How Noisy?

Road & rail noise map for Luton

Town in Luton, Eastern

We analysed 2,771 postcodes in and around Luton, Luton against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 28% of them (776) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 2% have mapped rail noise. 71% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at LU1 1SH (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).

Noise map of Luton

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55-59 dB60-64 dB65-69 dB70-74 dB75 dB+Unshaded = below the mapping threshold or not modelled (not necessarily quiet).

How many postcodes are affected?

Road noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night16% (454)8% (231)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night9% (251)5% (127)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night2% (63)1% (33)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night<1% (8)<1% (1)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped72%86%

Rail noise

BandDay (LAeq,16h)Night (Lnight)
55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night<1% (27)1% (31)
60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night<1% (26)<1% (27)
65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night<1% (6)<1% (6)
70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night0% (0)0% (0)
75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night0% (0)0% (0)
Below mapped bands / not mapped98%98%

Share of the 2,771 postcodes within ~5 km of the Luton centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.

Noisiest postcodes in and around Luton

  • LU1 1SH road 70.0–74.9 dB by day, rail 55.0–59.9 dB by day
  • LU1 1HS road 70.0–74.9 dB by day, rail 60.0–64.9 dB by day
  • LU3 2QE road 70.0–74.9 dB by day, rail 55.0–59.9 dB by day
  • LU4 8JE road 70.0–74.9 dB by day
  • LU4 8JJ road 70.0–74.9 dB by day

Check a specific postcode

Example searches: LU3 1NX · LU3 2QE · LU1 1HS · LU1 1SH · LU1 1EZ · LU4 8FG

What this data does — and doesn't — cover

  • Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
  • Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
  • No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
  • 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.

More detail on the methodology page.

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Nearby areas

Frequently asked questions

How noisy is Luton?
We analysed 2,771 postcodes in and around Luton, Luton against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 28% of them (776) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 2% have mapped rail noise. 71% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at LU1 1SH (road noise 70.0–74.9 dB by day).
Where is the most road noise in Luton?
The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Luton are LU1 1SH, LU1 1HS, LU3 2QE, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.