MK Digest – PodGolf, UV splatter rooms, 600-home plan & care centre

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

Two new indoor attractions have opened at Xscape Milton Keynes, offering everything from high-tech virtual golf to colourful, hands-on painting experiences.

PodGolf features a private TrackMan-powered golf simulator, with more than 450 virtual courses, interactive games and tools to analyse your swing. Up to four people can play together, with golf clubs provided.

Sessions start from £25 per hour, but there's currently a 25% discount using code TRYPODGOLF, valid until 31 October 2026. A reservation fee of 50p may be added (T&Cs apply).

The Paint Patch offers something completely different, with neon UV splatter rooms, canvas painting, slime-making and other creative activities.

Advertised prices include splatter canvas painting from £3, UV splatter rooms from £22.50, slime workshops at £17.50, and liquid-art and T-shirt workshops at £20 each. SEND-friendly sessions are also advertised from £3.

Both attractions are now open, with prices and availability depending on the activity or session selected.

📍 Xscape, Central Milton Keynes
⛳ PodGolf: From £25/hour, up to four players; 25% October discount with code TRYPODGOLF
🫟 The Paint Patch: Canvas painting from £3; UV splatter rooms from £22.50; workshops from £17.50

PodGolf →

The Paint Patch →

Milton Keynes City Council has set out plans that could deliver up to 600 additional council homes by 2035, aimed at easing pressure on affordable housing and temporary accommodation.

The proposal combines building as many as 570 homes with buying around 30 more. The council has shared its ambitions with the government as it considers access to the national Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Potential development sites include Mellish Court and former REEMA housing areas in Bletchley, plus The Gables in Wolverton. These are prospective sites: the new homes would still depend on planning permission, funding and other approvals.

The council says it already manages more than 11,000 homes and intends to invest another £80 million in improvements to existing properties by 2030. No new application process, allocation timetable or firm completion schedule for the proposed 600 homes has been announced.

🏘 Up to 570 homes to build + around 30 to purchase
📅 Ambition: by 2035, subject to approvals
📍 Potential sites include Bletchley and Wolverton
⚠️ Proposal – not an approved or funded delivery programme

Read the council’s proposed housing programme →

A £13 million centre providing specialist support for adults with complex disabilities is approaching completion in Milton Keynes.

Linford Wood Place is being rebuilt internally to provide day services, short breaks and specialist facilities. The council says major structural work has finished, with decorating, furniture installation and outdoor spaces among the remaining jobs.

The site is planned to support up to 59 adults on weekdays and provide 13 en-suite bedrooms for short breaks, helping families and unpaid carers. Facilities include a training kitchen, cinema, art and music rooms, specialist equipment and private gardens.

Construction is expected to finish in November, with the first service users arriving afterwards. The centre is not yet open, and the council has not announced a general public booking or referral process. Families already receiving relevant support should use their normal council or care-team contacts for service information.

💷 Investment: £13m, including £4m from developer contributions
👥 Planned weekday support: up to 59 adults
🛏 Short-break accommodation: 13 en-suite bedrooms
🕒 Building work expected to finish in November; opening follows

Read the council’s update on Linford Wood Place →

Sixty local organisations have achieved Milton Keynes City Council’s Youth Safe Practice Mark, which recognises groups meeting safeguarding standards for children and young people.

The mark has operated since 2023 and is awarded following checks of policies and procedures, including safeguarding training, DBS arrangements, allegations procedures and whether the organisation has a designated safeguarding lead.

The council publishes an online list of participating organisations, covering sports, arts and community activities. Parents looking for a club can use that directory as one useful check, while remembering that the mark does not replace their own questions about an activity or guarantee that risks cannot arise.

Local clubs and voluntary groups can apply for the mark free of charge, and successful organisations must renew it each year. The council also offers guidance and training; organisations can enquire via [email protected].

✅ 60 organisations recognised in council’s 8 October announcement
👪 Search the council’s directory of marked clubs and groups
📝 Applications free; renewal required annually
✉️ Scheme enquiries: [email protected]

Check the Youth Safe Practice Mark directory →

Milton Keynes has been selected as one of eight UK locations for a national robotics adoption hub, aimed at helping businesses and public services make practical use of robots and automation.

The Milton Keynes hub is led by Smart City MK CIC with partners including the city council, Cranfield University and The Open University. It will operate from the Smart City Experience Centre at centre:mk.

Its focus is on robotics in public and private spaces, potentially including delivery and service robots, autonomous vehicles and drones. The hub is intended to offer impartial advice, demonstrations and links to specialists so organisations can assess which technologies may be useful.

The scheme has been announced and government funding secured, but a public opening date, walk-in arrangements and detailed programme are not yet confirmed. It is primarily a resource for organisations, rather than a new attraction visitors can assume is open.

🤖 One of eight national robotics adoption hubs
📍 Based at Smart City Experience Centre, centre:mk
🏢 For businesses and public-service organisations
🕒 Public access and full timetable not yet announced

Read about the Milton Keynes robotics hub →

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

🕒 Tue 20 Oct, 9am–4pm & Wed 21 Oct, 10am–4pm:

🔬 MK Innovates STEM Festival
Meet local employers and organisations working in science, technology, engineering and maths. Tuesday focuses on career opportunities, CV support and interview guidance, particularly for women exploring STEM; Wednesday offers activities and career inspiration for pupils, teachers and parents.
📍 Middleton Hall, centre:mk
🎟 Free; check attendance arrangements for Wednesday
More information →

🕒 Thu 22 Oct, 11am–2pm:

🤝 Citizens Advice MK Volunteering Open Day
Meet Citizens Advice staff and volunteers, discover the roles available and ask about training and support. This event is for people interested in volunteering – it is not a drop-in advice session.
📍 Citizens Advice Milton Keynes, 8b Clarendon Drive, Wymbush, MK8 8ED
🎟 Free; check registration details before attending
More information →

🕒 Thu 22 Oct, 6:15pm start:

🚲 Milton Keynes Glow Ride
Join a women-led group cycle through central Milton Keynes and the redways, with riders encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights. The ride is open to everyone; bring working front and rear bike lights and meet outside Xscape near McDonald’s.
📍 Meet at Xscape Milton Keynes, Marlborough Gate
🎟 Free; register through the organiser’s event page
More information →

🕒 Fri 23 Oct, 8pm (last entry 7:45pm):

🎤 The Comedy Cow – Prime Cut with Babatunde
Babatunde Aléshé, Angelos Epithemiou, Esther Manito and Russell Hicks are billed for The Comedy Cow’s stand-up evening. Seating is reserved and the show is for ages 16 and over; acts may change.
📍 The Venue MK, Fyfield Barrow, Walnut Tree, MK7 7WH
🎟 £22.50, no booking fee; tickets subject to availability
More information →

🕒 Sat 24 Oct, 10am–12pm & Sun 25 Oct, 12–2pm:

👻 Build a LEGO Ghost Street to Take Home
Children aged six and over can build their own Halloween-themed LEGO Ghost Street model and take it home. The activity is free, with one model per person. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
📍 LEGO Store, Midsummer Place, central Milton Keynes
🎟 Free; no purchase necessary. While stocks last
More information →

🕒 Sat 24 Oct, 10am–2pm:

🐞 Community Volunteering: Bug Hotel Building
Help The Parks Trust create wildlife habitats at Trinity Meadow during Make a Difference Day. Build bug hotels, learn practical conservation skills and discover how to attract wildlife to your garden. All ages welcome, but under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
📍 Trinity Meadow, Ouse Valley Park, Old Wolverton (near Holy Trinity Church)
🎟 Free; drop in for as long as you like
More information →

🕒 Opens Sat 24 Oct (continues until 28 Feb 2027):

🖼️ L.S. Lowry: The Theatre of Life
MK Gallery opens a major exhibition marking 50 years since the painter’s death. Alongside his best-known industrial scenes, it explores portraits, seascapes and other aspects of his work.
📍 MK Gallery, 900 Midsummer Boulevard
🎟 Under-21s free; adults £14.50 (£15.95 with donation); concessions £10.25
More information →

🕒 Sat 24 & Sun 25 Oct, from 11am:

🍔 Flavour Fest: Autumn Edition
Willen Lake hosts a weekend of street food, local traders and family activities. Entry is free and no booking is required; normal parking charges apply.
📍 Willen Lake
🎟 Free entry; no booking required (parking charges apply)
More information →

🕒 Sun 25 Oct, 7:30pm (doors 7pm):

🎸 Francis Rossi – Songbook: Quo – Past, Present, Future
Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi brings his new show to Milton Keynes Theatre, performing classic hits, lesser-known songs and personal favourites from his career. Joined by guitarist Andy Brook, he'll also share stories and insights behind the music.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate
🎟 From £48.22; seated performance, no standing. Under-16s must sit next to an adult (18+)
More information →

🕒 Sat 24 & Mon 26 Oct – times below:

👻 Halloween & Enigma Reloaded at Bletchley Park
Two special events at the historic codebreaking site! On Saturday, see Morse code messages deciphered using an original Enigma machine, with demonstrations between 11am–3pm. On Monday, Halloween at Boo-letchley Park begins, bringing spooky family activities to the site.
📍 Bletchley Park, Bletchley
🎟 Both included with admission
🕒 Sat 24 Oct, 11am–3pm: Enigma Reloaded →
🕒 Mon 26–Sat 31 Oct, 9:30am–5pm: Halloween; children under 8 free →

Explore more events and activities at MK Libraries.

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See you next issue.

Toby
MK Digest