Milton Keynes has fast become a popular place to live in recent years and now has around 287,000 people living in the area. MK, as it’s commonly referred to, received its city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

One of the main draws for living in Milton Keynes has got to be the Buckinghamshire city’s fantastic location, with direct links to London; commuters can get there in as little as 30 minutes by train, with Birmingham possible in around 45 minutes. Or perhaps it’s the city’s abundance of bars, restaurants and shopping options that entice home-movers to live here; whatever the appeal, it’s true to say that if you’re thinking of moving to a location that arguably has it all, then Milton Keynes is worth considering.

What are the job opportunities in Milton Keynes?

Whilst London is easily commutable, Milton Keynes itself has many employment opportunities. Home to many large national and international employers including Mercedes-Benz, Argos, Domino’s Pizza and more, the city ranks highly in the UK for one of the top places for business commerce outside of London.

What about schools?

There are so many considerations when you’re thinking of moving home. And if you have children, then no doubt reputable schools will be high on your list of priorities. The good news is Milton Keynes’ schools boast impressive results above the national average. The city also has a choice of private schools for various age groups. In terms of adult learning, The Open University has its headquarters in Milton Keynes and also has a campus within the town – there are universities in the surrounding areas too.

A modern city with a whole lot of history

Milton Keynes is not only a modern city; it boasts an exciting and interesting history too.
During World War Two, Bletchley Park was the home of the enigma machine code breakers who played a significant role in ending the War. The Park was a secret until the 70’s, becoming famous during the 90’s and is now open to visitors. Its popularity has significantly grown over the years with visitors from all over the world – the location has even been used in the Oscar-winning film The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.

So even though London is a short train journey away, there is much to do in Milton Keynes too. With a huge choice of bars, restaurants, parks and attractions (and not to mention the shopping at Centre:MK) there’s a never-ending supply of things to keep the family entertained.

What else is the city famous for?

The town boasts more than 200 works of public art – although the Concrete Cows are perhaps the best known to those from outside Milton Keynes. The sculpture, which includes three cows and three calves, was created by Canadian-born artist Liz Leyh and gets its name from the materials used to construct it – left-over building materials.

Probably one of the most recognisable facts about Milton Keynes is the number of roundabouts – there are over 130. The city also has an American-style grid system where main roads are designated H or V depending on whether they run horizontally or vertically.

Perfectly placed for key transport links

With an average train time to London of 39 minutes, there has been an influx of movers to Milton Keynes who regularly use the convenient railway links and road network.

Milton Keynes is just 50 miles from London, 60 miles from Birmingham, and equidistant from Oxford and Cambridge. Major towns and cities such as London Euston, Birmingham New Street and Coventry are easily accessible thanks to direct train services running from Milton Keynes Central. Major airports are easy to reach too – London Heathrow and Birmingham International airports are both around an hour’s drive away, with London Luton even closer.

If coach travel’s your preferred way to get around the country, hop on a National Express coach at The Coachway, Junction 14 of the M1. MK Coachway has 350 parking spaces which are free of charge if you’ve parked there to go on a coach.

For electric car drivers, Milton Keynes is a great place to drive an electric vehicle thanks to a range of programmes making it easier for drivers to go green. The city has over 1,500 EV parking spaces for drivers holding a green parking permit. Another benefit to electric car drivers is that they can park for free in any EV bay, even if they’re not charging their vehicle.

Need to charge quickly? There are now over 65 rapid charge points across Milton Keynes which are suitable for drivers needing a quick charge to get them on their way.

What’s the average property price in the area?

If you’ve read this far and the appeal of moving to Milton Keynes is growing on you, you may be wondering what the property prices are like in the area.

The average property price in Milton Keynes is £316,000, with average prices ranging from £301,000 for a terraced home to £505,000 for a detached property. With convenient links to motorways and rail lines, the location of this modern city is highly desirable. And with housing developments and projects in the pipeline for the coming years, there’s no question that Milton Keynes is prime investment for anyone looking to relocate. This appealing destination has all the amenities and employment opportunities London has to offer, but without the price tag.

Spotlight on village-living near Milton Keynes

If you like the idea of living in Milton Keynes but perhaps your heart yearns for a more rural lifestyle within easy access to the city, you may want to consider one of the quaint villages around the area. Set in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Great Horwood is a perfect example of one of the region’s very desirable villages. It’s situated between the two popular destinations of Milton Keynes and Buckingham and offers the appeal of country living whilst having the amenities of a city on its doorstep.

With only a small population of around 1,000 people, Great Horwood offers a plethora of schooling options and outdoor experiences, with a family leisure centre located nearby too.

If you’re house-hunting with an aspiration for village-living, one development you may like to consider is Horwood Chase at Great Horwood. This is a small development of modern 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses, all of which come with electric vehicle (EV) charger points. The development is being created by Lodge Park Homes who can be contacted on 01604 926150 or visit lodgeparkhomes.co.uk for more information.

Here at Mortgage Light we’re only a phone call away for friendly, professional mortgage advice. Simply give us a call on 01908 697 655 or visit our website.