Where is Bedfordshire?
Bedfordshire sits just south of Northamptonshire and north of Hedfordshire, with Cambridgeshire to the north east of the county and Buckinghamshire to its west.
Bedfordshire is connected to London via the M1, with the motorway passing through the county. It takes a little over an hour and a half to drive from Bedfordshire to London and about an hour to drive to Cambridge via the A14.
Transport in Bedfordshire
Luton, Bedford and Leighton Buzzard are amongst the more commuter-friendly towns in Bedfordshire, with their train stations being some of the busiest.
Both Luton and Bedford offer regular trains to London St Pancras, via Thameslink, with both situated on the Midland Main Line.
Both offer services to London St Pancras with Luton being slightly closer than Bedford to St Pancras.
Both also offer regular services to the likes of Brighton, Three Bridges and Corby.
Then from Leighton Buzzard, you can catch trains to London Euston, with a service operated by West Midlands Railway getting you into Euston in about half an hour.
There are also a number of services that run from Leighton Buzzard to the likes of Milton Keynes Central, Birmingham New Street and Northampton.
Then, of course, Luton has its own international airport – with the airport being amongst the busiest in the UK.
All in all, Bedfordshire has 19 different railway stations, making it easy to navigate the county.
Shopping in Bedfordshire
As Bedfordshire’s largest town, Luton is considered own of the county’s major shopping districts, with Luton Point being amongst its more prominent shopping centres.
Home to several big-name retailers – including the likes of Primark, TK Maxx, Boots, H&M, Next, and New Look – Luton Point is the go-to destination for those after department store names.
Bedfordshire’s county town – Bedford – also has quite the exciting high street, with the likes of M&S Food, Waterstones, Superdrug, and The Walk all having outlets near the town centre.
The Harpur Centre is the major shopping centre in Bedford, housing a number of retailers, including the likes of Boots, WH Smith, Primark, and New Look.
You’ll also find large retail parks in other major towns in Bedfordshire, including in places like Dunstable, Kempton and Leighton Buzzard.
Things to do in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is ideal for outdoorsy types and those who enjoy spending their days amongst various wildlife.
You’ll find a safari park in the village of Woburn – home to everything from lions to elephants to rhinos.
There’s also Whipsnade Zoo in the Dunstable Downs and The Forest of Marston Vale, about 20 minutes’ drive from Bedford.
There are also some really nice family days out to be had in Bedfordshire, with there being a Center Parcs in Woburn Forest as well as several parks across Bedfordshire.
Popular places to live in Bedfordshire
There are a number of nice residential areas within Bedfordshire, charming towns and villages slightly removed from Bedfordshire’s more congested areas but with easy access to the county’s best amenities.
Here are a few we’d recommend:
Westoning
A village on the outskirts of Flitwick, Westoning is particularly popular amongst families with young children and those looking to downsize.
The village gives off a stripped back peaceful and cosy aesthetic, with plenty of green spaces, period buildings, as well as one central traditional village pub and a lovely lower school at the heart of the community.
Being only 7 minutes’ drive from Flitwick station, it’s also easy to commute to London from Westoning, with a Thameslink service getting you from Flitwick to London St Pancras in as little as 50 minutes.
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Toddington
One of the larger villages in Bedfordshire, Toddington sits about 5 miles from Luton, a little over 20 minutes’ drive away.
With an M1 access point with easy rich of the village, many choose to live here thanks to its excellent commuter links.
Via the M1, commuters can reach London by car in a little over an hour and a half. The village is also only about 20 minutes’ drive from Luton Airport and 6 minutes’ drive from Harlington Railway Station – from where you can catch a Thameslink service to London St Pancras, getting to the capital in a little under 50 minutes.
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Lower Stondon
Situated in Central Bedfordshire, Lower Stondon is a village that sits near the border with Hertfordshire.
The village is about half an hour’s drive from Luton and 10 minutes’ drive from the market town of Hitchin.
With its wider roads, low traffic, and quieter streets, Lower Stondon’s simplicity is its greatest asset, with many choosing to live in Lower Stondon as a quieter alternative to some of the towns and cities that surround it.
However, Lower Stondon residents do benefit from the village’s proximity to the town of Hitchin, with the neighbouring town’s many pubs, retailers and restaurants still making the high street feel accessible.
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