EX:CHANGE 2026

Flying into Luton Airport (LTN)

Luton Airport is linked to Luton Airport Parkway station by the Luton DART, a fully automated, electrically powered rail link covering the 2.3km between the terminal and the station in under four minutes. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with services every five minutes at peak times. From Luton Airport Parkway, trains run to Milton Keynes Central with a change (usually at London Euston). The fastest combined journey — DART plus train — takes around an hour and a half.

Practical tip: You can book through tickets that include the DART fare at lutondart.com or via the main rail booking sites. Selecting ‘Luton Airport’ as your departure point rather than ‘Luton Airport Parkway’ will ensure the DART leg is included in your ticket.

Flying into Birmingham Airport (BHX)

Birmingham International station is directly connected to the airport terminal via a free 90-second shuttle, making it an excellent arrival point for international delegates. Direct trains run from there to Milton Keynes Central, with the fastest services taking around 40 minutes. There are typically three trains per hour, operated by London Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast.

From London

London Euston to Milton Keynes Central is one of the quickest intercity hops in the country. The fastest Avanti West Coast services take around 30 minutes, and there are up to 140 or more trains running daily between the two stations — roughly every 15 minutes during the day. London Northwestern Railway also operates frequent services on the same route, often at lower fares.

Practical tip: Book an Avanti West Coast advance ticket for the fastest journey, or travel with London Northwestern Railway for a cheaper option with a slightly longer journey time. Both operators run direct services with no change required.

From Birmingham

From Birmingham New Street (the central Birmingham station), the journey to Milton Keynes Central takes around an hour to an hour and a quarter depending on the service. Multiple operators run this route throughout the day.

From Manchester

Direct trains on the West Coast Main Line run from Manchester Piccadilly to Milton Keynes Central, with Avanti West Coast operating the key services. The fastest journey takes around 1 hour 35 minutes, with roughly two services per hour during the day.

Practical tip: Book in advance through Avanti West Coast for the best fares on this route. Advance tickets can be significantly cheaper than on-the-day prices.

From the north

Milton Keynes sits directly on the West Coast Main Line, one of the main rail corridors connecting London with the north of England and Scotland. Avanti West Coast runs direct services from Edinburgh Waverley to Milton Keynes Central, with the fastest trains taking around five hours. Several departures operate each day.

Booking your train tickets

The main options for booking train travel to Milton Keynes are:

• Avanti West Coast (avantiwestcoast.co.uk) — for long-distance services from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh
• London Northwestern Railway (londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk) — for London Euston and Birmingham routes, often cheaper on these corridors
• Trainline (thetrainline.com) — for comparing fares and operators across all routes
• National Rail (nationalrail.co.uk) — for journey planning, live departures and timetables

Advance tickets typically go on sale 12 weeks before the date of travel. Booking early, particularly for long-distance journeys from Scotland or the north, will give you the best fares and the most choice of departure times.

We recommend that you secure your accommodation as early as possible. The British Grand Prix at nearby Silverstone is running between 2^nd – 5^th July so prices for rooms in the Milton Keynes will rise as we get closer to the event. You will find a list of suggested accommodation to suit all budgets below. All had availability at the time of going to press in February 2026.

Hotels in central Milton Keynes

• Leonardo Hotel Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £480
• Moxy Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £536
• Premier Inn - Milton Keynes Central (Avebury Boulevard) hotel – 2 nights from approx. £314
• Premier Inn – Milton Keynes Central (Xscape) hotel – 2 nights from approx. £277
• Easyhotel Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £210

Hotels slightly further out

• Holiday Inn Express Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £432
• Ramada Wyndham Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £285
• Woughton House Hotel – 2 nights from approx. £260
• Peartree Lodge Waterside – 2 nights from approx. £198
• Kents Hill Park Training Centre – 2 nights from approx. £170

Airbnb hosts in central Milton Keynes – whole home available

• Contemporary apartment in Oldbrook – 2 nights from approx. £177
• #10 Beautiful apartment CMK, Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £389
• Bright apartment in Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £276
• #2 One apartment CMK, Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £357
• #3 Beautiful apartment @ CMK, Milton Keynes – 2 nights from approx. £328

There are a number of rooms within houses available as well as hotels beyond central Milton Keynes too.

Milton Keynes has a good range of hotels within easy walking distance of Unity Place. However, if you prefer a smaller town or would like to stay in London, there are good options that are quick and easy to reach by train.

Watford

Watford is one of the best options for participants wanting to stay outside Milton Keynes. Watford Junction station has direct trains to Milton Keynes Central, with the fastest services taking around 21 minutes and up to 79 trains running per day — a frequency that makes it genuinely flexible, with no need to plan around a timetable.

Watford Junction is also on the West Coast Main Line, with direct trains to London Euston taking around 20 minutes. For international delegates flying into Heathrow, that opens up a practical two-stage journey: Heathrow to London Paddington via the Elizabeth Line (around 15 minutes), then across London to Euston and on to Watford Junction — all without hiring a car or booking an airport transfer. Delegates combining the conference with time in London can use Watford as a base that works equally well for both.

The hotel most convenient for the station is the Holiday Inn London – Watford Junction, a two-minute walk from the station entrance, with a restaurant, bar, gym and on-site parking. For something more upscale, The Grove — a five-star country house hotel and spa set in 300 acres around three miles from Watford Junction — is one of the best-regarded hotels in Hertfordshire, with a spa, golf course and several restaurants. A taxi from Watford Junction takes around ten minutes.

Practical tip: Watford Junction is the station to use — not Watford High Street (which is on a different line). Direct trains to Milton Keynes Central depart from Watford Junction, operated by Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway.

London

For delegates who prefer to stay in London and commute in each day, this is a practical solution. A 30-minute journey from London Euston means you can be in your seat at Unity Place well within an hour of leaving a central London hotel. This option may appeal to people who are combining the conference with wider business or keen to spend their free time in the capital.

Northampton

Northampton is 14–16 minutes from Milton Keynes Central by direct train, with services running every 30 minutes. The town centre has several well-regarded hotels, including the Park Inn by Radisson, which is a short walk from Northampton station. Those who prefer more space or a countryside setting might consider Sedgebrook Hall, a country house hotel around six miles from Northampton station, or the Hilton Northampton, which is around 20 minutes from Milton Keynes by road.

Leighton Buzzard

Leighton Buzzard is a pleasant market town on the West Coast Main Line, just 12–13 minutes from Milton Keynes Central by direct train, with services running every 20 minutes. It is a genuinely easy commute and offers a quieter alternative to staying in the city. Hotel options in the town include The Swan Hotel (a Wetherspoon property in a grade II listed building in the town centre, under a mile from the station) and The Heath Inn, which has its own restaurant and free parking. There are also smaller guesthouses and B&Bs available.

Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted is a historic market town in Hertfordshire, around 27 minutes from Milton Keynes Central by direct train, with up to two services per hour. It has a good range of independent restaurants and pubs, and sits at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. Accommodation options include The Pennyfarthing, an independent hotel six minutes’ walk from the station, and The Kings Arms, a 17th-century former coaching inn in the town centre. Both are well reviewed and offer a noticeably different atmosphere to a city-centre hotel.

Woburn Sands

Woburn Sands is a small village on the Marston Vale Line, just seven miles from Milton Keynes. Trains run to Milton Keynes Central in around 20–25 minutes, with up to two services per hour. It is one of the closest out-of-town options and has a quiet, village feel that is quite different from staying in the city. The main hotel option is The Almshouse Suites on Station Road, a small, well-reviewed boutique property just 500 metres from the station, with self-contained rooms, free parking and free WiFi. Guests describe it as good value, clean and convenient. Woburn Abbey and Woburn Safari Park are a short drive away if you have time before or after the conference.

Practical tip: Trains between Woburn Sands and Milton Keynes Central require a change at Bletchley. Journey times are short, but allow a few extra minutes to make the connection comfortably.

Bedford

Bedford is a market town on the River Great Ouse, around 17 miles from Milton Keynes. The train journey requires a change (via Bletchley or Bedford St Johns) and takes around 50–55 minutes on the fastest services, making it the furthest of the local options listed here. That said, Bedford has a genuinely pleasant town centre and a strong choice of hotels, which may appeal to delegates travelling with partners or wanting somewhere with good restaurants and a riverside to walk along in the evenings.

Accommodation options include the Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel, a 4-star property on St Mary’s Street with riverside views over the Great Ouse, a short walk from Bedford station; the Bedford Swan Hotel and Thermal Spa, an 18th-century property on the embankment with a spa; and the Premier Inn Bedford Town Centre (Riverside), a reliable and competitively priced option also on the river. All three are within comfortable walking distance of Bedford Midland station.

Practical tip: The train to Milton Keynes requires at least one change. Check your specific journey on National Rail before travelling, as some routings via Bedford St Johns add time. Allow around an hour door-to-door.

Our commitment to accessibility and inclusion

We are committed to supporting and improving access to and inclusion in all of ITI activity for as broad a cross section of our members and the wider sector as possible. We work with our venues, partners and speakers to ensure that we meet need. We will liaise with attendees to discuss how we can meet their requirements wherever possible. We take our duty of care over our event delegates seriously and in line with the Equalities Act 2010 we will work to ensure that no-one will face discrimination, harassment or victimisation as a result of who they are while attending at ITI event.

Delegates with additional needs will be able to request support as part of their booking process. We will support needs wherever we can and anticipate these may include (but not be limited to):

• Provision of conference presentations in advance
• Wheelchair access
• Access to quiet spaces during or in between sessions
• Hearing loop details
• Large print version of conference programme

The conference team will liaise with delegates on an individual basis.

The following steps have been taken to support the accessibility and inclusion of delegates:

Conference structure

The programme will be made up of a variety of formats, including but not limited to presentations, workshops, keynote speakers and discussions, taking into account different ways delegates prefer to engage with content. Full programme details available by mid March 2026.

• All documents will be written in clear English and using a high colour contrast.
• All documents will be available in a large print format and in a format which can be read by screen readers.
• All social media posts will include alt-text

There will be opportunities to network throughout the event. Delegates who wish not to network or be approached can indicate this by adding a coloured sticker to their delegate badge. There will be quiet spaces available and opportunities to step outside of the conference throughout the event. The location of these will be indicated on the conference floor plan in the delegate pack.

Event locations

• Conference: this is taking place across 4 different spaces in Unity Place – the main auditorium and food court on the ground floor and event centres 1 and 2 on the first floor. A venue map will be available on the microsite and on the day showing how these spaces can be accessed.
• Pre-conference social: this is taking place in the Sky Lounge at Unity Place. This fully accessible space is on the top floor of the building with exceptional views across the city.
• Anniversary dinner: this is taking place in the fully accessible first floor Midsummer Hall at the Leonardo Hotel. A map showing the hotel in relation to Unity Place and central Milton Keynes is available.

Venue layout

• Accessing the building and initial wayfinding: Visual stories, maps highlighting entrance ways and details on step-free access, doorway widths, lighting, and clear signage will be provided for both Unity Place and Leonardo Hotel. This will also include points where Unity Place / Leonardo Hotel / ITI team members will be to assist with wayfinding.
• Internal navigation: Information on lifts/ramps, stair details and floor types will be available on the microsite. The ITI team will work with Unity Place to ensure all walkways are kept clear during the event.
• Facilities: A map will be provided clearly marking where toilets including accessible toilets, cloakrooms, quiet rooms and water refill stations are available throughout the event.

Booking process

• The event booking system supports screen readers, keyboard navigation and high‑contrast display. If you cannot complete the form, please phone ​01908 325250 or email us [[email protected]] and we will assist you with your booking.  

Feedback and further help

If you have an enquiry regarding the accessibility or inclusivity of the conference please contact the conference team (Jo and Fran) via [email protected].

We recognise that hosting a major international event for our sector carries an important responsibility to minimise environmental impact while supporting positive social outcomes. Large gatherings inevitably involve resource use, from waste generation and energy consumption to travel-related carbon emissions. We are committed to reducing these impacts wherever possible, while ensuring that our actions do not create unintended barriers for those who already face challenges accessing in-person events.

We have worked to make EX:CHANGE 2026 as environmentally responsible as possible. This work has been undertaken while working within the realities of delivering a major conference, acknowledging both the impact of such events and the unique value that comes from bringing people together. We are working with the team at Unity Place, our conference organisers and you as our delegates to minimise our impact. We have addressed a range of areas in the following ways:

Venues

• We have chosen Unity Place as our main conference venue not only for their outstanding facilities but for the commitment to sustainability across all areas of event management. There is a section on the Unity Place website which sets out their approach to sustainability.
• The anniversary dinner will be held at Leonardo Hotel who are striving to improve their sustainability as a hotel provider. Visit the hotel’s website to find out more about their sustainability policy.

Sustainable travel

• We encourage all of our attendees to choose the most sustainable option for travel available to them. Unity Place is located approximately a 5-10 minute walk from Milton Keynes Central station. Full travel information is available on the event microsite.

Waste reduction

• We will work with Unity Place to provide re-usable or recyclable cutlery and crockery.
• The conference programme will be available in digital and hard copy formats so delegates can choose which they prefer.
• Recycling bins are available at the venue and will be highlighted to all attendees so that materials can be disposed of responsibly.

Sustainable catering

• We will endeavour to provide accurate delegate numbers and preferences to Unity Place to limit the potential food waste.
• Unity Place work with local suppliers; the street food vendors in the Food Hall rotate every two weeks.
• We encourage all attendees to bring reusable water bottles and coffee cups.

Responsible sourcing

• All merchandise for the event will be sourced from sustainable suppliers and wherever possible be able to be recycled such as recyclable badge inserts, or collected for re-use such as the lanyard ribbons and badge holders.

Engagement and awareness

• We will endeavour communicate digitally and thoughtfully so we can all minimise the environmental impact of the conference communications to all delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and ITI team members and stakeholders.