MK Digest – Bank Closures, M1 Disruption and New Local Services

Here’s what’s worth knowing in Milton Keynes this week.

Two bank branches in Central Milton Keynes are due to close this autumn – Halifax permanently and Lloyds temporarily for refurbishment.

Halifax says its branch at 12 Midsummer Arcade will close permanently on Wednesday 23 September. Its current branch page says customers can manage their accounts at Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branches, while its closure review also points customers towards cash machines, PayPoint stores, the Post Office, phone and digital banking.

Nearby Lloyds Court at 28 Secklow Gate West is due to close from Friday 18 September until Monday 14 December while the branch is refreshed and refurbished, according to Lloyds Banking Group. During the work, customers can use nearby Post Office services, deposit cash at a local PayPoint, contact Lloyds by phone, or use the 24-hour cash machine at Morrisons on Elder Gate to withdraw and deposit cash.

That means both Central Milton Keynes branches are due to be closed at the same time from 23 September until Lloyds reopens on 14 December. Anyone who regularly relies on either branch may want to check their alternative banking options before the closures begin.

🕒 Lloyds: 18 Sep–14 Dec; 🕒 Halifax closes permanently 23 Sep
📍 Central Milton Keynes

Halifax permanent closure details →

Lloyds temporary closure details →

Drivers heading north on the M1 through the Milton Keynes area face two overnight closures this weekend as National Highways continues safety-improvement work between junctions 11a and 13.

The northbound carriageway is scheduled to close from 9pm to 5am on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. Traffic will leave at junction 11a and follow a signed diversion via the A5, A505 and A4146 before returning towards Milton Keynes on the A5 and then using Bletcham Way, Tongwell Street, Standing Way and the A421 to rejoin the M1 at junction 13.

National Highways says emergency vehicles will still have access through the works with caution. It also warns that road closures can change at short notice, so drivers travelling that weekend should check the latest closure information before setting off.

More information →

Milton Keynes City Council has expanded its home laundry service so more residents who struggle with washing because of health, mobility or caring responsibilities can use it.

The service is now open to older residents and people receiving adult social care, as well as families of disabled children, carers, and people of any age with medical or mobility issues – including temporary difficulties while recovering from illness or injury.

Customers can book one-off or regular collections. The council supplies a laundry bag, collects it from the customer’s home, washes and dries the items, and returns the clean laundry one week later. Clothing, bedlinen and towels are accepted, along with machine-washable items such as duvets, quilts, blankets and throws.

A standard bag – roughly the size of a medium household washing-machine load – costs under £20. Residents can contact the Laundry Service on 01908 252671 or at [email protected], while people with a social worker can ask them to arrange the service.

📞 01908 252671

More information →

Wolverton’s Market Hall is beginning its new life as an arts and cultural venue, with exhibitions and community events bringing the building back into public use during September.

A free exhibition, Under The Grid – Celebrating MK Hip Hop Culture, runs at the Market Hall until Saturday 19 September. It explores Milton Keynes’ hip hop history through DJing and emceeing, street art and breakdance, alongside local artworks, artefacts and a new project film. During the week it is open Tuesday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

On Sunday 20 September, visitors can also drop in from 2pm to 4pm to explore the Market Hall and hear about its history and Future Wolverton’s plans for the building. A free Family Tea Dance follows from 4pm to 6pm, with ballroom and social dancing, afternoon tea, cakes and light refreshments; advance booking is required for the Tea Dance.

Future Wolverton took a lease on the building in September 2025 and has been carrying out refurbishment work to create a new arts and cultural venue. The September exhibition and community events are part of the Market Hall coming back into public use.

🕒 Heritage Open Days: September 2026
📍 Old Market Hall, Wolverton

More information →

Willen Hospice has launched a new loyalty scheme giving customers money off eligible purchases at its 15 charity shops in Milton Keynes and surrounding towns.

The MyWillen card costs £1 and is made from recycled plastic. Shoppers earn one point for every £1 they spend, and every 20 points can be exchanged for £1 off their bill. The scheme is available across Willen Hospice shops, including locations in Milton Keynes and nearby Towcester, Buckingham and Woburn Sands.

The rewards do not apply to new goods, delivery charges, food and drink from the Woburn Sands café, or Willen Hospice lottery, scratch-card and raffle products. The Hospice launched MyWillen during Secondhand September as an extra incentive for people buying pre-owned clothing, furniture, vinyl and other donated items.

Willen Hospice says its shops fund more than a quarter of the £11 million it costs each year to provide free care and support for local families affected by life-limiting illness. Customers can ask about MyWillen in any Willen Hospice shop or find more information online.

More information →

Schools across Milton Keynes can still book nature-themed learning sessions with The Parks Trust for the 2026–27 academic year, including its free Junior Park Rangers programme for children in Years 4–6.

The charity offers activities for primary and secondary schools including assemblies, workshops, youth programmes and subsidised curriculum-based sessions. Outdoor Learning sessions are primarily held in local parks, with topics including Environmental Heroes, Life of Plants, Wild Wellbeing and River Explorers.

Junior Park Rangers is provided as a ready-made club, with activities and resources designed to help pupils learn about nature, care for their local green spaces and encourage others to enjoy the outdoors. The programme is completely free for Milton Keynes schools and children.

Around 17,000 local students took part in nature-themed learning with The Parks Trust during the last school year. More than 5,000 joined sessions in local parks, while the Trust says its team also spoke to more than 10,000 students through school assemblies. Volunteers contribute more than 1,500 hours to its learning activities each year.

🕒 Bookings for the 2026–27 academic year are still open
📍 Outdoor Learning sessions take place primarily in parks across Milton Keynes, with other activities also delivered in schools and classrooms

Find out about outdoor learning opportunities →

Looking for something to do locally? Here are a few ideas for the week ahead:

🕒 Sat 19 Sep, 10am–4pm:

Milton Keynes Brick Festival
Browse LEGO displays, traders and building activities at Middleton Hall, with speed-building competitions and large-scale creations also planned during the day.
📍 Middleton Hall, centre:mk, 177 Silbury Boulevard, MK9 3EP
🎟 Early entry from 10am £13; standard entry from 11am: adult £8, child £6, family ticket £20; under-5s free with a paying adult
More information →

🕒 Sun 20 Sep, 11am–3pm:

💍 Milton Keynes Wedding Show
Meet wedding suppliers and browse ideas for planning a ceremony or reception at this free show at Unity Place.
📍 Unity Place, 200 Grafton Gate, MK9 1UP
🎟 Free; registration available
More information →

🕒 Tue 15–Sat 19 Sep; 7:30pm, plus Wed & Sat 2:30pm:

Paranormal Activity
A new live stage story inspired by the Paranormal Activity film series comes to Milton Keynes Theatre. The production runs for around 2 hours 20 minutes including an interval, with ATG advising caution for audiences under 15 because of high tension and strong language.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, MK9 3NZ
🎟 Ticketed
More information →

🕒 Fri 18 Sep, 7pm:

🦇 Adult Bat Walk: Furzton Lake
Join a guided sunset walk around Furzton Lake and use bat detectors to listen for local bat activity. The route includes hard and soft ground with little or no lighting in places.
📍 Furzton Lake; meet at the Triple Star car park
🎟 £5; adults 18+; pre-booking essential; limited availability
More information →

🕒 Sat 19 Sep, 9am–4pm:

MK Rowing Club Regatta
Watch crews from across the region compete in side-by-side races at Caldecotte Lake, with rowers of different ages taking part throughout the day.
📍 Caldecotte Lake South
🎟 Free; spectators welcome
More information →

🕒 Tue 15 Sep, from 6pm; programme 6:30–8pm:

🎤 POETRY PATCHWORK – One City, Many Voices
An evening of poetry, spoken word, storytelling and music featuring Dr Wajdan Majeed, Dr Zhraa Alhaboby and Ruby Jah, followed by an open-mic session.
📍 Grand Sultan, 15 Savoy Crescent, MK9 3PU
🎟 £6.50 including hospitality; registration required
More information →

🕒 Thu 17 Sep, 5:30pm; doors 5pm:

📖 Reading Alan Turing
Professor Avi Wigderson of the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, explores Alan Turing’s papers and ideas in a lecture aimed at a general audience, with no mathematical, scientific or technical background required.
📍 The Fellowship Auditorium, Bletchley Park
🎟 £27.80 including booking fee; students £22.38
More information →

🕒 Sat 19–Mon 21 Sep, 11am–4pm:

🖌️ WE MADE THIS
See an exhibition of work created by people taking part in Westbury Arts Centre courses, workshops and art clubs. The community exhibition runs until 24 Sep, with three days falling inside this week’s MK Digest window.
📍 Barn Gallery, Westbury Arts Centre, Foxcovert Road, MK5 6AA
🎟 Free; all welcome
More information →

🕒 Tue 15 Sep:

Tuesday library drop-ins
Baby Songs and Rhymes for under-twos runs from 10–10.30am at Central Library and is free with no booking. Knit, Natter and Stitch follows from 1–3pm at Central Library, while Olney Library’s all-age Games Club runs from 2.30–4.30pm; parents must stay with children.
📍 Central Library and Olney Library
Songs & Rhymes for Under 2s →
Knit, Natter and Stitch →
Games Club at Olney Library →

Explore more local events on Eventbrite and Destination Milton Keynes.

What kinds of local events would you like to see more of in MK Digest?

Just contact me at [email protected] – I read every message.

See you next issue.

Toby
MK Digest