St Valentine's Day

The connection between Milton Keynes and St Valentine's Day runs deeper than you'd expect. In the 1960s, when planners were mapping out Milton Keynes as a new town, they chose its name deliberately - drawing inspiration from a small medieval village that once stood in the area, which itself was named after the Christian martyr. The actual site where Valentine was said to have been buried is at the Church of St Martin of Tours in nearby Perivale, but the local connection to the saint's story remains part of Milton Keynes' unusual heritage.

If you're camping at Gullivers or Adventurer's Village - both practically on the doorstep - this is more of a curiosity than a day out. A quiet walk through Milton Keynes town centre reveals plaques and references to the saint, but there's nothing quite as tangible as standing before ancient stones. That said, the legend adds a layer to the area's identity that most modern towns lack entirely. It's the sort of thing that makes for good conversation over a campfire, especially if you're here around February 14th.

The history types will find it more engaging than families with restless kids. Allow an hour or so if you're determined to trace the connections through the town. It's free to explore, obviously. Worth a short visit if you're already in Milton Keynes, but not worth planning your trip around it.