Cemented in History - Milton Keynes

This week took me to the ‘Jewel of Yorkshire’, a phrase coined in 2010 by Joshua Stead in his book ‘Steaming in’ about the English countryside as visited by steam train.

The first thing any outsider will notice about Milton Keynes is how much it differs from a regular city in that the City Centre is pedestrianized and the roads are kept away from people. In fact when driving through the Milton Keynes it is easy to forget that you are in a city with a population of 195,000.

I parked up and took a walk in

to the centre to see what I could find in the way of great

architecture or good amenities. In the past the City has been called the ‘concrete city’ and I must admit I did pass a lot of concrete as I strolled throught the streets on my way to the centre.

When I reached the main shopping area I was amazed at the amount of people and the diversity of the stores. The main shopping centre is the MK centre (a straight to the point name) it is a practical building made of mostly concrete. The front is decorated with the famous concrete cows scattered around a concrete tree scultpure that seems more of a sculpture to fill a space than anything that could possibly inspire anybody.

I then took a taxi to the Xscape centre, the UK’s first indoor ski slope with real snow. As well as the ski slope, the Xscape centre has a cinema, a bowling alley and many shops and restaurants. It is a day out in itself and a place that would entertain both children and adults amply.

It cost £23 an hour to try Skiing, which seems a lot, but this will be money well spent - trust me. For beginners there is a small practice slope to learn on and for the more capable skier there is a large, steep slope to hone technique.

I cannot say much for the architecture of Milton Keyes because it is mostly concrete stuctures. However the locals are friendly and it a very practical city, the public transport and general design of the centre is organised in a way to maximise efficiency for the people who live there.

Milton Keynes is certainly a city to live in as opposed to one for the tourists, but I enjoyed my day there nonetheless. No one could argue with the astuteness of Stead’s mind and critical ability but I disagree that Milton Keynes is a ‘Jewel’. I think it is more like a brick, no one wants to make a ring from one, but when it comes to making a home, its a good place to start

City Rating: 3/5

Didn’t they do Welsh - Cardiff

This week I travelled to the Welsh capital to see what was Wales has to offer and more specifically, how Cardiff compares to other cities in the UK. I came back with a host of memories and the worst headline I have ever read, let alone written.

I had heard from a friend that the place to go in Cardiff is the Docks area, although my friend did travel there by boat so I was sceptical. The area has recently had a massive revamp and is the home of many spectacular brand new buildings, with new bars and restaurants to cater for the wealthy residents and the tourists.

I followed my friend’s advice and headed to the docks where I saw the now world-famous Welsh assembly building. The roof of the building is made up of a series of wooden slats, which are curved majestic

ally around one central pillar, visible through the glass walls to the structure. It was nominated for the coveted Stirling award upon completion in 2006 for its eco-friendly design.

Trying not to think of how many trees had been cut down to build the massive roof I continued my walk alongside the water to the charming restaurant and bar area of the docklands where there was a mix of chain and independent eateries to choose from. I was impressed by how the marina area had been renovated and the design features, including hundreds of water-view apartments, were subtle but elegant.

It was then time to visit the City Centre and see why Cardiff is spoken about so highly by its residents. As I walked down the main shopping street I could see t

hat the Welsh Capital had absolutely every shop that any art student/indie band member/young couple could ever want to kit themselves out. But there was very little in the way of specialist or different shops that were away from the usual trendy fashion chain stores.

I continued on to the end of the street to the Castle. Cardiff Castle must be given the recognition that it deserves for it’s design and for the how well it has been maintained. The castle is estimated to have been built in the year 55 but much of the structure is far newer than that and this is clear by the immaculately preserved brickwork around on the outer wall.

A few minutes down the road past many shoppers and students, a crowd had formed around a small band dressed in odd, red and white striped costumes. They were singing a song called ‘Warren G’ in reference to the current Welsh Rugby team coach.

This musical ensemble sort of summed Cardiff up for me because the Welshmen and Women of Cardiff are fully aware that there city does not compare in financial or political importance to that of a city like London, a theme that is mirrored by England and Wales in stature. But this takes away the pressure of responsibility and this is reflected in the atmosphere of the city, the people seem happier for it.

The buildings and shops are all very nice, as are the people but it is the feel and attitude of the place that makes me want to return for a better look.

City rating: 4/5

Please look at my video of ‘Boycezone’ performing ‘Warren G the Welshman’: