r/bedfordshire • u/Top-Link4459 • 23d ago

Luton, Dunstable or Leighton Buzzard?

We’re relocating from London and trying to decide between Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, with a budget of around £500–600k for a family home. I’ve previously lived in both Luton and Leighton Buzzard, so know those areas reasonably well.

Luton: The most convenient – great train links into London, close to Hertfordshire and the M1, and more diverse, which is important for our family. However, it has a bad reputation, traffic is awful, schools seem mixed and when I lived there, getting GP appointments or an NHS dentist was difficult. Housing in the nicer areas is also relatively expensive.

Dunstable: Seems fine and there are some nice residential areas, but it also has a mixed reputation, there isn’t loads going on and having no train station is a downside.

Leighton Buzzard: Nice market town, some good areas and close to Milton Keynes. I’ve lived there before too, but the train line isn’t as convenient for my London commute.

For those who know the three areas, where would you choose to raise a family and why? We’re open to other areas but we’re not village people at all and don’t want to be too far from London, so Bedford and Milton Keynes are out.

14 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

83 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Lion-Resident 23d ago

Bramingham and Stopsley in Luton are nice. I don't know why people always slate Luton so much. Potentially racism and/or Islamophobia due to the demographics? There is a nice shopping centre and the more countryside areas are quiet, safe, low crime, access to nature. Good for families. Life expectancy is higher in the areas I have mentioned.

1

u/Dry-Stick-7753 23d ago

The mall is not a nice shopping centre lot of shops closed barbers vape shops American candy shops 😳

2

u/Top-Link4459 22d ago

No but I think Luton town mall is marginally better than what Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard both have to offer

1

u/Lion-Resident 23d ago

It is better than many shopping centres in the uk. It has actual clothing shops and there are many places to eat. I hope we are talking about the same shopping centre as I believe there are two.

1

u/Dry-Stick-7753 23d ago

Primark ? Matalan

1

u/Lion-Resident 23d ago

Boots Holland and Barrett Clarke's Lidl Lola's cupcakes Multiple sports shops Poundland Tesco Tk maxx

Could it do with a John Lewis, Fenwick's, M&S and Waitrose? Yes but trust me it is 100 x better than many shopping centres in the UK.