Local News

If you’re looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained over May half term, look no further than the city’s beautiful parkland! The Parks Trust, the charity caring for green spaces in Milton Keynes, hosts a heap of activities including free and low-cost ways to get outdoors. On your doorstep are more than 40 different parks with a huge choice of free play areas, leisure routes, trim trails and world-class outdoor artworks. As May marches on and the spring half term arrives, this programme of family fun is one that you just won’t want to miss: Parks & Ride Sun 25 May, 11am at Furzton Lake Swap screens for scenes on a two-wheeled guided tour for families to uncover the sights and sounds of MK’s parks. Parks & Ride events take a steady pace along a mixture of leisure routes and Redways, for about an hour, with no road riding or substantial hills...

A tidy and trim lawn is something to be admired, and the sound of the mower and the smell of freshly cut grass epitomises hazy summer days, even if we don't all enjoy dragging the cutter around! This being 'No Mow May' you might have a little free time this weekend though, and Milton Keynes Museum has the perfect way to fill it; by attending The Old Lawnmower Club's annual rally at the Wolverton history hub. The cutting-edge club boasts 100s of members as curiosity in the machines through the years continues to grow – much like that grass! Anyone who has an interest in the development of these invaluable garden assistants will want to visit during the course of the weekend, with dozens of mowers expected to be lined up for inspection. Aside from the rare mowers on show from club members, the Museum’s own fine collection will be..

Mk Pride Festival is proud to announce that Nadine Coyle, Iconic Irish Icon, Girls Aloud singer and performer will headline this year’s event – a vibrant celebration of love, equality, and community – taking place on Saturday 13th September in Campbell Park, right in the heart of Milton Keynes. Set against the stunning backdrop of Campbell Park’s open green spaces and scenic city views, MK Pride offers the ideal setting for a day of music, celebration, and togetherness. And most importantly - MK Pride is completely free to attend, with no tickets required! - made possible by the generous support of sponsors and partners. Nadine, an iconic member of Girls Aloud and a proud ally to the LGBTQ community, will take to the Main Stage with a setlist full of high-energy pop anthems – including Sound of the Underground, Love Machine, and Something Kinda Ooooh. Alongside these chart-topping hits, fans can also look forward to her solo dancefloor favourite Go to Work, promising..

Live Nation and top event promoters Cuffe & Taylor have announced pop-rock favourites McFly and genre-defining trailblazers The Human League as the latest headliners for TK Maxx Presents Bedford Summer Sessions 2025. These latest headliners join previously announced Supergrass, Simple Minds, Rag’n’Bone Man for a Bedford Park summer takeover throughout July. Tickets are now on sale: smmrsessions.com / ticketmaster.co.uk. On Sunday 13 July, McFly will light up the stage at Bedford Summer Sessions, bringing their high-powered energy to Bedford Park. It’s been 21 years since the band first burst onto the scene with breakout hit “Five Colours In Her Hair,” evolving into one of the UK’s most successful acts. With seven UK number-one singles, including “All About You” and “Star Girl,” alongside seven Top 10 albums and over 10 million sales, McFly have earned multiple Platinum certifications and a BRIT Award for Best British Pop. Fresh from celebrating their 21st anniversary with two sold-out O2 Arena shows, McFly will deliver a set that reflects on their impressive career..

Local children’s charity Ride High, based in Milton Keynes, is inviting the community to get on their bikes and ride for a purpose at their very first Ride MK Cycling Festival, taking place on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Furzton Lake. The event invites individuals of all ages and abilities to jump in the saddle for an unforgettable day of cycling, fitness, and fundraising in support of local children. Participants can join as an individual or team to take on one of four carefully planned routes. Choose from one of the following; 100-mile or 50-mile road routes, 20-mile redway route (sponsored by Santander Cycles MK), 1.6 mile Ready-Set-Go Route for children (sponsored by Brioche Pasquier UK). All participants will receive a medal and both cyclists and spectators are invited to enjoy a ‘festival feel’ to celebrate their achievements. A highlight of the event is the 20 mile redway route providing..

A free interactive dinosaur experience is up for grabs in Buckinghamshire as part of an exciting county-wide competition for primary schools. Local schools can put themselves forward for a roarsome opportunity to meet Reggie - a five-metre-long animatronic T-Rex – in a special educational experience prize being offered by Giant Journeys. Giant Journeys, established in September 2024 by founder Darren Smith, provides immersive learning workshops for children. Darren has a real passion for creative education and wants to transform how youngsters engage with learning. So, the entrepreneur has opened a public vote on social media in which schools, parents and supporters can put their local school forward to meet Reggie, giving schoolchildren a unique educational opportunity completely free of charge. The Meet Reggie contest has already run in neighbouring counties Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire, attracting more than 18,000 votes. Darren said: “We’ve been amazed by the popularity of this contest and..

City Council offers ‘Golden Hello’ to qualified social workers Milton Keynes City Council has launched a new Children’s Social Care recruitment drive with a £6,000 ‘Golden Hello’ to reward qualified social workers who join its expanding teams. Qualified social workers are an essential part of the City Council’s Children’s Services team, which last year was commended by Ofsted as Good with some Outstanding areas. MK City Council aims to build on that success, attracting experienced social workers by offering them a Golden Hello and a very positive working environment. Qualified social workers earn minimum starting salary of £35,235 (pro rata) at the City Council and most roles also receive an annual £4,000 Retention Payment (for staying with the council) plus a relocation allowance of up to £8,000 and access to benefits including a car leasing scheme. Social workers and senior practitioners work together to ensure children and young people receive..

A new Museum has opened in the heart of the new city, and this one is guaranteed to appeal to kids of all ages. Sammy Jones spoke to the man responsible for bringing Brickz alive... Less than four years ago, Milton Keynes welcomed a new addition to its attraction list, and the National Film & Sci Fi Museum has proven a big hit with its ridiculously cool exhibits. Props, costumes, art and footage from some of the biggest films have been assembled within its space; movie moments spanning Star Wars to Indiana Jones and Harry Potter to Marvel. Later, the Pixel Bunker retro arcade opened its doors from the same site at Lloyds Court. And now, there is a third attraction under the roof: Brickz - the Museum dedicated to all things LEGO®. None of these things have happened overnight, but they are all from the mind of dedicated collector..

It’s not every day you see a baby camel, especially one just learning to stand on four wobbly legs! Woburn Safari Park is thrilled to announce the arrival of a male Bactrian camel calf, born on 22 April to proud parents Rita and Khan. Protective mother Rita nuzzles her newborn Bactrian calf climbs unsteadily to his feet Still finding his feet, the fluffy youngster is sticking close to mum and delighting visitors from his paddock near the Road Safari entrance. This is Rita’s second calf and a particular milestone for the Park, marking the first baby camel here in three years. But wait… are baby camels born with humps? Surprisingly, no! It takes around 10–12 months for a baby camel to develop these iconic humps. Here are a few more camel facts that might just surprise you: No humps yet – baby camels are born without fully formed humps, they..

This May marks one year since Unity Place fully opened its doors in the heart of Milton Keynes - and what a year it’s been. As we hit this milestone, it feels only right that it lands alongside Love MK Day - a city-wide celebration of everything that makes Milton Keynes bold, brilliant, and built for the future. Because let’s be honest: there’s nowhere quite like Milton Keynes. This is a city that doesn’t wait around. It moves. It builds. It tests, scales, and delivers. From driverless buses and robot deliveries to the UK’s largest fleet of autonomous service robots - innovation isn’t a buzzword here, it’s business as usual. No wonder Milton Keynes is ranked among the UK’s top ten cities for start-ups. It’s fast, fearless, and future-focused. Unity Place was designed to slot right into that energy. Sitting just steps from the train station, we’re the first welcome..

Campbell Wharf Marina, owned by The Parks Trust, celebrates a significant double achievement of 5 Gold Anchor status and Clean Marina accreditation. The Yacht Harbour Association’s (TYHA) Gold Anchor Award scheme has assessed and recognised Campbell Wharf Marina’s exceptional facilities, outstanding customer service, and excellent operational standards. Campbell Wharf Maria joins a select few marinas globally that have achieved the prestigious accolade of 5 Gold Anchors. The judging process reviews all aspects of the marina including customer feedback and a mystery shopping initiative to gather insights into the customer experience. David King, Property Director at The Parks Trust says “We’re very proud that the city’s landmark marina has been recognised with this outstanding award. It is testament to the work of the team managing the site, and we share our huge congratulations to them. Securing the Five Gold Anchors award demonstrates our commitment to provide the best possible experience for our moorers.”..

Willen Hospice is inviting the Milton Keynes community to join the conversation about death, dying and grief and represent their faith and cultural beliefs during Dying Matters Awareness Week (5–11 May). The national campaign, led by Hospice UK, encourages open and honest discussions about end-of-life experiences. This year’s theme, ‘The Culture of Dying Matters’, delves into the diverse ways communities across the UK discuss, navigate, and commemorate death and dying, while emphasising the common emotions that connect us all in grief and loss. As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, Willen Hospice is also sharing how its own care and support is inclusive of different communities and cultures. Kikelomo Pinheiro, Director of Clinical Services at the Hospice, says, “Some of our lead staff have been out meeting different faith groups. Last year for Dying Matters week, we invited several faith groups to the Hospice to talk about their beliefs and..

Get ready to raise the woof at this year’s Big Doggie Do! Fetch the lead and get set for the dog show at MK’s biggest pooch party at Willen Lake in only 2 weeks (17th and 18th May). The main arena dog show, sponsored by MK Vet Group, runs on both days with the following categories: 1.15 - 2.30pm (Saturday) and 12.15 – 1.30pm (Sunday) Most Handsome Fella (Male dogs 6 months+) Best Dressed Dog Best Biscuit Catcher Young Owners Award (Young handlers aged 7-14 years old) Rehomed Rovers 3.45 - 4.45pm (Saturday) and 2.45 – 3.45pm (Sunday) Most Beautiful Bitch (Female dogs 6 months +) Golden Oldies (Dogs ages 8 years+) Youthful Yearlings (Dogs aged 6 months – 1.5 years) Waggiest Tail Judges Jewels (Dog the judges would most like to take home) Further information on categories can be found at theparkstrust.com/bigdoggiedo Entries are £1 per dog per category, cash only. For safety,..

Midsummer Place is proud to host a heart-warming and nostalgic event on Thursday 8th May to celebrate VE Day. This special occasion will feature a two-hour musical journey through the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, brought to life by the joyful and energetic team from Ragdolly Annas. Taking place in the heart of the Midsummer Place Boulevard, the event has been thoughtfully designed for care home residents, blending music, memory, and movement into an unforgettable afternoon of celebration. In partnership with Ragdolly Annas, the event begins with the announcement of war and travels through key historical moments leading up to VE Day, the jubilant post-war celebrations, and into life in the decades that followed. The journey is soundtracked by iconic songs from the 1950s and 60s. "We're really proud to be hosting such a meaningful and uplifting event at Midsummer Place," says Kirsty McGiff, Marketing Manager at Midsummer Place. "It’s a..

Milton Keynes Museum takes history off the page and brings it to life with the return of its popular history festival on 10th and 11th May. The fascinating, family-friendly event promises to be a colourful, lively, engaging weekend walking you through the past and letting you get closer to our ancestors who were living, working, fighting and playing during key periods in this area's history. From the Roman period through to the early 20th century, reenactors will be giving an insight into how life used to be in the place that is now a bustling new city. The Vicus Romans will visit, and there will even be the opportunity to buy authentic Roman goods from a trader. You can meet the Chanz des Reis, who will take you back to civilian, military and religious life in the High Medieval age – from the reign of King William the Conqueror to King..