Leisure

26th Nov 2020

intu Milton Keynes reopens ahead of the Christmas shop

intu Milton Keynes will safely open for non-essential retail on Wednesday 2 December at 9.30am with extended shopping hours, following the government’s announcement. The festive lights will be turned on, the smell of mulled wine will fill the air and the countdown to Christmas begins. The regional shopping destination will offer additional hours (2nd - 20 December: 9.30am-6pm Monday to Wednesday, 9.30am-8pm Thursday & Friday, Saturday 9.30am-7pm, Sunday 11-5pm, 21-23 December: 9.30am-8pm*) to encourage shoppers to stagger their visit throughout the day, where possible. Good news, intu Milton Keynes will be open Christmas Eve from 9.30am-6pm for shoppers wanting to get some last-minute ‘panic buys’. Wearing a face covering in the centre will continue to be mandatory and intu Milton Keynes’ team will be reminding everyone to do so if necessary. Hand sanitisers will remain at entrances and exits and throughout the mall and visitors are reminded to adhere to..

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26th Nov 2020

Will spring 2021 see a resurgence in tourists going on holiday...

During April and May it did seem that most of our time at Dragonfly Traveller HQ was spent rebooking holidays, chasing refunds and cancelling holidays. We were also busy keeping our clients up to date with what was happening with their holiday and giving them advice on how to be safe and careful in their decision making. Every client who was due a holiday refund has now received their refund. And lots of 2020 holidays have been moved to 2021. Now, it does feel like there is some light at the end of tunnel, even though the length of the tunnel is a little tricky to measure. Between May and October - thanks in some part to the publishing of the travel corridor list by the Government (a list of countries, territories and regions from where you can travel to England and not have to self-isolate on your return) -..

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17th Nov 2020

intu MK launches ‘Thinking of You’ campaign

This week, intu Milton Keynes has launched a community campaign to support older people alone this Christmas by creating ‘festive packages’ – and the centre needs your support. The ‘Thinking of You’ idea is to let people alone this Christmas know that they have not been forgotten by sending a hamper with a letter from someone that cares. intu Milton Keynes is buying over 100 boxes and seasonal goodies to fill them, but is asking people in Milton Keynes to write or type a letter to be sent with this. “We know that many more people will be spending Christmas by themselves this year after such a challenging 2020,” said general manager at intu Milton Keynes, Shelley Peppard. She adds: “The Thinking of You campaign will hand deliver a small treat, and most importantly, a letter for them to read. We need people of all ages to put pen to..

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06th Oct 2020

Enjoy a journey along The Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes using The Parks Trust’s new...

The Parks Trust are pleased to launch a new, illustrated map of The Grand Union Canal which runs through Milton Keynes.  The Trust have designed the map to be used by boaters, walkers and cyclists, to help them enjoy using the picturesque canal corridor as a means of finding their way to the many fascinating places and points of interest along the route. Built over 200 years ago the canal was originally created to provide a transport link between London and Birmingham. Today the canal offers a serene option for those who want to travel by or alongside water to explore Milton Keynes. The map shows the section of the Grand Union Canal that passes through Milton Keynes. The route includes an 11-mile, lock-free section between Fenny Stratford in the south and Cosgrove in the north. When Milton Keynes was being designed, the New Town plan incorporated the canal as..

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03rd Sep 2020

intu Milton Keynes asks shoppers to ‘Keep it Covered...

intu Milton Keynes has launched a campaign to ensure shoppers ‘Keep it Covered’ and wear a face covering while in the shopping centre. The campaign aims to remind visitors that they must wear a face mask to help stop the spread of the virus while out in a shopping. It’s targeted at those who may forget to wear a face covering or may not be wearing it correctly. “It’s fantastic to see so many people safely returning to the shopping centre and enjoying a spot of retail therapy, but we want to remind everyone to Keep it Covered and protect others,” says Shelley Peppard, general manager at intu Milton Keynes. Shelley adds: “The vast majority of people are wearing a face covering, some people genuinely forget to keep it on while on the mall and a very small minority of people don’t believe the rule applies to them. It does...

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24th Feb 2020

Let your little ones discover the great outdoors at Tree Tots

Tree Tots is a regular outdoor play toddler group created to introduce little ones to nature. This weekly group is based at Howe Park Wood in Milton Keynes and is run by The Parks Trust, the charity that cares for the parks, lakes and woodlands within the city. These sessions take place every Thursday morning 10am to 11.30am and allow children aged between one and five to develop their social and fine motor skills through playing in the great outdoors. Tree Tots sessions are designed to help to build confidence, encourage physical play and support children’s imagination and creativity. The sessions vary each week to keep them engaging and interesting and to give children the opportunity to learn something new. Some of the fun activities included in the session are; playing in the mud kitchen, taking a wander through the woods to discover wildlife, free play in the woods including..

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08th Jan 2020

Daytime TV show Lorraine films at intu Milton Keynes

intu Milton Keynes was chosen as the set for a new year shopping shoot by daytime ITV show Lorraine on Monday 6 January and a live show on Tuesday 7. Well-known and loved TV stylist and personality Mark Heyes was on location in the centre looking at the amazing January sales bargains, with many stores offering up to 70% off! He also set a shopper challenge for two local ladies to find a bargain outfit, kitting themselves out from top to toe. The stores that came up trumps were Debenhams, Zara and New Look, with the shoppers finding bargains galore including boots, dresses, jackets and more! Shelley Peppard, centre director at intu Milton Keynes, said: “As one of the most popular shopping destinations in the country, we were very proud to be featured on one of the UK’s biggest daytime TV shows this week. Who doesn’t love Lorraine Kelly and..

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06th Jan 2020

centre:mk reports footfall growth bucking national trend

centre:mk, one of the top 10 shopping centres in the UK, is bucking the nationwide trend of declining footfall, and has reported that the centre’s footfall is up +2.5% YOY. As a regionally dominant shopping and leisure destination centre:mk continues to attract high spending shoppers, attracted by the convenient layout and extensive range of brands on offer such as John Lewis, Next, Primark and River Island. centre:mk’s performance is defying the national picture and continues to appeal to both shoppers as well as retailers. In 2019, the centre welcomed 10 new retailers - Neon Sheep, Newbie, Typo, Primark, Chatime, Morano’s, Trailfinders, Skechers, Loviso and Lush. Kevin Duffy, Centre Director at centre:mk commented: “2019 has been a great success for centre:mk with shoppers continuing to flock to our centre. We are pleased to have welcomed so many new brands into the centre and look forward to welcoming more in 2020. Our..

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06th Jan 2020

Could 2020 be your year to shine? intu Milton Keynes launches its real model search

New year, new decade - could it be the start of a new you? To mark the start of 2020, intu Milton Keynes is launching the return of its spring/summer 2020 real model search! This is the third year intu Milton Keynes has run this successful competition in which the shopping centre chooses five local people to showcase the new season trends, while giving real people a moment to smile in the spotlight. The SS20 campaign – which launches in March – will see five lucky winners living like models for a day. They’ll take part in fashion fittings with intu Milton Keynes’ fashion retailers after being styled and beautified from top to toe. Then it’s time to pose. Each winner will go in front of the camera to make a short video filmed in key spots around intu Milton Keynes and shared on the centre’s Facebook page, website and..

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20th Dec 2019

Modern men take pride in being skilled Christmas shoppers – compared to their parents, who believed...

A poll of 2,000 men found 73 per cent of 1970s husbands left the task of Christmas shopping solely to their wives  More than a third of men today think male shopping habits have been affected by the rise of female financial independence and prosperity  62 per cent of men believe they are good Christmas shoppers who put thought and effort into Christmas shopping for their partner, with only 21 per cent of their gifts being returned  The top male persona revealed is ‘The Listener’ – over a third of men feel organised, take the hints and know exactly what to buy. Only 16% of men class themselves as a ‘Last Minute Shopper’, turning the man-dash on its head  Perfume and jewellery are the most popular presents - only 12% of men today buy domestic products for Christmas gifts compared to a third in the 70s and 80s  A recent..

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04th Jul 2019

Have your say at The Parks Trust’s Annual Public Meeting

Would you like to find out more about the acres of glorious parkland in Milton Keynes and the many ways you can enjoy what it has to offer from walking to music festivals to watersports…. Join us for our Annual Public Meeting to find out more about our charity and what we offer for the community of Milton Keynes. The meeting will be held on Thursday 18th July 2019 between 6-8pm at the Pavilion in the scenic setting of Campbell Park. The Trust’s Chief Executive, David Foster will give an update on 2018/19 and talk about the Charity’s exciting plans. Highlights this year include; The Trust planting over 32,000 trees and shrubs, launching a brand new 111 berth marina and commencing a four-year National Lottery Heritage funded project to ‘Restore, Reveal and Revive’ the historic Great Linford Manor Park. Speakers at this year’s meeting also include; Zoe Raven, Vice Chair..

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09th Jun 2019

Vote for Milton Keynes in Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood Award

Milton Keynes is in the running for Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood 2019, as the Ramblers reveals their final shortlist of the ten most walkable urban areas across England, Scotland and Wales. At a time when more than a third of people are still not meeting recommended activity levels1 and concerns about air pollution levels hit the headlines on a weekly basis, the Ramblers is calling on local authorities to help tackle these problems by creating towns and cities designed for walking. Their annual award celebrates areas where positive steps have been taken to create green, welcoming and walkable neighbourhoods that put people - rather than cars - at their heart, leading to increased activity, and the health, social and economic benefits this brings to individuals and communities, while also combatting poor air quality. The ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes, designed and developed in the 1960s, owes its place on the..

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07th May 2019

Record numbers run in the Rightmove MK Marathon Weekend 2019

Congratulations to everyone who took part! It was a record-breaking weekend for the Rightmove MK Marathon Weekend 2019, with more people than ever running, and the biggest crowds the event has ever seen! The whole weekend was a roaring success, with 10,000 runners coming from far and wide to take part in one (or more) of the five races across Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May. Andy Hully Race Director and Founder – who ran in his own event for the first time ever this year – said: “This has absolutely been the best MK Marathon Weekend in our eight-year history! The atmosphere was electric all Bank Holiday weekend. I’m euphoric and want to say a huge well done to all the runners – you did it!” The runners were joined by 700 volunteers, 150 race staff and crowds of around 20,000 who spent two days cheering, clapping and supporting..

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05th May 2019

MK Midnight Moo ‘goes to Specsavers...

Willen Hospice has again joined forces with Specsavers Milton Keynes for this year’s MK Midnight Moo, which takes place on Saturday 13 July. With less than three months to go, organisers are appealing to local ladies to sign up and join them to walk the 10 mile Moo, or shorter Half Moo route, on what it the charity’s biggest night of the year. Specsavers have again sponsored this year’s bespoke Moo vests, which will be worn by approximately 1,000 women during their walk. The neon-green vests go perfectly with this year’s disco theme. Ladies are encouraged to join in the party vibe and accessorise their outfits to bring even more fun to the midnight walk. Think big hairdos, flares, legwarmers and disco glamour. This week Steve Moore, Director of Specsavers Milton Keynes said: “It is great to link up once again with Willen Hospice for our third year supporting the..

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03rd Apr 2019

The Parks Trust Launches 2019 Photography Competition

The Parks Trust, the self-financing charity that looks after over 6,000 acres of green space across Milton Keynes, has launched its 2019 Photography Competition, for all keen amateur photographers. The competition is open to people of all ages, with youth and adult sections for each of the two categories; Wildlife and Landscape. The Parks Trust’s 2019 competition aims to highlight the beautiful and diverse landscapes, features and people of Milton Keynes. Images must be taken in the green space that is managed and maintained by The Parks Trust. The competition closes on Thursday 5th September 2019. The winners will be announced by Thursday 19thSeptember 2019. David Foster, Chief Executive of The Parks Trust, commented: “We are pleased to launch our 2019 photography competition and wish everyone who enters the best of luck. We received some incredible entries last year and enjoyed looking at so many different aspects of our parkland and..

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