Entertainment in Milton Keynes

Live music venues don’t come much bigger than The National Bowl. Capable of holding up to 65,000 fans, the open-air venue has hosted pretty much everyone since opening in 1979 including Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Queen, Metallica, Oasis, Take That, Green Day and The Prodigy. A natural bowl on the site of a former clay pit, the site is also home to Electric Daisy Carnival, a dance music festival that’s been imported from America. It also hosts the weekly Sunday car boot market as well as regular gigs throughout the year. The Bowl is also within walking distance of our Furzton Lake hotel which is less than a mile away.

Opened in 2000, The Stables is where you come to find jazz, funk, pop, rock and world music names like Nigel Kennedy, Courtney Pine and Joan Armatrading play live sets in an intimate environment. Spread across two theatres, the larger of which holds 438 people, there are around 350 concerts each year including guest talks, Q&A sessions, tribute nights and guest comics.

Rounding out the live music scene is the MK11 Live Music Venue. A multipurpose space, they put on everything from open mic nights and jazz sessions to guest bands, both local and international. They also run a series of mini festivals including the tribute band festival Faux Fest and the ace-sounding Sausage & Cider festival. As well as a cool line-up of music most weeks and all the main sporting action, they dish up American style street food – think action-packed burgers, wings and ribs – and a healthy selection of drinks spanning wine, beer, cider, spirits and cocktails.

Read all about the Milton Keynes Theatre and the Chrysalis Theatre in our dedicated Milton Keynes Theatre page.

Featuring three rising comics, the Milton Keynes Comedy Club takes place at The Casino MK. Having helped launch the careers of laugh-a-minute stars like Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, you know you’re in good hands.

An ever-present in Milton Keynes since launching in 2000, each Comedy Club show starts at 8pm and is hosted by noted comedian Karen Bayley, a regular on TV and radio panel shows. The dates are only announced a few months in advance so make sure you check out the Casino MK website to see if it’s on while you’re in town.

Located in Stadium MK, the Red Dot Bar hosts a monthly stand-up night on the last Friday of every month. Featuring two or three guest comics, the Comedy Cow shows start at 8.15pm and are finished by 11pm.

A mile and a half from our Milton Keynes Central hotel, Planet Ice Arena is a 2,800-capacity ice rink with three bars, a restaurant and an Olympic sized ice rink. Home to the MK Lightning ice hockey team, there are lots of different skating sessions ranging from late night skating with a DJ to toddler and family sessions. As well as skate hire and lessons, they also put on regular events including musicals, dance shows and even host international Great Britain hockey matches.

Launched in 2004, Red Bull Racing has come a long way since then, with four F1 titles making them one of the leading Formula One teams in the world. And, based out of Milton Keynes, you can explore their newly created Hall of Fame museum several times a year and get up close and personal with some of the fastest cars ever made. Tours take place around five times a year, so check ahead on the Red Bull Racing website to find out when the next one is.