There’s more to Milton Keynes than roundabouts and concrete cows

It was good enough to feature in a superman film


All Milton Keynes has ever been famous for is the “iconic” concrete cows and, of course, the roundabouts. And no, I’m not exaggerating about the roundabouts – there is 124 in the entire town.

Milton Keynes has is like the Marmite of English towns: some people love it, some people hate it, but it never apologises for being what it is. I mean, where else would you find 2 Costa’s, 2 Starbucks, and 2 Pret’s all in the same shopping centre? And where else would you find yourself having a minor panic attack when you go 100 yards without seeing a roundabout? Going shopping and feeling like you’ve walked a marathon?

It once featured in a Superman film

No lie. It once doubled as New York City in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, in 1987, to be exact. Okay sure, it was a pretty terrible Superman film, the producers used MK in order to save money, and the town’s impression of NYC can only be described as ‘dreadful’. But still, where else can say that their train station once masqueraded as the United Nations Headquarters? And who cares if the only thing American about the whole scene was the NY-style fire hydrant added to maintain continuity.

That building in the background? No, it’s not the UN building, but Central MK train station

You don’t want to mess with the geese at Willen Lake

Most people probably know it as “Willen Lake”, but let’s be realistic, the lake was taken over by the geese that live there years ago; everyone knows they’re the ones in charge. The well formed, military style attacks have ruined many a pleasant afternoon when some poor family dares get too close to the water. But still, it won’t stop you going back every summer, hoping this time will be different (even though you know it never will be).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGgx5QvnDmL/?tagged=willenlake

The Xscape building; aka ‘the cool kids hangout’

While most places have street corners, park benches, and even the infamous mound in Bedford, for the gangs of teenagers that grace every town, Milton Keynes just has the one place: the Xscape building. The abundance of KFC, Maccies and Subway that pervades means you’re never more than 5 feet from a schoolboy posse, the smell of Lynx heavy in the air. As a kid though, it was the only place to be at the weekend.

The oddly placed peace pagoda

On a more cultural note, MK also plays home to the Western World’s first Buddhist peace pagoda, which can be found on the edge of Willen Lake, near to a temple and monastery dedicated to the Nipponzan- Myōhōji Buddhist Order. It may seem a bit weird, that in a place that has well and truly been sacrificed to the geese that rule the lake, you can find a Buddhist monument, but there you go. It’s there, and it’s pretty cool.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAXU747Egpk/?tagged=peacepagodamk

There’s loads of public art (if you can call it that)

London may have Nelson’s Column, the north it’s Angel, and Leeds it’s Black Prince, but what does MK have? A statue of the famous long-jumper Greg Rutherford, suspended in mid-flight on an equally as famous Milton Keynes roundabout.

https://www.instagram.com/p/4J2c9dPvb1/?tagged=leapingman

I think we all know who the real winner is here.