Please tell me about the Milton Keynes area

[wowfudge]

DP started his new job in London which means we need to relocate - they're paying his travel and hotel expenses for a few months. Anyway, house on the market, viewings underway and fingers crossed.

We are starting off looking around the Milton Keynes area. Can anyone give some info about various areas and villages/towns around and about?

What are Newton Leys and Bletchley like, for example? DP will commute to London from MK or Bedford if we end up in that area and I'll have to change jobs and would prefer not to travel into London for that. Good local amenities important. Living in the middle of nowhere does not appeal. Views and advice welcome!

Thanks zipzap - I've looked at that one already, so it's a possibility. It is annoying when there are no floor plans though.

I have relatives that live in a little village outside of Towcester - think thats about a 20 min drive into Milton Keynes. Very good schools and picturesque. Good sense of community.

I think I live somewhere near you now, and often work between Bedford and Milton Keynes. Having tried staying in lots of locations all around there (including Woburn), Newport Pagnell is the winner for me. Fairly picturesque, good motorway access, and an identifiable and "useful" centre. Probably a nightmare for trains though.

Forgot to add - you couldn't pay me to live in MK, but that's just personal preference. I think Americans would refer to the centre as "strip mall hell". There are probably nice bits I haven't found...

Cheese we are indeed in the same neck of the woods at the moment. It's Hobson's choice really - transport links are the primary driver. I can be at my parents' house in an hour and half by train from MK and my sister is an hour's drive away. Oh and DP can be at his desk in about an hour. I like America!

Will look at Towcester and Newport Pagnell too.

I live in Mk and we love it. It is made up of villages as well as modern estates so something to suit everyone. Some dodgy areas (like most places), lots of green spaces, so much more than just the shopping centre (which has everything by the way). A few nice areas not yet mentioned on the thread include willen, woolstone, woughton on the green, great linford. Lots and lots for families to do, lots of companies based here so plenty of jobs.