Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire

About

Area:1,235 km²
Constituent country:England
Density:580/km2(1,500/sq mi)
Established:Ancient
Ethnicity:72.0% White; 16.6%. Asian; 5.6% Black; Mixed 3.8%; 1.9% Other
Largest town:Luton
Population (2022):715,940

Bedfordshire is aceremonial countyin theEast of England. It is bordered byNorthamptonshireto the north,Cambridgeshireto the north-east,Hertfordshireto the south and the south-east, andBuckinghamshireto the west. The largest settlement isLuton (225,262), andBedfordis thecounty town.

The county has an area of 1,235 km2 (477 sq mi) and had a population of 704,736 at the 2021 census.Its other towns includeLeighton Buzzard,Dunstable,Biggleswade,Houghton Regis, andFlitwick. Much of the county is rural. Forlocal governmentpurposes, Bedfordshire comprises threeunitary authorityareas:Bedford,Central Bedfordshire, and Luton.

The county’s highest point is 243 m (797 ft) onDunstable Downsin theChilterns.

Transport

Bedfordshire lies on many of the main transport routes which linkLondonto theMidlands,Northern Englandand the rest of the UK.

Roads

Two of England’s six maintrunk roadspass through Bedfordshire. TheA1London toEdinburghroad (the Great North Road) runs close by Biggleswade and Sandy, andWatling Street, the Roman road between London and Chester, passes through Dunstable. Until it was diverted in 2017,[19]this was also the route of theA5 roadbetween London andHolyhead. The Bedfordshire section of the A5 now runs from junction 11a of the M1 to rejoin Watling Street between Dunstable andHockliffe, then continues on to cross theBuckinghamshireborder at theCity of Milton Keynes.

Railways

Three of England’s main lines pass through Bedfordshire.

TheWest Coast Main Linehas but a short section where it passes through the far west of the county, with one station atLeighton Buzzardserved byWest Midlands TrainstoLondon EustonandNorthampton.

TheEast Coast Main Linehas stations atArlesey,BiggleswadeandSandy, served byGreat Northernservices toKing’s CrossandPeterborough.

TheMidland Main LineservesLuton,Luton Airport(viaLuton DARTlink from the station atLuton Airport Parkway) andBedford, with trains to many destinations operated byEast Midlands RailwayandThameslink. Intermediate stations atFlitwick,HarlingtonandLeagraveare served by Thameslink.

There are London North Western rural services also running between Bedford andBletchleyalong theMarston Vale Line.

Visitor attractions

Key
16px AP Icon.svgAbbey/Priory/Cathedral
Accessible open spaceAccessible open space
15px Themepark uk iconAmusement/Theme Park
14px CL icon.svgCastle
Country ParkCountry Park
14px EH icon.svgEnglish Heritage
Forestry Commission
Heritage railwayHeritage railway
Historic houseHistoric House
Places of WorshipPlaces of Worship
Museum (free)
Museum		Museum(free/not free)
National TrustNational Trust
18px Drama icon.svgTheatre
20px Zoo iconZoo