Roughly halfway between London and Birmingham, Milton Keynes is one of England’s best-connected cities. In this roundup of the town’s top-rated new developments, we’ll take you through some of the best places to live in Milton Keynes. Discover what makes it such a draw for newcomers, and what makes them stay.
Milton Keynes occupies a growing segment of North Buckinghamshire. The founding site was designated in 1967 as part of the third wave of planned ‘new towns’. The goal was for Milton Keynes to grow to a population of 250,000, which it reached in 2011. Now it’s the fastest growing city in England, and that figure is set to double to over half a million by 2050.
Is Milton Keynes a good place to live?
There are a lot of great reasons to choose to live in Milton Keynes. You can live in a three-bedroom house for £250,000 and still be at your desk in London, Birmingham Oxford or Cambridge in around an hour. Prices have stayed low thanks to the city’s rapid expansion, leading to a reliable availability of affordable housing.
If you’re a cyclist, Milton Keynes is something of an unexpected delight. The city has a network of segregated cycle routes and plenty of green space to bike through. This is understandably a big hit with fitness enthusiasts and those looking for a bit of personal space in a busy city.
When it comes to road and rail connections, Milton Keynes is hard to beat. The M1 offers easy access north and south, while the city itself has six rail stations providing reliable routes in every direction. The quickest rail link will get you into London in under 35 minutes.
Is it expensive to live in Milton Keynes?
Living costs in Milton Keynes are slightly higher than the national average – £1676 per month versus £1245. This is due to higher prices for food shopping, petrol, various utilities and financial services like insurance.
Making good use of Milton Keynes cycling and public transport links is one way to keep monthly expenses down.
What is Milton Keynes famous for?
Milton Keynes is perhaps most famous for its US-inspired grid system of city design. This is why it’s also famous for having so many roundabouts!
In terms historical sites, Bletchley Park is Milton Keynes greatest cultural treasure. This is where Alan Turing and his colleagues broke the Enigma Code during World War Two. Today the park is open for the public to visit.
There’s also a good smattering of historic villages within the greater Milton Keynes area.
5 Best places to live in Milton Keynes
The following are the top-rated new homes developments in Milton Keynes. These rankings are based purely on the verified ratings given on HomeViews by genuine residents of those developments. If you want to know more, click on any development view its dedicated page.
4.53 (14 reviews)
4.53 (14 reviews)
Our top spot for the best places to live in Milton Keynes is Solstice Apartments, by Grainger. Residents here give the development top marks across the board for its facilities, location, design management and value for money. All properties benefit from on-site management, 24-hour fitness area, residents’ lounge and a rooftop terrace. Solstice Apartments is also within easy walking distance of the dining, cultural and shopping attractions of central Milton Keynes.
4.40 (19 reviews)
4.40 (19 reviews)
At number two, Berry Wood is a new development in Wootton, a highly desirable village with good commuter links for both Bedford and Milton Keynes. There’s a useful a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes on offer. Residents benefit from the nearby leisure attractions and attractive countryside views from many of the plots.
4.23 (48 reviews)
4.23 (48 reviews)
Brooklands Park sits in the middle of our list and continues to attract favourable reviews with its well-designed 2-5-bedroom homes that make the best possible use of the generous space provided. The development benefits from good transport links, allowing commuters to reach central London in just 33 minutes. Ample parking is another welcome feature of Brooklands Park.
4.10 (24 reviews)
4.10 (24 reviews)
Oakgrove Village is one of the more sizeable developments in the town, with 900 homes, as well as a Waitrose and Metrobank on site. Transport links are also convenient; Milton Keynes Central Station is just a 10-minute drive away, giving residents easy access to central London. Residents with families particularly like the green open spaces, and the fact that the development falls within one of the best school catchment areas in Milton Keynes.
4.20 (11 reviews)
4.20 (11 reviews)
Last on our top 5 list is Shakespeare Park in Kingsmead. The development constitutes a collection of quality two-bed apartments and three-to-four-bed houses. As well as offering a range of sizes, all properties offer modern living designs that are bright and open with plenty of useable space. Residents like the easy access to local amenities and good links to the area’s main roads.
For more details on the different areas and features of Milton Keynes, explore our area guide. Here you’ll also find all of our listings for both sales and rental properties.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, landlords and the Government to recognise high performers and help to improve standards in the built environment.
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