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How it rates

Since being designated a new town in 1967, Milton Keynes has received a lot of flak, much of which is unfounded. It is now the fastest-growing urban area in Britain, yet is remarkably green: it was based on the Garden City ideals of the early 20th century. It was not designed to have a new town centre but to be a commercial district that included the centres of existing villages.

Architectural gems

To love this town you have to embrace modernity. Milton Keynes Theatre was designed by Blonski-Heard and looks fantastic lit up at night; the neighbouring Milton Keynes Gallery is a simple box that exhibits art on its front wall. A small 14th-century chapel remains on the site of the old Benedictine monastery and St Andrew's Church has parts dating from 1215. Bletchley Park, the home of code-breaking, is now a war museum, and Woburn Abbey is eight miles away.

What's new

AxcessMK is a new development of 441 one, two and three-bed flats in the centre of town; all have a private balcony, patio garden or roof terrace. Prices start at £56,000 for 40 per cent shared ownership of a £140,000 one-bedroom flat with a parking space (Knight Frank, 01908 306262, axcessmk.co.uk ).

Travel

London, Oxford and Cambridge are all about an hour's drive away; Birmingham is 90 minutes. A total of 180 miles of “redways” provides footpaths, cycle paths and bridleways, making it easy to cross town in a car-free manner.

Quality of life

Very good, with an abundance of sporting activities. The town has 20 million trees and 4,500 acres of parkland - much of which features large public works of art - but, as with most planned environments, some of the public spaces feel contrived.

Population

The 2001 Census recorded it at 184,506, including Newport Pagnell, the neighbouring town. English Partnerships is in charge of development for the town: its target is to accommodate a population of 300,000 by 2030.

Smartest streets

The old villages, such as the original village of Milton Keynes, have fantastic period properties and thatched cottages. Homes around Caldecotte Lake and Furzton Lake are upmarket, but for real gems try Woburn and the Buckinghamshire countryside.

Restaurants

The Living Room Restaurant opened this week in thehub:mk development; reports suggest that food and service are good. The Plough in Wavendon offers great food at affordable prices. Brasserie Blanc, of the Raymond variety, serves modern French dishes with aplomb.

Nightlife

Milton Keynes Theatre provides drama, musicals and classical concerts. The National Bowl is an outdoor area that holds 65,000 people for rock gigs. The Stables offers more intimate, offbeat musical performances and the high street of Stony Stratford has a good choice of bars.

Education

Oakgrove and Shenley secondary schools have good reputations. For higher education there is Milton Keynes College and the new University Centre Milton Keynes, which opens in September.

Working Life

About 90 per cent of local businesses employ fewer than 24 people. The town is a hotspot for entrepreneurs: more businesses are started in Milton Keynes than anywhere else in the South East.

Upside

Having a snow dome is quite special; Xscape is the place for snowboarding, skiing, rock climbing, bowling and “body flying” in a special tunnel. Try the Grand Union Canal towpath for a quiet pub lunch by the water.

Downside

Having the longest shopping mall in Europe - one mile - is often mentioned with pride, but the design is of questionable taste, as are some of the contents.

At a glance

2.38%

The decrease in property prices in Milton Keynes over past six months

11.3

The average number of viewings per sale in Milton Keynes

Source:Hometrack

201%

The increase in property prices in Milton Keynes over the past decade

Source: Halifax

16,000

The number of parking spaces in Milton Keynes

Source: Destination Milton Keynes

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