Milton Keynes has been recently highlighted in The Times for being one of the best places in the UK to live*. Surprised? That’ll be the result of decades of this city being derided as a soulless city-planners dream. Times are changing however, along with people’s perceptions.
After all, some of the most respected urban planners of their generation worked Milton Keynes, including Lord Norman Foster, Sir Richard MacCormac, Ralph Erskine, Henning Larsen, Martin Richardson and John Winter. The city’s modernist buildings and wide boulevards are now being reconsidered and hailed as visionary and today there is no shortage of local attractions – which include the MK:Stadium (home of the Milton Keynes Dons), Arena:MK and award-winning shopping centres.
For the frequent traveller, it is its geographical convenience as a base to explore (or link into) London and Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge, that makes it an ideal stop off from which to access the South of England.
During a recent business visit to the heart of the town’s business and shopping district, I stayed at one of the city’s most popular local hotels – the Holiday Inn Milton Keynes.
Travelling from Leeds to Milton Keynes was surprisingly easy. The transport links are excellent generally and I was delighted to have just one change required at Birmingham, despite the considerable distance, so the journey felt quick and easy. Milton Keynes Train Station is centrally located which is always a huge plus to frequent business travellers, and the walk from the train station to Milton Keynes Holiday Inn took merely ten minutes.
This quick walk from the station to my hotel does, in itself, give an insight to what a difference being in a well-planned city can make. I arrived in Milton Keynes during darkness, but due to the direct system of underground tunnels, which were extremely well lit, I felt no worries on walking the very direct (one singular road) route to the hotel. No taxi or Uber was needed despite being a lone female traveller (note: if you aren’t travelling by train, on-site parking is available at the hotel for a small daily fee).
Upon arrival at Holiday Inn Milton Keynes Central, the Holiday Inn signature and stylish open lobby concept on the ground floor immediately impressed. The lobby merges the reception, lounge, bar and restaurant into one cool and cohesive multi-faceted space for guests to work, dine or socialise in a homely atmosphere.
I was checked in efficiently by welcoming staff who went through what the hotel has on offer in a concise yet helpful way. They explained how the hotel also features a Marco’s New York Italian restaurant, by celebrity chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White, which is hugely popular with both guests and locals. I quickly booked a table for later that evening before heading to my room.
This is where I had my biggest surprise. The room was very spacious with floor to ceiling windows stretching dramatically across two of the walls. With the city skyline twinkling through the windows, this elevated the room immediately – what an unexpected treat in a room which also combined luxury touches that I hadn’t initially expected. ‘Is this a Holiday Inn?’, I thought, ‘Or am I in an episode of Suits?’.
After exploring the room, I headed to the in-house Marco’s New York Italian restaurant.
The menu is inspired by Marco’s Italian heritage and love for New York, and there is a wide range of tantalising options. I chose the Pomodoro Linguine which was fresh, tasty and great value. The menu as a whole promises high-quality family friendly meals at reasonable prices. Having this within the hotel complex is a huge plus for me, as realistically who would want to head back out in search of decent food after a day of travel? Not me, that’s for sure. At Holiday Inn Milton Keynes you’re spoiled for choice with dining options. There’s also an on-site Starbucks, which instantly improves my morning mood!
The TV was a Smart TV, the bathroom boasted a power shower and there was a choice of pillows for a great night’s sleep. There is free WiFi and 24hour room service. For either corporate or leisure guests, there are all the amenities you could wish for. Plus for those wanting extra space or special stays, if you select one of the hotels’ suites, there’s a separate living room area.
The hotel features a comprehensive Spirit Health Club with a large indoor pool, fitness centre gym and treatment room offering a range of beauty appointments.
I also discovered that this year business guests can enjoy revamped and refreshed conference facilities at the hotel’s large and renowned Academy Conference Centre.
The newly refurbished modern conference spaces can host up to 100 delegates in nine flexible rooms which are all fully equipped and easily adapted for a wide range of meetings and events, be it a classroom, boardroom, theatre or presentation-style set up. Business guests are near large companies such as Argos and Santander in the area. This is not something I needed use of in this trip, but it’s a great addition to the hotel’s already impressive facilities.
Overall it’s a great hotel for business or for leisure. It’s a short hop to Milton Keynes Station, with direct connections to central London, and is only a 30 minute drive from Luton airport. Other local attractions include the former WWII codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park, nearby Milton Keynes Shopping Centre and the indoor Snozone – Europe’s largest indoor real snow resort to learn or practice skiing and snowboarding.
Stay for a night. Or make a weekend of it. Whether you’re looking for bright lights and bustling streets, or time to rest and reflect, the high standard of the hotel and its integral amenities makes Holiday Inn Milton Keynes a great choice for travellers.
For more information or to book visit: https://www.lghhm.com/portfolio/holiday-inn-milton-keynes-central/
Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
Some images supplied
