon |isbn=9780415645003 }}
{{cite book |last1=Llewellyn-Davies | last2=Weeks |last3 =Forestier-Walker |last4=Bor |title = The Plan for Milton Keynes, Volume 1 | publisher = Milton Keynes Development Corporation | year = 1970 |location=Wavendon |isbn = 0-903379-00-7}}
{{cite book |last=Woodfield |first=Paul | title=A guide to the historic buildings of Milton Keynes | publisher = Milton Keynes Development Corporation | year=1986 |location=Milton Keynes |isbn=978-0903379052 }}

External links

{{YouTube|8nP5YtIuAJg|Building a City From Scratch - The New Town of Milton Keynes (1967)}} (Independent Television News)
[http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/ Official visitor website for Milton Keynes] (Milton Keynes Council agency)
[http://www.mkcdc.org.uk/ City Discovery Centre (MK urban studies centre)]
[http://www.udg.org.uk/?document_id=648 Urban Design magazine{{spaced ndash}}"Milton Keynes at 40"]
[https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-milton-keynes-and-the-area-1968-online Milton Keynes and the area (1968), on BFI Player]
[https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-milton-keynes-a-village-city-1973-online Milton Keynes - a village city (1973), on BFI Player]
{{cite news| url=https://www.ft.com/content/d5f8a830-3a1a-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/d5f8a830-3a1a-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |title=Milton Keynes: curio from the past or model for the future? | first=Edwin |last=Heathcote | work=Financial Times | location = London| date= 1 March 2019 |url-access=registration}}
{{cite news |last1=Barkham |first1=Patrick |title=Story of cities #34: the struggle for the soul of Milton Keynes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/03/struggle-for-the-soul-of-milton-keynes |work=The Guardian |date=3 May 2016 |language=en}} C. 5800 words. (The opening paragraph about astronomical alignment is not true.)

{{Adjacent communities

|title = Destinations from Milton Keynes

|Northwest = Towcester, Coventry, Birmingham
Northampton, Leicester

|North = Olney, Wellingborough

|Northeast = Bedford, Cambridge

|West = Buckingham, Brackley, Banbury

|Centre = Milton Keynes

|East = Ampthill

|Southwest = Bicester, Oxford

|South = Leighton Buzzard, Winslow, Aylesbury

|Southeast = Dunstable, Luton, London

}}

Category:1967 establishments in England

Category:Cities in South East England

Category:Planned communities established in the 1960s

Category:Planned communities in England

Category:Populated places established in 1967

Category:Populated places on the River Great Ouse

Category:Towns in Buckinghamshire