National Trust - Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate — Attraction in Great Britain

I have been coming to Dunstable Down's since childhood.. The place is still an amazing spot for walks, kite flying and picnics during the day, and for peace and quiet and is a great thinking spot in the evening..daytime carparking is £3.50 all day.. So, not really the cheapest, but no big deal. However the cafe food in the visitors centre was really, really disappointing.. Where do I start? We ordered two meals - Quiche Salad, a standard hot chocolate and a Pepsi, came to over £16.00..The quiche - I'm not quite sure what the bottom was made of, but it was a sweet orange coloured mush topped with burnt cabbage..The salad wasn't fresh at all, with one leaf clearly bug eaten and others soggy (see pics).. Homemade coleslaw was predominantly chunky cut cabbage and raw onion and pretty tasteless.. No knives available, just forks... The Pepsi was almost £3 for a small bottle as well as the hot chocolate, which was served in a paper cup and sweet and watery like the cheap one's you get from a vending machine.. Not worth the money.. Although the place was pretty busy (it was a Sunday) there was plenty of staff on site..so no excuse there. Verdict: The place itself is still an amazing place to visit.. But the meal from the cafe for the price was shockingly bad and virtually inedible. My advice? Take a picnic and visit the freestanding ice cream van in the main downs carpark.. The huge soft whip ice cream cone was worth the price tag, and exceptionally...

This is the perfect spot for a day out, whether as a couple, family or solo. The views over the towns below is superb and there’s a number of different spots you can walk to and get a different perspective. The gliding club below gives something extra to observe as you’re up there and there’s plenty of space for a picnic etc.

Loads of people spend the time flying kites and the onsite shop has a choice available to buy, as well as an onsite cafe and general souvenirs. The area could probably do with a few more benches to help having to sit on the floor but fortunately the area is clean and the grass decent.

There’s no free parking here with a flat £3.50 all day charge in place, through pay-and-display. Given that this covers an entire day it’s not terrible value and there’s plenty of space for even the busiest of days. National Trust members get the parking for free.

Every time I’ve been here it’s been a fantastic few hours. There’s little more than to admire the view and enjoy the nature but for that it’s really relaxing and a brilliant place to visit...

First time we have been to the dunstable downs cafe. We went there today for a Halloween trail. The eldest enjoyed it and it kept him happily entertained for a few hours. Food/coffee service did appear to be quite slow. I say slow as there was a massive queue and not many people in the actual cafe. Maybe more were outside? Coffee didn't taste that good, but my fruit scone was very tasty. Toilets were clean but I felt the venue would benefit from there being more than one set in the cafe.

National trust shop had all the usual national trust things, but I was drawn to a used book shelf. Got myself an Andy McNab book for a pound. Unexpected bonus.

Views from the top are excellent and it was a cloudy day today. You can watch the gliders taking off and landing and people flying kites.

Car park is a reasonable £3 for all day and it takes cards and coins which is helpful.

Overall very good but we we're blessed with...