Luton Borough Council

Must see landmarks steeped with history

Ancient-looking scroll

1086	Domesday survey shows Luton as the largest royal manor in Bedfordshire
14th century	The Church of St Mary is the largest church in Bedfordshire and one of the biggest parish churches in England
1826	Luton's first hat factory opens
1876	Luton officially becomes a borough
1904	Wardown Park purchased for the town by the Mayor, Cllr Hucklesby
1919	Peace day riots end in destruction of the old Town Hall
1922	Town centre war memorial is unveiled by Lady Ludlow
1936	Official opening of the new Town Hall by HRH the Duke of Kent
1938	Luton Airport opens
1947	The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh honeymoon at Luton Hoo
1959	Luton Town FC reach the FA Cup final at Wembley
1962	HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Duke of Edinburgh open Luton's new central library
1964	Luton officially becomes a county borough
1972	Luton's Arndale Shopping Centre opens, providing the town (at that time) with the largest undercover shopping centre in Europe
1973	HM the Queen approves the grant of a charter conferring Borough status on Luton
1975	First Luton carnival, now the biggest one day carnival in the UK
1988	Luton Town FC wins the Littlewoods Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley
1996	The town's floral displays win first prize in Anglia in Bloom
1997	Luton becomes a unitary authority
1999	HM the Queen opens Luton Airport Parkway rail station
2005	In its centenary year, lottery funding restores Wardown Park to its Edwardian splendour
2006	13th century Wenlock Jug, with strong ties to the town, purchased on behalf of and now displayed in Stockwood Discovery Centre
2008	Luton launches the national Cultural Olympiad in the recently redeveloped, award winning St George's Square
2012	Olympic Torch came to Luton
2014	Luton Town FC were promoted from the conference to the football league division 2