View source for Luton

{{short description|Town in Bedfordshire, England}}
{{about|the town in Bedfordshire, England||Luton (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--Basic information-->| name               = 
| official_name      = Luton
| settlement_type    = [[List of towns in the United Kingdom|Town]], [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]]
| motto              = {{nativename|la|Scientiæ et labori detur}}<ref>[[Commons:File:GOC Leagrave to Harpenden 053 Luton Coat of Arms (8562865418).jpg|Relief of Luton's coat of arms and motto]] on the gate of Wardown Park</ref><ref name="coatofarms"/><br />"May it be given to skill and industry"<ref name="strawhatboom">{{cite book|url=https://www.lutonculture.com/uploads/documents/1333365807_LStrawhatboom.pdf|title=Luton: Straw Hat Boom Town|publisher=Luton Cultural Services Trust|date=2011|page=9|quote="The aspiration contained in its motto: Scientiae et labori detur (May it be given to skill and industry)"|access-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015082614/http://www.lutonculture.com/uploads/documents/1333365807_LStrawhatboom.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!--Images and maps-->| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 250
| image_style              = border:1;
| perrow                   = 2/1/2
| image1                   = Luton Hoo (East Face - 05).jpg
| caption1                 = [[Luton Hoo]]
| image2                   = Northwest Face of the Parish Church of Saint Mary, Luton (02).jpg
| caption2                     = [[St Mary's Church, Luton|St Mary’s Church]]
| image3                  = Luton Town Hall and War Memorial (01).jpg
| caption3                     = [[Luton Town Hall]]
| image4                   = GOC Breachwood Green 096 Someries Castle, Hyde (51159298363).jpg
| caption4                 = [[Someries Castle]]
| image5                   = GOC Leagrave to Harpenden 042 Wardown Park House, Luton (8558551071).jpg
| caption5                 = [[Wardown Park Museum]]
  }}
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      =
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| shield_alt         = 
| image_map          = Luton UK locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 200px
| map_caption        = Luton shown within Bedfordshire
| image_dot_map      = 
| dot_mapsize        = 
| dot_map_caption    = 
| dot_x              = 
| dot_y              = 
| pushpin_map        = England#United Kingdom#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within England##Location within the United Kingdom##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|52|42|N|00|24|53|W|region:GB-LUT_type:city({{English district population|GSS=E06000032}})|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = England
| subdivision_type2  = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[East of England]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Bedfordshire]]
<!--Politics and dates-->| government_footnotes = <ref>[[Local government in England#Councillors and mayors|Leadership]]=Mayor & Cabinet</ref>
| government_type    = [[Borough]]
| governing_body     = [[Luton Borough Council]]
| leader_title       = Executive
| leader_name        = {{English district control|GSS=E06000032}}
| leader_title1      = Mayor
| leader_name1       = Amy Nicholls{{cn|date=August 2025}}
| leader_title2      = [[List of MPs elected in the 2024 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_name2       = [[Sarah Owen]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br />[[Rachel Hopkins]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
| seat_type          = Administrative HQ
| seat               = [[Luton Town Hall]]
| established_title  = Settlement
| established_date   = c. 6th century
| established_title1 = [[Borough]]
| established_date1  = 1876
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = {{English district area|GSS=E06000032}}
| area_rank          = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E06000032}}]]
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| population_as_of   = {{English statistics year}}
| population_footnotes = <ref name="LLA"/>
| population_total   = {{English district population|GSS=E06000032}}
| population_density_km2 = {{English district density|GSS=E06000032}}
| population_rank    = [[List of English districts by population|{{English district rank|GSS=E06000032}}]]
| population_demonym = Lutonian
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000032|title=Luton Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 45.2% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 37% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 10.1% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 4.3% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 3.5% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 37.9% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 32.9% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 17.6% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 11.6% [[Religion in England|other]]
 }}
<!--Other-->| timezone           = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset         = +0
| timezone_DST       = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +1
| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode Area]]
| postal_code        = [[LU postcode area|LU]]
| area_code_type     = [[List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom|Dialling code]]
| area_code          = 01582
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-LUT]]
| blank_name_sec1    = [[List of airports in the United Kingdom and the British Crown Dependencies|International airport]]
| blank_info_sec1    = [[London Luton Airport]] ([[International Air Transport Association airport code|LTN]])
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[UK railway stations|Railway stations]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = [[Luton railway station|Luton]] ([[United Kingdom railway station categories|B]])<br />[[Luton Airport Parkway railway station|Luton Airport Parkway]] ([[United Kingdom railway station categories|D]])<br />[[Leagrave railway station|Leagrave]] ([[United Kingdom railway station categories|D]])
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| blank_info_sec2    = {{gbmappingsmall|TL0896521763}}
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Government Statistical Service|GSS]] code
| blank1_info_sec2   = E06000032
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = 00KA
| blank3_name_sec2   = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info_sec2   = UKH21
| blank4_name_sec2   = [[FIPS 10-4]]
| blank4_info_sec2   = UKI1
| website            = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Luton''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-Luton.ogg|ˈ|l|uː|t|ən}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/luton?showCookiePolicy=true|title=Luton|access-date=23 September 2014|publisher=Collins Dictionary|date=n.d.}}</ref> is a town and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] in [[Bedfordshire]], England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census.<ref name="LLA">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000032|title=Luton Local Authority |access-date=10 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=BUA2021>{{cite web |title=UNITED KINGDOM: Countries and Major Urban Areas |website=citypopulation.de |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/ua/ |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=23 November 2022}}</ref>  <!-- As of 6 Jan, the figure for for Luton BUSA alone is not available yet  -->

Luton is on the [[River Lea]], about {{convert|32|mi|km|-1}} north-west of [[London]].<ref name="ELR">{{cite web |title=SPC: St Pancras to Chesterfield Line {{!}} SPC1: St Pancras to Bedford |series=Engineers Line Reference |url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/s/spc1.shtm |website=Railway Codes }}</ref> The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settlement on the river, from which Luton derives its name.<ref>{{cite web |title=Key to English place names: Luton |publisher=Institute for Name-Studies, [[University of Nottingham]] |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Bedfordshire/Luton }}</ref> Luton is recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] as ''Loitone'' and ''Lintone''.<ref name="domesday">{{cite web|url=http://www.domesdaybook.co.uk/bedfordshire2.html|title=Domesday book record|access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref> One of the largest churches in Bedfordshire, [[St Mary's Church, Luton|St Mary's Church]], was built in the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityArchives/Luton/EstablishedChurchinLuton/SaintMarysLutonChurchArchitecture.aspx|title=Saint Marys Luton Church Architecture|date=5 August 2016|website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> There are local museums which explore Luton's history in [[Wardown Park Museum|Wardown Park]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/about/|title=Wardown House and Museum – About|website=Luton Culture}}</ref> and [[Stockwood Discovery Centre|Stockwood Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lutonculture.com/stockwood-discovery-centre/about/|title=Stockwood Discovery Centre – About|website=Luton Culture|access-date=8 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408180904/https://www.lutonculture.com/stockwood-discovery-centre/about/|archive-date=8 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Luton was once known for [[hatmaking]] and became a centre for the British motor industry with the establishment of the [[Vauxhall Motors]] factory in 1905. Car production at the [[Vauxhall Luton|Luton plant]] continued until 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1877763.stm|title=End of an era for Vauxhall|publisher=BBC|date=20 March 2002}}</ref> Thereafter, the site focused on [[commercial vehicle]] manufacturing which in turn came to an end in 2025. The head office of [[Vauxhall Motors]] is located in the village of [[Chalton, Bedfordshire|Chalton]], on the northern edge of the borough.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vauxhall.co.uk/tools/contact-us-customer-care.html|title=Contact Vauxhall &#124; Customer Care|website=Vauxhall.co.uk}}</ref> [[London Luton Airport]] opened in 1938 and is now one of Britain's major airports,<ref name="caa2018">{{Cite web|url=https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/UK-Airport-data/Airport-data-2018/|title=CAA Airport Data 2018|website=Caa.co.uk|publisher=UK Civil Aviation Authority}}</ref> with three [[Luton railway station|railway stations]] also in the town. The [[University of Bedfordshire]] was created from a merger with the University of Luton;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beds.ac.uk/about-us/our-heritage|title=Our Heritage|publisher=University of Bedfordshire}}</ref> two of its campuses are in Luton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beds.ac.uk/about-us/campuses|title=Our Campuses|publisher=University of Bedfordshire}}</ref> Since 1997, [[Luton Borough Council]] has been a [[unitary authority]], performing all local government functions in the borough.

[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town Football Club]], nicknamed the ''Hatters'', due to the town's connection to hatmaking, has had several spells in the top flight of the [[English Football League|English league]] as well as a [[Football League Cup]] triumph [[1988 Football League Cup Final|in 1988]]. They play at [[Kenilworth Road]], their home [[History of Luton Town F.C. (1885–1970)|since 1905]]; planning permission for [[Power Court Stadium Project|a new larger stadium]] was approved in 2019.<ref name="new-stadium">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-46898086|title=Power Court: Luton Town football stadium gains planning permission|publisher=BBC News|date=16 January 2019}}</ref> [[Luton International Carnival]], the largest one-day [[carnival]] in Europe, is held on the day before the last Monday in May;<ref>{{cite web|title=Luton – the town: Cultural diversity|url=http://www.beds.ac.uk/international/location|publisher=[[University of Bedfordshire]]|access-date=30 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023064349/http://www.beds.ac.uk/international/location|archive-date=23 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{refn|group=n|Like most long-held UK events on this date, before 1972, it was held during the Christian moving feast and discretionary holiday of [[Whitsuntide]] ([[Pentecost]]) exactly seven weeks after Easter, in this case usually on the Monday}} the [[Saint Patrick]]'s festival is held on the weekend nearest to [[Saint Patrick's Day]]<ref name="irish-forum">{{Cite web|url=http://lutonirishforum.org/home/are-you-interested-in-your-culture-heritage/|title=Are you interested in your culture & heritage?|website=lutonirishforum.org|publisher=Luton Irish Forum}}</ref> as there is a large [[Irish people|Irish]] community in Luton. The town also has a large [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]] community which, along with the Irish, were attracted to employment at the [[Vauxhall Luton|Vauxhall car plant]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Achievement of British Pakistani Learners |author1=Robin Richardson  |author2=Angela Wood |publisher=Trentham Books |pages=2, 1–17 |url=http://www.insted.co.uk/raising2005.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/working-abroad/lending-a-helping-hand-to-the-20-000-luton-irish-1.2995449|title=Lending a helping hand to the 20,000 Luton Irish|first=Noelette Hanley in|last=Luton|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> [[Luton Hoo]] is an [[English country house]], [[Estate (land)|estate]] and [[Grade I]] listed building originally designed by Scottish architect [[Robert Adam]] but later transformed to the designs of [[Robert Smirke (architect)|Robert Smirke]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Airs |first=Malcolm |year=1982 |title=The Buildings of Britain: Regency |publisher=Barrie & Jenkins |page=165 |isbn=9780091479909}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Luton}}

Luton is believed to have been founded by the [[Anglo-Saxons]] sometime in the 6th century.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html |title= Early history of Luton|website=Localhistories.org|access-date= 16 June 2008}}</ref> Its name first appears in the 8th century as ''Lygetun'', meaning "town on the River Lea".<ref>{{cite book |last=Ekwall |first=Eilert |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names |date=1947 |location=Oxford |publisher=The Clarendon Press |page=293 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.184064/page/n338}}</ref>

The [[Domesday Book]] records Luton as ''Loitone'' and as ''Lintone''.<ref name="domesday" /> Agriculture dominated the local economy at that time, and the town's population was around 700 to 800.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html|title=A History of Luton|website=Localhistories.org|date=14 March 2021}}</ref> 
[[File:StMarysLuton.jpg|thumb|right|[[St Marys (Luton)|St Mary's Church]], Luton town centre]]
[[File:Wenlock chapel, Luton.jpg|thumb|right|The Wenlock chapel within St Mary's]]
 
In 1121 [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester]] started work on [[St Mary's (Luton)|St Mary's Church]] in the centre of the town. The work was completed by 1137.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://stmarysluton.org/page2.html |title= History of St Mary's Church |access-date= 16 June 2008 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080628044417/http://stmarysluton.org/page2.html |archive-date= 28 June 2008 }}</ref> A [[motte-and-bailey]] castle which gives its name to the modern Castle Street was built in 1139 but demolished by 1154.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shoutluton.com/page8.html |title=Luton Castle only lasted 15 years |access-date=16 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101084952/http://www.shoutluton.com/page8.html |archive-date=1 January 2011 }}</ref>

The [[hat|hat making]] industry began in the 17th century and became synonymous with the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/luton/0.local/hat_plaiting.htm |publisher=Luton Libraries |work=Plaiting and Straw Hat Making |title=A history hat making in Luton |access-date=18 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527182358/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/luton/0.local/hat_plaiting.htm |archive-date=27 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/hat-industry-luton-buildings/hat-industry-luton-and-buildings/|title=The Hat Industry of Luton and its Buildings|website=English Heritage|quote=Long before it became associated with motor cars, Luton was well established as an international centre of hat making. More specifically, Luton was the main centre of ladies' hat production in the UK for over 200 years ... This success was founded on the earlier regional industry of straw plaiting, an occupation that was well established by the late 17th century}}</ref>

[[File:11 to 19 George Street, Luton.jpg|thumb|left|A row of largely Grade II listed buildings in George Street West, Luton]]

The town grew: in 1801 the population was 3,095,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html|title=Population figures for 1801, 1901 and 1901 |access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref> but by 1850 it was over 10,000 and by 1901 it was almost 39,000.

Newspaper printing arrived in the town in 1854. The first public cemetery was opened in the same year and Luton was made a [[borough]] in 1876.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html|title=Luton was made a borough|access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref>

Luton's [[Hatmaking|hat trade]] reached its peak in the 1930s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/hat-industry-luton-buildings/hat-industry-luton-and-buildings.pdf/|title=The Hat Industry of Luton and its Buildings|date=2013|publisher=Historic England|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135612/https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/hat-industry-luton-buildings/hat-industry-luton-and-buildings.pdf/|archive-date=24 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> but severely declined after the Second World War and was replaced by other industries.

In 1907, [[Vauxhall Motors]] opened the largest car plant in the United Kingdom in Luton, during the [[Second World War]], it built [[Churchill tank]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/peoples_war/vauxhall_tanks.shtml |title=Churchill Tanks at Vauxhall |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> as part of the [[war effort]]. Despite heavy camouflage, the factory made Luton a target for the [[Luftwaffe]] and the town suffered a number of [[Strategic bombing|air raid]]s. 107 died<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html |title=Deaths during WWII |website=Localhistories.org |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> and there was extensive damage to the town (over 1,500 homes were damaged or destroyed).

[[File:LutonTownHallOld.JPG|thumb|left|The first [[Luton Town Hall|town hall]] was destroyed in 1919]]
The original town hall was destroyed in 1919 during Peace Day celebrations at the end of the [[First World War]]. Dr. John G. Dony, author of ''The Flora of Bedfordshire'',<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/170088|title=Flora of Bedfordshire by John G. Dony|first=Jean|last=Langenheim|date=4 May 1954|journal=Madroño; a West American journal of botany.|volume=12|pages=223}}</ref> told his history students (he taught at Luton Grammar, predecessor of [[Luton Sixth Form College]]) in the 1950s that he had broken the last intact window of the old town hall during the 1919 riots. Local people, including many ex-servicemen, were unhappy with unemployment and had been refused the use of a local park to hold celebratory events. They stormed the town hall, setting it alight (''see [[Luton Town Hall]]''). A replacement building was completed in 1936.

Luton Borough Corporation had provided the borough with electricity since the early twentieth century from [[Luton power station]], located adjacent to the railway. Upon [[Nationalization|nationalisation]] of the electricity industry in 1948 ownership passed to the [[British Electricity Authority]] and later to the [[Central Electricity Generating Board]]. Electricity connections to the [[National Grid (Great Britain)|national grid]] rendered the 23 [[Watt|megawatt]] (MW) coal and latterly oil-fired power station redundant. The station had a single chimney and two reinforced concrete cooling towers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ltfc_1885/status/730868016032944128|title=Luton town centre with the old cooling towers|date=12 May 2016|via=Twitter|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> The power station closed in 1968; in its final year of operation it delivered 3,192 [[Kilowatt hour|MWh]] of electricity to the borough.<ref>''CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1968'', CEGB, London</ref>

[[London Luton Airport|Luton Airport]] opened in 1938, owned and operated by the council. It is now one of the largest employers in the area.

The pre-war years, were something of an economic boom for Luton, as new industries grew and prospered. New private and [[council housing]] was built in the 1920s and 1930s, with Luton starting to incorporate nearby villages [[Leagrave]], [[Limbury]] and [[Stopsley]] between 1928 and 1933.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localhistories.org/luton.html |title=A History of Luton |website=Localhistories.org |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

Post-war, a number of substantial estates of [[Council house|council housing]] were built, notably at [[Farley Hill, Bedfordshire|Farley Hill]], [[Stopsley]], [[Limbury]], [[Marsh Farm]] and [[Leagrave]] ([[Hockwell Ring]]). The [[Marsh Farm]] area of the town was developed in the mid to late 1960s as a large council housing estate, mostly to house the overspill population from [[London]]. However, the estate gained a reputation for high levels of crime, poverty and unemployment, which culminated in a riot on the estate in July 1992 and another more serious riot three years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/extra-police-sent-to-riothit-estate-1590326.html|title=Extra police sent to riot-hit estate|date=23 October 2011|website=The Independent}}</ref>

The partial closure of the [[Vauxhall Luton|Vauxhall manufacturing plant]] in 2002 had negative effects for Luton, leading to increased unemployment and deprivation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/immigrants-who-voted-for-brexit-luton-migration/ |title=Meet the immigrants who voted for Brexit |date=25 August 2016|work=POLITICO}}</ref> In 2024, [[Stellantis]] (owner of the Vauxhall marque) announced plans to close its operation in Luton.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mze2njvr4o |title=Vauxhall workers tell of surprise at closure plans | date=28 November 2024}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{see also|Politics in Luton}}
There is just one tier of local government covering Luton: [[Luton Borough Council]], which has been a [[unitary authority]] since 1997, being a [[non-metropolitan district|district council]] which also performs the functions of a [[non-metropolitan county|county council]]. There are no [[civil parish]]es in the borough.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |website=Ordnance Survey |access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref> The borough remains part of the [[ceremonial county]] of [[Bedfordshire]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Lieutenancies Act 1997|year=1997|chapter=23|schedule=1|access-date=29 May 2024}}</ref>

As of the [[2024 UK general election]], Luton is represented in Parliament by [[Sarah Owen]] who holds [[Luton North (UK Parliament constituency)|Luton North]] and [[Rachel Hopkins]] who holds [[Luton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Luton South]], both for [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]].

===Administrative history===
Luton was an [[ancient parish]] in the [[Hundreds of Bedfordshire|Flitt hundred]]. The parish was the largest in Bedfordshire by area, and was subdivided into five [[Hamlet (place)|hamlets]] or [[Township (England)|townships]]: [[Hyde, Bedfordshire|Hyde]], [[Leagrave]], [[Limbury]], [[Stopsley]], and a Luton township covering the central part of the parish including the town itself.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Page |editor1-first=William |title=A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 2 |date=1908 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=348–375 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/beds/vol2/pp348-375 |access-date=2 November 2024 |chapter=Parishes: Luton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Luton Ancient Parish / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10207563 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref> The Luton township was made a [[local board of health|local board district]] in 1850. The local board was the town's first elected local authority; previously it had been administered by the parish [[vestry]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=21106|page=1745|date=21 June 1850}}</ref>

The town was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]] in 1876.<ref>{{cite news |title=The incorporation of Luton |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=6 May 2023 |work=Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire News |date=4 March 1876 |location=Luton |page=8}}</ref> Later in 1876 the new borough council was granted a [[coat of arms]].<ref name="coatofarms">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Luton|title=Luton – Coat of arms (crest) of Luton|website=Heraldry-wiki.com|date=12 January 2022 }}</ref> The [[wikt:sheaf|wheatsheaf]] was used on the crest to represent agriculture and the supply of straw used in the local [[hatmaking]] industry (the [[straw plaiting]] industry was brought to Luton by a group of Scots under the protection of Sir [[John Napier]] of [[Luton Hoo]]). The bee is traditionally the emblem of industry and the hive represents the straw plaiting industry for which Luton was famous. The rose is from the arms of the Napier family, whereas the [[thistle]] is a symbol for [[Scotland]]. An alternative suggestion is that the rose was a national emblem, and the thistle represents the [[Marquess of Bute]], who formerly owned the Manor of Luton Hoo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/thames_valley_chilterns.html#luton%20bc |title=Luton Town Coat of Arms|access-date=30 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/l/luton.htm|title=Arms of Luton (England)|access-date=18 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925145600/http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/l/luton.htm|archive-date=25 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Local Government Act 1894]] directed that parishes could no longer straddle borough boundaries, and so the ancient parish was split into a Luton parish covering the same area as the borough and a Luton Rural parish covering the area outside the borough.<ref>{{cite web |title=Luton Rural Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10112618 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref> Luton Rural was abolished in 1896 and its area divided into the four parishes of Hyde, Leagrave, Limbury and Stopsley. In 1928 the Leagrave and Limbury parishes were both abolished and their areas absorbed into the borough of Luton;<ref>Ministry of Health Provisional Order Confirmation (Luton Extension) Act, 1928</ref> Stopsley was similarly absorbed in 1933.<ref>Ministry of Health Order No. 77050. The South Bedfordshire Review Order 1933.</ref> Hyde remains a separate parish, now forming part of [[Central Bedfordshire]].<ref name=electionmaps/>

Luton was made a [[county borough]] in 1964, making it independent from [[Bedfordshire County Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Luton MB/CB |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10133580 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=28 August 2021}}</ref> It was redesignated as a [[non-metropolitan district]] in 1974, making it once more subordinate to the county council. In 1997 the borough council was made a unitary authority, regaining its independence from the county council (which was subsequently abolished in 2009).

==Geography==
[[File:Lutonsnowoct08.JPG|thumb|Snow accumulation over the [[Chiltern Hills]] during [[October 2008 United Kingdom cold wave|October 2008]] snowfall, Luton is denoted by the yellow dot.|300x300px]]The town is situated in a gap at the far east of the [[Chiltern Hills]] and is built on the [[River Lea]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.luton.gov.uk/Environment/Lists/LutonDocuments/PDF/Local%20Plan/Natural%20and%20historic%20environment/ENV%20013.pdf |title=Landscape Character Assessment - Luton Borough |author=The Greensand Trust |publisher=Luton Borough Council |page=3 |date=June 2014 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> which Luton is named after. The town is the most populous settlement in [[Bedfordshire]] followed by [[Bedford]].<ref>{{cite web |date=14 March 2021 |title=A HISTORY OF LUTON |url=https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-luton/ |access-date=11 October 2021 |website=Local Histories}}</ref> Luton forms a [[Luton/Dunstable urban area|conurbation]] with the town of [[Dunstable]], which is located to the west on the opposite side of the [[M1 motorway]], and also includes [[Houghton Regis]].

Luton is situated {{convert|32|mi|km|-1}} north-west of [[London]],<ref name="ELR2">{{cite web |title=SPC: St Pancras to Chesterfield Line {{!}} SPC1: St Pancras to Bedford |url=http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/elrs/_mileages/s/spc1.shtm |website=Railway Codes |series=Engineers Line Reference}}</ref> {{convert|10|mi|km|-1}} north-west of [[St Albans]], {{convert|10|mi|km|-1}} west of [[Stevenage]], {{convert|18|mi}} north-east of [[Aylesbury]], {{convert|20|mi}} south of [[Bedford]],<ref name="ELR2" /> {{convert|23|mi}} south-east of [[Milton Keynes]] and 39 miles south-west of [[Cambridge, England|Cambridge]].[[File:WardownLake.jpg|thumb|right|A pedestrian [[suspension bridge]] spans the [[River Lee (England)|River Lea]] in [[Wardown Park]].]]The source of the [[River Lee (England)|River Lea]], part of the [[Thames Valley]] [[drainage basin]], is in the [[Leagrave]] area of the town. The [[Bramingham#Bramingham Wood|Great Bramingham Wood]] surrounds this area. It is classified as [[ancient woodland]]; records mention the wood at least 400 years ago.

Luton is located in a break in the eastern part of the [[Chiltern Hills]]. The Chilterns are a mixture of [[chalk]] from the [[Cretaceous]] period<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bedsrigs.org.uk/map.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129014606/http://www.bedsrigs.org.uk/map.html|url-status=dead|title=Map of soil distribution in Beds|archive-date=29 January 2007|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref> (about 66 – 145&nbsp;million years ago) and deposits laid at the southernmost points of the [[ice sheet]] during the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]] (the [[Warden Hill, Bedfordshire|Warden Hill]] area can be seen from much of the town).

Bedfordshire had a reputation for brick making but the industry is now significantly reduced. The [[brickworks]]<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 1-871199-94-8|title = Stopsley Picture Book|last1 = Dyer|first1 = James|year = 1999| publisher=Book Castle }}</ref> at [[Stopsley]] took advantage of the clay deposits in the east of the town.

There are few routes through the hilly area for some miles, this has led to several major roads (including the [[M1 motorway|M1]] and the [[A6 road (England)|A6]]) and a major rail-link being constructed through the town.

===Climate===
Luton has a [[temperateness|temperate]] [[Oceanic climate|marine climate]], like much of the [[British Isles]], with generally light [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] throughout the year. The weather is very changeable from day to day and the warming influence of the [[Gulf Stream]] makes the region mild for its [[latitude]]. The average total annual rainfall is {{convert|698|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} with rain falling on 117 days of the year.

The local climate around Luton is differentiated somewhat from much of South East England due to its position in the [[Chiltern Hills]], meaning it tends to be 1–2 degrees Celsius cooler than the surrounding towns – often flights at [[London Luton Airport|Luton airport]], lying {{convert|160|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, will be suspended when marginal snow events occur, while airports at lower elevations, such as [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]], at {{convert|25|m|0|abbr=on}} above sea level, continue to function. Absolute temperature extremes recorded at Rothamsted Research Station, {{convert|5|mi|0}} south south east of Luton town centre and at a similar elevation range from {{convert|-17.0|C|F}}<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] |url=https://www.ecad.eu/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=18&year=1981&indexid=TNn&stationid=1844 |title=Anomaly details for station Rothamsted, UK and index TNn: Minimum value of daily minimum temperature |date=December 1981 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> in December 1981 and {{convert|-16.7|C|F}} in January 1963<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] |url=https://www.ecad.eu/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1963&indexid=TNn&stationid=1844 |title=Anomaly details for station Rothamsted, UK and index TNn: Minimum value of daily minimum temperature |date=January 1963 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> to {{convert|36.6|C|F}} in July 2019<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] | url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/uk-past-events/interesting/1990/hot-spell-august-1990---met-office.pdf | title = Hot Spell – Aug 1990 Statistics}}</ref> and {{convert|33.8|C|F}} in August 1990<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] |url=https://www.ecad.eu/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=1990&indexid=TXx&stationid=1844 |title=Anomaly details for station Rothamsted, UK and index TXx: Maximum value of daily maximum temperature |date=August 1990 |access-date=19 August 2025}}</ref> and July 2006.<ref>{{cite web | publisher = [[Met Office]]| url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006 | title = Met Office: July 2006 – record temperatures and sunshine}}</ref> Records for Rothamsted date back to 1901.

{{Rothamsted weatherbox}}

==Demography==
{{Main|Demographics of Luton}}
The [[2021 United Kingdom census]] showed that the borough had a population of 225,262,<ref name="2021 Nomis"/> a 10.9% increase from the previous census in 2011 and a 22.2% increase compared with 2001. In 2021, 52,566 residents (23% of the total) were aged under 16, 146,330 (65%) were aged 16 to 64, and 26,363 (12%) were aged 65 or over.<ref name="2021 Nomis"/>

Local inhabitants are known as ''Lutonians''.

===Ethnicity===
[[File:Luton ethnic demography from 1971 to 2021.gif|thumb|Ethnic demography of Luton from 1971 to 2021]]
{| class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;" |'''Luton: Ethnicity''': 2011 Census<ref name="2011census">{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275157&c=luton&d=13&e=62&g=6394327&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1361379856428&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2477|title=Local Authority by Ethnic Group|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=20 February 2013}}</ref> and 2021 Census<ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
|-
! Ethnic group
! 2011<br />Population
! 2011<br />%
!
! 2021<br />Population
! 2021<br />%
|-
||White
| style="text-align:right;" |111,079
| style="text-align:right;" |54.7
|
| style="text-align:right;" |101,798
| style="text-align:right;" |45.2
|-
|Mixed
| style="text-align:right;" |8,281
| style="text-align:right;" |4.1
|
| style="text-align:right;" |9,620
| style="text-align:right;" |4.3
|-
|Asian or Asian British
| style="text-align:right;" |60,952
| style="text-align:right;" |30.0
|
| style="text-align:right;" |83,325
| style="text-align:right;" |37.0
|-
|Black or Black British
| style="text-align:right;" |19,909
| style="text-align:right;" |9.8
|
| style="text-align:right;" |22,735
| style="text-align:right;" |10.1
|-
|Other Ethnic Group
| style="text-align:right;" |2,980
| style="text-align:right;" |1.5
|
| style="text-align:right;" |7,783
| style="text-align:right;" |3.5
|-
|Total
| style="text-align:right;" |203,201
| style="text-align:right;" |100
|
| style="text-align:right;" |225,261
| style="text-align:right;" |100
|}

Luton has seen several waves of immigration. In the early part of the 20th century, migrants from [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]] came to the town. These were followed by [[South Asia]]n and [[British African-Caribbean community|Afro-Caribbean]] immigrants. More recently immigrants from [[Europe]]an countries such as [[Albania]] have made Luton their home. As a result of this Luton has a diverse ethnic mix, with a significant population of Asian descent, mainly [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]] (41,143 residents, 18.3%) and [[Bangladeshi people|Bangladeshi]] (20,630, 9.2%).<ref name="TS021">{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004032733/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/3 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |title=Ethnic group Census 2021: dataset TS021  |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=29 November 2022 |website=ons.gov.uk |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> People in Asian ethnic groups accounted for 86% of Luton's [[Muslim]] population in 2021.<ref name="RM031">{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM031/editions/2021/versions/1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215075531/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM031/editions/2021/versions/1 |archive-date=15 February 2024 |title=Ethnic group by religion: Census 2021 dataset RM031 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=29 November 2022 |website=ons.gov.uk |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

As of the 2021 census, the White British (White English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish) population of Luton comprised less than a third of the total (31.8%), the twelfth lowest proportion out of 318 local authorities in England and Wales and the second lowest (after [[Slough]]) outside of London.<ref name="TS021"/> Overall, 45.2% of Luton's population in 2021 was White (including non-British White people),<ref name="TS021"/> down from 54.7% in 2011.

In 2011 81% of the population of Luton defined themselves as British.<ref>{{cite news|last=Philipson |first=Alice |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9792392/White-Britons-a-minority-in-Leicester-Luton-and-Slough.html|title=White Britons a minority in Leicester, Luton and Slough|website=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113024453/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9792392/White-Britons-a-minority-in-Leicester-Luton-and-Slough.html|archive-date=13 January 2013}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Luton (2021 census)
|label1 = [[Christianity in the United Kingdom|Christianity]]
|value1 = 37.9
|color1 = blue
|label2 = [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam]]
|value2 = 32.9
|color2 = Green
|label3 = [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|No religion]]
|value3 = 17.6
|color3 = black
|label4 = Undeclared
|value4 = 6.1
|color4 = grey
|label6 = [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikhism]]
|value6 = 1.3
|color6 = gold
|label5 = [[Hinduism in the United Kingdom|Hinduism]]
|value5 = 3.3
|color5 = orange
|label7 = [[Buddhism in the United Kingdom|Buddhism]]
|value7 = 0.3
|color7 = yellow
|label8 = [[Judaism in the United Kingdom|Judaism]]
|color8 = light blue 
|value8 = 0.1
|label9 = Other religions
|color9 = maroon 
|value9 = 0.5
}}
At the 2021 census, the religious affiliation of Luton was as follows:<ref>{{cite web |date=29 November 2022 |title=Religion – 2021 census |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129115419/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Office of National Statistics}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|-
! Religion
! Population
! %
|-
|Christian
|style="text-align:right;"|85,297
|style="text-align:right;"|37.9
|-
|Muslim
|style="text-align:right;"|74,191
|style="text-align:right;"|32.9
|-
|Hindu
|style="text-align:right;"|7,438
|style="text-align:right;"|3.3
|-
|Sikh
|style="text-align:right;"|3,032
|style="text-align:right;"|1.3
|-
|Buddhist
|style="text-align:right;"|664
|style="text-align:right;"|0.3
|-
|Jewish
|style="text-align:right;"|246
|style="text-align:right;"|0.1
|-
|Other religion
|style="text-align:right;"|1,115
|style="text-align:right;"|0.5
|-
|No religion
|style="text-align:right;"|39,580
|style="text-align:right;"|17.6
|-
|Religion not stated
|style="text-align:right;"|13,697
|style="text-align:right;"|6.1
|}
[[File:High Town Methodist church, Luton.jpg|alt=Methodist Chapel|thumb|The [[Methodism|Methodist]] Chapel in High Town (built 1897)]]
[[File:Sikh temple, luton.jpg|alt=Sikh Temple|thumb|The Guru Nanak Gurdwara [[Sikhism|Sikh]] Temple]]
[[File:Luton, Jamia Masjid Ghousia Mosque - geograph.org.uk - 194124.jpg|alt=Muslim mosque|thumb|The Jamia [[Mosque]]]]

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Luton}}
[[File:VauxhallGriffinHouse.jpg|thumb|Griffin House, former headquarters of [[Vauxhall Motors]]]]
[[File:EasyJetHQ.jpg|thumb|Hangar 89, [[EasyJet]] headquarters]]
Luton's economy has traditionally been focused on several different areas of industry, including [[Automaker|car manufacturing]], engineering and [[Hatmaking|millinery]]. However, today, Luton is moving towards a service based economy mainly in the retail and the airport sectors, although there is still a focus on light industry in the town.

Notable firms with headquarters in Luton include:
*[[EasyJet]] – head office (originally EasyLand, later moved into Hangar 89)<ref>"[http://www.easyjet.com/en/News/new_easyjet_headquarters.html New headquarters for easyJet at London Luton Airport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118143235/http://www.easyjet.com/en/News/new_easyjet_headquarters.html |date=18 January 2010 }}." [[Easyjet]]. Retrieved on 27 September 2009.</ref> and main base at [[London Luton Airport]]
*[[Impellam Group]] – headquarters at Capability Green<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investors.impellam.com/company-contacts.aspx |title=Impellam Group – Company Contacts |website=Investors.impellam.com |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
*[[TUI Group|TUI]] UK ([[TUI Airways]]) – travel (Wigmore House)<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080903102750/http://www.tuicareers.co.uk/contact.html Contact Us]." TUI UK & Ireland. Retrieved on 4 January 2011. "Wigmore House Wigmore Lane Luton Bedfordshire LU2 9TN"</ref><ref>"[http://www.thomson.co.uk/jobs/head-office/luton.html Luton]." Thomson UK. Retrieved on 27 September 2009.</ref>
*[[Vauxhall Motors]] – headquarters (Chalton House)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00135767|title=VAUXHALL MOTORS LIMITED overview – Find and update company information|website=Find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|access-date=29 January 2022}}</ref>

Notable firms with offices in Luton include:
*[[Anritsu]] – electronics<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anritsu.com/en-GB/Contact-Us/Sales-Office.aspx |title=Contact US (Test and Measurement)- Anritsu Europe |website=Anritsu.com |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
*[[AstraZeneca]] – pharmaceuticals<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astrazeneca.co.uk/astrazeneca-in-uk/our-uk-sites/luton |title=Working with UK Healthcare Professionals |website=Astrazeneca.co.uk |access-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>
*[[Selex ES]] – aerospace<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.selex-es.com/international-presence/uk/uk-locations |title=Locations – Selex ES |access-date=3 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417145550/http://www.selex-es.com/international-presence/uk/uk-locations |archive-date=17 April 2015  }}</ref>
*[[Ernst & Young]] – accountants<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ey.com/OurLocations |title=Ernst and Young Locations |website=Ey.com |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>
*[[Whitbread]] – hospitality<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/global/contact-us/index.html |title=Contact Us |website=Whitbread.co.uk |access-date=24 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129071920/https://www.whitbread.co.uk/global/contact-us/index.html |archive-date=29 November 2017  }}</ref>
*[[Stonegate Pub Company]] – hospitality<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stonegatepubs.com/contact|title=Contact Us|website=Stonegatepubs.com|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref>

Luton's post-war and more recent industrial decline has been compared to that of similar towns in northern England.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/error?errormessage=The%20remote%20server%20returned%20an%20error%3A%20%28404%29%20Not%20Found.|title=Error|website=m.luton.gov.uk}}</ref>

===Employment===
Of the town's working population (classified 16–74 years of age by the [[Office for National Statistics]]), 63% are employed. This figure includes students, the self-employed and those who are in part-time employment. 11% are retired, 8% look after the family or take care of the home and 5% are unemployed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00ka.asp |title=Employment statistics|publisher=National Office of Statistics|access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Luton}}
[[File:Meridian Luton Airport Parkway.JPG|thumb|A [[Midland Mainline (train operating company)|Midland Mainline]] [[British Rail Class 222|Class 222]] at [[Luton Airport Parkway railway station|Luton Airport Parkway]] in April 2006]]

Luton is less than {{convert|30|mi|km|-1}} north of the centre of London, giving it good links with the [[City of London|City]] and other parts of the country via rail and major roads such as the [[M1 motorway|M1]] (which serves the town from junctions 10 and 11) and the [[A6 road (England)|A6]].

The town has three railway stations: [[Luton railway station|Luton]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LUT/details.html|title=National Rail Enquiries – Station facilities for Luton|website=Nationalrail.co.uk|access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref> [[Leagrave railway station|Leagrave]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LEA/details.html|title=National Rail Enquiries – Station facilities for Leagrave|website=Nationalrail.co.uk|access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref> and [[Luton Airport Parkway railway station|Luton Airport Parkway]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/LTN/details.html|title=National Rail Enquiries – Station facilities for Luton Airport Parkway|website=Nationalrail.co.uk|access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref> that are served by [[East Midlands Railway]] and [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] services.

Luton is also home to [[London Luton Airport]], one of the major feeder airports for London and the south-east. A light metro [[people mover]] track, [[Luton DART]], opened in 2023, linking the airport and Luton Airport Parkway railway station.<ref name = open310 >{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64919546 | publisher = BBC News |date = 10 March 2023 | access-date = 10 March 2023 | title = Luton Dart airport shuttle welcomes first passengers}}</ref>

A network of bus services run by [[Arriva Shires & Essex]], [[Grant Palmer (bus operator)|Grant Palmer]] and [[Centrebus]] serves the [[Luton/Dunstable Urban Area|urban area of Luton and Dunstable]]. A [[bus rapid transit]] route opened in 2013,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-23808317|title=Delayed busway opening announced|publisher=BBC|date=23 August 2013|access-date=10 April 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> called the ''[[Luton to Dunstable Busway]]'', connecting the town with the airport, [[Dunstable]] and [[Houghton Regis]]. Hertfordshire-based bus operator [[Uno (bus company)|Uno]] also run buses on their 'Dragonfly' 610 route to Hatfield, Potters Bar and Cockforsters<ref>{{Cite web |title=610 {{!}} Uno |url=https://www.unobus.info/services/hertfordshire/dragonfly-610/ |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=unobus.info}}</ref>

Luton is also served by a large [[Taxicab|taxi]] network. As a [[unitary authority]], [[Luton Borough Council]] is responsible for the local highways and public transport in the borough and licensing of taxis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luton.gov.uk/Business/Business_support_and_advice/licensing-and-regulation/Permits%20Authorisations%20and%20Licences/taxiandprivatehire/Pages/default.aspx|title=Taxi and private hire licences|last=Customer services|first=Town Hall|date=21 March 2012|website=Luton.gov.uk|access-date=10 April 2019}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Universityofbeds.JPG|thumb|right|University of Bedfordshire – Luton]]
Luton is one of the main locations of the [[University of Bedfordshire]]. A large campus of the university is in Luton town centre, with a smaller campus based on the edge of town in [[Putteridge Bury]], an old [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] manor house. The other campuses of the university are located in [[Bedford]], [[Milton Keynes]] and [[Aylesbury]].

The town is home to [[Luton Sixth Form College]] and [[Barnfield College]]. Both have been awarded Learning & Skills Beacon Status by the [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communiqueonline.com/cgi-bin/newsdata.pl |title=Barnfield Newsletter |website=Communiqueonline.com |access-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502051452/http://www.communiqueonline.com/cgi-bin/newsdata.pl |archive-date=2 May 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lutonsfc.ac.uk/lutonhome/About/Performance/Index.html|title=Luton Sixth Form College|access-date=16 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409102451/http://www.lutonsfc.ac.uk/lutonhome/About/Performance/Index.html|archive-date=9 April 2008}}</ref>

Luton's schools and colleges had also been earmarked for major investment in the government scheme [[Building Schools for the Future]] programme, which intends to renew and refit buildings in institutes across the country. Luton is in the third wave of this long-term programme with work intending to start in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.learning.luton.gov.uk/index.cfm?s=1&m=649&p=238,index|title=L2G Building for the Future Programme details|access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> Some schools were rebuilt before the programme was scrapped by the coalition government.

There are 98 educational institutes in Luton – seven [[Nursery school|nurseries]], 56 primary schools (9 [[Voluntary aided school|voluntary-aided]], 2 [[Special educational needs|special requirements]]), 13 secondary schools (1 voluntary-aided, 1 special requirements), four [[Further education|further educational institutes]] and four other educational institutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/education_and_learning/schools_and_colleges/School%20-%20general%20information%201 |publisher=Luton Borough Council |title=LEA School List |access-date=16 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516101812/http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/education_and_learning/schools_and_colleges/School%20-%20general%20information%201 |archive-date=16 May 2008 }}</ref>

==Culture==

===Architecture===
{{See also|Listed buildings in Luton}}
The town contains 92 listed buildings.<ref name="auto"/>

===Leisure and entertainment===

====Luton International Carnival====
{{Main|Luton International Carnival}}
[[Luton International Carnival]] is the largest one-day [[carnival]] in Europe. It usually takes place on the late May Bank Holiday. Crowds can reach 150,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/do_that/2004/05/carnival/carnival_day.shtml|title=Luton Carnival Coverage on the BBC|access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref> on each occasion.

The procession starts at [[Wardown Park]] and makes its way down New Bedford Road, around the town centre via St George's Square, back down New Bedford Road and finishes back at Wardown Park. There are music stages and stalls around the town centre and at Wardown Park.

Luton is home to the UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA),<ref>{{cite web |title=UKCCA |url=https://www.carnivalarts.org.uk/ |website=UK Centre for Carnival Arts |language=en}}</ref> the country's first purpose-built facility of its kind.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carnivalarts.org.uk/Aboutus.aspx |title= About the UK Centre for Carnival Arts|access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211012208/http://www.carnivalarts.org.uk/Aboutus.aspx |archive-date=11 February 2014}}</ref>

====Luton St Patrick's Festival====
The festival celebrating the patron saint of Ireland [[St Patrick]] and organised by Luton Irish Forum,<ref name="irish-forum" /> is held on the weekend nearest to [[Saint Patrick's Day|17 March]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2005/03/01/st_patricks_day_preview_feature.shtml |title=Beds Herts and Bucks – Why Don't You – Luton's turning green! |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> In its 20th year in 2019,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lutonirishforum.org/Feb2011.pdf |title=Luton Irish Forum – St patrick's festival |access-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309170857/http://www.lutonirishforum.org/Feb2011.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2012  }}</ref> the festival includes a parade, market stalls and music stands as well as Irish themed events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/lut-news/St-Patrick39s-Day-party-is.3841594.jp |title=St Patrick's Day party is coming to Luton |publisher=Luton Today |access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

==== Orange Order ====
The Luton Sons of William Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1002 was established in the 1960's.<ref>{{Citation |last=Bryan |first=Dominic |title=Violence and carnival |date=2019-06-28 |work=Civic identity and public space |url=https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526138316.00014 |access-date=2025-10-02 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-1-5261-3831-6 |last2=Connolly |first2=S. J. |last3=Nagle |first3=John}}</ref> It is a part of the [[Orange Order]] and is governed by the Grand Orange Lodge of England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=luton sons of william 1002 |url=https://luton1002.tripod.com/index.html |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=luton1002.tripod.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Lodges WorldWide {{!}} Grand Orange Lodge of Canada |url=https://grandorangelodge.ca/about/grand-lodges-worldwide/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |language=en-CA}}</ref> They are a [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[fraternity]] that hold regular meetings and participate in [[Orange walk|Orange walks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archives {{!}} Museum of Orange Heritage |url=https://www.orangeheritage.co.uk/archives |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=Museum |language=en}}</ref> The name "Sons of William" refers to [[William III of England|William III]], victor of the [[Battle of the Boyne]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stankov |first=Kirill N. |date=2023-02-21 |title=The Battle on the River Boyne in 1690 (based on the English, the Scottish and the Irish Sources) |url=https://doi.org/10.18500/1819-4907-2023-23-1-38-44 |journal=Izvestiya of Saratov University. History. International Relations |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=38–44 |doi=10.18500/1819-4907-2023-23-1-38-44 |issn=1819-4907|doi-access=free }}</ref> The Luton & Bedford Drumming Club is a part of the community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luton and Bedford Lambeg Drumming Club on The Session |url=https://thesession.org/links/1052 |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=thesession.org}}</ref> They promote [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster Scots]] culture and heritage within the area. The club play traditional [[Lambeg drum|lambeg]] and Ulster rope [[Drum|drums]] and march in [[Parade|parades]]. Formed in 2005, the inaugural parade was in September of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luton and Bedford {{!}} Lambeg Drumming Club {{!}} England |url=https://luton-lambeg.org/ |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=luton-lambeg.org}}</ref>

====Luton Mela====
The first Luton [[Melā]] took place in August 2000 and has developed into one of the most significant and well attended [[South Asia]]n cultural events in the eastern region.

====City of Culture bid and pilot year====

As a part of Luton Borough Council's 2017-2027 arts  and culture development programme, a series of events titled ''People Power Passion'' were held in 2019 as a pilot for their 2025 [[UK City of Culture|City of Culture]] bid. This included a centennial commemoration of the [[Luton Peace Day Riots]].
<ref>
{{cite web|title=2019 Pilot Year of Culture
|url=https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Leisure_and_culture/Arts_and_culture/Pages/people-power-passion.aspx|website=Luton Borough Council|access-date=18 June 2025}}
</ref>

The bid was dropped in early 2020 as a result of low attendance, and the budget was redirected towards other art projects.<ref>{{cite news|title=Luton drops bid to become City of Culture 2025
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51123508|date=15 January 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=18 June 2025}}
</ref>

===Theatre and performing arts===
Luton is home to the Library Theatre, a 238-seat theatre located on the 3rd floor of the town's Central Library. The theatre's programme consists of local amateur dramatic societies, pantomime, children's theatre (on Saturday mornings) and one night shows of touring theatre companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shoutluton.com/entertainment/page2.html|title=Shout Luton Theatre Guide|access-date=16 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624084328/http://www.shoutluton.com/entertainment/page2.html|archive-date=24 June 2008}}</ref>

Luton is also home to the Hat Factory, originally as its name suggests, this arts centre was in fact a real hat factory. The Hat Factory is a combined arts venue in the centre of Luton. It opened in 2003 and since then has been the area's main provider of contemporary theatre, dance and music. The venue provides live music, club nights, theatre, dance, films, children's activities, workshops, classes and gallery exhibitions.

===Media===

====Newspapers====
The [[Luton News]], now online as [[Luton Today]]. Former journalists include comedy screenwriter [[David Renwick]], author of [[One Foot in the Grave]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2011 |title=Knowing where you want to end before you start... |url=https://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/arts-and-culture/knowing-where-you-want-to-end-before-you-start-2395999 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=Luton Today}}</ref>

====Radio====
* [[BBC Three Counties Radio]], the local [[BBC]] station, broadcasts from its office in Dunstable to [[Bedfordshire]], Hertfordshire and [[Buckinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-12424116 |title=BBC Three Counties Radio|publisher=BBC News |date=10 February 2011 |access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>
* Diverse FM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diversefm.com |title=Diverse FM|access-date=16 June 2008}}</ref> began broadcasts in April 2007 having been awarded a [[community radio]] licence from [[Ofcom]].
* [[Radio LaB]] (formerly Luton FM), the university's radio station, began broadcasting full-time in 2010 having been awarded a [[community radio]] licence from [[Ofcom]].

====Television====
* Luton is served by London and East Anglia regional variations of the [[BBC]] and [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. Television signals are received from either [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] or [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitters. However, the local relay transmitter for Luton only broadcast programmes from [[Norwich]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Luton | title=Luton (Luton, England) Freeview Light transmitter | date=May 2004 }}</ref>

===Local attractions===
[[File:GOC Leagrave to Harpenden 042 Wardown Park House, Luton (8558551071).jpg|thumb|[[Wardown Park Museum]] – one of two museums run by Luton Culture]]

* [[Dunstable Downs]]
* [[Leagrave Park]]
* [[Leighton Buzzard Light Railway]]
* [[The Hat Factory]]
* [[Luton Hoo]]
* [[Someries Castle]]
* [[Stockwood Discovery Centre]]
* [[Stockwood Park]]
* [[Wardown Park]]
* [[Wardown Park Museum]]
* [[Waulud's Bank]]
* [[Whipsnade Tree Cathedral]]
* [[Whipsnade Zoo]]
* [[Woburn Safari Park]]
* [[Woodside Farm and Wildfowl Park]]
* [[Wrest Park]]

==Recreation==

===Parks and open spaces===
Luton has a variety of parks ranging from district parks, neighbourhood parks, local open space and leisure gardens.

====Brantwood Park====
In the 1880s, the land now known as Brantwood Park was an open field on the south side of [[Dallow]]. The site was purchased by the Town Council in 1894 for use as a recreation ground and there is reference to it as 'West Ward Recreation Ground' in a 1911-year book. It is reported as being one of the first two recreation grounds in Luton; the other being East Ward Recreation Ground, now known as Manor Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/error?errormessage=Page%20not%20found|title=Error|website=m.luton.gov.uk}}</ref>

====Kidney Wood====
Kidney Wood is ancient semi-natural [[woodland]] on the southern edge of Luton that has been identified as a County Wildlife Site. The wood was purchased by [[Luton Borough Council]] as an area of public open space. The council seeks to maintain and enhance the nature conservation interest of Kidney Wood, including its habitats while allowing public access for informal recreation including play. Kidney Wood includes a way marked nature trail and play dells.

====Memorial Park====
Sir Julius Wernher purchased the [[Luton Hoo]] Estate and the Manor of Luton from Madame de Falbe around 1903. He carried out substantial renovation works to the Manor and grounds. On his death in 1912 the estate passed to Lady Ludlow. Lady Ludlow presented the Park to the people of Luton on 12 June 1920, in memory of her son Alex Piggott Werner, who was killed in action during the First World War. The site is officially named Luton Hoo Memorial Park. Council records state that the area was purchased under the Statutory Powers of the Public Health Acts.

====Stockwood Park====
[[File:Stockwoodpark.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stockwood Park]], Luton]]
[[File:Part of the Mossman Collection (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1548315.jpg|thumb|left|Part of the [[Mossman Collection]].]]
{{Main|Stockwood Park}}

Stockwood Park is a large municipal park near Junction 10 of the [[M1 motorway|M1]]. Located in the park is [[Stockwood Discovery Centre]], a free museum that houses Luton local social history, archaeology and geology. The collection of rural crafts and trades held at Stockwood Discovery Centre was amassed by Thomas Wyatt Bagshawe, who was a notable local historian and a leading authority on folk life. The park has an athletics track, an 18-hole golf course, several rugby and football pitches and areas of open space. Stockwood park is also home to stockwood park RFC, a local amateur rugby team. The park was originally the estate and grounds to Stockwood house, which was demolished in 1964.  The museum includes the [[Mossman Collection]] of horse-drawn vehicles, which is the largest and most significant vehicle collection of its kind in the country, including originals from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

====Wardown Park====
[[File:Daisy-Chain-Walk-standard.jpg|thumb|left|The Daisy-Chain Wall in [[Wardown Park]].]]
{{Main|Wardown Park}}
Wardown Park is situated on the [[River Lee (England)|River Lea]] in Luton. The park has sporting facilities, is home to the [[Wardown Park Museum]] and contains formal gardens. The park is located between ''Old Bedford Road'' and the [[A6 road (England)|A6]], ''New Bedford Road'' and is within walking distance of the town centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/Leisure_and_culture/Museums_and_galleries/Wardown%20Park |title=Luton Council website |access-date=16 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209180317/http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/Leisure_and_culture/Museums_and_galleries/Wardown%20Park |archive-date=9 February 2007 }}</ref> The park houses Wardown House Museum and Gallery, previously known as Luton Museum and Art Gallery, in a large Victorian mansion. The museum collection focuses on the traditional crafts and industry of Luton and Bedfordshire, notably [[lace]] making and [[hatmaking]]. There are samples of local lace from as early as the 17th century.

===Shopping===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2009}}
[[File:Luton Mall.jpg|thumb|right|[[The Mall Luton]], the main shopping destination in Luton's town centre.]]
The main shopping area in Luton is centred on [[the Mall Luton]]. Built in the 1960s/1970s and opened as an [[Arndale Centres|Arndale Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/6621|title=As We Were – Luton 1926-1976|website=East Anglian Film Archive}}</ref> construction of the shopping centre led to the demolition of a number of the older buildings in the town centre, including the Plait Halls (a Victorian covered market building with an iron and glass roof). Shops and businesses in the remaining streets, particularly in the roads around Cheapside and in High Town, have been in decline ever since. George Street, on the south side of the Arndale, was pedestrianised in the 1990s.

The shopping centre had some construction and re-design work done to it over the 2011/12 period, with a new square built to be used for leisure events, as well as a number of new food restaurants. Contained within the main shopping centre is the market, which contains butchers, fishmongers, fruit and veg, hairdressers, tattoo parlours, ice cream, a flower stall, T-shirt printing and the market's original sewing shop for clothes alterations and repairs as well as eating places.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lutonindoormarket.co.uk/index.php/shop-and-eat/|title=Shop & Eat {{!}} Luton Indoor Market|language=en-US|access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref>

Another major shopping area is [[Bury Park]] where there are shops catering to Luton's ethnic minorities.

===Sport===
[[File:Kenilworth Stand at Kenilworth Road, 2006.jpg|thumb|Kenilworth Stand at [[Kenilworth Road]], home to [[Luton Town FC|Luton Town Football Club]]]]
{{Main|Sport in Bedfordshire}}

Luton has a wide range of sports clubs. It is the home town of [[Luton Town FC|Luton Town Football Club]] which in May 2023 achieved promotion to the English [[Premier League]] for the first time in their history<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/championship-play-off-final-luton-beat-coventry-on-penalties-to-win-promotion-to-premier-league-for-first-time-ever-12890811 |title=Championship play-off final: Luton beat Coventry on penalties to win promotion to Premier League for first time ever |publisher=Sky News |date=28 May 2023 |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref> which also includes several spells in the top flight of the English league as well as a [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] triumph in [[1987–88 Football League Cup|1988]]. They play at [[Kenilworth Road]], their home since 1905, with a new larger capacity stadium known as [[Power Court Stadium|Power Court]] under construction.<ref name="new-stadium"/> Their nickname, 'The Hatters', dates back to when Luton had a substantial [[Hatmaking|millinery]] industry, and their logo is based on the town's coat of arms.

[[Bedfordshire County Cricket Club]] is based at Wardown Park and is one of the [[Historic counties of England|county]] clubs which make up the [[Minor counties of English cricket|Minor Counties]] in the English domestic [[cricket]] structure, representing the historic county of Bedfordshire. [[Luton Rugby Club]] are a local [[rugby union]] club based on Newlands Road, by the [[M1 motorway]] just outside [[Stockwood Park]], who play in [[London 1 North]]. [[motorcycle speedway|Speedway]] racing was once staged at [[Luton Stadium]] from 1934 to 1937.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Luton.htm|title=Luton|website=Defunctspeedway.co.uk}}</ref>

==Twin towns==
Luton participates in international [[town twinning]]; its partners<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luton.gov.uk/Leisure_and_culture/Tourism/Pages/Town%20twinning.aspx|title=Town Twinning – Luton Council|publisher=Luton Borough Council}}</ref> are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! colspan=2 | Place
! colspan=2 | State/Region
! Date
|-
| [[Germany]]
| [[File:DEU Bergisch Gladbach COA.svg|25px]]
| '''[[Bergisch Gladbach]]'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaften – Stadt Bergisch Gladbach |url=https://www.bergischgladbach.de/staedtepartnerschaften.aspx |website=Bergischgladbach.de|language=de}}</ref>
| [[File:Coat of arms of North Rhine-Westfalia.svg|25px]]
| ''[[North Rhine-Westphalia]]''
| 1956
|-
| [[France]]
| [[File:Blason Bourgoin Jallieu.svg|25px]]
| '''[[Bourgoin-Jallieu]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns|title=British towns twinned with French towns|access-date = 11 July 2013|work=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref>
| [[File:Blason Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.svg|25px]]
| ''[[Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes]]''
| 1956
|-
| [[Sweden]]
| [[File:eskilstuna vapen.svg|25px]]
| '''[[Eskilstuna]]'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Vänorter – Eskilstuna kommun |url=https://www.eskilstuna.se/kommun-och-politik/internationellt/vanorter.html |website=Eskilstuna.se |language=sv}}</ref>
| [[File:Södermanland vapen.svg|25px]]
| ''[[Södermanland]]''
| 1949
|-
| Germany
| [[File:Coat of arms of borough Spandau.svg|25px]]
| '''[[Berlin]]-[[Spandau]]'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Städtepartnerschaften des Bezirks Spandau |url=https://www.berlin.de/ba-spandau/ueber-den-bezirk/partnerstaedte/ |website=Berlin.de |language=de |date=3 April 2020}}</ref>
| [[File:DEU Berlin COA.svg|25px]]
| ''[[Berlin]]''
| 1959
|-
| Germany
| [[File:DEU Wolfsburg COA.svg|25px]]
| '''[[Wolfsburg]]'''
| [[File:Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg|25px]]
| ''[[Lower Saxony]]''
| 1950
|}

==Notable people==
<!-- PLEASE DON'T ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST UNLESS THERE IS ALREADY AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEM -->
People who were born in Luton or are associated with the town.

===By birth===
<!-- DON'T ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST UNLESS THERE IS ALREADY AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEM -->
{{div col}}
* [[Mick Abrahams]], guitarist for [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]
* [[Keshi Anderson]], footballer
* [[David Arnold]], composer
* [[Emily Atack]], actress
* [[John Badham]], film director
* [[Lewis Baker (footballer)|Lewis Baker]], footballer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/on-loan-players/lewis-baker|title=Lewis Baker|publisher=Chelsea Football Club|access-date=14 June 2019}}</ref>
* [[Clive Barker (artist, born 1940)|Clive Barker]], sculptor and artist
* [[Jonathan Barnbrook]], graphic designer and typographer
* [[Josh Bassett]], rugby player
* [[Kevin Blackwell]], goalkeeper and football manager
* [[Dean Brill]], footballer
* [[Charles Bronson (prisoner)|Charles Bronson]], born Michael Peterson, prisoner
* [[William Brown (footballer, born 1874)|William Brown]], footballer
* [[Clive Bunker]], drummer for [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]
* [[Danny Cannon]], screenwriter, director and producer
* [[Gerald Anthony Coles]], artist
* [[Natasha Collins]], actress and television presenter
* [[Andy Day]], television presenter 
* [[Steve Dillon]], comic artist
* [[Kerry Dixon]], footballer
* [[Stacey Dooley]],<ref name=brown>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/stacey-dooley|title=Agency biography|website=Curtis Brown|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref> journalist, television presenter and ''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 16)|Strictly Come Dancing]]'' winner
* [[Jamal Edwards]], entrepreneur, author, director, DJ and founder of [[SB.TV]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=O'Connor|first1=Mary|last2=Snowdon|first2=Kathryn|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60457063|title=Jamal Edwards, music entrepreneur and Youtube star, dies aged 31|date=20 February 2022|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
* [[Jonathan Edwards (English footballer)|Jonathan Edwards]], footballer
* [[Kevin Foley (footballer, born 1984)|Kevin Foley]], footballer
* [[Sean Gallagher (actor)|Sean Gallagher]], actor
* [[Liam George]], footballer
* [[John Hagan (sailor)|John Hagan]], 8th [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy|master chief petty officer]], US Navy
* [[Arthur Hailey]], novelist
* [[Nadiya Hussain]], ''[[The Great British Bake Off (series 6)|The Great British Bake Off]]'' winner
* [[Neil Jackson]], actor
* [[Sharna Jackson]], children's writer
* [[James Justin]], footballer
* [[Stephen Kelman]], novelist
* [[Jamal Lewis (footballer)|Jamal Lewis]], footballer
* [[Stuart Lewis-Evans]], Formula One driver
* [[Sean Maguire (footballer)|Sean Maguire]], footballer
* [[Frederick Mander]], General Secretary of the [[National Union of Teachers|NUT]]
* [[Sarfraz Manzoor]], journalist and author
* [[Herbert Moody]], footballer
* [[Monty Panesar]], cricketer
* [[David Price (English cricketer)|David Price]], cricketer
* [[Phil Read]], motorcycle racer
* [[David Renwick]], scriptwriter
* [[Stu Riddle]], footballer
* [[Tommy Robinson]], born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, political activist
* [[Lee Ross (actor)|Lee Ross]], actor
* [[Billy Schwer]], boxer
* [[Andy Selway]], drummer
* [[Junior Simpson]], comedian
* [[Paul Sinha]], comedian and quizzer
* [[Zena Skinner]], television chef and author
* [[Myles Smith]], singer
* [[Steven M Smith]], biologist
* [[Will Smith (cricketer)|Will Smith]], cricketer
* [[David Stoten]], storyboard artist
* [[Jordan Thomas (karateka)|Jordan Thomas]], World and European karate champion
* [[Mark Titchner]], artist
* [[UK Decay]], band
* [[Richard Wiseman]], psychologist
* [[Jamie Woolford]], rock musician for [[The Stereo]], [[Animal Chin]] and [[Let Go (band)|Let Go]]
* [[Paul Young]], pop rock singer
* [[Zuby]], rapper
{{div col end}}

===By association===
{{div col}}
<!-- DON'T ADD PEOPLE TO THIS LIST UNLESS THERE IS ALREADY AN ARTICLE ABOUT THEM -->
* [[Rodney Bewes]], actor
* [[Mo Chaudry]], entrepreneur
* [[Diana Dors]], actress<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityArchives/Luton/LicensedinLuton/The-English-Rose-Public-House-Luton.aspx|title=The English Rose Public House Luton|publisher=Bedford Borough Council|date=21 June 2019|quote=During the 1950s a regular visitor was actress Diana Dors, whose first husband Dennis Hamilton was the son of landlord Stanley Gittins. She is said to have served behind the bar in the pub on a number of occasions.}}</ref>
* [[Ian Dury]], singer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iandury.com/Biography/|title=Ian Dury – A brief biography|quote=Ian found part-time work as an Art teacher at Luton College of Further Technology}}</ref>
* [[John Hegley]], poet
* [[Hilda Hewlett]], UK's first licensed woman pilot
* [[Alec Jeffreys]], geneticist
* [[Sarfraz Manzoor]], author and columnist, [[The Guardian]]
* [[Eric Morecambe]], entertainer
* [[Elizabeth Price (artist)|Elizabeth Price]], artist
* [[Colin Salmon]], actor
* [[Andrew Tate]], British-American ex-kickboxer and Internet personality
{{div col end}}

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Luton.
 
{{Incomplete list|date=January 2024}}

===Individuals===
* [[John Still (footballer)|John Still]]: 15 January 2015.<ref name=Still>{{cite web |title=Luton manager John Still gets freedom of town |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-30827083 |publisher=BBC News Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire |date=15 January 2015 |access-date=13 January 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Bill McKenzie, Baron McKenzie of Luton]]: 15 January 2015.<ref name=Still />
* Viv Dunnington: 15 January 2015.<ref name=Still />

==See also==
{{portal|England}}
{{columns-list|
<!--Relevant lists-->
* [[List of places in Luton]]
* [[List of schools in Luton]]
* [[List of unitary authorities of England]]
* [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom]]
<!--Subarticles-->
* [[Demographics of Luton]]
* [[Economy of Luton]]
* [[History of Luton]]
* [[Politics in Luton]]
* [[Transport in Luton]]
* [[Luton power station]]}}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=n}}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last1=Dyer|first1=James|last2=Stygall|first2=Frank|last3=Dony|first3=John|year=1964|title=The Story of Luton|location=Luton|publisher=White Crescent Press}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Collier's poster|year=1921}}
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* {{OpenDomesday|TL0821|luton|Luton}}
* [https://www.luton.gov.uk Luton Borough Council]
* [https://www.bedfordshire.police.uk Bedfordshire Police]
* [https://www.bedsfire.gov.uk Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue]
* [https://www.ldh.nhs.uk Luton and Dunstable] – major local hospital
* [https://www.lutontoday.co.uk Luton Today] – local news
* [https://www.lutonculture.com Luton Culture] – charity which manages museums and various events
* [https://www.lutontown.co.uk Luton Town F.C.] – local [[Association football|football]] team

{{Adjacent communities|state=expanded
 |Centre = Luton
 |NW = [[Milton Keynes]]
 |N  = [[Bedford]]
 |NE = [[Hitchin]]
 |W  = [[Dunstable]]
 |E  = [[Stevenage]]
 |SW = [[Berkhamsted]]
 |S  = [[Hemel Hempstead]]
 |SE = [[Harpenden]]
}}
{{Luton|state=expanded}}
{{Bedfordshire}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{East of England}}
{{River Lee England}}
{{London commuter belt}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Luton| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Local government districts of Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:6th-century establishments in England]]
[[Category:Hatmaking]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 6th century]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Bedfordshire]]