There’s an ever-changing landscape in the new city of Milton Keynes, which for residents is taken as de facto. In 1967 the new city arose from the existing towns of Bletchley, Stony Stratford and Wolverton and while the US-style grid roads with their endless roundabouts provoked ridicule, some fifty years later it is still possible to drive straight into the central shopping area of MK while driving past woodland, lakes and parks. Over these years of sometime frantic development, vast changes have been implemented in MK. The original design plans were viewed to reflect that there would be no building taller than the tallest tree. Of course, our trees have grown, but even so, over the years the planners and developers have moved this interpretation so that MK now has its share of tall buildings, or what are termed landmark buildings.
Right now there are two monolithic concrete blocks that seem to over-shadow one end of the shopping centre and dominate the skyline over Campbell Park, towards views of the Grand Union Canal and countryside. Apparently the 14-floor concrete blocks, handily they are visibly numbered, are part of the new La Tour hotel which is due to open in 2022. This hotel and conference centre will have a fourteenth-floor sky bar and restaurant, roof terrace and a panoramic lift up to the 43-metre high top floor, where there will be a public viewing area with art installation, to be known as “SeeMK”. Meanwhile the adjacent MK Gallery also provides extensive views if the skyroom is open, as does just standing in Campbell Park!
Cultural Highlights 