Luton is a large town and local government district situated in the south of England, located 51 kilometres (32 miles) north of London. Historically Luton was within the county of Bedfordshire, although since 1997 the town has been a unitary authority. Luton, along with its near neighbours of Dunstable and Houghton Regis form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area, with a population over 230,000.^[1] Image File history File links Portal. ... Luton is a town in Bedfordshire, England A Luton body is a style of commercial vehicle body Luton is a suburb of Chatham, Kent This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Image File history File links One of the administrative counties of England File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a Physical quantity. ... This is a list of districts of England ordered by area. ... To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 km² (1000 hectares) and 100 km² (10,000 hectares). ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... The Office for National Statistics coding system is a hierarchical code used in the United Kingdom for tabulating census and other statistical data. ... In physics, density is mass m per unit volume V. For the common case of a homogeneous substance, it is expressed as: where, in SI units: ρ (rho) is the density of the substance, measured in kg·m-3 m is the mass of the substance, measured in kg V is... This is a list of districts of England ordered by population. ... The United Kingdom is divided into four parts, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... NOC can refer to: National Olympic Committee, a group eligible to enter athletes and teams into an Olympic Games. ... This is a list of MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005 to the House of Commons for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom at the United Kingdom general election, 2005, arranged by constituency. ... Kelvin Peter Hopkins (born 22 August 1941) is an English politician, and Labour member of Parliament for Luton North. ... Margaret Moran (born on April 24, 1955, in London) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links LutonCrest. ... Luton is a large town and local government district situated in the south of England, located 51 kilometres (32 miles) north of London. ... Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state or province. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, with a population of 33,805 (2001 census). ... Houghton Regis is a Parish town sandwiched between the major towns of Luton to the East and Dunstable to the West. ... Map to show the Luton and Dunstable Urban Area The Luton/Dunstable Urban Area according to the Office for National Statistics is the conurbation of the settlements: Luton Dunstable Houghton Regis Located in the southern part of the county of Bedfordshire, England, the current population (2001 census) is 236,318. ...

Luton is home to Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and the University of Bedfordshire. The Luton Carnival held on the late may bank holiday is the largest one-day carnival in Europe. The town is famous for hatmaking and was home to a large Vauxhall factory for many years, Vauxhall head office is situated within the town. Luton Town Football Club are an English football team based in the town of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) (previously called Luton International Airport) is about 35 miles north of London and east of the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. ... University of Bedfordshire - Learning Resources Centre, Luton Campus The University of Bedfordshire is a university created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council[1]. Bedfordshire is a county in southern England. ... Luton Carnival in Luton, Bedfordshire is the largest one-day carnival event in Europe. ... // For the music composition Bank Holiday, see Albert Ketèlbey. ... Carnival or Carnivale is an annual Christian festival season. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ...

Luton Town Hall, George Street, Luton

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (426x640, 107 KB) http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (426x640, 107 KB) http://www. ... Luton Town Hall is situated at the the junction between Manchester Street, Upper George Street and George Street, Luton, England;[1] the current building was completed in 1936 on the site of the older Town Hall which was burnt down 19 July 1919, following the peace day riots. ...

Geography and Geology

Luton ( 51°54′N, 0°26′W) is located in a gap in the eastern part of the Chiltern Hills. The Chilterns themselves are a mixture of chalk from the Cretaceous period^[2] (about 65-146 million years ago) and are thought to be the southernmost points of the ice sheet from the last ice age. Towards the east of Luton in the Warden Hill area, there are clay deposits, hence in Stopsley, there used to be a brickworks,^[3] Bedfordshire had a reputation for brickmaking which is now significantly reduced. Warden Hill (195m above sea level) is the reported to be the highest point between Bedfordshire and Norway.^{[citation needed]} The River Lea starts in the Leagrave area of the town and is part of the Thames Valley drainage basin. Also, the Great Bramingham Wood, surrounding the source, is classified to be ancient woodland, records mention the wood at least 400 years ago. The Chiltern Hills are a chalk escarpment that stretches in a south-west to north-east diagonal from Goring-On-Thames to Luton, but is most prominent in Buckinghamshire. ... The Needles,situated on the Isle Of Wight, are part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation. ... The Cretaceous Period is one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, reaching from the end of the Jurassic Period (i. ... An ice sheet is a mass of glacier ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than 50,000 km² (19,305 mile²). The only current ice sheets are Antarctic and Greenland; during the last ice age at Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) the Laurentide ice sheet covered much of Canada... Stopsley is a ward (politics) in the north-east of Luton. ... The term above mean sea level (AMSL) refers to the elevation (on the ground) or altitude (in the air) of any object, relative to the average sea level. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... This article is not about the River Lee that flows through Cork, in the Republic of Ireland; see River Lee (Ireland). ... Leagrave is a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Ancient Woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland dating back to at least 1600 in England and Wales, (or 1750 in Scotland). ...

Due to the position of Luton in the gap of the Chiltern Hills, the opportunity to develop has been high for the town across the centuries, as there are few other passes through the hilly area for some miles. This has lead to several major roads, including the M1 and the A5 and a major rail-link to run through and boost the town in its growth and development from very early on. The railway by-passed nearby Dunstable which had been a more prosperous town, with the good transport links industry quickly developed. The Chiltern Hills are a chalk escarpment that stretches in a south-west to north-east diagonal from Goring-On-Thames to Luton, but is most prominent in Buckinghamshire. ... The M1 motorway heading south towards junction 37 at Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ... The A5 is a major road in the United Kingdom. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, with a population of 33,805 (2001 census). ...

History

Main article: History of Luton

This article is about the History of Luton // Settlements have existed in the area since the Paleolithic era, most notably the henge monument now called Wauluds Bank, which dates from 3000 BC. The Roman settlement in the area was concentrated at Durocobrivis and Verulamium. ...

Early History

Settlements have existed in the area since the Paleolithic era, most notably the henge monument now called Waulud's Bank, which dates from 3000 BC. The Roman settlement in the area was concentrated at Durocobrivis and Verulamium. The foundation of Luton is usually dated to the 6th century when a Saxon outpost was founded on the river Lea, Lea tun.^[4] The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic (Greek παλαιός paleos=old and λίθος lithos=stone or the Old Stone Age) was the first period in the development of human technology of the Stone Age. ... Archaeologists use the term henge monument to describe a site where a henge is combined with other features such as stone circles, standing stones, barrows, cairns or timber circles. ... Wauluds Bank is a Neolithic Henge in Leagrave, Bedfordshire dating from 3,000BC. Wauluds Bank earthworks lies on the edge of the Marsh Farm Estate in Leagrave, Luton. ... Area under Roman control  Roman Republic  Roman Empire  Western Empire  Eastern Empire Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a city-state founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire. ... Remains of the city walls Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. ... Saxon may refer to: The Saxon people The Anglo-Saxon people Saxon language: Anglo-Saxon language (the ancestor language of English) Lower Saxon language (a variety of Low German) Old Saxon language (the ancestor language of Anglo-Saxon language) Upper Saxon dialect (a variety of High German) An inhabitant of... This article is not about the River Lee that flows through Cork, in the Republic of Ireland; see River Lee (Ireland). ...

Luton is recorded in the Domesday Book as Loitone and also as Lintone;^[5] when the towns population was around 700-800. Agriculture dominated the local economy at this time. A line drawing entitled Domesday Book from Andrew Williamss Historic Byways and Highways of Old England. ...

St Marys Church, Luton town centre, founded in 1121 by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester.

In 1121 Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester started work on St Mary's Church in the centre of the town, which was completed by 1137.^[6] A motte and bailey type castle which gives its name to 'Castle Street' was built in 1139. The castle was demolished in 1154.^[7] The site is now home to Matalan. During the middle ages Luton is recorded as being home to six water mills. Mill Street, in the town centre, takes its name from one of them. Image File history File linksMetadata StMarysLuton. ... Image File history File linksMetadata StMarysLuton. ... For other churches by this name, follow the link St. ... Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester (c. ... Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester (c. ... For other churches by this name, follow the link St. ... A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle. ... // Matalan is a discount clothing and homeware store in the United Kingdom. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

King John (1166-1216) had hired a mercenary soldier, Falkes de Breauté, to act on his behalf. (Breauté is a small town near Le Havre in France.) When he married, he acquired his wife, Margaret's London house which came to be known as "Fawkes Hall", subsequently corrupted over the years to "Foxhall", then "Vauxhall". In return for his services, King John granted Falkes the manor of Luton. He was also granted the right to bear his own coat of arms and chose the mythical griffin as his heraldic emblem. The griffin thus became associated with both Vauxhall and Luton in the early 13th century.^[8] John deer hunting, from a manuscript in the British Library. ... A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict and is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that... Falkes de Breauté (d. ... Abbey of Graville, Le Havre Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ... Le Havre is a city in Normandy, northern France, on the English Channel, at the mouth of the Seine. ... A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... Composite of Pomeranian heraldic charges of griffins. ...

By 1240 the town is recorded as Leueton. The town had an annual market for surrounding villages in August each year, and with the growth of the town a second fair was granted each October from 1338. Roundabouts (or carousels) are traditional attractions, often seen at fairs. ...

In 1336, much of Luton was destroyed by a great fire, however the town was soon rebuilt.

The agriculture base of the town changed in the 16th century with a brickmaking industry developing around Luton, many of the older wooden houses were rebuilt in brick. See also Wikimedia Commons has multimedia related to: Bricks Masonry Brickwork Ceramics Fire brick In role-playing games, a brick is a character whose main useful skill is being able to take a great deal of damage (usually physical damage) and act as a shield for weaker allies. ...

During the English Civil War of the 17th century there were two incidents in Luton. The first of which took place in 1645 when royalists entered the town and demanded money and goods. Parliamentary forces arrived and during the fighting four royalist soldiers were killed and a further 22 were captured. A second skirmish occurred three years later in 1648 when a royalist army passed through Luton. A small number of which were attacked by parliamentary soldiers at an inn on the corner of Bridge Street. Most of the group of royalists escaped but nine were killed. The English Civil War consisted of a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians (known as Roundheads) and Royalists (known as Cavaliers) between 1642 and 1651. ...

It was in the 17th century when the hatmaking that became synonymous with the town began. By the 18th century the hatmaking industry, especially straw hat manufacture, dominated the town as its only significant industry. Hats are still produced in the town on a smaller scale. Hatmaking is the art and trade of making hats. ... A straw hat is a large brimmed hat that is woven out of straw. ...

Luton Hoo, a nearby large country house, little of the original house remains as much of it was rebuilt after a fire in 1843. South-west facade of Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire. ...

19th century

A map of Luton from 1888

The town grew strongly in the 19th century; in 1801 the population was 3,095.^[9] By 1850 it was over 10,000 and by 1901 it was almost 39,000. This rapid growth was fuelled by the arrival of the railway in 1858,^[10] which bypassed Dunstable, the nearby market town, which until then had overshadowed Luton. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2666x1786, 1468 KB)Luton map from 1888. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2666x1786, 1468 KB)Luton map from 1888. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, with a population of 33,805 (2001 census). ...

Luton had a gas supply in 1834, and the gas street lights were erected and the first town hall opened in 1847. City Hall is a 1996 film directed by Harold Becker. ...

Newspaper printing arrived in the town in 1854, coincidentally the year the first public cemetry was opened. Following a cholera epidemic in 1848 Luton formed a water company and had a complete water and sewerage system by the late 1860s. The first covered market was built (the Plait Halls - now demolished) in 1869. Luton was made a borough in 1876^[11] and the football club was founded in 1885 following the passing of a resolution at the Town Hall that the 'Luton Town Club be formed' .^[12] // The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ...

20th century

Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton.

In the 20th century, the hat trade severely declined and was replaced by more modern industries. In 1905, Vauxhall Motors opened the largest car plant in the United Kingdom in Luton. Electrolux built a household appliances plant which was followed by other light engineering businesses. Image File history File links Wardownmuseum. ... Image File history File links Wardownmuseum. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. ... Millinery is womens hats and other articles sold by a milliner, or the profession or business of designing, making, or selling hats for women. ... For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... Electrolux is a Swedish company that is the worlds largest manufacturer of kitchen, cleaning and outdoor appliances for both home and professional use. ...

In 1904 councillors Asher Hucklesby and Edwin Oakley purchased the estate that became Wardown Park, and then donated the property to the people of Luton. Hucklesby went on to be Mayor of Luton. The main house in the park became Luton Museum. Asher Hucklesby Asher Hucklesby was fives-time mayor of Luton, Bedfordshire between 1892 and 1906 and a major hat manufacturer in the town. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery. ...

The town had a tram system from 1908 until 1932 and the first cinema was opened in 1909. By 1914, the population reached had 50,000. A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ...

The original town hall was destroyed in 1919 during the Peace Day celebrations at the end of the First World War; local people including many ex-servicemen were unhappy with unemployement and had been refused the use of a local park to hold celebratory events, and so stormed the town hall setting it on fire. (See Luton Town Hall) A replacement town hall was completed in 1936. Luton Airport opened in 1938, owned and operated by the council. Luton Town Hall is situated at the the junction between Manchester Street, Upper George Street and George Street, Luton, England;[1] the current building was completed in 1936 on the site of the older Town Hall which was burnt down 19 July 1919, following the peace day riots. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Luton Town Hall is situated at the the junction between Manchester Street, Upper George Street and George Street, Luton, England;[1] the current building was completed in 1936 on the site of the older Town Hall which was burnt down 19 July 1919, following the peace day riots. ... London Luton Airport (IATA Airport Code LTN, ICAO Airport Code EGGW, previously called Luton International Airport) is an airport about 30 miles to the north-west of London in the town of Luton, Beds. ...

In World War II, the Vauxhall Factory built Churchill tanks^[13] as part of the war effort and was heavily camaflaged. The Vauxhall factory made Luton a target for the Luftwaffe and the town suffered a number of air raids, although only 107 people died^[14] there was extensive damage to the town and over 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed. Other industry in the town such as SKF (producing ball bearings), made a vital contribution to the war effort. Although a bomb landed at the SKF Factory^[15] no major damage was inflicted. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Infantry Tank IV Churchill was a heavy British infantry tank of the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Strategic bombing is a military strategem used in a total war style campaign that attempts to destroy the economic ability of a nation-state to wage war. ... SKF, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB, later AB SKF, is a Swedish aeroengine bearings company founded in 1907, supplying bearings, seals, spindles, customer solutions and related services globally. ...

Luton Town Centre

Post-war, the slum clearance continued and a number of substantial estates of council housing were built, notably at Farley Hill, Stopsley, Limbury, Marsh Farm and Leagrave, (Hockwell Ring). The M1 passed just to the west of the town in 1959. In 1962 a new library (to replace the Carneige Library) was opened by the Queen in the corner of St Georges Square. In the late 1960s a large part of the town centre was cleared to build a large covered shopping centre, the Arndale Centre, which was opened in 1972.^[16] The Arndale Centre has had a major refurbishment, including a new glass roof, which has transformed the area. Image File history File linksMetadata LutonTownCentre. ... Image File history File linksMetadata LutonTownCentre. ... Farley Hill is a post-war housing estate in south Luton, UK . ... Stopsley is a ward (politics) in the north-east of Luton. ... Limbury is a post-war housing development in west Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Category: ... Marsh Farm is a large housing estate in Luton, Bedfordshire near to Leagrave and Limbury, mainly of council and social housing. ... Leagrave is a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... Statistics Population: 8,000 (est. ... The M1 motorway heading south towards junction 37 at Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ... Arndale Centres are a large chain of shopping centres in the United Kingdom - they were the first American-style malls to be constructed in the UK. The first centre was built in Jarrow in 1961, and was followed by developments in Leeds, Luton, London, Bradford, Aberdeen, Poole and other British...

In 2000, Vauxhall announced the end of car production in Luton; the plant closed in March 2002.^[17] At its peak it had employed in excess of 30,000 people.

21st Century

A major regeneration programme for the town centre is planned, which will include upgrades to the town's bus and train stations as well as general improvements the town's streetscape. St Georges square is currently undergoing a rebuild^[18] which is due to be completed by the end of 2007. Planning applications for an extension to the existing Arndale Shopping Centre^[19] and also for a new centre in Power Court^[20] (near to St Marys Church) have been submitted. It is hoped this will breathe life into the town, which has been flagging with the decades of decline of the manufacturing industry in Great Britain, which Luton once thrived upon. For other churches by this name, follow the link St. ...

On the edge of Luton, near to Putteridge Bury a new high-technology office park is under construction called Butterfield Green. The former Vauxhall site is also to be re-developed as a mixed use site called Napier Park, this is to feature housing, retail and entertainment use, including a new casino. Putteridge Bury Putteridge Bury is a country house on the edge of the built-up area of Luton, Bedfordshire, England but actually over the county boundary in the parish of Offley in Hertfordshire. ... For other uses, see Luton (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Luton (disambiguation). ... A Regional casino, more commonly known as a Super Casino (or occasionally known as Mega Casino or variants) is the term given to the largest category of casino permitted under United Kingdom law. ...

Places within Luton

Main article: Places within Luton

Over the years Luton has expanded, taking in former neighbouring villages and hamlets, as well as by the construction of new estates and localities. Image File history File links Lutonwardmap. ... List of places within Luton is a link page for places in Luton, England. ...

Former villages and hamlets: Biscot, Crawley Green, Leagrave, Limbury, Round Green, Stopsley Statistics Population: 13,660(including Bury Park). ... Statistics Population: 6,720 (est. ... Leagrave is a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... Limbury is a post-war housing development in west Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Category: ... Statistics Population: 10,850(est. ... Stopsley is a ward (politics) in the north-east of Luton. ...

Early expansion of Luton: Bury Park, High Town, New Town Bury Park is located one mile due east of Luton town centre on the road to Dunstable. ... High Town is a hilly district of Luton adjacent to Luton railway station and extends in a north easterly direction towards Hitchin. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

New estates: Bramingham, Bushmead, Farley Hill, Hockwell Ring, Lewsey, Marsh Farm, Sundon Park, Warden Hills, Wigmore Statistics Population: 7,550 (est. ... Statistics Population: Within Barnfield Ward Location OS grid reference: TL091242 Administration Unitary authority: Luton Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Bedfordshire Historic county: Bedfordshire Services Police force: Bedfordshire Police Fire and rescue: Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance: East of... Farley Hill is a post-war housing estate in south Luton, UK . ... Statistics Population: 8,000 (est. ... Statistics Population: 8,000 (est. ... Marsh Farm is a large housing estate in Luton, Bedfordshire near to Leagrave and Limbury, mainly of council and social housing. ... Sundon Park is an area of north Luton in Bedfordshire. ... Warden Hills is an area of Luton, which is named after the hills overlooking it. ... For other locatations called Wigmore see Wigmore. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics in Luton

Luton is represented by two Members of Parliament. The constituency of Luton North has been held by Kelvin Hopkins since 1997 and Luton South by Margaret Moran also since 1997. Luton is within the East of England (European Parliament constituency). Luton Town Hall This article is based around Politics in Luton Luton is a unitary authority, and remains part of the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire. ... Luton North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Kelvin Peter Hopkins (born 22 August 1941) is an English politician, and Labour member of Parliament for Luton North. ... Luton South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Margaret Moran (born on April 24, 1955, in London) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... East of England is a constituency of the European Parliament. ...

Historically Luton was part of the county of Bedfordshire, but since 1997 the town has been an administratively independent unitary authority. The town remains part of Bedfordshire for ceremonial purposes and is in the East of England region, but was formerly in South East England region, and in common usage is still often considered to be in the South East. Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... A unitary authority is a type of local authority, which has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... The East of England is one of the nine official regions of England. ... South East England is one of the nine official regions of England. ...

The local authority is Luton Borough Council (see www.luton.gov.uk local council website). The town is split into 19 wards, represented by 48 councilors. Elections are held for all seats every four years, with the next local elections due to be held in May 2007. Luton is a large town and local government district situated in the south of England, located 51 kilometres (32 miles) north of London. ...

Demographics

The United Kingdom Census 2001 showed that Luton had a population of 184,371, a 5.8% increase from the last census. Of this, 43,324 were under 15, 131,660 were between 16 and 74 and 9387 were over 74.^[21] UK Census 2001 logo A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 29 April 2001. ...

In total, 80.7% of Luton's population claim to be born in the UK.^[22]

Local inhabitants are known as Lutonians.

Ethnicity

Overall, 71.9% of the inhabitants in Luton are White, and of that 64.97% claim to be White British, 4.65% claim to be of Irish decent and 2.28% claim to be White Other. 18.27% of Luton's population claim to be Asian or of Asian decent, and of this, the largest majority is those of Pakistani decent at 9.23%. In total, 6.34% claim to be Black or of Black decent, and of this, the largest majority is those of Caribbean decent at 4.15%.^[23] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with English population statistics. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with English population statistics. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with English population statistics. ...

Religion

The stated religions, in order of prevalence, are:

• Christian 59.6%
• Muslim 14.6%
• No Religion 14.1%
• None Stated 7.2%
• Hindu 2.7%
• Sikh 0.8%
• Other Religion 0.3%
• Jewish 0.3%
• Buddhist 0.2%^[24]

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by...

Economic Activity

Of all the working population (classified 16-74 years of age by National Office Of Statistics), 63.3% is currently employed, including self-employed, students and part-time employment. 10.9% are retired, 7.6% look after the family/take care of the home and 4.9% are unemployed, including long term unemployment.^[25]

Crime

In common with many urban areas Luton has higher crime levels that the national average in particular vehicle related crime (theft of and from motor vehicles which are both aproximately twice the national average).^[26]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Luton

Historically, Luton's economy has focused on several different areas of industry including Car Manufacture and Millinery. However, today, Luton is moving towards a service based economy mainly in the retail and the airport sectors, although there is still a focus of light industry in the town. This article is about the Economy of Luton Over the centuries, due to technological and economic change, Lutons economy has changed and developed to keep pace with the rest of the UK. Major industries that are related to Luton include Brickmaking, Millinery or Hat making, Automobile production and it... Automakers or automobile manufacturers are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... Millinery is womens hats and other articles sold by a milliner, or the profession or business of designing, making, or selling hats for women. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ...

The Central Business District and the surrounding areas are currently going through a regeneration project to boost and redevelop the area to attract new businesses and to attract vistitors from outside into the town. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

History

Luton's economy has changed focus several times across the centuries, but has always primarily been an industrial town. The first major change in the towns economy was in the 16th century when the predominant industry of agriculture changed to brickmaking. This lasted about 100 years before again it changed to the Millinery, or Hat making industry the town is renowned for in the 17th century. See also Wikimedia Commons has multimedia related to: Bricks Masonry Brickwork Ceramics Fire brick In role-playing games, a brick is a character whose main useful skill is being able to take a great deal of damage (usually physical damage) and act as a shield for weaker allies. ... Millinery is womens hats and other articles sold by a milliner, or the profession or business of designing, making, or selling hats for women. ...

Over the 18th century, this industry became Luton's main focus, however, with the decline in the trade for hats by the end of the 19th century, the town's economic focus moved to car manufacturing for Vauxhall. This lasted the town nearly a century, and at its peak, Vauxhall employed 35,000 people. However, this again began to decline, and in 2002, the plant shut down. Vauxhall is an inner city area of south London in the London Borough of Lambeth. ...

The current regeneration of the economy in Luton is focused around its airport, London Luton Airport. There are plans for expansion and this shall boost the local economy, which has been flagging on the decline of manufacturing in the town. London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) (previously called Luton International Airport) is about 35 miles north of London and east of the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. ...

Today Luton is increasingly home to service sector organisations with specific office developments at Capability Green^[27] and the new Butterfield Green business parks.

Notable firms with offices in Luton include:

• Anritsu - electronics
• AstraZeneca - pharmaceuticals
• BAe Systems - aerospace
• Ernst & Young - accountants
• Mazars - accountants
• Siemens - electronics
• Whitbread - hospitality
• Vauxhall - Headquarters is based in Luton

Anritsu is a Japanese corporation that is a major presence in the test and measurement market. ... AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN, NYSE: AZN), is a large Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company formed on 6 April 1999 by the merger of Swedish Astra AB and British Zeneca Group. ... BAE Systems plc is the worlds fourth largest defence contractor,[3] the largest in Europe and a commercial aerospace manufacturer. ... Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services firms in the world, and one of the Big Four auditors, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte) and KPMG. Ernst & Young is a global organization consisting of many member firms. ... Category: ... Siemens has the following uses: Siemens is a German family name carried by generations of the telecommunications industrialists, including Werner von Siemens, Sir William Siemens, Wilhelm von Siemens and Peter von Siemens Siemens AG is a German electrical and telecommunications company, founded as a telegraph equipment manufacturer by Werner von... This article is about the Whitbread company. ... For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ...

Shopping

The main shopping area in Luton is situated in The Mall Arndale. Originally built in the 1960s/70's and opened as an Arndale Centre, construction of the shopping centre led to the demolishion of a number of the older buildings in the town centre including the Carnegie Library and the Corn Exchange. Today, shops in the centre include Debenhams, Marks and Spencers, Next, Woolworths and Boots as well as many other shops, totalling 118 stores.^[28] The Mall logo. ... Arndale Centres are a large chain of shopping centres in the United Kingdom - they were the first American-style malls to be constructed in the UK. The first centre was built in Jarrow in 1961, and was followed by developments in Leeds, Luton, London, Bradford, Aberdeen, Poole and other British... A Carnegie library, opened in 1913 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, designed in Spanish Colonial style Carnegie libraries for both public use and academic institutions were built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie, earning him the nickname, the Patron Saint of Libraries. ... Corn Exchange may mean: The Corn Exchange, Maidstone. ... Debenhams plc (LSE: DEB) is a retailer with a chain of department stores based in the United Kingdom. ... Marks and Spencer plc (known also as M&S and sometimes colloquially as Marks and Sparks) is the largest retailer in the United Kingdom by sales. ... Next on Oxford Street Next PLC is a British clothes retailer, with its headquarters in Enderby, Leicestershire, England. ... F.W. Woolworth Company the original USA based chain of high street shops. ... This article is about a former British company which has now merged to form Alliance Boots, as a result, information on this page may be out of date. ...

Another major shopping area is Bury Park, where a lot of ethnic shops including grocers, clothes, jewelers and newsagents have developed together to serve the local communities Bury Park is located one mile due east of Luton town centre on the road to Dunstable. ...

Food and Drink

As an ethnically diverse town, Luton has a huge variety of restaurants and eateries from different cultures to offer inhabitants and visitors. To name a few include English, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Caribbean, Thai and Malaysian. There is no specific area in Luton that is restaurant orientated, but you will find that certain areas in the town with examples such as Bury Park have more specific cuisines than others. Once thought to be an oxymoron by the culinary minded, British cuisine used to have a reputation as being take-away food or the unfashionable meat and two veg. ... Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Amerindian, French, Indian, and Spanish cuisine. ... Bury Park is located one mile due east of Luton town centre on the road to Dunstable. ...

There has recently been an influx of clubs and pubs to the town centre, due to the increasing student population and demand for good nightlife skyrocketing. However, there are still many traditional pubs across the whole town, each with its own unique background. A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries influenced by British cultural heritage. ...

Education

Main article: Education in Luton

University of Bedfordshire - Luton

Luton is home to the University of Bedfordshire. The main campus of the University is in Luton town centre with a further campus based on the edge of town in Putteridge Bury, an old Victorian manor house. Campuses also exist in Bedford. Here is a list of every Educational Institute in Luton. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 557 KB)[edit] Summary University of Bedfordshire [edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 557 KB)[edit] Summary University of Bedfordshire [edit] Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... University of Bedfordshire - Learning Resources Centre, Luton Campus The University of Bedfordshire is a university created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council[1]. Bedfordshire is a county in southern England. ... Putteridge Bury Putteridge Bury is a country house on the edge of the built-up area of Luton, Bedfordshire, England but actually over the county boundary in the parish of Offley in Hertfordshire. ... Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The Carson Mansion is an example of a Victorian home in Eureka, California, USA The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ... Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, England. ...

The University came 108th out of 109 in the Times Top Universities 2007 League Table,^[29] however, in 2004, The Sunday Times awarded the university the Title of 'Best New University'^[30] and the university is ranked fourth in the country for courses in Nursing and Midwifery.^[31] The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... // Midwifery is the term traditionally used to describe the art of assisting a woman through childbirth. ...

The town is also home to several Further Educational Institutes including Luton Sixth Form College and Barnfield College, of which both are recognised as one of the best further education institutes in England having both being awarded the Learning & Skills Beacon Status by the Department for Education and Skills.^[32][33] Luton Sixth Form College is a sixth form college situated in Luton, England. ... Barnfield College is the largest college in Bedfordshire and Luton, with four centres in Luton and one in Bedford. ... The Department for Education and Skills is a department in the United Kingdom government created in 2001. ...

In total, there are 98 educational institutes in Luton. Of these, there are 7 Nurseries, 70 Primary schools (9 Voluntary-Aided, 2 Special Requirements), 13 Secondary Schools (1 Voluntary-Aided, 1 Special Requirements), 4 Further Educational Institutes and 4 other Educational Institutes.^[34] Child picking up book. ... Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. ... In a voluntary aided school (many of which are church schools) the governing body, as opposed to the Local Education Authority, employs the staff, and decide admission arrangements but the school is nevertheless funded by the state and does not charge fees. ... Special education is instruction that is modified or particularized for those students with special needs, such as learning differences, mental health problems, or specific disabilities (physical or developmental). ... Secondary school is a term used to describe an institution where the final stage of compulsory schooling, known as secondary education, takes place. ... Further education (often abbreviated FE) is post-secondary, post-compulsory education (in addition to that received at secondary school). ...

Culture

Main article: Culture in Luton

As a town, Luton has a large cultural base due to the many backgrounds that people who live there come from. This means that the culture in the town is rich and diverse, and this shows in many of the festivals, parks and nightlife of the town. This article focuses on Culture in Luton // Main article: Wardown Park Wardown Park is situated on the River Lea in Luton and is an oasis of calm within walking distance of the town centre offering everything from sporting facilities to museum, gallery and formal gardens. ...

Luton Town Football Club

Main article: Luton Town

Luton is the home town of Luton Town Football Club who currently play in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship,^[35] the 2nd Flight of the English league structure. Their nickname, "The Hatters", dates back to when Luton had a substantial millinery industry. Luton Town F.C. are a professional English football team based in the town of Luton. ... Luton Town F.C. are a professional English football team based in the town of Luton. ... The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short, the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things proper name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robby, Robbie, Robi, Robin, Robbo, RobBob, Bobby, Rab, Rabbie, Bert, Bertie, Butch, Bobbers, Bobert, Beto, Bobadito, and Robban (in Sweden), are all nicknames for Robert). ... Millinery is womens hats and other articles sold by a milliner, or the profession or business of designing, making, or selling hats for women. ...

Their only piece of major silverware to date is the League Cup, which they won in 1988 under the management of Ray Harford. The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... Ray Harford (June 1, 1945 - August 9, 2003) was an English footballer, better known for his successes as a coach and manager than as a player. ...

Parks

Stockwood Park

The town has several large parks, Wardown houses the museum^[36] and is located near the town centre. Stockwood houses a craft museum and the Mossman Collection. Wardown Park and the museum were a gift to the town from the then Mayor Asher Hucklesby.^[37] Luton has a Site of Special Scientific Interest at Warden Hills on its outskirts. Image File history File linksMetadata Stockwoodpark. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Stockwoodpark. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Stockwood craft museum is based in Stockwood Park, Luton. ... The Mossman Carriage collection is held at Stockwood Park, Luton, Bedfordshire and is the largest and most significant vehicle collection of its kind in the country, including originals from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Asher Hucklesby Asher Hucklesby was fives-time mayor of Luton, Bedfordshire between 1892 and 1906 and a major hat manufacturer in the town. ... A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. ... Warden Hills is an area of Luton, which is named after the hills overlooking it. ...

Luton Carnival

Main article: Luton Carnival

Luton Carnival is the largest one-day carnival in Europe, which usually takes place on the late May Bank Holiday. Crowds usually top 150,000^[38] on each occasion, with it being a huge multicultural event attended by people from all over the country. The procession starts at Wardown Park in Luton before making it way down New Bedford Road, around the Town Centre via St George's Square, and back down New Bedford Road to finish up back in Wardown Park. In the park and around the town are various music stages and stalls. Luton Carnival in Luton, Bedfordshire is the largest one-day carnival event in Europe. ... Luton Carnival in Luton, Bedfordshire is the largest one-day carnival event in Europe. ... Carnival or Carnivale is an annual Christian festival season. ... Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. ...

Local attractions

Small National Trust for England logo for use on UK lists of places of interest. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ... English Heritage icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest. ... English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ... Forrestry Commision logo for use on UK lists of places of intrest. ... The Forestry Commission is a government body in the United Kingdom. ... Country park icon For use with Template:EngPlacesKey or any other use. ... A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment. ... Access Land icon for use on UK lists of places of interest, created by Joe D. File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... A scene on a heritage railway. ... Historic House icon For use with Template:EngPlacesKey or any other use. ... Historic houses in England is a link page for any stately home, country house or other historic house in England. ... Small National Trust for England logo for use on UK lists of places of interest. ... Dunstable Downs are part of the Chiltern Hills, in southern Bedfordshire. ... Access Land icon for use on UK lists of places of interest, created by Joe D. File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK... The Chiltern Hills are a chalk escarpment that stretches in a south-west to north-east diagonal from Goring-On-Thames to Luton, but is most prominent in Buckinghamshire. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway (LBLR) is a narrow-gauge light railway in the town of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England It operates on a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge, and is just under 3mi (4. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... Luton Museum & Art Gallery. ... Historic House icon For use with Template:EngPlacesKey or any other use. ... South-west facade of Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... The Mossman Carriage collection is held at Stockwood Park, Luton, Bedfordshire and is the largest and most significant vehicle collection of its kind in the country, including originals from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. ... Someries castle (sometimes spelled Summeries castle) is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, in Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... Stockwood craft museum is based in Stockwood Park, Luton. ... Access Land icon for use on UK lists of places of interest, created by Joe D. File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK... Luton Museum & Art Gallery, Wardown Park, Luton. ... Access Land icon for use on UK lists of places of interest, created by Joe D. File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK... Wauluds Bank is a Neolithic Henge in Leagrave, Bedfordshire dating from 3,000BC. Wauluds Bank earthworks lies on the edge of the Marsh Farm Estate in Leagrave, Luton. ... Small National Trust for England logo for use on UK lists of places of interest. ... Whipsnade Tree Cathedral is a 9. ... icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest, created by Joe D File links The following pages link to this file: Cornwall Isle of Wight Bristol Somerset Buckinghamshire Northamptonshire Bedfordshire County Durham Template:EngPlacesKey Wikipedia:Counties of England List of places in Dorset Wikipedia talk:UK Wikipedians notice... Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is a zoo located at Whipsnade, near Dunstable in Bedfordshire, England. ... English Heritage icon for use on UK lists of places of intrest. ... Wrest Park Gardens are spread over 150 acres (607,000 m²) in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, and were originally laid out in the 18th century by the Dukes of Kent, and later by Capability Brown. ...

Transport

Main article: Transport in Luton

Luton is well connected by transport links and is less than 30 miles from the centre of London. This article is based around Transportation in Luton Midland Mainline train approaching Luton Parkway station Luton is about 30 miles north of London, giving it good links with the City and other major cities through the network of road and rail. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Air

Luton Airport

Main article: London Luton Airport

The town is famous for its airport, London Luton Airport, which is currently the fastest-growing airport in the United Kingdom.^[39] The airport is renowned for being a hub for budget airlines offering cheap flights. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3528x1572, 1033 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): London Luton Airport Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3528x1572, 1033 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): London Luton Airport Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... London Luton Airport (IATA Airport Code LTN, ICAO Airport Code EGGW, previously called Luton International Airport) is an airport about 30 miles to the north-west of London in the town of Luton, Beds. ... London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) (previously called Luton International Airport) is about 35 miles north of London and east of the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. ... London Luton Airport (IATA: LTN, ICAO: EGGW) (previously called Luton International Airport) is about 35 miles north of London and east of the town of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. ... Boeing 737-700 of UK low cost carrier easyJet waiting for take off at Bristol Image:SWA737-700. ...

An airport was first opened on the current airport site as Luton Municipal Airport on the 16 July 1938^[40] by the Secretary of State for Air, Kingsley Wood.The airport was owned by the local council. During the Second World War Luton Airport was a base for the Royal Air Force 264 Fighter Squadron.^[41] July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Flights from the airport increased substantially from the 1960s as new charter airlines (e.g. Court Line) flew from there rather than the London airports. Despite problems in the 1970s, a new terminal was added in 1985 by the Prince of Wales.^[42] The airport was renamed London Luton Airport in 1990, just before Ryanair took its business to Stansted. The growth of new low-cost flights rejuvenated the airport and passenger numbers more than doubled from 1992 to 1998. In 1999, a new terminal was added and a new railway station, Luton Airport Parkway, opened.^[43] A charter airline is one that operates charter flights, that is flights that take place outside normal schedules, by a hiring arrangement with a particular customer. ... // [edit] Overview Court Line was a prominent UK holiday charter airline during the early 1970s based at Luton Airport in Bedfordshire. ... The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Ryanair (ISEQ: RYA, LSE: RYA, NASDAQ: RYAAY) is an Irish airline headquartered in Dublin. ... Stansted Airport (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) is a large passenger airport with a single runway and hub for a number of major European low-cost airlines. ... Luton Airport Parkway railway station is the railway station for London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire. ...

The England football team regularly fly from the airport^[44] when playing matches abroad. The airport was mentioned in a 1970s advert for Campari featuring Lorraine Chase^[45] when asked "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" she replied "Nah, Luton Airport!" which became a catchphase for her for many years. First International Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 11 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First... Campari and soda in the distinctive bottle by Fortunato Depero Campari is an alcoholic aperitif obtained from the infusion of bitter herbs, aromatic plants and fruit in alcohol and water. ... Lorraine Chase is a british actress and model. ...

Rail

Leagrave Railway Station

Luton enjoys good rail connections via its three stations (Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Leagrave) to London and through to Brighton and Sutton on First Capital Connect's Thameslink line and north to Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and other cities on the Midland Main Line, provided by Midland Mainline. There are plans to introduce 24-hour rail services to Luton and Luton Airport Parkway.^[46] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 582 KB) Main station building on Platform 4 at Leagrave. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 582 KB) Main station building on Platform 4 at Leagrave. ... Leagrave is a suburb of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... Luton railway station is located in Luton, Bedfordshire. ... Luton Airport Parkway railway station is the railway station for London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire. ... Leagrave railway station is located in the north part of Luton, Bedfordshire. ... Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. ... First Capital Connect is a train operating company in England that began its passenger operations on the National Rail network at 02:00 BST 1 April 2006. ... This Thameslink article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Derby (disambiguation). ... Leicester city centre, looking towards the Clock Tower Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city and unitary authority in the English East Midlands region of the UK. The city is the traditional county town of Leicestershire. ... Nottingham is a city (and county town of Nottinghamshire) in the East Midlands of England. ... For other uses, see Sheffield (disambiguation). ... The Midland Main Line is a main railway line in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. ... Midland Mainline (MML) is a British train operating company owned by the National Express Group, created after the privatisation of British Rail. ...

Road

Luton is connected to the motorway network with two junctions onto the M1 motorway, (Junctions 10 and 11). The M1 was built on the west of the town in 1959, and provides access to London and the North. The A6 passes through the town heading north to Bedford and south to St Albans (although south of the town the road has been re-numbered as the A1081). The M1 motorway heading south towards junction 37 at Barnsley, South Yorkshire. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the A6 road in England. ... Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, England. ... St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 22 miles (35. ... This article is about the A6 road in England. ...

The A5 passes though nearby Dunstable, and the A505 provides a connection towards the East and the A1(M). The A5 is a major road in the United Kingdom. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, with a population of 33,805 (2001 census). ... Sign at Junction 1 of the A1(M) at South Mimms in Hertfordshire The A1 is the longest numbered road in the UK at 409 miles (658 km) long. ...

In 2006 work started on widening the M1 past Luton and to the South, and work also started on upgrading the access from the M1 to the Airport.^[47] For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

In 2003, an Office of Fair Trading study identified Luton Airport as having the highest daytime fare for a 2-mile taxi journey in the UK.^[48] London Luton Airport (IATA Airport Code LTN, ICAO Airport Code EGGW, previously called Luton International Airport) is an airport about 30 miles to the north-west of London in the town of Luton, Beds. ...

Twin towns

Luton participates in international town twinning; its current partners are:^[49] For the 1997 film, see Twin Town Sign denoting twin towns of Neckarsulm, Germany Town twinning is a concept whereby towns or cities in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links. ...

• Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, since 1956
• Bourgoin-Jallieu, France, since 1956
• Eskilstuna, Sweden, since 1949
• Berlin-Spandau, Germany, since 1959
• Wolfsburg, Germany, since 1950

Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Categories: Germany geography stubs | Cities in Germany ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ...   Coordinates Administration Country France Région Rhône-Alpes Département Isère Arrondissement La Tour du Pin Canton Bourgoin-Jallieu Intercommunality Communauté dagglomération du Pays dAix Mayor Alain Cottalorda  (PS) (2001 - 2008) Statistics Land area¹ 54. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sweden. ... Eskilstuna River and Gamla Stan (Old Town) Klosters church of Eskilstuna. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... For the 1980s New Wave group, see Spandau Ballet. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Wolfsburg is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. ...

Famous people from Luton

People born in or had a strong connection with Luton.

• Mick Abrahams, Rock guitarist of Jethro Tull and Blodwyn Pig
• David Arnold, Composer
• John Badham, American film director
• Stefan Bailey, footballer for QPR went to Halyard High School
• Kevin Blackwell, former goalkeeper and now manager of Luton Town F.C..
• Charles Bronson, infamous prisoner
• Ian Cashmore, actor, radio and tv presenter of Ghosthunters, born in Luton & Dunstable hospital
• Martin Dimery, Writer and performer
• Kerry Dixon, footballer with Chelsea and England
• Diana Dors was a barmaid in "The Rabbit" pub in Old Bedford Road
• Ian Dury, Singer In the early 1970s, Worked as a freelance illustrator and taught at Luton and Canterbury colleges of art.
• Dazzle Rebel, musician, born in Luton & Dunstable hospital.
• Sean Gallagher, Actor Coronation Street (Paul), Also, Linda Green, Border Cafe, Ella and the Mothers and Holding On. He's also appeared in Under the Sun, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Touching Evil. Born and raised in Luton.
• Liam George, footballer
• John Gosling, former member of the pop group The Kinks
• Arthur Hailey Novelist (1920-2004)
• John Hegley, Poet
• Sir Alec Jeffreys, a British geneticist, developed techniques for DNA fingerprinting
• Steven Munn, Rock guitarist
• Monty Panesar, England cricketer
• Phil Read, multi-time Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion
• David Renwick, BBC scriptwriter (One Foot in the Grave)
• Lee Ross, Actor who played Owen Turner in EastEnders
• Colin Salmon, actor, in films such as Resident Evil, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator and The World Is Not Enough
• Vaughan Savidge, BBC announcer
• Billy Schwer, champion boxer
• Andy Selway, drummer for KMFDM and Pig
• Edward Tudor-Pole, Singer/Actor of band Tenpole Tudor
• Kenneth Williams (1926-1988) went to school in Luton during World War II evacuation
• Paul Young, Singer
• Punk rock band UK Decay
• Si Phili, MC Life, and DJ Nappa from the rap group Phi Life Cypher

Michael Timothy Mick Abrahams (born 7 April 1943, in Luton, Bedfordshire, England) was the original guitarist for Jethro Tull. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Blodwyn Pig were a British rock group founded by Mick Abrahams after he left Jethro Tull in 1968. ... David Arnold (born February 27, 1962 in Luton in Bedfordshire, England) is one of the most popular and successful young British composers[citation needed]. He is probably best known for the film scores to Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and four James Bond films. ... John Badham (born August 25, 1939, UK) is a film director. ... The film director, on the right, gives last minute direction to the cast and crew, whilst filming a costume drama on location in London. ... Stefan Bailey, born 10th October, 1987, is an English professional footballer who plays for QPR. External links Stefan Bailey career stats at Soccerbase Categories: | | | | ... Queens Park Rangers are an English football team, from Shepherds Bush, London. ... Kevin Blackwell (born 1958) is a football manager and former player. ... Luton Town Football Club are an English football team based in the town of Luton in Bedfordshire. ... Charles Bronson (born 1955) is the adopted name, of Michael Peterson, british criminal. ... Ian Cashmore - Promotional photograph - Sept 2005 Ian Cashmore (born 1970) is a British television personality specializing in paranormal phenomena. ... Ghosthunters was a two season show produced by Inca Productions of Hammersmith London, by producers Sheldon Greenberg and Ed Babbage and was commisioned by the Discovery Channel Europe in 1996. ... Kerry Dixon (born 24 July 1961, in Luton, United Kingdom) is a former professional football player for Chelsea and England. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Diana Dors (October 23, 1931 – May 4, 1984) was an English actress. ... Ian Dury, in a look combining Gene Vincent with a Cockney pearly king. ... Dazzle Rebel aka Darren Loczy. ... Sean Gallagher (born 1967 in Kent) is an English actor. ... Coronation Street is Britains longest-running television soap opera, first broadcast on Friday December 9, 1960, in the Granada region of ITV. The programme is consistently the highest-rated programme on British television. ... Under The Sun is an album recorded by Paul kelly & The Coloured Girls and originally released in 1987. ... Liam George (born 2nd February 1979) is an Irish footballer, who represented Ireland in the Under 18 European Youth Championship, and who now plays in the USL in America. ... John Gosling, classically trained organist and pianist, joined The Kinks in 1970 in time for their first US tour since their notorious ban. ... The Kinks were an English rock group formed in 1963 by lead singer-songwriter Ray Davies and his brother, lead guitarist and vocalist, Dave Davies, with bassist Pete Quaife. ... Arthur Hailey (April 5, 1920 – November 24, 2004) was a British/Canadian/American/Bahamian novelist. ... John Hegley (born 1 October 1953) is a popular British performance poet, whose poems have appeared both in print and on the radio. ... The poor poet A poet is a person who writes poetry. ... Professor Sir Alec John Jeffreys, FRS, (born in 9 January 1950 at Luton in Bedfordshire) is a British geneticist, who developed techniques for DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling. ... Mudhsuden Singh Panesar (born 25 April 1982 in Luton, Bedfordshire), popularly known as Monty Panesar, is an English cricketer. ... Phil Read (born in 1939 in Luton, England) was a British motorcycle roadracer nicknamed the Prince of Speed. ... Grand Prix motorcycle racing was invented by Jack Nicholson from the Shining refers to the premier category of motorcycle road racing, currently divided into three distinct classes: 125 cc, 250 cc and MotoGP. Grand prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are neither available for general purchase nor can... David Renwick (born September 4, 1951 in Luton, Bedfordshire, UK) is a British television writer, best known for creation of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave and the mystery series Jonathan Creek Before beginning his full-time comedy writing career, he worked as a journalist on his home town... One Foot in the Grave was a popular BBC television situation comedy series written by David Renwick. ... Lee Ross, as he appeared on the opening credits of Press Gang Lee Ross (born 1972) is an English actor known for roles in The Catherine Tate Show and as Owen Turner in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. ... Owen Turner is an upcoming fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. ... EastEnders is a popular BBC television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985[3] and continuing to date. ... Colin Salmon as David Tyrel in Sky Ones Hex. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The World Is Not Enough is the nineteenth official James Bond film made by EON Productions and the third to star Pierce Brosnan as Ian Flemings secret agent, James Bond. ... Vaughan Savidge (1956-) is a freelance newsreader and continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4, also working on the World Service and BBC Radio 3. ... Billy Schwer was born in Luton, Bedfordshire on 12 April 1969. ... KMFDM drummer Andy Selway and a fan at The Starlite Room on October 9th, 2004 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Andy Selway is the drummer for KMFDM, a German industrial band. ... KMFDM is an industrial rock band and the brainchild of founding member Sascha Konietzko. ... For other meanings of Pig, see Pig (disambiguation). ... Edward Tudor-Pole (born December 6, 1955 in London) is an English musician, singer (as Eddie Tenpole) and actor. ... Tenpole Tudor were a British punk band led by Edward Tudor-Pole (born December 6, 1954). ... Kenneth Williams Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English comic actor, star of twenty six films and notable radio comedies with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne, as well as a witty raconteur on a wide range of subjects. ... Paul Antony Young, better known as Paul Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English pop artist. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... UK Decay was a Luton-based band, formed out of the ashes of another local band called The Resistors, who were, Steven Abbot (Abbo) guitar, Steve Harle on drums, Paul Wilson vocals, and Martin (Segovia) Smith bass. ... RAP may mean: the IATA airport code for Rapid City Regional Airport Rassemblement pour lalternative progressiste, a Québecois political party. ... Phi-Life Cypher is a Luton-based rap group. ...

Media

Newspapers Two weekly newspapers are delivered free to all the houses in Luton. They are:

• Herald and Post^[50] - Delivered every Thursday
• The Luton on Sunday^[51] - Delivered every Sunday

There is also a weekly sister paper of the Herald and post which is not free.

• Luton News^[52] - Published every Wednesday

Additionally once a month there is a council produced newspaper called LutonLine,^[53] usually delivered with Luton on Sunday.

Radio

The local BBC station, Three Counties Radio broadcasts from its office in Hastings Street, Luton to Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.^[54] The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... BBC Three Counties Radio is the BBC Local Radio service for the English counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire (referred to as Beds, Herts and Bucks). It broadcasts from its studios in Luton on 95. ... Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a county in England that forms part of the East of England region. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Hartfordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county in the United Kingdom and part of the East of England Government Office region. ... Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is one of the home counties in South East England. ...

Chiltern Radio is the local independent station and broadcasts from Chiltern Road in Dunstable. Based on Chiltern Road in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. ... Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, with a population of 33,805 (2001 census). ...

The university's radio station, Luton FM, runs for 28 days during May In addition, Ramadan FM broadcasts during the month of Ramadan. Diverse FM,^[55] another local radio station, has recently been awarded a community radio license from Ofcom and hopes to start broadcasting full-time in April 2007. Luton FM is a student radio station, managed, produced and presented by students at the Luton Town Centre campus of the University of Bedfordshire in Luton, Bedfordshire. ... Ofcom is a regulator for communication industries in the United Kingdom. ...

Media references

In the TV series One Foot in the Grave there are often references to places within Luton. The script-writer David Renwick was from Luton. One Foot in the Grave was a popular BBC television situation comedy series written by David Renwick. ... David Renwick (born September 4, 1951 in Luton, Bedfordshire, UK) is a British television writer, best known for creation of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave and the mystery series Jonathan Creek Before beginning his full-time comedy writing career, he worked as a journalist on his home town...

One episode of the 1975 science fiction television series Space: 1999 was called The Rules of Luton. Although the show was produced in the UK, that episode was written by US-born producer Fred Freiberger, who had seen the town's name on a road sign, and chose it for his fictional alien planet.^[56] In the episode, the planet of Luton is portrayed as a hostile world of living plants. Left to right: Barbara Bain, Catherine Schell and Martin Landau from Space:1999s second season. ... Fred Freiberger, 1976 Fred Freiberger (February 19, 1915–March 2, 2003) was an American television producer. ...

Luton is one of the constituencies returning a "Silly Party" victory (specifically Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-F'tang-F'tang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel) in the famous Monty Python sketch Election Night Special. Tarquin Fin-tim-lin-bin-whin-bim-lim-bus-stop-Ftang-Ftang-Olé-Biscuitbarrel was the name of a candidate for the British parliament in 1981. ... Monty Python, or The Pythons, is the collective name of the creators of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. ... Election Night Special is a Monty Python sketch parodying the coverage of United Kingdom general elections, specifically the 1970 general election on the BBC by including hectic (and downright silly) actions by the media and a range of ridiculous candidates. ...

Comic book character Kev Hawkins is from Luton. He hated the city so much that he joined the army, and later the SAS just to get out of there. Kev Hawkins is a comic book anti-hero who first appeared in a Authority-oneshot in 2002. ... Look up sas, SAS in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

References

External links

• Luton Borough Council
• Luton - 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article
• A defence of Luton, the crappiest city in England in The Guardian
• Luton pubs Customer ratings and reviews of pubs in Luton

Coordinates: 51°54′N, 0°26′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...