As we approach the final event in our 2025 calendar - the Giant Snow Globe (10am to 4pm) and Carols on Market Hill (11am to 2.30pm) on Saturday, December 20 - we’d like to take the opportunity to reflect on an important year for Luton BID, and to wish all our businesses, partners, residents and visitors a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026.
2025 was our first year of our third term, following a successful renewal ballot at the end of 2024. We hope you’ve noticed the difference our work continues to make in the town centre - and that you’re looking forward to seeing more positive changes as we continue through to 2029.
Throughout the last 12 months, the BID has delivered a wide range of projects to enhance Luton town centre for everyone who works, lives and visits here. Here are just some of the highlights:
Our partnership with ABCD in Luton saw 11 Town Centre Tidy Days take place, collecting more than 70 bags of litter and improving the look and feel of the area. Huge thanks to the businesses and volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to support this initiative - which will continue in 2026.
Our Pop Up Parklet proved to be a summer success once again, hosting four fantastic family-friendly events - including memorable visits from Creepy Crawlies and Fae the Dragon - and welcoming hundreds of visitors. Due to its popularity, it will return in 2026, and this time we’ll be expanding the programme into the Easter holidays, with more exciting details to follow early next year.
We once again funded floral displays to brighten the town centre. Between May and September, we installed hanging baskets, three-tier planters, window boxes and barrier baskets, adding colour and a warm welcome to our streets.
Behind the scenes, we continue vital work to support safety and local businesses. We run Luton Business Against Crime (LBAC) and play a key role in Luton SAFE, providing radios and digital reporting to daytime and night-time businesses. Our Ambassadors are out daily assisting businesses - and this year they even supported the arrival of a healthy baby boy in the town centre! Meanwhile, Mystery Shopping visits provided constructive feedback to 56 businesses, helping to improve customer service and celebrate success.
Our Christmas trees in St George’s Square and Market Hill and our giant Remembrance poppies remain well-received and will return next year.
We were also delighted to fund and support a range of Christmas events that brought joy to families throughout the town centre. Highlights included a very special visit from Paddington during Luton Lights Up for Christmas, as well as the chance for children to meet real reindeer - memorable moments that helped make this festive season unforgettable for those in attendance.
Alongside promotional campaigns, safety operations and collaboration on events with partners including Luton Council, Luton Irish Forum and UKCCA, we have worked hard to ensure Luton town centre still has lots to offer.
This year has shown how much can be achieved when we work together. Thank you for your ongoing support - we look forward to an even more successful 2026, which is going to be an exciting one for the town centre, as major projects including Power Court and The Stage take shape.
From all of us at Luton BID, we wish you a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic year ahead.
