Dunstable

Dunstable is a market town in Central Bedfordshire at the eastern edge of the Chiltern Hills, roughly 30 miles north of London. The town stretches across gentle slopes and valleys, with residential areas spreading outward from the historic centre.

The settlement began as a Roman outpost named Durocobrivis at the crossing of Watling Street and the Icknield Way. In 1131, Henry I founded the priory that remained a religious and administrative centre for the region over three centuries.

The Grove Theatre hosts professional performances throughout the year and draws visitors from across the region. In the town centre streets, shops and cafés line the way, where residents gather and exchange news on market days.

Bus services and a guided busway connect the town with nearby communities and larger towns in the area. Visitors can walk through the main streets and lanes in the centre, where shops and points of interest sit close together.

The priory served as the location in 1533 for the annulment proceedings of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, an event that accelerated the English Reformation. Today, only parts of the Norman church remain, reminding visitors of this turning point in history.