Shakespeare Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK40 2DJ is located in the Harpur electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about Shakespeare Road, Bedford, MK40 2DJ and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK40 2DW, MK40 2EJ, MK40 2DT, MK40 2DS, MK40 2JR, MK40 2UJ, MK40 2AR, MK40 2DN, MK40 2AS.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. The area surrounding MK40 2DJ has a slightly higher male population, with 51% 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 | 54.9% | 49% | -5.9% | 51.0% | -2.0% |
| Male | 45.1% | 51% | 5.9% | 49.0% | 2.0% |
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 | 30.3% | 34.8% | 4.5% | 37.9% | -3.1% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 48.3% | 49% | 0.7% | 44.2% | 4.8% |
| Married: Same sex | 0.9% | 1% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.7% |
| Civil partnership: Same sex | 0% | 2% | 2.0% | 0.1% | 1.9% |
| Separated | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Divorced | 5.7% | 6.4% | 0.7% | 9.1% | -2.7% |
| Widowed | 13.3% | 4.4% | -8.9% | 6.1% | -1.7% |
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 | 46.3% | 47.9% | 1.6% | 48.4% | -0.5% |
| Good health | 31.8% | 35.8% | 4.0% | 33.6% | 2.2% |
| Fair health | 16.1% | 11.7% | -4.4% | 12.7% | -1.0% |
| Bad health | 4.7% | 3.8% | -0.9% | 4.0% | -0.2% |
| Very bad health | 1.2% | 0.8% | -0.4% | 1.2% | -0.4% |
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.
In the area around MK40 2DJ this area, 8.8% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 18.2%. This area stands out for its high percentage of residents with higher education degree or similar. The UK average is 33.8%, while in this area it is 47.1%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 13.7% | 8.8% | -4.9% | 18.2% | -9.4% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 10% | 8.3% | -1.7% | 9.6% | -1.3% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 11.8% | 15.2% | 3.4% | 13.4% | 1.8% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.9% | 3.4% | 2.5% | 5.3% | -1.9% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 11.8% | 13.7% | 1.9% | 16.9% | -3.2% |
| Degree or Similar | 44.5% | 47.1% | 2.6% | 33.8% | 13.3% |
| Other | 7.1% | 3.4% | -3.7% | 2.8% | 0.6% |
This area closely mirrors the overall ethnic composition of the UK, with 80.7% of the population identifying as white, with UK average of 81.4%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladeshi | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 1.1% | -1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.7% | -0.7% |
| Indian | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.0% | 3.1% | -1.5% |
| Pakistani | 0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 2.7% | -1.9% |
| Other Asian | 0.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.9% |
| Black African | 2% | 4.1% | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Black Caribbean | 2.4% | 0.8% | -1.6% | 1.0% | -0.2% |
| Other Black | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and African | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Mixed Other | 1.2% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.7% |
| White | 87.1% | 80.7% | -6.4% | 81.4% | -0.7% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Arab | 0% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Other | 1.6% | 3.3% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 1.7% |
In this area, 71.7% 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 | 76.1% | 71.7% | -4.4% | 83.2% | -11.5% |
| European Union | 14.9% | 17.5% | 2.6% | 6.1% | 11.4% |
| Rest of Europe | 1.2% | 0% | -1.2% | 0.8% | -0.8% |
| Africa | 3.1% | 6.3% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 3.6% |
| Middle East and Asia | 1.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 5.6% | -2.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 2.4% | 1.7% | -0.7% | 1.3% | 0.4% |
| Oceania | 0.8% | 0% | -0.8% | 0.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 76.1% | 71.4% | -4.7% | 83.2% | -11.8% |
| 10+ Years | 0.4% | 21.2% | 20.8% | 9.8% | 11.4% |
| 5-10 Years | 3.9% | 2.5% | -1.4% | 2.9% | -0.4% |
| 2-5 Years | 6.7% | 3.3% | -3.4% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Less than 2 years | 12.9% | 1.7% | -11.2% | 1.9% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 74.7% | 76.7% | -2.0% |
| Ireland | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| France | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Italy | 2.1% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| Lithuania | 2.1% | 0.3% | 1.8% |
| Poland | 7.9% | 1.3% | 6.6% |
| Romania | 0.8% | 0.9% | -0.1% |
| Other EU countries | 1.2% | 1.5% | -0.3% |
| Southern Asia | 0.8% | 1.2% | -0.4% |
| Central and South America | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 7.1% | 13.5% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 27.4% | 37.2% | -9.8% |
| Christian | 61% | 46.2% | 14.8% |
| Buddhist | 0.4% | 0.5% | -0.1% |
| Hindu | 0.4% | 1.7% | -1.3% |
| Muslim | 2.1% | 6.5% | -4.4% |
| Sikh | 2.5% | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Other religion | 0.4% | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| Not answered | 5.8% | 6.0% | -0.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around Shakespeare Road was 566.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 268.5% higher than the Harpur average. The most reported crime type was Anti-social behaviour.
Shakespeare Road has the 2nd highest crime rate of 26 local areas in Harpur and the 15th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 164.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -31.0%.

Households in this area have a slightly lower level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 61% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 Shakespeare Road, Bedford, Bedford Detached, an established residential building | £375,000 | 2015-06-12 | £597,958 |
| 68 Shakespeare Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £342,000 | 2007-03-16 | £634,200 |
| 66 Shakespeare Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £250,000 | 2003-03-28 | £645,985 |
| 68 Shakespeare Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire Terraced, an established residential building | £190,000 | 2001-08-06 | £673,926 |
MK40 2DJ area has a high level of entrepreneurship. Only 24% of streets have higher percent of entrepreneur residents. 12% 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.
MK40 2DJ 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 | 90 |
| Retired | 47 |
| Self-Employed | 24 |
| Part-Time Employee | 21 |
| Other | 7 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 6 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 4 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 1 |
| Looking after home or family | 0 |
| Education | 22 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 21 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 13 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 10 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 10 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
| Human health and social work activities | 9 |
| Transport and storage | 7 |
| Construction | 7 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 6 |
| Information and communication | 6 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 6 |
| Other | 4 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 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 | 2,426 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 2,972 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Ouse Primary Academy Seaforth Gardens , MK40 4TJ | - not rated | 544 yd | Free schools | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Edith Cavell Primary School Manton Lane , MK41 7NH | 3out of 4 | 576 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Livingstone Primary School Clapham Road , MK41 7LG | 3out of 4 | 618 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | 4out of 4 | 1,128 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Queen's Park Academy Chestnut Avenue , MK40 4HA | 2out of 4 | 1,298 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Biddenham Turn , MK40 4AZ | 3out of 4 | 1,407 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 2,019 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 2,384 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Thomas More Catholic School Tyne Crescent , MK41 7UL | 4out of 4 | 2,534 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,992 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 | 1,884 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushmoor School 58-60 Shakespeare Road , MK45 2RS | - not rated | 189 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Modern School Manton Lane , MK41 7NT | - not rated | 404 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Polam School 45 Lansdowne Road , MK40 2BU | - not rated | 770 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 1,602 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| St Andrew's School 78 Kimbolton Road , MK40 2PA | - not rated | 1,789 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Different Brew | 106 Clapham Road | 284 yd | |
| McDonalds | Mcdonalds, Fairhill | 416 yd | |
| Dudu Bar Restaurant and Lounge | 49 Bromham Road | 630 yd | |
| Fancy Bakery | 35-37 Roff Avenue | 828 yd | |
| Charcoal Grill | 75-77 Tavistock Street | 928 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewpoint | Brewpoint, Fairhill | 341 yd | |
| Kalooki Club | 2 Spenser Road | 556 yd | |
| The Burnaby Arms | The Burnaby Arms, 66 Stanley Street | 646 yd | |
| North End Club | 60 Roff Avenue | 734 yd | |
| The Foresters Arms | The Foresters Arms, 41 Union Street | 791 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Raj | 29 Park Road West | 654 yd | |
| Deniz Fish Bar | 11 Park Road West | 708 yd | |
| Malabar | 84 Tavistock Street | 821 yd | |
| Coriander | 90 Tavistock Street | 821 yd | |
| Hoi Tin | 86 Tavistock Street | 821 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldi Stores Ltd | 98 Clapham Road | 283 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Main Store) | 90 Clapham Road | 284 yd | |
| J Sainsbury Plc (Petrol station Shop) | 90 Clapham Road | 284 yd | |
| Sainsbury's | 105-107 Tavistock Street | 928 yd | |
| Iceland Foods Ltd | 7-11 Midland Road | 1,027 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Rushmoor School RUSHMOOR SCHOOL RUSHMOOR SCHOOL SHAKESPEARE ROAD | 86 yd | |
| Alexander Sports Centre SIDNEY ROAD | grass pitches, health and fitness suite | 310 yd |
| Bedford Modern School MANTON LANE | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches, health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 402 yd |
| University Of Bedfordshire (Lansdowne Road Campus) (Closed) Lansdowne Road | swimming pool | 468 yd |
| Bedford Girls' School Playing Fields (Closed) Beverley Grove | grass pitches, tennis courts | 536 yd |
| Towers Health And Racquets Club Clapham Road | health and fitness suite, indoor tennis centre, squash courts, swimming pool, tennis courts | 596 yd |
| Rushmoor School Playing Fields 1 FRANKLIN COTTAGES 1 FRANKLIN COTTAGES CLAPHAM ROAD | grass pitches | 693 yd |
| Pure Gym (Bedford) BEDFORD HEIGHTS BEDFORD HEIGHTS BRICKHILL DRIVE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 932 yd |
| Trinity Arts & Leisure BROMHAM ROAD | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,033 yd |
| Robinson Pool PARK AVENUE | health and fitness suite, swimming pool | 1,037 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% |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.