Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate

Essex, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

Spectacular views of rolling chalk grasslands and a seemingly endless sky in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2GY

Opening times
See on map

Sheep grazing at Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire

Bookshop
Second hand book shop inside the visitor centre.
Café
The View Café serving hot and cold drinks, hot food, sandwiches, light bites and cakes.
Car park
Parking at Dunstable Downs car park £3.50 all day. Single rate only. Pay and display by cash at machines in all of our car parks, or card payment available at the Visitor Information Hub. You can also pay using the JustPark app. Main visitor car park next to the visitor centre, smaller car park available a short distance from the visitor centre.
Car park - more information
Dogs allowed
Dogs welcome on the Downs, on leads inside the visitor centre, café and shop.
Shop
Kites, books, gifts and local produce in our shop.
Toilet
Internal and external toilets.
Blue Badge parking and accessible toilet. Level access to the gift shop and View Café.
Dunstable and Whipsnade Estate Access Statement 2025
Click here to access the full Accessibility Guide for Dunstable Downs - AccessAble.co.uk
Accessible route and/or map
Multi-user path across the Downs.
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets internally and externally.
Braille (guide or menu)
Guide available to pick up from our Visitor Information Hub.
Induction loop
Induction loops are available at the shop and the Café.
Large print (guide or menu)
Guide available to pick up from our Visitor Hub.
Level access to food outlet
Café situated to the right of the visitor centre.
Level access to shop
Shop situated just off main courtyard inside visitor centre.
Powered mobility vehicle available
Two Trampers available to hire, please call 01582 500920 to book
Seating available
Accessible benches and chairs available inside and outside.
Wheelchairs available
Wheelchairs available to borrow.
Map
Directions via Google Maps
By road
Dunstable Downs, off B4541 (pay and display); Whipsnade crossroads (Whipsnade Heath), junction of B4541 and B4540. Please note Sallowsprings road is a private road with no through access onto Dunstable Downs.
Parking: Parking is £3.50 for the day. Free for National Trust Members and Blue Badge holders. This car park uses payment machines and the JustPark app for member check-in and non-member payments. If you choose to use JustPark, we recommend downloading the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play before your visit and using the relevant JustPark location code(s) (available on arrival). You’ll be asked to add payment details; National Trust members will not be charged.
Sat Nav: Use LU6 2GY
By road - more information
On foot
From West Street and Tring Road, Dunstable.
Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
By train
Luton train station is the nearest station to Dunstable Downs - 7 miles away.

There are trains to Luton from: London St Pancras International (35 mins) and other Thameslink stations, St Albans (5 mins), Harpenden (10 mins), Bedford (15 mins), Kettering (40 mins) and Corby (45 mins).

Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
By bus
Visit by bus for just £3 each way, and enjoy a free hot drink when arriving by bus with a valid bus ticket.

From the centre of Dunstable, walk (25 mins) or take a bus (5 mins) to the edge of Dunstable (the Northern access point to the Downs or border of the National Trust land). Then take the footpath (30-45 mins) or stay on the bus (5 mins) to reach the Chiltern Gateway Centre.

Frequent buses run to Dunstable from Luton (10 mins). This includes the 'ZOO' route (run by Centrebus), a direct link from Luton Station Interchange, which runs on Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays, and on weekdays during the school holidays. This service will be running until Sunday 1st November 2026.

There are frequent buses to Luton from: Hitchin (45 mins), Stevenage (55 mins) and Hatfield (60 mins).

There are regular buses direct to Dunstable from: Leighton Buzzard (30 mins), Bletchley (60 mins) and Milton Keynes (80 mins), with a few direct from Tring (35 mins), St Albans (40 mins) and Aylesbury (55 mins).

Plan your car-free visit at Good Journey
Cycling
Bridleway from West Street, Dunstable, and Whipsnade.
: Plan your route to Dunstable Downs using the CycleStreets journey planner via the link below (This journey planner uses OpenStreetMap data which is generally excellent by accuracy cannot be guaranteed. If you come to a footpath or other cycle-prohibited track, please don’t ride on it).
Cycling - more information
Car-free
We hold the Good Journey Mark for welcoming car-free visitors. Travel a greener way and enjoy a free hot drink if you arrive by bus. Plan your journey at Good Journey.
Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2GY
01582500920
dunstabledowns@nationaltrust.org.uk

Planning your visit

Upgraded parking system coming to Dunstable Downs

During September 2026, there will be upgrades to the car parking systems at Dunstable Downs, which will provide visitors with a more reliable and user-friendly parking experience.

Entrance of the Visitor Centre at Dunstable Downs

Christmas at Dunstable Downs

Get ready to unwrap the magic of the season at Dunstable Downs! This holiday season, we are thrilled to bring you an enchanting array of festive experiences that will make Christmas special for all the family.

Night time shot of the Chiltern's Gateway Centre and Courtyard at Dunstable Downs. The Centre is lit up by fairylights.

See what's on at Dunstable Downs

Check out our events at Dunstable Downs and see what's coming up.

a building on the left with benches on the right. it is low light with a clear sky and frosty

Accessibility at Dunstable Downs

We believe Dunstable Downs should be open and accessible for all. Read on to discover how best you can visit to experience and enjoy nature, beauty and history.

Two young women enjoy a day out in the parkland. One is wearing a black coat and has a black assistance dog. The other is wearing a grey jumper and is riding a mobility vehicle, alongside her golden-coloured assistance dog.

Arrive at Dunstable Downs by bus for a free hot drink

In support of the Government's bus fare cap, and to encourage visitors to arrive at Dunstable Downs by sustainable transport, we're offering a free regular hot drink with a valid bus ticket.

Visitor carrying a tray of coffee and cake in the cafe at Llanerchaeron, Wales

Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate map

Take a look at the map of Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate to help plan your visit.

Commemorative Giving at Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Tree Cathedral

For many Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Tree Cathedral holds deeply personal memories. Commemorative giving offers a thoughtful way to remember a loved one or mark a special occasion, while helping us care for these special places for future generations.