Milton Keynes might be best known by some for its innovative urban design, but it’s also a place that’s packed full of great things to do. However, while there are plenty of your typical sights and pursuits to enjoy with family or friends - like museums, parks and galleries - Milton Keynes is in fact home to many extraordinary and unusual activities. Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of these that you should definitely consider for your next visit.
Whether you’re a motoring fanatic or not, you can visit the fascinating home of Red Bull Racing to take a factory tour and get an exclusive look at the secretive world of F1. A big highlight for many is being able to visit the race bays to see what happens to cars between events. If this sounds like a great day out, you should note that visitors need to be aged 12 and over and you should book in advance, as the tours often quickly sell out.
Red Bull Technology Campus, Bradbourne Drive, Tilbrook, Milton Keynes, MK7 8BJ
For possibly the craziest of crazy golf, you can head to Dinosaur Valley Adventure Golf. Here you can play a few rounds near the beautiful surroundings of Furzton Lake, all against a Jurassic themed backdrop that comes complete with life-size animatronic dinosaurs! The course has 18 holes and is suitable for anyone aged three and up.
Dinosaur Valley, Watling St, Furzton, Milton Keynes, MK4 1FB
At Urban Battlefields you can enjoy some thrilling laser tag sessions across three exciting outdoor maps. Unlike paintball, it’s a safer, non-contact experience, and it’s open to anyone aged eight and above. One thing to note though is that the Urban Battlefields team recommends you wear proper outdoor clothing and footwear, as it can be slippery, especially during winter.
Urban Battlefields, Coates Grounds, Thornton Lane, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0RF
You can turn your day trip on its head (literally) with this attraction. The name says it all here and this pink-coloured property’s open plan area features lots of different rooms to explore that are - you guessed it - upside down. As such, it’s the perfect place for taking some wacky pictures and it’s open for all ages - and any children under three get in for free!
Upside Down House, 29 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3GB
Escape rooms can be a fantastic activity for groups of friends or families and the options you have at Escape for Real are especially exciting. If you’re really up for a challenge and you’re a fan of logic puzzles, then you’ll love the ‘Portal’ room - which was designed by real computer programmers. On top of this, you can even take challenges away from the venue to set up and then tackle in your own home.
Escape For Real, Unit 42, Interchange House, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9PY
For something a bit more adventurous, Aqua Parcs on Willen Lake offers a 400+ metre long obstacle course on the water, which includes a variety of fun and challenging sections for you to tackle. It’s open to families, groups of friends and even stag dos, plus you get all the wetsuits and buoyancy aids supplied. However, the company does state that guests need to be six years old or above and must be able to swim at least 25 metres unaided.
Aqua Parcs, Willen Park Sports Centre, Willen Lake, V10 Brickhill St, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DS
After you’ve enjoyed one or more of these quirky things to do in Milton Keynes, you’re sure to have built up an appetite. So you’ll be pleased to know that we have several restaurants near these exciting destinations, which serve delicious meals for any occasion - whether it’s a family dinner, breakfast or a quick bite to eat with friends. You can find the Beefeater restaurant that’s nearest to you by using our handy location finder.