Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Natalia
Milton Keynes may not be known for its lakes, but with plenty of them to enjoy perhaps it should be! Having lived in the town for over 20 years, I’ve spent countless hours exploring the town’s lakes. Visiting the lakes is one of the best things to do in Milton Keynes, especially if you want to get outside and enjoy some nature. There are several lakes in the town, some of which are home to a surprising amount of wildlife including otters, foxes, snakes and badgers. Other lakes offer the chance to enjoy some water sports such as kayaking, wakeboarding and paddle-boarding. Find out which lake is best suited to you with this guide to the lakes of Milton Keynes!
The best lakes in Milton Keynes
Lodge Lake
Our favourite lake in Milton Keynes is Lodge Lake, which is found in Great Holm. Although it’s one of the smaller lakes on our list, for us it’s one of the nicer walks, as you are close to the lake for the majority of the 20 minute circuit.
Despite being relatively small, Lodge Lake is home to a surprising amount of wildlife including kingfishers, herons, cormorants, egrets, grass snakes and even terrapin turtles. If you’re really lucky you may even see Lodge Lake’s resident otter!
The main path sticks close to the lake for the mile long circular walk, but there are a few extra areas to explore too. Walk alongside the private paddock and you can get up close to the ‘Revolution’ art installation, which celebrates 50 years of Milton Keynes.
If you want to extend your walk you can venture into North Loughton Valley Park, a lovely green area besides the river running from the lake. Walk for around 20-30 minutes further and you can even visit the famous Concrete Cows of Milton Keynes!
As well as being one of the nicest lake walks in Milton Keynes, Lodge Lake is also popular with runners and cyclists. The trim trail around the lake is ideal for anyone looking for a bit of exercise or fun, with pull-up bars, balance beams and more for passers-by to use.
Lodge Lake has its own free car park near the National Badminton Centre, which is convenient if you need to drive from another area of Milton Keynes. Alternatively, if you need to use public transport then you should be able to catch a bus to Great Holm and walk to the lake from there.
Find out more with our quick and easy guide to Lodge Lake in Milton Keynes!
Teardrop Lakes
The Teardrop Lakes in Loughton are a series of 4 interconnecting lakes shaped like tear drops. Situated in South Loughton Valley Park, the lakes are surrounded by large green open spaces, which makes it an ideal area to have a picnic or play sports.
In our experience the Teardrop Lakes aren’t as good for spotting wildlife as some of the other lakes in Milton Keynes.
There is a path that leads around 3 of the 4 Teardrop Lakes, as well as bridges over some of the narrower points of the lakes if you don’t want to walk the full circuit. It only takes around 30 minutes to walk around the 3 lakes though, so we recommend doing the whole loop to fully enjoy the nature.
If you want to make the walk a bit longer there is a path alongside the 4th lake, but as it’s not a loop you’ll have to turn round at the end to go back the way you came.
There are 3 free car parks close-by to the Teardrop Lakes – one off Davy Avenue, one off Redland Drive and one off Garforth Place. If you want to use public transport you should be able to catch a bus to a nearby area in Loughton and start your walk from there.
Broughton Brook Magna Park
Broughton Brook Magna Park is home to one of the lesser-known lakes in the Milton Keynes area. Many people are completely unaware of this lake, as it’s located on the outskirts of town near the M1 and nestled between warehouses.
Despite the surroundings, Broughton Brook Magna Park is a lovely place to visit and has a surprising amount of wildlife, including deer, foxes, hares, buzzards, swans and more. It’s also home to a Skylark Conservation Area, meaning it’s one of the only places in Milton Keynes to see Skylarks.
There is a circular path around the lake at Broughton Brook Magna Park, with the circular walk taking around 20 minutes to complete. It used to be possible to walk through the big field next to the lake, but that’s no longer the case since it has been turned into a Skylark Conservation Area.
Due to the lake’s location on the outskirts of Milton Keynes it’s best to drive there yourself. There’s a small car park right beside the lake which offers free parking.
Tongwell Lake
Close to Newport Pagnell you can find the lovely Tongwell Lake, which seems to be Milton Keynes’ very own swan haven. We counted over 20 swans on our visit and saw them pretty much constantly as we walked around the lake.
The path around the lake is easy to follow, and it takes around 30 minutes to walk the whole way round. At times it’s not possible to see the lake through the reeds and bushes, but in the openings you can enjoy some nice views of the nature.
There’s a large island in the middle of the lake, so if you’re a birdwatcher we recommend bringing some binoculars to spot any birds over there.
Tongwell Lake has its own free car park directly beside the lake, which makes it convenient if you’re looking for a somewhat scenic walk. Alternatively, you’ll want to find a bus running to either Tongwell or Blakelands and make your way to the lake on foot.
Willen Lake
Willen Lake is the biggest lake in Milton Keynes, and is also one of the town’s most popular parks. The lake is split into two sections, the north side and the south side.
Both sides of the lake have something different to offer – the north side is better if you’re just looking for a walk. Whereas the south side of the lake is regularly used for water sports and some of this can be used for swimming in Milton Keynes.
The combined distance around the north and south sides of Willen Lake is 5 kilometres, meaning it should take around 1-1½ hours to walk all the way round. If you fancy a shorter walk then it’s possible to just go around either the north or south side of Willen Lake, or alternatively you can follow one of the walking trails on the Parks Trust website.
Willen Lake North is home to a few landmarks to visit as you walk, the most notable being the Peace Pagoda and the Labyrinth.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Peace Pagoda is the first of its kind to be built in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a Buddhist monument symbolising peace and unity for people around the world, regardless of race, beliefs, or nationality.
The Labyrinth at Willen Lake is a relatively large turf maze, which can be a fun thing to enjoy whilst visiting the lake. It’s only a short distance from the Peace Pagoda, so be sure not to miss it!
Willen Lake South is the place to be if you want to take part in some water sports. There are plenty of activities on offer, from sailing to paddle-boarding to wakeboarding to Aqua Parcs – an inflatable obstacle course on the lake! Click here to find out more about the water sport activities available!
The south side of Willen Lake is also home to The Lakeside pub, which is a nice place to stop for a drink or bite to eat during your visit.
It’s around a 30 minute walk from Campbell Park in Milton Keynes City Centre to Willen Lake. Local buses do run to Willen if you want to get there using public transport.
Alternatively, there are a number of car parks around Willen Lake, including one nearby to the Peace Pagoda, with prices starting from 50p for 30 minutes.
Furzton Lake
Furzton Lake is one of the most popular lakes in Milton Keynes, and is a lovely place for a walk if the weather is nice. The route around the lake is just over 1½ miles, and should take around 30 minutes to complete if you’re going at a reasonable pace.
The route is pleasant at times, with nice views of the lake, but at other times it can be quite narrow and ventures quite close to some residential areas. That being said, for the most part it is an enjoyable walk.
If you’re visiting the lake then you may also want to stop by the Furzton Lake pub. Due to its location near the lakeside it’s a nice spot to sit and relax, especially on warm summer days.
The easiest way to get to Furzton Lake is to drive and make use of one of the free car parks near the lake.
Linford Lakes
The Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is home to the most exclusive lakes in Milton Keynes, as you actually need a permit to be able to visit. It’s one of the best nature reserves in Milton Keynes, and is home to a range of wildlife including otters, foxes, deer, badgers, snakes, owls, bitterns, egrets, kingfishers and more.
There are 4 bird hides at Linford Lakes – the Warbler hide, the Otter hide, the Woodland hide and the Heronry hide. Three of these hides require an access code to enter, and the only way to get this code is to buy a permit to the nature reserve.
The Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is home to a large lake, wet woodland and reedbeds, as well as some small meadows, lakes and ponds. There is a 1½ mile trail leading around the large lake, which should take around 30-45 minutes to complete.
As you need a permit to enter, the lake at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is one of the quietest lakes in Milton Keynes. If you’re interested in wildlife then it’s definitely worth investing in a permit so that you can visit and support the reserve, with prices starting from just £20 for a 12 month permit.
Permits are available through the Parks Trust and can be purchased online, with a variety of options available including single, family and under 18 memberships. Click here to find out more on the Parks Trust website!
The best way to get to Linford Lakes Nature Reserve is to drive and make use of the free car park on site, which is located a bit of a distance down a single track road. It’s hard to access the reserve using public transport, so it’s best to make your own way there if you can.
Photos of Linford Lakes were provided by Jim Ward – visit his Instagram for nature and wildlife shots in MK!
Caldecotte Lake
The final lake of this guide to the lakes in Milton Keynes is Caldecotte Lake. It’s one of the largest lakes in Milton Keynes, so it’s an ideal place to visit if you’re looking for a nice, long walk.
There are two sections to the lake, Caldecotte Lake North and South. The combined distance around the two sections of the lake is approximately 5 kilometres, which means the walk should take around an hour to walk around.
Caldecotte Lake is a reasonable place to spot wildlife too, and there are two bird hides which are found in the southern section of the lake. If you’re an avid birdwatcher it’s worth taking a pair of binoculars to see what you can spot on your visit.
As you walk around the lake you can make use of the trim trail if you want some more exercise, or you can even make use of the free ping pong table.
It’s also possible to take part in a variety of different water sports at Caldecotte Lake, including kayaking, rowing, sailing and paddle-boarding.
Like a few of the other lakes in Milton Keynes, Caldecotte Lake has its own pub – The Caldecotte Pub & Grill. There is a nice outdoor seating area with lovely views of the lake, so if you don’t fancy a walk but still want to enjoy some nature then it’s a nice place to enjoy a meal or some drinks.
There are two free car parks to use when visiting Caldecotte Lake, one at the pub and one at the south side of the lake. If the latter is full then there is another free parking area if you drive a little further onwards. Alternatively, you can take a bus to the Caldecotte area and make your way to the lake from there.
Other lakes in Milton Keynes
Although the list of lakes above doesn’t cover all of the lakes in Milton Keynes, it does cover the best ones in terms of walking and activities. The town does have some other smaller lakes, but these tend to be used more exclusively for fishing.
One of the most notable lakes in Milton Keynes that isn’t on the list above is the Blue Lagoon. In our experience it doesn’t really live up to the name, and the water is no more blue than any of the other lakes in the town.
We personally found the Blue Lagoon to have a bit of a litter problem and didn’t see much wildlife on our visit. The path around the lake isn’t particularly interesting and there are quite a few times when you don’t get a proper view of the lake at all.
Another lake in Milton Keynes not included in the list is Bradwell Lake, but this is a private fishing lake with no public access.
If you’re looking for some nice lake walks in Milton Keynes then we recommend sticking to the list above! Alternatively, if you don’t mind going further afield then check out our list of easy walks in the Peak District or perhaps some beautiful lakes in the Lake District.
Where to stay in Milton Keynes
Jurys Inn
Jurys Inn offers comfortable, air-conditioned rooms in Central Milton Keynes. Its central location means there are several bars and restaurants nearby, so you won’t be short of options of places to eat and drink.
There are a number of car parks in Central Milton Keynes, so you will have plenty of options when it comes to parking, with rates starting at 50p per hour. Alternatively, there are several bus services running from the town centre towards estates nearby the lakes listed above.
Prices start from £76 per night and rooms can easily be booked through Booking.com.
Click here to book a stay at Jurys Inn on Booking.com!
Holiday Inn
Another option is to stay at the centrally-located Holiday Inn. It’s around a one minute walk away from the town’s shopping centre, and there are plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.
The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool, but depending on social distancing restrictions this may be closed. There are plenty of parking options nearby, and you should expect to pay up to around £10 per day.
Prices start from just £66 per night, and you can book through the link below.
Click here to arrange a stay at the Holiday Inn on Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
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