Dunstable is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills. These form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north. In 1290 Dunstable was one of twelve sites to erect an Eleanor cross in recognition of Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I, whose coffin was laid close to the crossroads for the local people to mourn the dead Queen. The coffin was then guarded inside the Priory by the Canons overnight before continuing on to St Albans.
The original wooden cross has long perished but a modern memorial remains. One of the reasons for the town's prosperity, and the large number of Inns or public houses in the town, is the fact that it was one or two day's ride (approx 32 miles) from London, and therefore a place to rest and spend the night. Dunstable is now one of the largest towns in England without a railway connection. Source : www.wikipedia.org.uk Local Attractions : ZSL Whipsnade Zoo : www.zsl.org/whipsnade Toddler World : http://www.what-to-do.org/attractions/index.php?attraction=3601