Leighton Buzzard as the Grand Union Canal was opened there. More recently, Leighton Buzzard station was the location for part of the film "Robbery", which is based on the so-called "Great Train Robbery" (1963), whereas the actual robbery took place just outside the town, at Bridego bridge, Ledburn. In the "Domesday Book", Leighton Buzzard and Linslade were both called Leestone. Leighton Buzzard contains All Saints' Church, an Early English parish church dating from 1277. The church has a 190 ft spire and has been described as the 'cathedral of South Bedfordshire'. The church was damaged by fire in the 1980s, but has
Leighton Buzzard had their first ever office in the town, which at the time consisted of just 25 employees. Since 2014 it has had its own brewery. In the west, Linslade has merged with Southcott. Leighton Buzzard is expanding eastwards: 2,500–4,500 homes including 35% affordable housing are planned for east Leighton Buzzard for the Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis growth area and 900 homes including 35% affordable housing are being considered west of Linslade. Leighton Buzzard now encompasses RAF Stanbridge and the former hamlet of Leedon. The population of Leighton-Linslade was originally recorded in the 2001 census as 32,417. Part of Billington parish was transferred