London

Trip to Milton Keynes and London

Matthew Alfred Jones

26 May 2026 • 3 min read

The stage in the Peacock Theatre, London.

Me, mum and dad all went away over the weekend and had a blast. I saw some tickets come up for a Taiko drumming group called, Yamato The Drummers of Japan and because I have seen them before and told my parents about how good they are, we decided to go.

Yamato Drummers of Japan promotional banner with performer playing a taiko drum.

Part of the problems with the weekend and staying in London is that it was the EFL Championship playoff as well and trying to book something in or near London was going to cost a lot of money, so we had a look around. We found a hotel in Milton Keynes called La Tour, which was amazing and it only cost us £336 for 2 rooms (one accessible), with breakfast included for 2 nights. Now it is this big tower right in the centre of Milton Keynes and was a good deal to be honest, because the buffet breakfast was also good and the views from the 14th floor, where the restaurant is, was brilliant.

Modern hotel room with king-size bed and contemporary décor. — The modern room was bright, spacious and comfortable, providing a welcome place to rest before the final drive home.

Modern hotel room with king-size bed, desk and city view. — A spacious and modern room with views across the city, providing a comfortable overnight stop before the journey home.

View from a hotel room overlooking Campbell Park in Milton Keynes. — The room offered an impressive view across Campbell Park, with its geometric gardens, open green spaces and the wider Milton Keynes landscape stretching towards the horizon.

One thing that wasn't so great was no free parking at the hotel, but we were ready to pay the £10 a night fee for parking in the nearby multi story but soon got told that we can park in any council owned car parks in Milton Keynes for free with my mum’s blue badge. So, if you are ever going down to Milton Keynes and need to park, there are loads of places to park and for us there was a council owned car park, just outside of the hotel, which looked immaculate and best of all, was free.

Black Toyota estate car parked outside a hotel in Milton Keynes. — My Toyota Corolla Touring Sports outside the hotel in Milton Keynes on the first evening of the trip.

So, Saturday came around and we parked up a Finchley Central like we have done before and got the tube into London, got off a Tottenham court road and walked about 20-30 mins to The Peacock Theatre. The show was amazing, with the performers jumping about the place with drummer attached round their shoulders and interacting with the crowd as well. It was defiantly worth going to see them a second time and because they travel all over, if you ever get the chance to see them, do it, you won't regret it.

Three people seated inside the Peacock Theatre in London before a performance. — Waiting for the show to begin at London's Peacock Theatre before the Yamato drummers took to the stage.

Visitor standing beside a Yamato Drummers of Japan promotional banner at the Peacock Theatre. — Posing beside a Yamato: The Drummers of Japan display at London's Peacock Theatre before the performance.

Two people standing beside a Yamato Drummers of Japan promotional banner at the Peacock Theatre in London. — Posing beside the Yamato: The Drummers of Japan display at London's Peacock Theatre before another spectacular evening of taiko drumming.

Person standing in front of the Yamato taiko drum stage at the Peacock Theatre in London. — A quick photo in front of the stage before Yamato: The Drummers of Japan began their performance at the Peacock Theatre in London.

So yeah, it was a nice weekend away, exhausting as well, but worth it nevertheless, till next time!