Luton is one of the most popular vacation destinations that the country of England has to offer. As soon as you arrive in the city, pick up your rental car and get settled in the hotel you are going to want to start taking in the sights and attractions in the city. So where to begin?

The Luton Museum and Art Gallery is a world famous store house of ethnic arts and crafts. One of the largest collections that is housed in the museum is a collection of laces and hats. The collection of hats tops over 500. There is also a collection of fine arts and costumes housed in the museum. The Wardown Park Museum also houses a display that shows Luton in various stages of development over the years.

If you visit Luton at the right time of the year then you will be able to take in Europe’s largest one day carnival, the Luton Carnival. You will be able to take in all kinds of fun filled activities including art exhibits, musical and dance performances. This is definitely an event that should be on your to do list while you are in Luton.

This is just the beginning of the great things that can be seen and done while you are visiting Luton. This is one destination that is the perfect mix of beautiful country sides and exciting nightlife. So hop in your rental car and start exploring this fantastic destination

If you’ve got an animal lover in the family and want to do something new, check out Woodside Animal Farm in Luton. Perfect for a day trip with the family, the farm not only features plenty of animals for the little ones, they even have improvised “rides”! The farm is huge, encompassing almost 7 acres. One of the selling points of the farm are “animal encounters”, when your kids can feed and feel farm animals, as well as exotic animals. There are a ton of different animals there, including the ones you’d normally find at the farm (sheep, cows, chicken, pigs) to the ones you don’t (iguanas, owls, snakes). The farm is beautiful on a nice day, so be sure to bring your camera. The Woodside Animal Farm is located off the M1 near Luton.

Luton is the type of place that people go to for a short and quiet get away or is a stop on their way to another destination. It is fairly close to London and travelers opt to rent cars and drive daily into the big city for some serious touring. There is one yearly event in Luton however that is worth seeing if you plan to be there in the late spring. The event is called the Lutton International Carnival.

The history of the carnival dates back to 1976 when the first carnival took place. It was a Victorian style street fair on a quaint small scale. From year to year the carnival evolved until the year 1998 when it gained international status. The carnival is organized the Arts Development Council of Luton Borough

Set in the town center, the small UK town atmosphere is transformed to that of a lively and exotic world fair. Entertainers practice for months to perform their International music and dance routines. The colorful costumes are a sight to see and the food offered is an array of dishes from foreign countries. In addition to planned performances, street performers entertain the carnival goers as they stroll through the fair. The costumes, entertainment and food all blend together to create an exciting and enjoyable event.

The next Luton International Carnival is slated to take place on May 31, 2010. It begins at 12 noon and runs all day until 7:00 p.m. If you plan to be in Luton at this time, this is an event you won’t want to miss.