Luton factfile

How to get to Luton
Luton is a large town and local government district in the south of England, 32 miles (51 kilometres) north of London. Luton has good road and rail links to both central London and the rest of the UK, as well as its own airport, London Luton, a hub for many budget airlines.

Shopping in Luton
Luton offers all the popular high-street chains as well as a range of independent stores and boutiques. Luton's main shopping areas are the Mall Arndale in the town centre, built in the 1960s and 1970s, and pedestrianised George Street, which lies directly to the south.

Those looking for something a little more exotic should try Bury Park, which has many shops catering to Luton's ethnic minorities.

Eating and drinking in Luton
You can find a wide selection of restaurants in Luton, including English, Caribbean, Chinese, Thai and Italian. The Bury Park area has a plethora of restaurants offering Asian food, in particular cuisine from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Luton town centre has many pubs and clubs, many of which cater largely for the town's student population, although there are also several more traditional pubs.

Things to see and do around Luton
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is a 20-minute drive away. The zoo is open every day, except Christmas day, and offers all the family favourites as well as some special enclosures, such as an island for ring-tailed lemurs and a gorilla kingdom.

Discover the history of Luton from pre-history to the present day at the Luton Museum and Gallery, located at Wardown Park. Exhibits include the Luton Life galleries tracing the history of Luton people over the last 100 years.

The Stockwood Craft Museum and Gardens at Farley Hill focus on rural life, crafts and trades. There's the Mossman collection, Britain's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles, gardens and a sculpture park.

Entertainment in Luton
Opened in 2004, the Hat Factory multi-facility arts complex in Bute Street is Luton's foremost alternative arts venue. It plays host to a wide selection of musical, art, theatre, dance, community and workshop events.

The Galaxy Centre in Luton town centre has a sports and movie complex, video arcade and bowling alley, a number of restaurants and fast-food outlets, a pub and bingo hall.

Cineworld is a multi-screen cinema in the heart of the town that shows both mainstream and independent films, as well as Bollywood movies.

Natural beauty spots around Luton
Luton straddles the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the area's nature conservation is managed through the John Dony Field Centre in Bushmead, which is open to visitors.

In all, there are 19 county wildlife sites in Luton, including the Galley and Warden Hills which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its chalk grassland communities of wild flowers and butterflies.

Luton's claim to fame
Luton was immortalised by cockney actress Lorraine Chase in a 1977 ad for Campari. When asked if she was from paradise, she replied, "Nah—Luton Airport." This in turn spawned a 1979 hit single for Cats UK.