Heron Quay is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 1TH is located in the Greyfriars electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 2001-06-01.
StreetScan combines information about Heron Quay, Bedford, MK40 1TH and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 1TE, MK40 1TT, MK40 1RB, MK40 1QS, MK40 1TF, MK40 1QU, MK40 1RD, MK40 1QX, MK40 1BL.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 1TH has a slightly higher male population, with 53% of residents being male. Several factors can contribute to this, including areas with industries or sectors that predominantly employ men, proximity to universities or technical schools with a higher enrollment of male students, presence of all-male or predominantly male institutions (military academies, boarding schools).
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 45.2% | 47% | 1.8% | 51.0% | -4.0% |
| Male | 54.8% | 53% | -1.8% | 49.0% | 4.0% |
Across the UK, the average relationship status breakdown is roughly 44% married, 38% single, 9% divorced, 6% widowed, and 2% separated.
In the immediate area around MK40 1TH, a significant portion of the population is single, making up 57.1% of the residents. On average, approximately 38% of individuals who responded to the census in the UK were single. Areas with higher single populations are typically urban centers, university towns, regions with dynamic job markets, rich cultural offerings and entertainment facilities. These regions also tend to have a younger demographic.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 58.7% | 57.1% | -1.6% | 37.9% | 19.2% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 23.3% | 27.3% | 4.0% | 44.2% | -16.9% |
| Separated | 4.1% | 1.5% | -2.6% | 2.2% | -0.7% |
| Divorced | 11.6% | 11.7% | 0.1% | 9.1% | 2.6% |
| Widowed | 2.3% | 2.4% | 0.1% | 6.1% | -3.7% |
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 | 50.3% | 43% | -7.3% | 48.4% | -5.4% |
| Good health | 33.5% | 37.1% | 3.6% | 33.6% | 3.5% |
| Fair health | 11.2% | 15.6% | 4.4% | 12.7% | 2.9% |
| Bad health | 3% | 2.5% | -0.5% | 4.0% | -1.5% |
| Very bad health | 2% | 1.7% | -0.3% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
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 | 16.9% | 13% | -3.9% | 18.2% | -5.2% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14.5% | 10.6% | -3.9% | 9.6% | 1.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 5.8% | 11.6% | 5.8% | 13.4% | -1.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 1.2% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 12.2% | 12.1% | -0.1% | 16.9% | -4.8% |
| Degree or Similar | 38.4% | 43% | 4.6% | 33.8% | 9.2% |
| Other | 11% | 6.3% | -4.7% | 2.8% | 3.5% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 62.6% of the residents identify as white, which is lower than the UK average of 81.4%, there are significant representations of other ethnic groups.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 7.1% | 4.2% | -2.9% | 1.1% | 3.1% |
| Chinese | 1.5% | 0% | -1.5% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 1.5% | 12.2% | 10.7% | 3.1% | 9.1% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 2.7% | 1.5% |
| Other Asian | 6.6% | 1.7% | -4.9% | 1.6% | 0.1% |
| Black African | 3.6% | 3.4% | -0.2% | 2.5% | 0.9% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| Other Black | 1% | 0.8% | -0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Mixed Other | 1.5% | 0.8% | -0.7% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| White | 73.1% | 62.6% | -10.5% | 81.4% | -18.8% |
| Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 0.5% | 0% | -0.5% | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| Arab | 0% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Other | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.5% |
In this area, 53% of the population were born in the United Kingdom, which is lower than the UK average of 83.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 71.6% | 53% | -18.6% | 83.2% | -30.2% |
| European Union | 14.7% | 20.3% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 14.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Africa | 1.5% | 5.5% | 4.0% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Middle East and Asia | 9.1% | 16.5% | 7.4% | 5.6% | 10.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2% | 1.7% | -0.3% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| Oceania | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 71.1% | 52.7% | -18.4% | 83.2% | -30.5% |
| 10+ Years | 6.6% | 11% | 4.4% | 9.8% | 1.2% |
| 5-10 Years | 8.1% | 12.2% | 4.1% | 2.9% | 9.3% |
| 2-5 Years | 7.1% | 12.7% | 5.6% | 2.2% | 10.5% |
| Less than 2 years | 7.1% | 11.4% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 9.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 50.6% | 76.7% | -26.1% |
| Ireland | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| France | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Germany | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Italy | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Portugal | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Lithuania | 3.4% | 0.3% | 3.1% |
| Poland | 4.7% | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| Romania | 5.2% | 0.9% | 4.3% |
| Other EU countries | 4.7% | 1.5% | 3.2% |
| Other Europe | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| North Africa | 2.6% | 0.1% | 2.5% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Eastern Asia | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| Southern Asia | 12.9% | 1.2% | 11.7% |
| South-East Asia | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Oceania | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.8% |
| No passport held | 9% | 13.5% | -4.5% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 28.4% | 37.2% | -8.8% |
| Christian | 47.5% | 46.2% | 1.3% |
| Buddhist | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Hindu | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Jewish | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Muslim | 12.3% | 6.5% | 5.8% |
| Other religion | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Not answered | 6.4% | 6.0% | 0.4% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Heron Quay was 353.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 68.2% higher than the Castle & Newnham average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
Heron Quay has the 9th highest crime rate of 52 local areas in Castle & Newnham and the 26th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 123.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -21.7%.

Households in this area have a similar level level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 59% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have lower average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 Heron Quay, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £190,000 | 2025-09-09 | £190,000 |
| 21 Heron Quay, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £165,000 | 2025-06-20 | £172,825 |
| 23 Heron Quay, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £164,500 | 2024-05-02 | £171,947 |
| 28 Heron Quay, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £169,000 | 2024-04-30 | £175,746 |
| 4 Heron Quay, Bedford, Bedford Flats/Maisonettes, an established residential building | £153,000 | 2023-10-31 | £155,448 |
| Full-Time Employee | 94 |
| Self-Employed | 20 |
| Part-Time Employee | 19 |
| Looking after home or family | 15 |
| Retired | 13 |
| Unemployed | 13 |
| Other | 11 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 8 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 24 |
| Education | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 14 |
| Human health and social work activities | 10 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 9 |
| Other | 8 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 7 |
| Information and communication | 5 |
| Construction | 5 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 3 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 2 |
| Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1 |
| Real estate activities | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 992 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,440 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 426 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,025 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Livingstone Primary School Clapham Road , MK41 7LG | 3out of 4 | 1,113 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,251 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School Chester Road , MK40 4HN | 3out of 4 | 1,354 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 553 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,774 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,122 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 2,451 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,509 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 432 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 797 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 849 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 938 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,129 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 1,196 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woolpack Hub | The Woolpack Hub, 1 Commercial Road | 90 yd | |
| The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army, Commercial Road | 96 yd | |
| Peri Peri Original | 67 Commercial Road | 96 yd | |
| Cocos | Unit 5b, Riverside Square | 153 yd | |
| Vue Entertainment | Bedford Vue Cinema, Riverside Square | 157 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilgrims Progress | 42 Midland Road | 235 yd | |
| Greyfriars Snooker Centre | Greyfriars Snooker Centre, Greyfriars | 299 yd | |
| The Studio Club | 32 Alexandra Road | 372 yd | |
| Club Polska | 29-33 Alexandra Road | 450 yd | |
| Kings Arms PH | The Kings Arms, 24 St Marys Street | 462 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Express Pizza | 33 Commercial Road | 88 yd | |
| Domino's Pizza | 70 Midland Road | 234 yd | |
| Cai ba | 80 Midland Road | 234 yd | |
| Al Badar | 66 Midland Road | 235 yd | |
| Emporium cafe | 18 The Boulevards | 246 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Fruit and Vegetable Ltd | 109 Midland Road | 268 yd | |
| Liana International Market | 59 Midland Road | 295 yd | |
| M-C-N Store Limited | 131 Midland Road | 323 yd | |
| Essential Supermarket | 10-11 Thurlow Street | 362 yd | |
| Farmfoods | Farm Foods, 4-6 Kingsway | 473 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Samsons Fitness MIDLAND ROAD | health and fitness suite | 239 yd |
| Bedford College CAULDWELL STREET | health and fitness suite | 261 yd |
| Bedford Free School CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL HOUSE CAULDWELL STREET | 428 yd | |
| Pace Health Club (Bedford) (Closed) St. Marys Street | health and fitness suite | 437 yd |
| Flexibility Health & Fitness Club 1-3 1-3 SILVER STREET | health and fitness suite | 519 yd |
| Hmp Bedford ST. LOYES STREET | artificial grass pitch | 654 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 667 yd |
| Bunyan Meeting Church MILL STREET | 677 yd | |
| Bedford Girls School CARDINGTON ROAD | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 809 yd |
| The Gym (Bedford) London Road | health and fitness suite | 1,018 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 | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 100.0% |
| 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% |
| Median download speed | 100 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 115.5 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 500 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 10 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.9 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 49.94 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.