Introduction

Why produce a Web document about Milton Keynes

First of all, for people reading this from outside the UK, a little background is required. Milton Keynes is a "New Town". That is one that was designed and built from scratch in recent times rather than having developed from a small settlement over hundreds of years. Interestingly though it has incorporated a number of towns and villages that have a very ancient and interesting past, more of which is described in the section on areas and names. The majority of the town is, however, modern and has been planned - unlike traditional British towns that have simply had extra bits tacked on over the course of time.

The two main features of MK which distinguishes it from older towns are:

1. The town was built with motor vehicles in mind and so has a structured road network.
2. A significant amount of land was set aside for Green Space, from the extensive network of park land even down to the sizeable margins planted with trees and shrubs by the side of the road system. The domination of the greenery in MK warrants pages devoted to parks and lakes in this guide.

So why this document

Milton Keynes is my home, not a place I am forced to live, but where I live from choice. It is not a vast metropolis like London with all the things that such a city has to offer, or a quaint oldie English town. It is simply a provincial town of 200,000 people in the corner of Buckinghamshire with the most astonishing expanse of parks and lakes and modern facilities.

This page is born from the frustration of the town being the butt end of every joke that is supposed to symbolise a place not to live. This is a self sustaining myth that is passed around between people that haven't even been here.

The public opinion of this town is developed from ignorance and an onslaught of misinformation.

This is an attempt to educate.

mk@ontic.net