Warden Hill, Luton

Warden Hill is named after the hill overlooking it. Formerly part of the parish of Streatley, Warden Hill was a small hamlet centred on the junction of Icknield Way and the A6 until the 1960s.[1] Nearby Galley Hill was formerly a place of public execution.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Warden Hill grew to be a small village,[2] until Luton grew around it in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Warden Hill Infant and Junior schools are in the area, as well as Luton's only Catholic Secondary school, Cardinal Newman. There is also a church and community centre, a golf course and a pub, The Warden Tavern.

Warden Hill is in the north of Luton, roughly 5 miles (8.0 km) from the town centre. Neighbouring areas are Bramingham to the west, and Bushmead and Runfold to the south.

There are two hills overlooking the area - Galley Hill and Warden Hill; the latter being the bigger and wider of the two. The two hills have now become a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as the Galley and Warden Hills Nature Reserve. There are a number of rare species here, including butterflies, moths, and flowers.

Cows on Warden Hill near Luton

The Icknield Way Path passes through the hills on its 110-mile (180 km) route from Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk. The Icknield Way Trail, a multi-user route for walkers or horse riders and off-road cyclists, also passes through the hills.

Warden Hill is split between Bramingham and Icknield wards in Luton, and is represented by Cllr Gilbert Campbell (Conservative) and Cllr John Young (Conservative).

The wards form part of the parliamentary constituency of Luton North and the MP is Sarah Owen (Labour).

Map of Luton showing wards

Two weekly newspapers cover Warden Hill, although they are not specific to the area.

They are the:

• Herald and Post
• Luton News