Things to Do

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.”..

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..

'I am interested in coming up with something timeless...' Pictures by Tom Bronowski tombronowski.com Revered for his insane ability as a writer, musician and producer, Alain Johannes is always in demand, but right now he’s shining a light on his own body of brilliant work with a UK tour, which will see him visit Milton Keynes. Pulse’s Sammy Jones spoke with him... Whether in the studio environment, working solo or having others utilising his talents as a collaborator, if Alain Johannes has a hand in the music-making, it’s guaranteed to bring gold to the ears. We don’t have the space to list the roll call of artists Alain has worked with in full, but he has been trusted by Chris Cornell, No Doubt, Mark Lanegan, Jimmy Eat World, Queens of the Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys. He has spent time in PJ Harvey’s band and as a touring member of Them..

Here’s a tasty truth bomb for you: food waste doesn’t have to be a given. In fact, at Unity Place, they’re proving it can be a launchpad for creativity. And this Stop Food Waste Day (30 April), they’re serving up more than just clever bites—they’re dishing out inspiration. Nestled in the heart of Milton Keynes, Unity Place is more than just a spot to grab your morning flat white or a cheeky lunchtime curry. With a medley of eateries—think the vibrant Urban Food Market, the sleek Unity Sky Lounge, Dipna Anand’s flavour-packed Kitchen & Bar, the always-cosy Baker’s Room, and five caffeine-slinging coffee corners—this place is buzzing with culinary action. But behind the scenes? There’s a whole lot of heart (and hustle) going into making sure that precious ingredients never go to waste. “We work hard all year round to minimise waste across everything we do – from prep to..

The popular inflatable water park, located at Willen Lake, has officially reopened. Known for its high-energy fun and giant floating obstacle courses, Aqua Parcs is once again bringing back its much-loved attraction, The Mammoth, one of the largest features ever installed on the lake, alongside a collection of other adrenaline-pumping inflatables. In a bid to help families across Milton Keynes during the ongoing cost of living crisis, Aqua Parcs has spent the winter months forging a plan to make visiting the park this summer more affordable, launching a brand new Subscribe and Save initiative. The BRAND NEW Subscribe and Save plan allows guests to enjoy unlimited visits to the park for an upfront joining fee and monthly payments starting from just £6.25. Paid over 12 months, this flexible pricing model means families can make the most of their summer without breaking the bank. The offer has already received a warm..

If you're looking for your next go-to dining spot in Milton Keynes, we’ve found a gem. Say hello to Palm MK, a brand new Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant that’s just opened its doors in Wolverton. Palm MK isn’t just a restaurant. Spread across two floors, it boasts a stunning garden, a retractable roof terrace (perfect for those summer evenings!), and a chill shisha lounge that’s made for late-night lounging with friends. Whether you're after a cosy dinner, cocktails and catch-ups, or a private party space upstairs, Palm has it all. Inspired by the laid-back, stylish spirit of the Mediterranean, the space is warm and welcoming with an Instagrammable decor. Palm is designed to bring people together over seriously good food and cocktails, with a community feel that’s already turning heads. The menu is packed with tempting choices. Expect a colourful array of cold and hot starters, veggie delights, grilled dishes, seafood, pasta,..

It isn’t just the visitors enjoying the Easter celebrations at Woburn Safari Park this year, some of the animal residents were treated to their very own egg-stra special surprises, thanks to the creative efforts of the Park’s dedicated animal keepers. Keepers set up a unique Easter egg hunt for some of the Park’s wonderful residents this week, including female Asian elephants and the North American black bears – offering an experience that promotes natural foraging behaviours. In the Road Safari, the elephant keepers got to work crafting egg-shaped treats using a combination of the herd’s favourite foods. Ingredients included bran, bananas, potatoes and beetroot –shaped into egg moulds for the animals to hunt down in piles of hay. And to add to the fun, keepers also included some fruity favourites - honeydew melons - with their natural egg-like shape, added as an extra surprise and to perfectly match the Easter..

If you wandered down to Willen Lake last weekend, you probably caught the scent of sizzling spices on the breeze—or maybe it was the sound of happy chatter and live music floating through the air. Either way, you couldn’t miss it: Flavour Fest was back, and it absolutely popped off. Under a blissfully bright 22-degree sky (yes, we’re counting that as a heatwave, thank you very much), thousands of visitors poured in for a weekend of foodie heaven and feel-good vibes. Held over Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April, the festival served up everything we love about spring in Milton Keynes—sunshine, snacking, and serious community spirit. And oh, the food. From The Rub’s smoky BBQ goodness to the bold flavours of Urban Spice Box and the ever-popular pizzas from Willen Lake Café’s own stall, the line-up was basically a greatest hits of street food. There were also refreshing drinks, zingy..

It’s time to plan your egg-cellent family adventures! Milton Keynes Museum has been shut for much of 2025 so far, following a devastating fire on site, but its doors re-open in time for the Easter celebrations, and the Museum for Milton Keynes is promising more seasonal fun than ever before to mark the occasion! Of course the search for hidden eggs will return, and the Easter Egg Hunt ensures no-one goes home empty handed. Additionally, this year’s hunt will see visitors trying to locate a couple of incredibly rare eggs that will be hiding somewhere in the Museum. Find those, and you’ll win a large chocolate Easter egg! The egg search runs daily from Good Friday to Easter Monday (April 18-21), with visitors also being able to enjoy all that the space has to offer; from playing Parlour Games in the farmhouse and peeking into the world of toys over..

Thirteen years ago, someone at Destination Milton Keynes had one of those ideas. The kind that starts with a cuppa and a “what if…” and ends up becoming a city-wide celebration that’s now a firm fixture in the calendar. What if there was a day dedicated entirely to showing some love for Milton Keynes? Not just with words—but with cakes, pizzas, Minecraft builds and (yes, really) lawn art? Well, fast forward to today and that idea has grown into #LoveMK Day, the biggest one-day social media love-in for this city we call home. And this year, it’s landing on Thursday 1 May—so get ready to show off your MK pride. Not just roundabouts and concrete cows (but we love those too) Over the years, Milton Keynes has had its fair share of stick—mostly from folks who’ve never actually visited. But those who get it? They really get it. The green..

Milton Keynes’ most beloved canine celebration is back, and it’s shaping up to be more paw-some than ever. Big Doggie Do, the free, family-friendly event dedicated entirely to dogs and their humans, returns to Willen Lake on Saturday 17 May (12–5pm) and Sunday 18 May (11–4pm). Organised by The Parks Trust, the charity caring for MK’s beautiful parks and green spaces, the event promises a weekend full of tail wags, muddy paws, and unforgettable moments. Across the two-day extravaganza, visitors can expect: The ever-popular annual dog show Dock-diving demos with the energetic K9 Aqua Sports Flyball action from the high-speed Keyne Kanines Main arena entertainment with Paws for Thought and Little Nippers Local pet supplies and tasty treats (for both two- and four-legged guests) Engaging dog-related talks in the Club Tent A variety of local stalls and charities One of this year’s Club Tent highlights is a talk on medical..

The new tour of War Horse gallops into Milton Keynes Theatre this April. The powerful National Theatre production is inspired by Sir Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling novel which has sold more than 35 million copies world-wide since being published a little more than 40 years ago. The story is a captivating one, but so too is the backstory of this literary thoroughbred. “I was born in 1943 in London, so I was aware, very early on in my life, what war did to the flesh,” the author explains. “A gentleman called Eric Pearce used to come to tea with us. He was a lovely man and I knew that he was a war hero. He had been a Fleet Air Arm pilot. He was very smart, but he had terrible burns on his face, an ear and fingers missing and only one eye. Mother always told me not to stare, but..