• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Luton [1] is a large town and local government district in the south-east of England, located 51 km (32 miles) north of London. It used to part of the county of Bedfordshire, but since 1997 it has been an administratively independent unitary authority. It remains part of Bedfordshire for ceremonial purposes. The town is known internationally primarily because of London Luton Airport [2], the home airport and headquarters of the low cost airline Easyjet.

Luton is a multicultural town with a population of towards 200,000. It was originally known as a center of the straw and hat making industry: hence "The Hatters", the nickname of Luton's football club. One or two hat making factories still exist in and around the Old Bedford Road area of the town. More recently, Luton was known as the home of Vauxhall cars and Whitbread brewing. Both are now shadows of their former selves.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By train

Luton has three railway stations, one in the city centre, one close to the airport and one towards the north of the town.

Luton Station is served by First Capital Connect and Midland Mainline trains. From Luton, trains go north to Bedford, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham. Southbound trains go to Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Wimbledon and Sutton.

The typical off peak service from this station is as follows:

• 4 trains per hour (tph) to Bedford (operated by First Capital Connect)
• 4 trains per hour to Brighton via Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London and Gatwick Airport (First Capital Connect)
• 2 trains per hour to Sutton via Luton Airport Parkway, St Albans, London and Wimbledon (First Capital Connect)
• 1 tph to Nottingham via Bedford, Kettering, Leicester and Loughborough (Midland Mainline)
• 1 tph to London St Pancras (Midland Mainline)

First Capital Connect trains serve several stations in Central London, including Kings Cross Thameslink and Blackfriars

Luton Airport Parkway railway station opened in 1999 and is located south-east of Luton and west of the airport. A free shuttle bus operates between the station and the airport, with a journey time of about ten minutes.

The station is located on the Midland Main Line and is served by First Capital Connect and Midland Mainline trains. From the station, you can travel north to Bedford, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough and Derby. Passengers can also travel south to St Albans, London, Wimbledon, Sutton, London Gatwick Airport and Brighton. The typical off-peak service from this station is as follows:

• 4 tph to Brighton via London and Gatwick Airport (First Capital Connect)
• 2 tph to Sutton via London and Wimbledon (First Capital Connect)
• 1 tph to London St Pancras (Midland Mainline)
• 2 tph to Luton only (First Capital Connect)
• 4 tph to Luton and Bedford (all stations) (First Capital Connect)
• 1 tph to Derby via Leicester (fast to Bedford) (Midland Mainline)

[edit] By plane

Luton has an international airport; the London Luton Airport. Frequent flights from many European destination are available, notably from the low cost carrier EasyJet.

[edit] By Car

Luton is easily accessible by car. Situated about 5 minutes from the M1 junctions 10 and 11, travelling from the south/London and the north respectively. The A505 provides a link via Hitchin to the A1(M), and the Cambridge/Hertfordshire area.

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

Luton Tourist Information Centre is in Luton Central Library, St. George's Square, Luton, Tel: 01582 401579

• Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Old Bedford Road, Luton, Tel: 01582 546739 [3]

• Stockwood Park Museum, Farley Hill, Luton LU1 4BH Tel: 01582 738714 [4]

Some surprisingly pleasant countryside is to be found around Luton. To the north of the town (in the village of Streatley) is a wooded hill named the Clappers, which is a good place for a walk. To the west of the town are Dunstable Downs, the eastern edge of the Chilterns and a popular place for walking, gliding and kite-flying.

• Shaw's Corner, in Ayot St Lawrence (on the way to Welwyn Garden City). This was George Bernard Shaw's home and is now owned by the National Trust.

• Whipsnade Zoo, just outside Dunstable.

[edit] Do

• Kenilworth Stadium,1 Maple Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU4 8AW [5], the home of Luton Town Football Club, offers footballing sights and sounds to the few thousand spectators who follow The Hatters. Kenilworth Road is best known to football supporters (and sociologists) as the venue for riots which broke out during and after a clash between Luton Town and Millwall in 1985.

[edit] Buy

• Debenhams
• Marks & Spencer is a poor one for the size of the town.
• Wilkinson
• Poundstretcher

Better (that is, more interesting) shopping is to be found in nearby towns: [St Albans],[Hitchin] and [Welwyn Garden City].

[edit] Eat

• Bellini's, located in the town centre, is a bar and club by night, but during the day it serves up reasonably-priced, semi-Italian cuisine.
• Lazim, in the Bury Park area, is a newly-opened Indian restaurant with delicious and affordable food; to get an incredibly-priced buffet, go for lunch or on Sunday evenings.
• Leaside Hotel (listed in the accommodation section below) has the most varied menus, including British classics, Mediterranean food and seafood. Portions are generous and booking in advance is a good idea. A great range of food is also available at the bar. The mix of Victorian surroundings and unobtrusive modern touches make this place stand out in a town that many consider a desert for foodies. You should note that, at the time of writing, the main restaurant is closed on Sunday evenings, so do check if you are going on Sunday.

For a quick bite, walk through the Arndale (large shopping centre) and grab some ethnic specialties in the market, such as an Indian samosa or savoury African pancake. There are also franchises like Costa, Gregg's, and McDonald's. Aroma, the Asian restaurant in the Galaxy, offers an incredible (though pricey) buffet; for cheaper prices, go for lunch.

[edit] Drink

• White House, attached the Galaxy cinema/bowling/arcade complex. Very friendly atmosphere, complete with a fireplace, armchairs, and bookshelves lining the walls.

[edit] Sleep

• Hillhouse, 93 London Road, Luton, LU1 3RG 01582 722725. Single B&B from £30.
• Leaside Hotel,72 New Bedford Road, Luton, LU3 1BT, Tel:01582 417643 / Fax: 01582 734961 [6] Single from £60.
• Stockwood Hotel,41/43 Stockwood Crescent, Luton, LU1 3SS, 01582 721000 [7] Single from £35.
• Hotel St Lawrence, 40 Guildford Street, Luton, LU1 2PA, 01582 482119 [8] Single from £72, wireless internet at extra charge.
• The Royal Hotel, 1 Mill Street, Luton :+44 (0)1582 400909 [9].

[edit] Get out

Luton does have one thing going for it: it is very well placed for travelling to other, more interesting places.

• London is just a 30-40 minute train journey away.