Serviced Apartments in Dunstable

Discover the best activities and attractions Dunstable has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Dunstable Downs (National Trust)
Dunstable Downs is the highest point in Bedfordshire and a sweeping chalk escarpment on the Chiltern Hills, prized for panoramic views, walking and cycling routes, paragliding and kite-flying (including the popular annual International Kite Festival). Its status as a National Trust site and easy access from the town make it a major draw for day-trippers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Downs supports the local economy by bringing steady tourism footfall to nearby cafes, B&Bs and shops, creating seasonal jobs and raising the profile of Dunstable as a gateway for countryside recreation and nature education.

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, just a short drive from Dunstable, is one of the UK’s largest zoological parks by land area, housing wide-ranging species (elephants, giraffes, big cats) and offering expansive enclosures, keeper talks and conservation programmes. Its scale and focus on conservation and education make it a family-friendly destination that attracts visitors from across the region. The zoo is a significant local employer and tourism anchor — it boosts spending in the wider area (accommodation, eateries, retail) and partners with schools and community groups for outreach and wildlife learning.

Dunstable Priory (Priory Church of St Peter) & Priory House Museum
The Priory Church of St Peter is a historic landmark with roots in the medieval priory; nearby Priory House Museum presents Dunstable’s local history, archaeology and community stories. Together they offer residents and visitors a compact cultural and educational site — from ancient architecture to exhibits on town development — and host concerts, workshops and heritage events. Their conservation and programming help sustain local identity, attract heritage tourism and provide educational resources for schools and volunteers, supporting small local enterprises (cafes, guides) connected to visitor services.

The Grove Theatre
The Grove Theatre is Dunstable’s main performing-arts venue, staging community theatre, touring productions, cinema nights and workshops for all ages. It is a cultural hub that nurtures local talent, provides arts education, and keeps evening footfall in the town centre. By programming diverse events it strengthens social cohesion, creates part-time and full-time cultural jobs, and brings customers to nearby restaurants and shops on show nights, contributing to the evening economy.

Dunstable Market & High Street (independent shops and eateries)
Dunstable’s market and high street combine traditional market stalls, independent shops, cafes and restaurants, offering fresh produce, street food, specialty goods and local services. The market (regular market days and seasonal events) is a longstanding community focal point—supporting small traders, artisans and entrepreneurs while giving residents daily convenience and variety. This shopping and dining quarter underpins the town centre’s vitality by circulating local money, creating micro-business opportunities, and providing a social meeting place that complements the town’s tourism and cultural attractions.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Dunstable, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local bus network - Frequent bus routes operated by regional companies provide local and inter-town services within Dunstable and to nearby centres such as Luton, Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis and towns across Central Bedfordshire; services include daytime, evening and some weekend frequencies.
- Luton — Dunstable Guided Busway - A dedicated guided bus corridor linking Dunstable to Luton and Luton Airport Parkway station, offering high-frequency, rapid services on a segregated route that reduces journey times and avoids local road congestion.
- Rail connections (nearest stations) - Dunstable has no mainline rail station; nearest National Rail/Thameslink stations are at Luton, Luton Airport Parkway and Leagrave, all reachable by busway or local bus, giving direct rail access to London, Bedford and destinations on the Thameslink network.
- Airport connections - Regular bus and busway services connect Dunstable with Luton Airport and Luton Airport Parkway, enabling onward national and international travel and rail links to central London.
- Coach and long-distance services - Long-distance coach services (National Express and others) are accessible from nearby hubs such as Luton and Milton Keynes; some services stop at regional bus/coach interchanges that are a short bus/taxi ride away.
- Taxis and private hire - A mix of licensed taxi companies and app-based private-hire operators serve Dunstable for on-demand trips, airport transfers and first/last-mile connections.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Local community transport schemes, dial-a-ride and volunteer-run services support people with limited mobility and those in more rural parts of the Central Bedfordshire area.

Major Highways
- M1 - The main north–south motorway providing fast links to London, the Midlands and the north; Dunstable is a short drive from M1 junctions, giving access to the national motorway network.
- A5 (Watling Street) - Historic trunk road running through/near Dunstable that provides arterial connections east–west across the region and links to nearby towns and trunk routes.
- A505 - Key east–west primary route connecting the A5 corridor to the A1(M) and services across south-central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire; important for commuting and cross‑county travel.
- A5183 / local primary roads - Principal local arterial routes (the A5183 and other numbered A roads and B-roads) provide direct links into neighbouring settlements (Luton, Houghton Regis) and to local industrial and retail areas.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle routes and shared-use paths - Dunstable benefits from a mix of on-road cycle lanes, traffic-calmed streets in parts of the town, and a high-quality off-road shared-use cycle / pedestrian path that runs alongside the Luton — Dunstable Guided Busway, providing a continuous, largely segregated corridor for cyclists between Dunstable and Luton as well as connections to local leisure routes and parts of the National Cycle Network.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Luton — Dunstable Guided Busway (opened 2013) - Major recent transport investment that created a rapid, segregated public-transit corridor improving reliability and journey times between Dunstable, Luton and Luton Airport Parkway.
- Town centre and public-realm projects - Ongoing and phased town-centre regeneration and public-realm improvements (led by Central Bedfordshire Council and local partners) include measures to improve pedestrian access, bus stop facilities and town-centre traffic management to make local journeys easier and safer.
- Rail and airport service enhancements - Improvements on the Thameslink network and ongoing service planning at Luton Airport Parkway have increased and stabilised rail frequencies to London and beyond, indirectly improving connectivity for Dunstable residents via the busway interchange.
- Active travel and cycle improvements - Central Bedfordshire Council and partner programmes have been investing in active travel schemes — extending and upgrading cycle and pedestrian routes (notably alongside the busway), adding cycle parking and improving crossings to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Highway and junction upgrades - Targeted highway maintenance and junction capacity improvements on the A5/A505 corridors and at key local junctions have been undertaken or planned to reduce congestion and improve reliability for car and bus users, particularly during peak periods.
- Bus network reviews and service enhancements - Periodic reviews of local bus services and funding-backed initiatives (including “better bus” type programmes) aim to optimise routes, frequencies and interchange facilities to better match commuter demand and provide improved links to employment hubs and Luton Airport.