Milton Keynes

[Beardo]

And where Truman gets stabbed for his mobile and has his car nicked by joyriders.

 

ZB

 

i got maced in the eyes, in the car park of the cinema there once, not a very nice experience.

[Dunkield]

I haven't been there for a while but I would bet most people slagging it off have never been there, but having said that I would never live there.

As has been suggested already look at the outlying villages, I would say south west of MK but can't recommend anywhere specifically.

If you want to tempt lady seagrove out of town take her here: http://www.bicestervillage.com/en_GB/

[Imperfection]

I forgot but Ashwell's also got it's own nuclear observation bunker just up the road....

 

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...mp;t=h&z=20

 

It's the light blob in the centre of the picture. It was opened for 'Ashwell day' or whatever it was when we were there and I got

down into it. A couple of observers were supposed to monitor for nuclear blasts and report back to a central

control room in case of nuclear war!

 

 

Nial.

 

Theres hundreds of them scattered all over the UK and were manned by these peeps.

[starlight32]

And where Truman gets stabbed for his mobile and has his car nicked by joyriders.

 

ZB

 

Is Milton Keyes a bit naughty then?

 

I have to say I have never been there.

[J@mes]

I like the ski slope.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thats all I have to say really

[Nial]

Theres hundreds of them scattered all over the UK and were manned by these peeps.

 

 

If you search that site for Ashwell there's a picture of the top of it!

 

 

Nial.

[beerdeor]

I live near there but luckily the wife hates shopping so havnt been too the shopping centre in years, go to costco monthly though! as said any of the brickhills are worth a look but can be pricey stoke hammond may also be worth a look newton longville the list is long really depends on your budget

hope this helps a bit atb Jim

[Zapp]

Is Milton Keyes a bit naughty then?

 

I have to say I have never been there.

 

Parts of it are. I used to go out with a girl from MK and the bit she lived in was pretty rough. The outlying villages are very nice indeed though.

 

ZB

[Imperfection]

If you search that site for Ashwell there's a picture of the top of it!

 

 

Nial.

 

Are you one of the folk dancers in picture?

[Nial]

Are you one of the folk dancers in picture?

 

 

Two things.

 

1) I'm from Norn Iron and don't do 'folk dancing'.

 

2) http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/roc/uploads/...ic1_ashwell.jpg

 

 

Folk dancers?

 

 

Nial.

[bruno22rf]

Winslow's o.k. but theres nicer if you want to pay.Many parts around MK are earmarked for heavy develpment so choose wisely-shooting permission is usually only gained by marrying into a family of either farmers or poachers.Thornborough is pretty as are some of the smaller villages-Little Horwood is a nice place with a strong community spirit.I hate huge shopping centres but MK is about as good as they get and how the hell can anyone moan about a grid system?-easiest way in the world to navigate.

[nhamm2]

I've lived out this way all my life and am disapointed and somewhat offended by some if the vitriol expressed here. Yes, the centre is a bit soul-less but it's clean and largely safe with more parks, trees, canals and lakes than most, if you bother to look. Hanslope is 10 mins away and a lovely little village with a good sense of community, local shoot and excellent facilities. Castlethoroe is similar and has a superb clay shoot every other week. Suggest you also look just over the border into northants; better prices and some lovely old houses and pubs try potterspury, ******* gobion etc.

 

Good luck and give me a shout if you take the plunge - be delighted to show you around and share a beer.

 

All the best.

[Tommo]

Winslow's o.k. but theres nicer if you want to pay.Many parts around MK are earmarked for heavy develpment so choose wisely-shooting permission is usually only gained by marrying into a family of either farmers or poachers.Thornborough is pretty as are some of the smaller villages-Little Horwood is a nice place with a strong community spirit.I hate huge shopping centres but MK is about as good as they get and how the hell can anyone moan about a grid system?-easiest way in the world to navigate.

 

+1 here, hi Chris - hope your well?!

 

Lived in Winslow too, and now shoot again for one of the gun clubs. I live in Aylesbury (20 mins to MK)

 

To be honest l find MK really easy to navigate, a grid system has to be the most simplist way of laying out a built up area! I spent most of my youth in pubs and Clubs over in MK, but that was when me and all my mates lived in Buckingham (or local village around) and MK was in its infancy. It has its rough bits as well as its expensive gated estates, but it all depends on what you can afford. But thats the same with all built up areas? I've lived for long periods in Southampton, Doncaster and obviosuly Bucks and everywhere is the same. At least they cut the grass and collect the litter in MK!!

 

I have to say though if a bird stikes up a conversation with you in a bar in MK and says she's from Bean Hill, Netherfield, Denbigh, coffee Hall or Mount Farm - leave as she'll have her bags and kids in the car waiting for their new 'daddy' to take them all home for tea.

 

My my my l could tell you some stories of what me and my mates got up to in MK - back in the days when The Santurary was open....

[Billy.]

Parts of it are. I used to go out with a girl from MK and the bit she lived in was pretty rough. The outlying villages are very nice indeed though.

 

ZB

 

Funny that... I used to go out with a girl in MK, but she was rough and the area she lived in was nice

[PhilR]

I happen to live in SW Milton Keynes and have done since 1995, my wife's company moved their HQ here from London and we decided it was the right time to move from our previous house and reduce her commute time too.

 

There are some grim areas of 'social' housing and there are some very nice private housing areas too, just the same as any large conurbation. Locals refer to MK as a city although this status has been denied MK so far although it is a unitary authority within Bucks.

 

There's also a great number of green areas and water features in fact from my study window I can see an area of woodland that's mentioned in the Domesday Book, it used to be populated by pheasants and muntjac but they've long gone as the city has developed around it. You can travel by foot or by bike around the city along the Redway network of paths almost totally avoiding the grid network of roads.

 

Construction of MK was started in the late 60s and it was designed around the car, not very green nowadays but back then it was just a colour. By and large it has worked very well and cross city travel by car is pretty easy as most of the major grid road are now dual carriageways, some roundabouts during rush hour get congested after 8.15am but by 9.00am everything is moving freely again. Bus services were once almost non existent, in fact I've never been on one, but things have moved on and there's a lot more about but I'll have to pass as to the efficiency of their service.

 

Unfortunately our Lib/Lab Council have decided to move away from the original design concept and make life difficult for motorists by installing traffic lights on some roundabouts which itself causes hold ups when there's nowt about during non peak times. They've made permanent bus lanes on some city centre roads that are idle for probably more than 95% of the time again causing congestion. Car parking throughout the city was once free, but most is now pay and display, not unexpectedly, and is policed ruthlessly by the men in grey.

 

The shopping centre is the main attraction with most major high street retailers there including John Lewis and M&S. There are Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi, Netto and Asda supermarkets around the city to suit every taste and pocket. The arrival of the latter along with it's fuel station and national pricing policy has stabilised fuel prices here, 113.9p for both derv and unleaded as I write. A theatre has been built and of course there's the snow dome too. Most residents plus the incomers from outlying towns and villages enjoy the fact that the city centre is a warm and dry shopping mall open to 6pm Monday to Wednesday and to 8pm on Thursday and Friday.

 

Yes, theres the MK Dons football team, not that I'm interested in them, so there's a new football stadium too that was included in a deal to construct the Asda and Ikea superstores and I guess it was more money related than any altruism in getting football here.

 

The rate of crime doesn't seem to be particularly high, certainly the local rags aren't full of it.

 

MK may not be to everyone's taste, but there's a lot to offer here. Ohh, I almost forget there's also the concrete cows so there's another subject for jokes to go with the roundabouts. But 'am I bovvered?'

[starlight32]

Parts of it are. I used to go out with a girl from MK and the bit she lived in was pretty rough. The outlying villages are very nice indeed though.

 

ZB

 

 

Mind you Zapp, one positive point about birds that come from rough areas is that they dont normally need to much wining and dining before they are what we would say 'Ready for frontline duties'

 

Agreed???

[malkiserow]

Mind you Zapp, one positive point about birds that come from rough areas is that they dont normally need to much wining and dining before they are what we would say 'Ready for frontline duties'

 

Agreed???

 

So MK is officially a tramp-stamp-tastic-town with street-pharmacy on tap like a taxi

[KFC]

North Crawley is a smashing village with loads of fields and land that you can still walk over.

 

I was born and bred there.

 

It even has a clay pigeon club, third Sunday of the month I believe.

 

Even if you don't move there it is a nice place to visit and you'll get a good meal at 'The Chequers' .

 

http://www.northcrawley.com/

Edited March 24, 2010 by KFC

[danddo]

I work in MK and the few good things about it are the roads out. Chose to commute rather than live there. What a good decision.

[starlight32]

So MK is officially a tramp-stamp-tastic-town with street-pharmacy on tap like a taxi

 

Hmmm.......Nice

[Wookie]

Hmmm.......Nice

 

MK was the starting place for the whole theory about pampass grass and swingers.

 

Legend has it that the swingers planted said grass to subtly announce to other interested parties that they were about. Presence of a caravan in the driveway was another giveaway. I did correct the Wikipedia entries for both Pampass Grass and MK a while ago about this, but someone seems to have removed them. Shame.

 

Anyway, the taxi drivers are all psychos too. Last lift I had with one was shocking as he drifted round corners to take us to Furzton Lake. If I hadn't been at a BBQ beforehand, I might have been a little scared.

[MPT1]

Funny how you get pre conceptions --- I always thought MK was a part of London -- like a suberb - sorta Tower hamlets of somewhere or other - Where all the £1m premium bond winners live before they won then moved to countryside like Battersea on sea. - Haven't been to London since 1978 so perhaps it's changed.

 

Dave

 

Funny thing, when abroad people from MK or St Albans etc say they're from London. I've got blokes from Sheffield/Rotheram on site this week and they thought Gatwick and even Brighton were in London.

Just outside Hodnet is a mystery to me, I thought Hodnet might be just outside somewhere.

Edited March 24, 2010 by MPT1

[Zapp]

Mind you Zapp, one positive point about birds that come from rough areas is that they dont normally need to much wining and dining before they are what we would say 'Ready for frontline duties'

 

Agreed???

 

Absolutely correct :o

 

ZB

[Diceman]

Well, I never realised there were so many locals on here!

I reluctantly moved from beautiful Cheshire to MK 20 years ago for work, but soon grew to love it. I lived in a 150 year old cottage in a village, pub, cricket green, the works - but 5 mins from the town centre. Moved to Buckingham for 5 years, which is just up the road and a nice market town, and now back closer to MK in one of the outlying villages. I think it is a great place to live, and most who slag it off have never been here or never got beyond the concrete cows (incidentally, a gift to the town from an american artist who wanted to represent the skilful way that the planners had combined town and country) I am now surrounded by countryside/farmland but if you want shops and a lively night out they are just up the road. Depends on your budget but have a look at the northwest / south / western side, Castlethorpe, Calverton, Stony Stratford, The Horwoods, Whaddon, Nash, Swanbourne, Thornton, Thornborough...all 10-20 mins to the central station and then 35 mins on a fast train to the smoke. Winslow is nice too, and there is talk of the railways being reopened on that side soon to make it even easier for you.

I suggest you have a drive around and a look for yourself and I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised. If you want any advice on particular areas let me know, would be glad to help. Or tell us what your priorities are and I'm sure me and my neighbours will advise you where to start looking! Plenty of good shooting round here as well.

[Beardo]

MK update - live breaking news.

job went well, traffic was fine, even finished early so decided to visit R&K Stockcraft for the first time - i have to say they were the friendliest and most helpful gun shop i've ever visited with a really nice selection of rifles, shotguns and equipment. I cannot recommend them highly enough, so there's a good reason for moving to MK if nothing else.