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The Town and Surrounding Area

The Town of Dunstable
Dunstable is rich in history. Originally founded by the Romans, Dunstable was re-developed in the twelfth century by King Henry I as a market town. Henry’s most visible legacy is the stunning Priory church, at the heart of the town, which took one hundred and fifty years to complete. It was a later namesake, King Henry VIII, who brought a certain notoriety to the church; for it was here that Henry divorced the first of his six wives, Catherine of Aragon, forcing the break with the Church of Rome, which led to the formation of the Church of England.

Today, Dunstable is a modern town, with all the facilities you would expect. You can enjoy modern shopping precincts, retail parks and a traditional High Street. There is a wide selection of supermarkets, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Leisure facilities include GoBowling, fitness centres and a sports centre. Coming soon to Dunstable is an exciting new theatre and restaurant complex.

In the Surrounding Area
Close to town are many sporting facilities including golf clubs, the Chiltern Hills for walking and hang-gliding, Whipsnade Wild Animal Park and Woburn Safari Park.

The new city of Milton Keynes is very close and offers great opportunities for the arts, sports, leisure and shopping.
Just a few kilometres away are the sites for the brand new CenterParcs resort at Woburn, ideal for holidays and short breaks, and the new Nirah project at Stewartby.

The National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats, is set to be one of the biggest attractions in Europe. It will constitute the world's largest aquarium, stocked with tropical trees and plants and populated by thousands of species of freshwater fish, amphibians and reptiles, from crater-lake sharks to rainforest tree frogs.

London
One of the biggest advantages of choosing to study in Dunstable, is the proximity to London, just 50 kilometres to the south. London is close enough for you to go there just for the day or evening. Getting there is easy. You can drive straight down the M1 Motorway, take the train from the nearby Leagrave Railway Station and get in to central London in just 40 minutes, or go by coach. Many students choose not to live and study in London itself because of the expense; but living close by in somewhere like Dunstable will save you money and still let you enjoy all that London has to offer at the same time.