Milton Keynes- The best city one can ask for

Posted by toyrager@reddit | miltonkeynes | View on Reddit | 36 comments

I have recently shifted to Milton Keynes and I must say that the city is gorgeous. I have never seen a more beautiful city than Milton Keynes, from its architecture to the greenery everything is very calm and composing. The shopping centres are also a treat to visit. I would love to know what you gus think about the city and would really appreciate some tips for a newbie to settle in the city well.

Thanks in advance.

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

The city is amazing but the only point I would disagree on is architecture. Apart from a couple of really old buildings tucked away it’s pretty “meh” in that department.

But the green spaces, fast flowing traffic, redway & lakes make up for that. Also all the estates are tucked away behind greenery so you feel like you live in a small town rather than a big city.

Oh, and don’t forget the canal

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Any-Republic-4269@reddit

The architecture is amazing! But maybe needs a little more work than say Bath or York. The Shopping Building (whatever it's called now) is a stunning (listed) reworking of Parisian arcades. Some of the grid squares are really brilliant - the ones near the centre are denser, versions of Georgian town houses or New York walk up apartments. There's one based on an Italian hill town. The care by which the original villages like Old Milton Keynes are integrated. The main thing is that the architecture was meant to evolve and be flexible - not always worked, not always been flexed in the right way. But compared to other late twentieth century architecture it's up there with the best

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

Don’t try and convince yourself. It’s dire

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SiteTraditional6418@reddit

I'm convinced you not who keeps saying this are suffering from hometown syndrome.

Let's be real here it's not Luton, it's not Croydon, it's not reading, those are dives. As far as London belt commuter towns go Milton Keynes is a mile ahead with the added bonus of being reasonably close to the north.

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

The ironic thing is I’m not even British.

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SiteTraditional6418@reddit

Hometown syndrome is just a name to describe a place you've become disillusioned with and have lost perspective over, it's got nothing to do with it actually being your Hometown.

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

I’m confused. I like MK but the architecture shite. How have I lost perspective? That’s a very subjective thing and no matter how you try to spin it by trying to gaslight me. It stays shite

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SiteTraditional6418@reddit

is is it shite or not? or are you just pissy because I called you out?

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Any-Republic-4269@reddit

It's not my hometown (which is a picture postcard perfect English village). But MK is a really important example both of the English Garden City and postwar modernism, up there with the Barbican, Park Hill, UEA, to pluck a few out of my tired head. Compared to most late twentieth century town planning in the UK (Say for example Lakeside) it's streets ahead and in some parts - the shopping centre, Campbell Park, the central boulevards, some of the best grid squares, it really is beautiful

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SiteTraditional6418@reddit

agreed, OP just wants to hate it.

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TheySoldEverything@reddit

I massively prefer modernism, brutalism and corpo glass chic to anything from over a 100 years ago. Those are ruins that should be demolished, a sign of a nation in decline and little else.

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Any-Republic-4269@reddit

Here's a really nice article which explains why MK is so special and here's the list entry for the shopping centre

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TheySoldEverything@reddit

Thanks! Cool read

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Building_Glad@reddit

I love the red path and the connected parks about the city .

Also it used to be quick to drive with all the roundabouts but now the driving standards have fallen and council implementing 40 zones.

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

Red way

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Comfortable_Ad_4267@reddit

*Redways

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SiteTraditional6418@reddit

Red One*

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needless90210@reddit

For a 40YO bloke who’s moving to MK (from India) for work, and will be living alone, what areas would one recommend to stay? I would prefer a modern 1BHK vs a traditional house. Looked at serviced apartments and most are in the £1300/1400 range(eg Almere).

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Dull_Hawk9416@reddit

Stay out of CMK if you can afford too. If you aren’t central you will need a car because the public transport is shite. My preference lies towards Kingsmead, Westcroft, the Shenleys, Tattenhoe

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True_Sherbet_358@reddit

Places like Grange Farm and Oakhill are nice areas

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Practical_Bobcat3650@reddit

I think you should travel more!

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toyrager@reddit (OP)

I have lived in south east london and coming from that milton keynes is way better. Would love to know some of your recommendations for travelling to other cities.

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Practical_Bobcat3650@reddit

Wow, touched a nerve with some folk. I lived in Milton Keynes for 30+ years, but have also been afforded the abillity to travel a lot, some beautiful cities off the top of my head: Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon, Florence, Prague, Vienna, Vancouver, Seville...I'm sure there's lots more that I've forgotten.

Milton Keynes is fine and functional, on a summer's day it's lovely, I used to enjoy cycling around all the lakes of an afternoon, I said to travel more as you can see some real architectual beauty that way.

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toyrager@reddit (OP)

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