| Among the most popular attractions Luton has to | | | | narrow two-foot (610 mm) gauge that is nearly |
| offer tourists and business travellers are the | | | | three miles (4.8 km) long. |
| following: | | | | The railway line was constructed following World War |
| 1. Dunstable Downs | | | | I as an vital transport link to the sand quarries north |
| With an elevation of 243 meters (797 feet), | | | | of the town. During the 1960s, the railway shifted |
| Dunstable Downs are nestled in the Chiltern Hills in | | | | focus from quarrying sand to road transport. |
| southern Bedforshire and are actually the highest | | | | One of the railway's key attractions is the wide |
| point of Bedforshire county. | | | | variety of steam and internal combustion locomotives |
| The Downs is a chalk escarpment that forms the | | | | that still run on the line. In addition, Stonehenge |
| Chilterns' north-eastern reaches. They are managed | | | | Works on the northern end of the line features an |
| by the National Trust and serve as the home to | | | | impressive array of historic industrial railway |
| many types of wildlife, including beautiful butterfly | | | | locomotives. |
| species such as the Marbled White and the Chalkhill | | | | 4. Luton Museum & Art Gallery |
| Blue and rare wild flowers like the Bee Orchid, | | | | Located within a large Victorian mansion in Wardown |
| The elevation of Dunstable Downs makes it a | | | | Park, the Luton Museum & Art Gallery boasts of |
| favourite destination of kite fliers, gliders, hang gliders | | | | popular collections of Befordshire's traditional crafts, |
| and paragliders. For this reason, the London Gliding | | | | specifically, lace-making and hat-making. |
| Club has set up their base at the foot of the Downs. | | | | Some of the lace samples go back as far as the 17th |
| Another popular attraction here is the huge lion shape | | | | century. Meanwhile, the hat collection has more than |
| that was cut by Whipsnade Zoo at the side of one | | | | 600 hats representing the Woman's Hat Industry |
| of the hills. This lion is visible from the Aylesbury to | | | | collection. Several pieces of decorative art, including |
| Dunstable road (the B489). | | | | Saxon jewellery, are also on display. Other popular |
| The height of the Dunstable Downs is also the main | | | | collections include costumes, fine arts, straw-plaiting, |
| reason why it was an ideal venue for a shutter | | | | medieval guild books and several Victorian room |
| telegraph station from 1808 to 1814 whose key | | | | settings. |
| function was to connect the Admiralty in London to | | | | In February 2003, the first floor was refurbished and |
| naval ships at the Great Yarmouth port. | | | | re-opened as Luton Life displays and feature several |
| 2. Chiltern Hills | | | | prominent Luton personalities from the past century |
| Aside from the Dunstable Downs, the Chiltern Hills as | | | | and a half. Listening posts are available and allow |
| a whole is a popular attraction for tourists. As a chalk | | | | visitors to listen to some of the locals as they |
| escarpment, the Chiltern Hills are part of the | | | | describe key events. Several interactive displays are |
| Southern England Chalk Formation along with the | | | | also on hand. |
| South Downs, Isle of Wight, Cranborne Chase and | | | | The Living Landscape gallery features local |
| Salisbury Plain. | | | | archaeology and natural history, including a Bronze |
| Haddington Hill in Wendover Woods is the highest | | | | Age mirror, a Shillington Roman coin hoard and ) and |
| point of the Chiltern Hills, with an elevation of 267 | | | | various finds from Waulud's Bank. The Lace Gallery |
| meters (876 feet). Nearby is another prominent hill, | | | | displays some of the museum's extensive collection |
| Ivinghoe Beacon, which is 249 meters (817 feet) | | | | of locally produced lace work. The Bedfordshire and |
| above sea level. On the East is Dunstable Downs. | | | | Hertfordshire gallery displays various artefacts |
| There is also the 260-meter (853 feet) Coombe Hill | | | | depicting the history of the local regiment, courtesy |
| near Wendover. | | | | of the Imperial War Museum. |
| On the southeast side of the Chiltern scarp you will | | | | 5. Someries Castle |
| find beech woodland and several attractive villages. | | | | Built by Sir John Wenlock during the 15th century, |
| The quality hardwood in the area once formed the | | | | Someries Castle has been classified as a Scheduled |
| backbone of a flourishing chair-making industry in | | | | Ancient Monument. Its name comes from William de |
| Chesham and High Wycombe towns. | | | | Someries, a former resident of the site. In 1430 |
| Several rivers drain from the Chiltern Hills and form an | | | | Wenlock acquired the location and built Someries |
| impressive sight. These include River Gade, River | | | | Castle, which is actually more of a fortified manor |
| Wye, River Ver, River Lee, River Chess, River | | | | house than a castle. |
| Mimram, River Bulbourne and River Misbourne. All | | | | What makes Someries Castle unique is that it is one |
| these rivers are referred to as chalk streams. | | | | of the very first brick buildings in the country. |
| 3. Leighton Buzzard Light Railway | | | | Although it is now in ruins, magnificent brickwork that |
| Known as LBLR, this light railway is located in | | | | the castle is known for can still be seen in great detail |
| Leighton Buzzard town in Bedfordshire, England. Now | | | | today, especially near the gatehouse that connects |
| operated as a heritage railway, the LBLR features a | | | | the chapel and lodge. |