Five reasons to move to Milton Keynes
Mention Milton Keynes to friends, you might hear a joke about roundabouts and the concrete cows, but once you get past the famous sculptures, you’ll find a city that is often recognised as one of the best places to live and work in the UK*.
1. A city designed for modern living
Built in the late 1960s with the aim of creating an ideal environment to live and work in, Milton Keynes has become one of the country’s most dynamic and fastest growing cities.
Today, it continues to reflect these forward-thinking visions, with innovations such as autonomous robots that deliver shopping, driverless transport technologies and one of the first urban drone trials. The city also operates its own 5G network, which is used for research and development, as well as Smart City trials.
2. Great connectivity to London and beyond
One of the biggest advantages of living in Milton Keynes is its great connectivity. Sitting on the West Coast Main Line, the city puts London Euston around half an hour away by train, making it possible to enjoy London career opportunities while avoiding London house prices.
Beyond London, Birmingham is roughly 45 minutes by train, Oxford and Cambridge are just a short drive from our new homes in Milton Keynes, and the M1 motorway runs right past the city, making spontaneous weekend escapes far easier than you might expect. London Luton Airport is also less than an hour away, and future projects like East West Rail promise to make travel across the region even more convenient.
If you prefer two wheels, Milton Keynes features over 200 “Redways”, which are dedicated paths for cycling and walking separate from traffic. This makes it easy to cycle to the office or explore green spaces safely, without relying on a car.
3. Great career opportunities without leaving the city
Milton Keynes has developed into one of the UK’s most successful business locations, attracting large companies across finance, logistics, engineering and technology. Companies such as the Red Bull racing team, Santander, Volkswagen Group UK and Deloitte are all based in the city, alongside hundreds of smaller companies and start-ups.
The local economy continues to expand quickly too, partly because businesses recognise the advantages of Milton Keynes’ location and infrastructure. Modern office developments, strong digital connectivity, and good transport links make it an appealing base for companies that want to access talent who are looking to build a career outside of the capital.
4. More green spaces than you expect
Despite all its growth, around 40 percent of Milton Keynes of the city is devoted to parks, lakes and even has Europe's cleanest urban air quality**.
Living here gives you access to a range of large green spaces, which are often connected by walking and cycling routes that stretch for miles. Willen Lake is a popular spot for paddleboarding, sailing and long lakeside walks, while Furzton Lake offers wide paths that are perfect for running or simply wandering around with a coffee on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
Campbell Park, sitting next to the city centre, provides a huge open landscape that hosts a variety of concerts, outdoor cinema events and festivals throughout the year. On sunny days it fills with people stretching out on the grass, playing a game of cricket or enjoying a leisurely bike ride.
5. Plenty to do when you’re not working
You’ll find plenty of things to do in Milton Keynes on the weekend. The city centre has one of the largest shopping destinations in the UK, Centre:MK, which is packed with stores, restaurants and leisure options, so you won’t have to travel far for a bit of retail therapy.
Beyond the shops, you can visit the Milton Keynes Theatre, which regularly hosts touring productions from the West End, while the Xscape complex offers indoor skiing, climbing walls and various restaurants that become very popular after a long day of sliding down artificial snow.
History lovers aren’t left out either, with Bletchley Park offering an interesting insight into the codebreaking heroes of World War II.
Thinking about buying a new home in Milton Keynes?
For those considering making the move, Dandara has a range of new build homes in Milton Keynes, offering contemporary properties designed for modern living in well-connected locations across the city.
FAQ: Living in Milton Keynes
Is Milton Keynes a good place to live?
Milton Keynes is considered a great place to live because of its strong job market, excellent transport links and large amount of green space. The city was carefully planned, which means it benefits from wide roads, modern neighbourhoods and extensive cycling and walking paths
How far is Milton Keynes from London?
Milton Keynes is around 50 miles north of London. Direct trains from Milton Keynes Central to London Euston typically take between 30 and 40 minutes, making it one of the most convenient commuter cities for the capital.
Is Milton Keynes expensive to live in?
Milton Keynes is generally considered an affordable commuter location in Southeast England. Buyers often find they can get larger homes and more outdoor space compared with properties closer to the capital.
What is Milton Keynes known for?
Milton Keynes is known for its distinctive grid road system, large number of roundabouts and modern city layout. It is also famous for the Concrete Cows sculpture, its extensive Redway cycling network and large parks and lakes throughout the city.
Are there new homes available in Milton Keynes?
Yes, Dandara offer a range of new build homes for sale in Milton Keynes. We have a variety of properties available to suit both first-time buyers and growing families, with many located close to parks, schools and transport links.
*Based on the 2025 LSH Vitality Index, which ranked Milton Keynes among the UK’s top places to live and work.
** According to a study carried out by experts at Waste Direct.
