Browse the siteLUTON FACILITIES & SERVICES
Luton is a vibrant town nestled in the heart of Bedfordshire, bursting with culture, history and modern amenities, offering a warm welcome to visitors from near and far.
If you need to borrow toys or books to while away the hours, let the kids go sport crazy or find someone who might help you understand your teenager, then take a look below for everything you need to know about family-friendly Luton.
Luton Borough Council is very active and only too willing to help you find your way around the town. Just be aware that the Visitor Information Centre is now closed. However, many of its services are available from Luton Travel Centre (located in Starbucks) opposite Luton Train Station or the Town Hall reception.
Luton Borough Council was successful in its bid to The Big Lottery Fund and was awarded £500,000 to support a variety of Play projects. The town has lots of parks and open spaces and, at its edge, the scenic beauty of the Chilterns. For more information on the parks and play areas in Luton see our Things to do. They also organise a lot of great local events such as the Easter and Summer at the Hat Gardens, Wardown Park Bandstand and Luton International Carnival. Keep an eye on our What's On page for details.
Luton Town Hall, George Street, Luton, LU1 2BQ
Tel: 01582 546000 Fax: 0158260026 Email: [email protected]
Luton Police Station is located on Buxton Road but is only open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. It has facilities for those with impaired vision and hearing, and is accessible for anyone with reduced mobility.
Luton Central Library is a significant and recently refurbished public library located in the heart of the town centre, opposite St George’s Square. It serves as a hub for information, education, and community engagement. The very helpful staff are knowledgeable and friendly, and, did you know, that once you are a member of the library you can renew your books and make reservations online via their eLibrary online?
It is fully accessible, has WiFi, public PCs, printing, photocopier, forty+ study spaces and conference rooms for hire.
Opening Times:
Monday 9am -7pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9.30am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm
Full details of all services are available on the Library website.
Luton Central Library, St. George’s Square, Luton, LU1 2NG
Tel: 01582 547418
There are also 4 other local libraries that fall under the Luton Libraries umbrella located in:
- Leagrave Library, 124 Marsh Road LU3 2NL
Tel: 01582 556650 - Lewsey Library, Landrace Road LU4 0SW
Tel: 01582 696094 - Lea Manor School, Northwell Drive LU3 3TL
Tel: 01582 574803 - Stopsley Library, Hitchin Road LU2 7UG
Tel: 01582 706368
You can find Places of Worship in Luton listed on a separate page.
If you need passport photos taken try Boots, WH Smiths or Tesco Express in The Mall or Sainsbury’s in Bramingham Park.
Luton Family Hubs is a fantastic new initiative launched in March 2024, a town-wide partnership offering support to every family in Luton, whatever their experience or circumstances. From thinking about starting a family or expecting a child, to all families with a child up to the age of 19 years or 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities. Family members have access to friendly, helpful professionals and local experts offering parent and child sessions, information, advice and guidance in one of the hubs near where they live.
There are 4 main hubs in Park Town, Hockwell Ring, Dallow and Lewsey Farm, with 2 potential further hubs being considered and 20 outreach sites located in churches, schools and libraries across Luton. Check out the map for your nearest centre.
Working closely with the Luton Family Hubs is Flying Start Luton, another partnership approach to the delivery of services for families in Luton, with a focus on the antenatal period and the early years (working alongside the Early Years Alliance). They offer a range of online resources, virtual groups and workshops, support to parents and families and a whole calendar packed full of regular baby classes and parent and toddler groups.
You must register on their website to access the services.
Flying Start Luton Tel: 01582 368245 Email: [email protected]
Luton has Public Toilets and Baby Change Facilities located in The Mall. The Library has a baby-change and disabled toilet, Sainsbury's and Asda have public facilities just inside the store also.
If you are in Wardown Park you can use the toilets located next to the Children’s play area, or Stockwood Park has disabled fully accessible toilets and baby changing facilities in the Discovery Centre.
There are approximately twenty Post Offices in Luton, the main one is located in The Mall at the back of WH Smith, offering a full range of services including banking, passport check & send and travel money.
With frequent trains to London it is no wonder Luton’s 3 train stations are so busy: Luton, Luton Aiport Parkway and Leagrave. However, if you are unfamiliar with the station it is good to know what to expect. The lifts to the platforms make life easier for buggies and wheelchairs. There are automatic ticket machines on both sides of the station. Parking varies at each station, so please check the website and Google maps for information but there are pick up and drop off areas close to all entrances.
Luton Station, Station Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2LT
Luton Airport Parkway station, Parkway Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 3JW
Leagrave station, Compton Avenue, Leagrave, Bedfordshire, LU4 9BA
Arriva and Centrebus bus operators in Luton are taking part in the “Get around for £2” single fare scheme, which has been extended to 31 December 2024. Luton Station Interchange serves as a hub for local and regional bus services, providing connections to various destinations within Luton, including the Luton Dunstable Guided Busway is a BRT (Bus Rapid Transit System) connecting the conurbations of Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis.
Luton Airport, officially known as London Luton Airport, is the fifth busiest airport in the UK and has an active role in the town often collaborating on exciting projects and developments. It is easy accessible via the M1 motorway, or Luton Airport Parkway railway station is nearby, connected to the terminal by a shuttle bus service. This station provides fast train services to Central London and other parts of the UK.
London Luton Airport Airport Way Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 9LY
Active Luton is a local authority-run organisation that operates Luton’s leading leisure centres with fully equipped gyms, swimming pools and fitness classes. It runs facilities across the whole town including Inspire: Luton Sports Village; Lea Manor Recreation Centre; Lewsey Sports Park & Pool; Hightown Community Sports & Arts Centre; Stockwood Park Golf Centre; Stockwood Park Athletics Centre and Hart Hill Adventure Playground.
Inspire is their world class, multi sports facility and hub of activity for both the local community and elite athletes. They run classes from tots to teens that are very affordable. From a young age children can begin gymnastics, trampolining, swimming and more. For more information see our list of Activity Classes.
There is also a 50m competition swimming pool, a 20m community pool and a smaller teaching pool for Aqua Babies & Tots classes and inclusive sessions, which is delightfully warm. There are often classes being held in the both pools, so knowing the timetables are crucial!
Inspire: Luton Sports Village, Butterfield Green Road, Off Hitchin Road, Luton, LU2 8DD
Tel: 01582 393230 E-mail: [email protected]
For all your recycling needs you can find Luton's Recycling Centres & Tidy Tips at Eaton Green Road and Progress Way. Both centres are open 6 days a week, with Eaton Green Road closed on a Thursday and Progress Way closed on a Wednesday, opening times vary so please check the website before you visit. If you can, it is best to avoid peak times on weekends and bank holidays as queues can be long and to avoid congestion on the surrounding roads. They do spot check visitors on arrival to make sure you are a Luton resident, so ensure you bring ID with you; a recent bill or driving licence will be accepted.
For details of your kerbside recycling and waste collections see the Luton Council website.
If you have reached the door-slamming and life being "so unfair" stage then take a look at Tokko Youth Space. This dynamic charity, for 13 -19 year olds (up to 25 years for young people with disabilities), parents and carers allows you to access advice, information and support in all areas of teenage life from education and career paths to guidance for those with anxieties about life's challenges.
Already an impressive 5 floor venue, Tokko youth centre has been awarded a £1m transformational Youth Investment Fund grant to renovate and expand its offer to young people in Luton. It is already equipped with a dance studio, climbing wall, gaming room where teens can hang out with friends and take part in a variety of activities, they will be adding a gym, new kitchen and digital hub! Opening hours vary: Monday 9am – 6pm, Tuesday 9am – 8pm, Wednesday 9am – 7pm, Thursday 9am – 6pm, Friday 9am – 7.30pm, Saturday 1pm-4pm, Sunday CLOSED. It's free and young people aged 13-19 (or 24 with a disability or special needs) can just drop-in. Entry is by buzzer and it is fully wheelchair accessible with disabled toilet facilities.
Tokko Youth Space, 7 Gordon Street, Luton LU1 2QP
Tel: 01582 544990 Email: [email protected]
Luton Rising (previously Luton Airport Ltd) is a business and social enterprise owned by a sole shareholder, Luton Council, for community benefit. It’s the UK’s most socially impactful airport that has given £180 million in philanthropy to local community projects. The community fund provides money to a wide range of community groups and organisations in Luton and the surrounding area; with half funding Active Luton (leisure, community health, wellbeing and library services) and The Culture Trust Luton (arts, cultural and heritage services). They also support a vast range of community festivals such as the Luton Carnival, the Luton Mela, the Luton Fireworks and more.
Luton Rising, Hart House Business Centre, Kimpton Road, Luton LU2 0LA
Email: [email protected]
Citizens Advice Luton give free, independent, impartial and confidential advice and information on a range of subjects including: Benefits, housing and council tax benefits, Consumer Rights and issues, Debt and money advice, Family and relationships, Housing, Legal issues and Employment. They also hold foodbank vouchers. Luton Citizens Advice are based at Community House, 15 New Bedford Road, Luton (LU1 1SA) and is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am to 4pm (closed between 12pm and 1pm) and Wednesdays and Fridays 9am to 12pm. You can also call the advice line on 0808 278 7847.
Luton Foodbank is run entirely for the benefit of people in and around Luton who need emergency food, working with front-line professional agencies such as Luton Advice Network, Age Concern, children’s centres, mental health charities, etc. These frontline agencies are registered foodbank voucher distributors, holding the vouchers and giving them directly to an individual or family in crisis who then collects the food parcel from one of the many distribution centres across Luton. If you find yourself falling on hard times contact the Luton Food Bank to find out how to get help. You can contact them by phoning 01582 725838 or emailing [email protected].
