Luton harbours a thriving literary and cultural scene with numerous museums, galleries and theatres. It’s also a family-friendly destination where kids can visit an animal farm and attend children’s plays and gardens.
Things to do in Luton
Stockwood Discovery Centre boasts manicured gardens, outdoor play areas and exhibitions featuring rural crafts, archaeology and rare artefacts. You’ll find the medieval Wenlok Jug as well as Britain’s largest collection of Mossman carriages. The gardens reflect at least nine centuries of landscape themes, including Victorian cottage gardens, an intact Elizabethan knot garden and classical sculptures depicting ancient Rome.
Travelling with kids? Visit Woodside Animal Farm, home to monkeys, alpacas, wallabies, racoons, iguanas and turtles. Play areas include trampolines, a sandpit, climbing frames, tractor rides, a splash pool, mini-golf course and heated indoor play barn. You can also purchase treats to hand-feed the animals.
Luton Library Theatre offers professional and amateur plays and classical music performances, while Luton Museum and Art Gallery showcases traditional crafts from Bedfordshire. Housed inside a Victorian-era mansion, the collections include lace and hat-making, straw plaiting and a set of Saxon jewellery.
For shopping, head over to the historic Olde Watermill Shopping Village, named after its 1,000-year-old watermill. The Dickensian-style village hosts more than a dozen shops selling everything from antiques and retro sweets to specialty wool clothing. If you’re looking to entertain the kids, let them run free in the Pirates & Mermaids outdoor adventure park.
Getting around Luton
You can get around in Luton by rail, bus, taxi and rideshare services. You can catch a shuttle or rent a car at London Luton Airport, less than 10 minutes’ drive away.