Stockwood Discovery Centre was made possible thanks to a £3.7 million cash injection from the Heritage Lottery Fund along with £1.2 million Objective 2 European Funding.

Other funder and contributions where from Luton Borough Council, the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Environmental Ltd (WREN), Garfield Weston Foundation, Renaissance and other trusts and groups.

The Centre is designed with environmentally green and sustainable principles in mind. It tells the stories of real people behind the collections, exploring the history of the region from prehistoric times to the evolution of Stockwood House and the Farley estate.

The display collections include; geology, archaeology, social history and rural crafts. Highlights include the Wenlok Jug - a rare medieval masterpiece with strong links to Luton's history and development, the town's last tram and the famous Mossman collection of carriages - the largest collection of its kind on display in the UK.

A paradise for garden enthusiasts, Stockwood Discovery Centre is one of the few places in the country where the work of acclaimed artist Ian Hamilton Finlay can be seen on permanent display. His Improvement Garden is a classical garden in which the sculptures are an integral part of the landscape. Once part of the original Stockwood House walled areas, the Period Gardens reflect the changing styles of gardening in this country. New areas include a contemplative Sensory Garden, a colourful World Garden and a Medicinal Garden highlighting the usefulness of plants.

The Centre also offers a range of complementary services and facilities including group bookings and excursions, corporate room and venue hire, birthday parties, weddings, schools sessions and adult learning courses. Please see the website for more details.

The Couture restaurant & bar at Stockwood Discovery Centre is open to all and promotes the use of locally-sourced ingredients from Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas to create British classic dishes at reasonable prices. The café also sells a range icecreams.

A good range of interesting UK lagers, CAMRA-approved real ales and fine wines, including a vintage sourced from Bedfordshire's only vineyard – Warden Abbey are also available.

Families are more than welcome. With the restaurant overlooking a large kids play area they will never get bored.

We endeavour to cater for individual dietary requirements.

Looking for an original gift? Check out our wide range of merchandise in the gift shop At the front of the Centre.

The Centre has toilet facilities situated at convenient location around the site.

Disabled and baby changing facilities are found outside the restaurant area.

Getting to Stockwood Discovery Centre. Car – Three minutes off M1 junction 10, entrance from London Road. The centre is at the end of the small road past the golf centre.

There is ample free car parking.

Train – Luton (Town Station) 1 ½ miles, 10 minutes taxi journey. Bus – Arriva bus No. 1 from Luton Town Centre, Park Square, Stop P2, every 15 minutes. No service on Sundays.

Stockwood Discovery Centre is a great family value day out with many children activities and events throughout the year at a low, low cost.

There is also a number of trail sheets around the centre.

Museums Luton is committed to ensuring that our museums, buildings, sites, programmes and services are accessible for all visitors. We are committed to sensory, physical, intellectual and cultural access, and to working with communities to make improvements.

The Centre can provide wheels chairs and mobility scooters during your visit, please contact us to book.

Access information booklets are available to help plan your visit.

If you've had fun on your family day out to Stockwood Discovery Centre, tell us about it your visit, so other people will know it's a great place to go as well.

http://www.stockwooddiscoverycentre.com