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Luton is situated to the north of London in Bedfordshire and is known nationally as the home of London Luton International Airport. It is conveniently next to the M1 approximately 30 miles or so from the centre of the nation’s capital while the River Lea runs through the town too. Thanks to this role the town plays host to a number of airline carrier headquarters while also in the travel sector Luton was formerly the home of a Vauxhall Motors factory from 1905 to 2002. Luton is also known for its ethnic diversity; indeed, people from more than 100 different nations reside in the Bedfordshire town, bringing a richness of culture to the setting.
London Luton Airport is found on the south-east side of the town and flights depart to more than 90 worldwide destinations from here. It is the UK’s fifth largest passenger airport and specialises in budget airlines such as the East European Wizzair and the popular British and Irish chains Easyjet and Ryanair. More than nine million passengers travel through this major airport each year as they flock to and from various corners of Europe and beyond. The airport provides plenty of impetus for the local economy and is a major employer in this part of the county.
In 1826 the town’s first hat factory opened and from this point onwards Luton took on prominence in the hat market. Many of the old hat factories can still be found in the town and have been transformed into various types of building, although one of the restored factories takes on a role as the Hat Factory Arts Centre. Testifying further to the prominence of the hat industry in Luton, the football team’s nickname is the Hatters. The town was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book and was stated as having the largest royal manor in Bedfordshire. In the 14th century the church of St Mary was built and today it is the oldest surviving structure in the town. Another major event took place in 1938 when the airport opened, while in 1972 the Arndale Shopping Centre was unveiled and at the time it was the largest under-cover shopping centre in Europe. The year 1975 was the first year of the Luton Carnival and it continues to occur each year on May Bank Holiday. The carnival is now the largest one-day carnival in Europe.
London Luton Airport is found on the south-east side of the town and flights depart to more than 90 worldwide destinations from here. It is the UK’s fifth largest passenger airport and specialises in budget airlines such as the East European Wizzair and the popular British and Irish chains Easyjet and Ryanair. More than nine million passengers travel through this major airport each year as they flock to and from various corners of Europe and beyond. The airport provides plenty of impetus for the local economy and is a major employer in this part of the county.
In 1826 the town’s first hat factory opened and from this point onwards Luton took on prominence in the hat market. Many of the old hat factories can still be found in the town and have been transformed into various types of building, although one of the restored factories takes on a role as the Hat Factory Arts Centre. Testifying further to the prominence of the hat industry in Luton, the football team’s nickname is the Hatters. The town was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book and was stated as having the largest royal manor in Bedfordshire. In the 14th century the church of St Mary was built and today it is the oldest surviving structure in the town. Another major event took place in 1938 when the airport opened, while in 1972 the Arndale Shopping Centre was unveiled and at the time it was the largest under-cover shopping centre in Europe. The year 1975 was the first year of the Luton Carnival and it continues to occur each year on May Bank Holiday. The carnival is now the largest one-day carnival in Europe.