MILTON KEYNES - OPEN TO THE WORLD
Milton Keynes has become one of England's most vibrant cities and home to 230,000 people.
Just 43 years old, and as the youngest potential candidate city of any nation's bid, MK offers its youth and vitality. It's our vision and willingness to think differently that in 2004 saw Milton Keynes become England's newest football city with the formation of the MK Dons, who in 2007 moved to the state of the art stadium:mk.
With eight million people living within an hour of MK, the Dons have quickly tapped into the huge local appetite for football. Nearly 18,000 fans attended last season's League game against Leicester City and more than 22,000 cheered on England Under 21s against Bulgaria in 2007.
And while a long football tradition may not exist in MK, the infrastructure and experience of development to support such a global event undoubtedly does. Our ability to deliver is evident from what has been achieved by the new city in the past four decades.
Families from across the globe have chosen to move to Milton Keynes because it is a safe and friendly place to live. It is also a compact and well-designed city, where our unique road grid system makes travelling around quick and easy. Stadium:mk, our impressive shopping centre and our major entertainment facilities are all within a few minutes drive of each other, and there is also an excellent redway network across the city for those who prefer to cycle or walk.
Milton Keynes has a major railway station in its heart, plus smaller stations, and a new national bus station is currently being constructed. London Luton airport is just 30 minutes drive away, and the city is bordered by counties offering a wealth of attractions.
We have the enthusiasm, energy and commitment to deliver everything needed to be a superb 2018 host city. We know that this new impetus will drive our way forward beyond our 50th anniversary and into the next extraordinary 50 years creating a fabulous lasting legacy for the people of Milton Keynes.
MK's bid to be a 2018 host city has captured the interest and imagination of thousands of people, and has been backed by a diverse range of supporters including Eddie Izzard, Liz Yelling, Lord David Puttnam, Dan Magness and Lord Neil Kinnock.
Milton Keynes' looks forward to welcoming new friends from diverse cultures from all over the world, bonded by our shared love of football.
You can pledge your support for England 2018 and Milton Keynes by backing the bid at: http://www.england2018bid.com/support/register.aspx