Watling Street is in Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard and in South Bedfordshire district. LU7 9LR is located in the Heath & Reach electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of South West Bedfordshire. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Watling Street, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9LR and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: LU7 9LY, LU7 9NP, LU7 9HN, LU7 9LT, LU7 9LP, LU7 9NB, LU7 9LW, LU7 9NN, LU7 9LU.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The local area around LU7 9LR is generally consistent with those figures, having a male population of 48.5%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 50.3% | 51.5% | 1.2% | 51.0% | 0.5% |
| Male | 49.7% | 48.5% | -1.2% | 49.0% | -0.5% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 32.2% | 37.2% | 5.0% | 37.9% | -0.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 51.4% | 45% | -6.4% | 44.2% | 0.8% |
| Married: Same sex | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Separated | 3.6% | 3.6% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Divorced | 7.6% | 10.6% | 3.0% | 9.1% | 1.5% |
| Widowed | 5.2% | 3.2% | -2.0% | 6.1% | -2.9% |
Across the UK, the average 48.4% rated their health as Very Good, 33.6% as Good, 12.7% as Fair, 4% as Bad, and 1.2% as Very Bad.
Population age significantly impacts residents' health. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a crucial role: higher income levels and lower poverty rates are linked to better health outcomes. Affluent areas benefit from higher living standards, access to private healthcare, and healthier lifestyle choices.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 49.7% | 45.2% | -4.5% | 48.4% | -3.2% |
| Good health | 38.2% | 39.7% | 1.5% | 33.6% | 6.1% |
| Fair health | 9.5% | 12.3% | 2.8% | 12.7% | -0.4% |
| Bad health | 2% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 4.0% | -1.8% |
| Very bad health | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.2% | -0.7% |
During the 2021 census, the educational qualifications of residents across the UK were as follows: 18.2% had no qualifications, 9.6% had 1-4 GCSEs, 13.4% had 5 or more GCSEs and 1-2 A/AS Levels, 16.9% had 2 or more A Levels, 33.8% held a degree (or equivalent), and 5.4% had completed an apprenticeship.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 16.7% | 12.2% | -4.5% | 18.2% | -6.0% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 17% | 7.9% | -9.1% | 9.6% | -1.7% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 16.4% | 15.8% | -0.6% | 13.4% | 2.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 6.3% | 3.3% | 5.3% | 1.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 16.4% | 25.3% | 8.9% | 16.9% | 8.4% |
| Degree or Similar | 27.7% | 31.2% | 3.5% | 33.8% | -2.6% |
| Other | 2.7% | 1.4% | -1.3% | 2.8% | -1.4% |
In this area, the population is predominantly white, with 90.7% identifying as such, significantly higher than the UK average of 81.4%. This indicates a lower level of ethnic diversity compared to the broader UK population.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1.1% | -0.9% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.7% | -0.5% |
| Indian | 1% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 3.1% | -1.8% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.7% | -2.3% |
| Other Asian | 0.3% | 0.2% | -0.1% | 1.6% | -1.4% |
| Black African | 0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| Black Caribbean | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.0% | -0.6% |
| Other Black | 0% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.5% | -0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 1.5% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1% | 1.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.8% | -0.4% |
| White | 95.7% | 90.7% | -5.0% | 81.4% | 9.3% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.3% | 0% | -0.3% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Other | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
In this area, 90.8% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is higher than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 94.2% | 90.8% | -3.4% | 83.2% | 7.6% |
| European Union | 2.8% | 5.3% | 2.5% | 6.1% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 1.8% | 1.5% | -0.3% | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| Middle East and Asia | 0.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 5.6% | -3.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 1.3% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 93% | 90% | -3.0% | 83.2% | 6.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0.3% | 6.7% | 6.4% | 9.8% | -3.1% |
| 5-10 Years | 1% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 2.9% | -1.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 1.3% | 0.7% | -0.6% | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 4.5% | 1.1% | -3.4% | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 83.6% | 76.7% | 6.9% |
| Ireland | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Portugal | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Spain | 0.2% | 0.4% | -0.2% |
| Lithuania | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Poland | 1.1% | 1.3% | -0.2% |
| Romania | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.0% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Southern Asia | 0.9% | 1.2% | -0.3% |
| No passport held | 11.3% | 13.5% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 48.3% | 37.2% | 11.1% |
| Christian | 45.9% | 46.2% | -0.3% |
| Hindu | 0.9% | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| Muslim | 0.7% | 6.5% | -5.8% |
| Other religion | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% |
| Not answered | 3.7% | 6.0% | -2.3% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Watling Street was 48.6 per 1,000 residents, which is 20.2% lower than the Eaton Bray average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Watling Street has the 14th lowest crime rate of 31 local areas in Eaton Bray and the 404th highest crime rate of 871 local areas in Central Bedfordshire .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 11.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been falling year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -77.2%.
Households in this area have a higher level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 77% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.
| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Riversdale Watling Street, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £425,000 | 2024-01-11 | £467,767 |
| Chester Cottage Watling Street, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire Detached, an established residential building | £290,000 | 2021-05-27 | £349,873 |
| 1 Riversdale Watling Street, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £331,000 | 2015-03-26 | £537,172 |
| 2 Riversdale Watling Street, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £221,000 | 2014-02-14 | £404,268 |
| 1 Riversdale Watling Street, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £245,000 | 2013-12-06 | £452,109 |
LU7 9LR area has a very high level of entrepreneurship. Only 12% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 14% of population in this area is self-employed, while the average in the UK is 9.7%. High number of entrepreneurs usually leads to relatively high economic growth, higher paid jobs and better quality of life in the area.
LU7 9LR area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 2% residents of this area were unemployed, while the average in the UK was 4.83%. A low level of unemployment in an area indicates a strong job market, where most people who are seeking work can find employment. This generally reflects a healthy economy in the area.
| Full-Time Employee | 200 |
| Retired | 67 |
| Self-Employed | 63 |
| Part-Time Employee | 56 |
| Looking after home or family | 23 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 11 |
| Other | 9 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 9 |
| Unemployed | 7 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 1 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 39 |
| Manufacturing | 26 |
| Education | 24 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 22 |
| Construction | 20 |
| Human health and social work activities | 19 |
| Transport and storage | 16 |
| Information and communication | 16 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 14 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 12 |
| Other | 11 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 10 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 7 |
| Real estate activities | 5 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hockliffe Lower School Woburn Road , Hockliffe LU7 9LL | 4out of 4 | 304 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Stanbridge Lower School Tilsworth Road , Stanbridge LU7 9HY | 3out of 4 | 2,672 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Beaudesert Lower School Appenine Way , LU7 3DX | 3out of 4 | 3,927 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Toddington St George Church of England School Manor Road , Toddington LU5 6AJ | 4out of 4 | 4,296 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Leedon Lower School Highfield Road , LU7 3LZ | 2out of 4 | 4,713 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandyke Upper School Vandyke Road , LU7 3DY | 3out of 4 | 4,416 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkfields Middle School Park Road , Toddington LU5 6AB | - not rated | 4,531 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Gilbert Inglefield Academy Vandyke Road , LU7 3FU | 3out of 4 | 4,583 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Brooklands Middle School Brooklands Drive , LU7 3PF | 3out of 4 | 4,845 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The White Hart | Watling Street, Hockliffe | 161 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's Restaurants Ltd | Watling Street, Hockliffe | 337 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Hockliffe Football Pitches KILBY ROAD | grass pitches | 345 yd |
This statistics are based on Active Places Data - Contains Data © Sport England
| Percentage of premises that have Superfast Broadband (30Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (100Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 2Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 5Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 10Mbit/s | 0.0% |
| Percentage of premises unable to receive 30Mbit/s | 0.0% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.