Summary of Attractions in Luton
Thirty miles northwest of Central London, Luton experienced significant growth in the 20th century, characterized by an array of functional architecture from that period.
Most visitors traveling to Luton tend to overlook the town entirely while en route to the international airport.
However, there is a notable range of attractions to discover in the town and its picturesque countryside.
The two principal parks, Stockwood and Wardown, feature captivating museums that have recently benefitted from investment enhancements.
Luton is situated just beneath the northeastern escarpment of the Chiltern Hills, with the renowned Whipsnade Zoo conveniently nearby.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Luton:
1. Stockwood Park
This expansive 100-hectare park at Luton’s southern edge was once a country estate.
Stockwood House (1740) was demolished in the 1960s, and its stables along with walled gardens now house the Stockwood Discovery Centre, funded in part by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which we will discuss further below.
The parkland, meanwhile, features sporting fields and an athletics facility amid the impressive historic trees.
On the eastern side lies the Stockwood Park Golf Centre, which offers an 18-hole par 69 course and a nine-hole par 3 course.
2. Stockwood Discovery Centre
The museum, located in the stables at Stockwood Park, is surrounded by a Medieval garden, an Elizabethan formal knot garden, and a Dig for Victory Garden that recreates the vegetable plots of the Second World War.
Within the museum’s complex of both old and new structures, visitors will find a Discovery Hall, a series of Victorian Greenhouses, and the Discovery Galleries.
The Discovery Hall includes the Springs and Wheel exhibition, which explores the evolution of transport over the centuries, while Life’s Journey features the distinguished Mossman Collection, discussed below.
The Discovery Galleries focus on local history, showcasing Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Medieval artifacts, in addition to a collection of arts and crafts accumulated from Bedfordshire villages from the 1930s to the 1950s.
3. Wardown Park
A municipal park that any town would take pride in, Wardown Park is situated alongside the River Lea, which features a boating lake on its eastern side.
In addition to the house that contains the Wardown Park Museum, the park’s principal landmark is the suspension bridge, constructed in 1908 and renovated in 2015. Also notable is the Daisy Chain wall, erected in 1905, characterized by Arts and Craft-style patterned brickwork, which separates the main park from the more formal pleasure garden.
The park is adorned with well-tended flowerbeds that burst with color during the summer months, while the lake is home to geese, swans, and ducks, accompanied by a children’s playground along its bank.
4. Wardown Park Museum
The Victorian Mansion within Wardown Park serves as Luton’s town museum, focusing on local archaeology and traditional expertise in Bedfordshire.
On the ground floor, visitors can view an Iron Age mirror and the Shillington Roman Coin Hoard, consisting of around 130 gold coins minted during the reigns of seven different Roman emperors.
The museum prominently features the region’s historic crafts, including hat-making and lace-making, with examples of lace dating back to the 1600s.
One exhibit of particular significance is the Wenlock Jug, one of only three surviving Medieval bronze jugs in England, dating back to the 1400s.
5. Mossman Collection
This remarkable collection of horsedrawn vehicles is featured at the Life’s Journey Gallery in the Discovery Centre.
Curated by local businessman George Mossman, this collection is the largest of its kind in Europe, encompassing 54 vehicles contributed by him, in addition to nine vehicles provided by the Luton Museum Services.
Among the captivating exhibits are a London omnibus, a postal carriage, a Landau from the 1700s, an early-1800s Barouche, and a charabanc, which was employed in public transportation before the motor vehicle era.
The carriages are impeccably maintained and are frequently rented for use in television and film production.
6. St Mary’s Church
As Bedfordshire’s largest church, St Mary’s boasts a legacy spanning over 850 years and is notable for the flint and stone chequer pattern on its facade.
Despite extensive restoration, most of its architecture reflects the Perpendicular Gothic style from the 15th century, funded by the local lord John Wenlock who initiated an expansion and constructed a chapel for his family.
Within the chapel, one can find the tomb of his father, William Wenlock, along with a stained glass window from the early 20th century depicting John Wenlock.
Additionally, the church showcases magnificent transept windows and a baptismal font adorned with a stunning 14th-century Gothic octagonal canopy.
7. Whipsnade Zoo
A short distance into the Dunstable Downs is the largest zoo in the UK, Whipsnade Zoo, owned by the ZSL (Zoological Society of London), a non-profit organization devoted to animal conservation globally.
With more than a dozen zones, Whipsnade is home to a variety of creatures, including cheetahs, Indian rhinos, exotic birds, a herd of nine Asian elephants, sea lions, African lions, African hunting dogs, and a newly established butterfly house housing the impressive Atlas moth.
In addition to daily sea lion and bird demonstrations, the zoo also offers various animal encounters, allowing visitors for an additional fee to interact closely with rhinos and giraffes. The “Zoo Explorers” program is a one-day educational course designed for children aged 5-7, featuring interactive games and activities led by zookeepers.
8. Woodside Animal Farm
Tailored for families with young children, Woodside Animal Farm offers kids the opportunity to feed and interact with animals in a secure setting under the supervision of trained staff.
These interactive sessions are typically seasonal, with Easter being the ideal time to visit to witness baby lambs, ducklings, and rabbits.
Children can learn about the diets and behaviors of the animals while exploring paddocks featuring goats, ponies, alpacas, donkeys, and cows.
The farm provides a wide range of attractions and activities, from tractor rides and fairground amusements to crazy golf, a sand pit, bikes, scooters, and both indoor and outdoor play areas.
9. Dunstable Downs
In Luton, visitors are never more than a few minutes away from the scenic Chilterns, a chalk range extending southwest of the town.
The northeast escarpment of the Chilterns lies close to Dunstable Downs, where Haddington Hill marks the highest point in East England.
Travelers can embark on the National Trust’s Five Knolls Wildlife and Heritage Walk to learn about the Bronze Age history of the downs while observing the flora and fauna prevalent in this unique habitat.
A visitor center, also operated by the Trust, offers a shop, café, and environmental information.
The downs are also a hub for the London Glider Club, with gliders often seen soaring above during walks.
10. Barton Hills National Nature Reserve
Venture further north of Luton into the Chilterns’ northeastern foothills, showcasing breathtaking countryside.
This area of downland is celebrated for its distinctive wildflowers, such as greater pignuts, hair violets, orchids, fleaworts, and, notably, pasques, which bloom from April to June.
These vibrant flowers attract a colorful array of butterflies, while a crystal-clear chalk stream meanders through the valley within the reserve.
During the summer months, Dartmoor ponies are released to graze on the hills, adding to the picturesque landscape.
11. Shaw’s Corner
Located ten miles southeast of Luton, Shaw’s Corner is a worthwhile visit for those who appreciate culture.
This estate was the lifelong residence of Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw from 1906 until his passing in 1950. The house retains many of his personal possessions, including his desk, writing instruments, Nobel Prize, and a bust of Shaw created by Auguste Rodin.
Visitors can also explore Shaw’s extensive personal library and his writing shed, affectionately named “London,” which could be rotated to catch sunlight, allowing visitors to believe he was in the capital while writing.
During summer, performances of Shaw’s plays are staged in the gardens, complemented by temporary exhibitions exploring various aspects of his life.
In 2018, exhibitions focused on George and Charlotte’s involvement in the women’s suffrage movement.
12. Wrest Park
This magnificent country estate showcases 300 years of sophisticated garden design.
Wrest Park features an array of parterres in the French, Dutch, Italian, and English styles, interconnected by a straight gravel pathway that transforms into a canal leading to an impressive Baroque pavilion banqueting house from 1711. Notable figures in landscape architecture, such as Henry Wise and Capability Brown, contributed their expertise to Wrest Park in the 18th century.
Over 40 sculptures embellish the gardens, alongside remarkable structures like an 18th-century Bowling Green House, an ornamental bridge, and a Chinese temple.
Even more sculptural beauty is found at the estate’s dairy, which houses a Neptune figure carved from Portland stone and a sundial dating back to 1682.
13. Luton Hoo Walled Garden
South of Luton, beyond Stockwood Park, lies a grand estate crafted in the 1760s by the acclaimed Neoclassical architect Robert Adam for the 3rd Earl of Bute.
One notable early visitor was the writer Dr. Samuel Johnson, who commended the estate’s magnificence.
In the 19th century, the estate underwent alterations by Robert Smirke and was sold in 1991. Currently, Luton Hoo operates as a hotel, but during summer on Wednesdays, the five-acre walled garden can be visited, which was first designed by the 3rd Earl of Bute in the 1760s.
The garden boasts splendid Victorian and Edwardian glasshouses, cultivating seasonal fruits and vegetables that are available for purchase at a produce stall, along with homemade honey.
14. Someries Castle
Located in an unexpected locale just east of Luton Airport lies a fascinating piece of heritage.
Someries Castle, a 15th-century fortified manor house, was constructed by Sir John Wenlock and is considered one of the first brick houses built in England.
Wenlock passed away before completing the structure, leaving Someries Castle in an unfinished state, with many of its bricks repurposed in local farmhouses during the 1600s.
The gatehouse remains in remarkable condition for its age, and visitors can walk through the pointed Gothic arches at the entrance and explore the remnants of the chapel.
Outside, one can discern the earthworks of a Norman Castle that existed on this site before Wenlock acquired the land.
15. Luton Carnival
The UK’s largest one-day carnival takes place in Luton on the Bank Holiday Saturday at the end of May.
Originating from the West Indian community in the 1970s, this event has evolved into a vibrant celebration centered around Wardown Park, featuring a funfair, dancing, stalls offering international cuisine, arts and crafts, yoga, live music, and much more.
The highlight of the event is the parade, which typically commences at the periphery of Wardown Park and proceeds along Old and New Bedford Roads.
Numerous community groups from throughout the town dedicate months to designing colorful costumes, floats, and sound systems for the parade, with over 1,500 participants.
