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Luton (/ˈluːtən/ ⓘ)[7] is a town and unitary authority with borough status in Bedfordshire, England, with a population at the 2021 census of 225,262.[5][8]
Luton is on the River Lea, 32 miles (50 km) north-west of London,[9] 18 miles (29 km) north-west of Hertford, 20 miles (32 km) south of Bedford[9] and 23 miles (37 km) south-east of Milton Keynes. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settlement on the river, from which Luton derives its name.[10] Luton is recorded in the Domesday Book as Loitone and Lintone.[11] One of the largest churches in Bedfordshire, St Mary's Church, was built in the 12th century.[12] There are local museums which explore Luton's history in Wardown Park[13] and Stockwood Park.[14]
Luton was once known for hatmaking and also had a large Vauxhall Motors factory. Car production at the plant began in 1905 and continued until its closure in 2002.[15] Production of commercial vehicles continues and the head office of Vauxhall Motors is in the village of Chalton on the northern border of the borough .[16] London Luton Airport opened in 1938 and is now one of Britain's major airports,[17] with three railway stations also in the town. The University of Bedfordshire was created from a merger with the University of Luton;[18] two of its campuses are in Luton.[19]
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 league as well as a Football League Cup triumph in 1988. They play at Kenilworth Road, their home since 1905; planning permission for a new larger stadium was approved in 2019.[20] Luton International Carnival, the largest one-day carnival in Europe, is held on the day before the last Monday in May;[21][n 1] the Saint Patrick's festival is held on the weekend nearest to Saint Patrick's Day[22] as there is a large Irish community in Luton. The town also has a large Pakistani community which, along with the Irish, were attracted to employment at the Vauxhall car plant.[23][24] Luton Hoo is an English country house, estate and Grade I listed building originally designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam but later transformed to the designs of Robert Smirke.[25]
