Milton Keynes: Why these four people think it’s UK City of Culture

Alongside its gallery, the city is proud of its theatre and live music venue – The Stables – which was developed by world-renowned jazz musicians Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine.

The city is also home to smaller creative groups.

The professional theatre company The Play’s The Thing was set up by Rosemary Hill in 2008 and encourages new writers and performers as well as producing more traditional plays.

“We’ve got a fantastic grassroots community doing so many things,” said Hill.

“It’s really, really exciting.”

However Hill still finds herself having to convince others of her beloved city’s charms.

She recalled: “I was sitting on a train a few years ago and was getting off at Milton Keynes and somebody said, ‘Oh, this is a place best avoided’.

“I said, ‘Have you ever been here? Do you know what Milton Keynes is about. Because you should come and visit and see all these different things.

“The whole carriage clapped as I got off.”