Bedford student living by the river, campus and rail line
Bedford is a riverside market town about 50 miles north of London. The University of Bedfordshire teaches sport, education, English and nursing on its campus on the east side of town, and Cranfield University students often rent here too. Fast trains to St Pancras and the north add to the appeal.
What is the University of Bedfordshire's Bedford campus like?
University of Bedfordshire searches follow close behind the town itself. Its Bedford site mixes teaching buildings with playing fields and green space, so we look at the courses taught there, getting in, living on site and the park next door.
Which courses are taught in Bedford?
Mostly sport, education and health. The university lists sport and physical activity, teacher training, English, and nursing and allied health here. Other subjects run on its other campuses, so check where your modules sit before you sign for a room.
Gateway and the Campus Centre
Gateway holds teaching rooms, informal study space, lecture theatres and student services. The Campus Centre adds more teaching space nearby. Sports science labs, a Teacher Education Centre, a library and playing fields complete the site, all within a short walk.
Bedford station to campus on foot
Yes, but it takes about 30 minutes, the university says. By bike it is closer to 15 minutes along the A4280. Taxis wait outside Bedford station, which helps on arrival day when you carry heavy bags and boxes.
Living on site at the campus
Polhill Park, on Polhill Avenue, is one example of a private property inside the campus. Its page mentions a pool table, an outdoor courtyard, a fitness room and secure cycle space, bills included, and a 20 minute walk to the town centre.
Is Bedford Park close to campus?
Yes. The university points to Bedford Park, near the campus, for walks, cricket, tennis and basketball. It gives students on the east side of town green space without a bus ride, and the playing fields on campus add more room.
Paying to park a car
Students pay to park at the Bedford campus, either with a monthly permit or the daily tariff. Charges apply around the clock, every day. If you live nearby, walking or cycling saves that cost, and bike racks sit outside the Campus Centre.
Which parts of Bedford do students recommend for a shared house?
Searches for Bedford student flats, houses and housing all come back to one question: which part of town. Forum posters and Cranfield's own guidance name a handful of areas, from the Castle Quarter to Kempston, each with a different feel.
Gloucester Road and Elstow Road
Students on forums call Gloucester Road and Elstow Road among the better bets for a shared house. Both sit within reach of the town centre on foot. Visit at different times of day, including after dark, before you agree to anything.
Is Howard Street near the centre?
Yes. Forum posters describe Howard Street as very close to town, with a Lidl, salons and a club nearby. That suits students who want shops on the doorstep, though a street near a club can be noisy late at weekends.
The Castle Quarter by the river
Cranfield University calls the Castle Quarter the historical and cultural heart of Bedford, and it is popular with locals. It sits by the Embankment and the Great Ouse, with cafés and pubs close by. It suits students who like evenings in town.
Is Kempston worth considering?
For many, yes. Kempston is a smaller town on the south west edge of Bedford, within walking and cycling distance of the centre. It also sits on the bus route to Cranfield, which helps when you share with Cranfield students.
Goldington on the east side
Goldington lies on the east side of town, close to the campus. Moovit lists Harvey Road in Goldington as a bus stop about five minutes from campus on foot. Bedford Blues rugby plays on Goldington Road, so match days get busy.
Do Bedford houses come with bills?
Often not. Most landlords of Bedford terraces quote rent only, so housemates divide gas, electricity, water and internet between them. Council tax does not apply to a house of full time students. Managed properties near the campus tend to fold bills into rent.
Can Cranfield students live in Bedford and still get to lectures?
Cranfield University sits in the countryside west of Bedford, and its accommodation office lists the town as a popular base. We cover the Uno bus, travel times, Wootton, Cranfield village, Milton Keynes and how late you can get home.
How far is Cranfield from Bedford?
About 17.6 kilometres. Cranfield University gives that distance and puts the trip at around 40 minutes on the Uno bus. Allow longer at peak times, and check the timetable for the stop nearest your street before you commit.
Late buses back from campus
Students on forums say the last bus from Cranfield leaves at around 10pm, with gaps of 45 to 60 minutes between some services. Late lab sessions or evenings out on campus may mean a taxi or a lift home.
Is Wootton a good middle point?
It can be. Cranfield describes Wootton as a traditional village further along the bus route to campus. It shortens the ride from central Bedford, but evenings feel quieter and shops are fewer, so it suits students who keep long study days.
Cranfield village or Bedford town?
It depends on your week. Cranfield village is 10 to 15 minutes from campus by Uno bus, or a 35 minute walk. Bedford gives you more shops, restaurants and nightlife, plus fast trains, at the cost of a longer daily commute.
Milton Keynes as another option
Cranfield's accommodation office also lists Milton Keynes as a base, and the Uno bus links it to campus. Milton Keynes is a bigger, newer city with more shops. Bedford is smaller and older, with a riverside centre and direct trains to St Pancras.
Is a car worth it for Cranfield?
Not usually. The Uno bus serves Bedford, Kempston, Wootton and Cranfield village, so a car is not essential. A bike helps on the village side, and a car mainly earns its keep for late finishes and weekend trips away.
How well connected is Bedford for students without a car?
Bedford sits on the Midland Main Line with fast trains north and south, and Stagecoach runs the town buses. This tab covers rail trips, bus tickets, the riverside centre, nights out, shopping and what a room near the campus costs.
Fast trains north and south
Thameslink reaches London St Pancras in about 50 minutes, East Midlands Railway in about 40. Direct trains also run to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield, Thameslink goes through to Brighton, and a branch line heads to Bletchley and Milton Keynes.
Does Stagecoach offer a student fare?
Yes. Stagecoach and the university have offered University of Bedfordshire students a discounted bundle of day tickets, valid on all services in the Bedford Town Zone but not Luton. You buy it in the Stagecoach app with your university email.
Embankment evenings and the Corn Exchange
The Embankment runs along the Great Ouse with cafés, pubs and restaurants close by. The Corn Exchange hosts music, comedy and theatre, Esquires is the town's live music venue, and the Riverside quarter adds more bars and places to eat.
Is Bedford a lively student town?
Fairly, for its size. Cranfield's guide says the clubs, bars and pubs in the town centre are popular with students. Bedford is a market town, not a big city, and London and Cambridge are both about 40 minutes away for bigger nights.
What does a room near campus cost?
Around £130 a week at the lower end. The private property on campus shown on our Bedford page has started near that figure with bills included. Rooms in shared houses in town can cost less per week, but bills usually come on top.
Markets and the Harpur Centre
Weekly shopping is easy in Bedford. The Harpur Centre holds well known chains, The Arcade has independent shops, and St Paul's Square and Harpur Square host markets from Wednesday to Saturday. Priory Country Park adds 360 acres of lakes and woodland.
