London Road is in Bedford and in Bedford district. MK42 0PX is located in the Kingsbrook electoral ward, within the English Parliamentary constituency of Bedford. This postcode has been in use since 1980-01-01.
StreetScan combines information about London Road, Bedford, MK42 0PX and displays a report on the quality of life in this place and its surroundings.
Nearby postcodes are: MK42 9TW, MK42 0ST, MK42 9TB, MK42 0YG, MK42 0PT, MK42 0RA, MK42 0AZ, MK42 0RP.
In the UK, the overall gender distribution is approximately 49% male and 51% female. However, the area surrounding MK42 0PX has a female population much higher than UK average, with 56.2% of the population being female. Several factors can contribute to this. Women generally live longer than men, resulting in a higher proportion of women in neighborhoods with significant elderly populations. Typically, as people grow older, they tend to relocate from city center addresses to suburban areas, smaller towns, and rural locations. Consequently, these areas often have a higher number of females. A higher female population can also be found in areas with industries that employ more women, such as healthcare, education, and retail.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 55.8% | 56.2% | 0.4% | 51.0% | 5.2% |
| Male | 44.2% | 43.8% | -0.4% | 49.0% | -5.2% |
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 | 31.4% | 40.6% | 9.2% | 37.9% | 2.7% |
| Married: Opposite sex | 32.2% | 37.9% | 5.7% | 44.2% | -6.3% |
| Separated | 2.1% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 1.2% |
| Divorced | 11.9% | 9.1% | -2.8% | 9.1% | 0.0% |
| Widowed | 22.5% | 9.1% | -13.4% | 6.1% | 3.0% |
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.
This area has a lower percentage of residents reporting their health as Good or Very Good (69.5%) compared to the average (82%). This typically indicates either an older population or social deprivation in the area.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 28.1% | 37.4% | 9.3% | 48.4% | -11.0% |
| Good health | 37.2% | 32.1% | -5.1% | 33.6% | -1.5% |
| Fair health | 24.6% | 12.1% | -12.5% | 12.7% | -0.6% |
| Bad health | 8.4% | 6.3% | -2.1% | 4.0% | 2.3% |
| Very bad health | 1.8% | 12.1% | 10.3% | 1.2% | 10.9% |
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 MK42 0PX this area, 34.2% of residents have no qualifications. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 18.2%.
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No qualifications | 41.9% | 34.2% | -7.7% | 18.2% | 16.0% |
| 1-4 GCSEs or Equivalent | 14% | 7.6% | -6.4% | 9.6% | -2.0% |
| 5 or more GCSEs, an A-Level or 1-2 AS Levels | 7.6% | 11% | 3.4% | 13.4% | -2.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 6.4% | 4.3% | -2.1% | 5.3% | -1.0% |
| HNC, HND or 2+ A Levels | 5.1% | 12.6% | 7.5% | 16.9% | -4.3% |
| Degree or Similar | 16.9% | 23.6% | 6.7% | 33.8% | -10.2% |
| Other | 8.1% | 6.6% | -1.5% | 2.8% | 3.8% |
In this area, the population is more ethnically diverse compared to the UK average. While 56.1% 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 | 0% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1.1% | 5.5% |
| Chinese | 0% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.7% | -0.4% |
| Indian | 6.7% | 8.4% | 1.7% | 3.1% | 5.3% |
| Pakistani | 1.8% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 2.7% | 0.5% |
| Other Asian | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 1.6% | -1.1% |
| Black African | 3.5% | 10.5% | 7.0% | 2.5% | 8.0% |
| Black Caribbean | 4.2% | 6.1% | 1.9% | 1.0% | 5.1% |
| Other Black | 0.4% | 0% | -0.4% | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| Mixed White and Asian | 0% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Mixed White and African | 0.7% | 0.3% | -0.4% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Mixed White and Caribbean | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
| Mixed Other | 0.7% | 0.5% | -0.2% | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| White | 76.5% | 56.1% | -20.4% | 81.4% | -25.3% |
| Roma | 0% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Other | 3.9% | 3.7% | -0.2% | 1.6% | 2.1% |
In this area, 70.3% 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 | 80.7% | 70.3% | -10.4% | 83.2% | -12.9% |
| European Union | 7% | 11.3% | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| Rest of Europe | 0.4% | 1% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Africa | 2.8% | 6.8% | 4.0% | 2.7% | 4.1% |
| Middle East and Asia | 4.9% | 9.2% | 4.3% | 5.6% | 3.6% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 3.9% | 1% | -2.9% | 1.3% | -0.3% |
| Oceania | 0.4% | 0.3% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 2021 | 10y change (pp) | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born in the UK | 79.6% | 70.3% | -9.3% | 83.2% | -12.9% |
| 10+ Years | 0% | 21.8% | 21.8% | 9.8% | 12.0% |
| 5-10 Years | 2.5% | 4.5% | 2.0% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| 2-5 Years | 5.3% | 3.1% | -2.2% | 2.2% | 0.9% |
| Less than 2 years | 12.6% | 0.3% | -12.3% | 1.9% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 61.2% | 76.7% | -15.5% |
| France | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Germany | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Italy | 1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Portugal | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Spain | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| Lithuania | 1.6% | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Poland | 3.4% | 1.3% | 2.1% |
| Romania | 3.1% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| Other EU countries | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.8% |
| Central and Western Africa | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| South and Eastern Africa | 1% | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Southern Asia | 2.1% | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| South-East Asia | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| North America and the Caribbean | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Oceania | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| No passport held | 20.8% | 13.5% | 7.3% |
| 2021 | UK Average | postcode vs UK (pp) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No religion | 23.9% | 37.2% | -13.3% |
| Christian | 32.3% | 46.2% | -13.9% |
| Buddhist | 0.3% | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| Hindu | 0.8% | 1.7% | -0.9% |
| Muslim | 13.6% | 6.5% | 7.1% |
| Sikh | 6.3% | 0.9% | 5.4% |
| Other religion | 2.6% | 0.6% | 2.0% |
| Not answered | 20.2% | 6.0% | 14.2% |
Over the last 12 months, the overall crime rate around London Road was 173.5 per 1,000 residents, which is 6.0% higher than the Cauldwell average. The most reported crime type was Violence and sexual offences.
London Road has the 17th highest crime rate of 82 local areas in Cauldwell and the 66th highest crime rate of 543 local areas in Bedford .
Violent and sexual offences accounted for around 72.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and have been rising year on year. Over the last decade, overall crime has fallen by about -46.0%.

Households in this area have a similar level of wealth to the average household in England and Wales. 58% of analyzed areas in England and Wales have higher average household annual income than this area.

| Address | Sale Price | Sale Date | Price Estimate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 259 London Road, Bedford, Bedford Other, an established residential building | £618,000 | 2024-09-10 | £629,146 |
| 277 London Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £290,000 | 2024-04-26 | £314,068 |
| 253 London Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £347,500 | 2024-02-28 | £373,150 |
| 275 London Road, Bedford, Bedford Terraced, an established residential building | £325,000 | 2023-01-04 | £343,525 |
| 283 London Road, Bedford, Bedford Semi-Detached, an established residential building | £335,000 | 2021-05-14 | £412,726 |
MK42 0PX area has a low unemployment rate. According to Census 2021, 1% 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 | 104 |
| Retired | 82 |
| Part-Time Employee | 29 |
| Looking after home or family | 20 |
| Long-Term Sick or disabled | 18 |
| Self-Employed | 17 |
| Other | 12 |
| Student (economically inactive) | 9 |
| Full-Time Student (with or without job) | 5 |
| Unemployed | 3 |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles | 25 |
| Human health and social work activities | 16 |
| Manufacturing | 11 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 9 |
| Transport and storage | 8 |
| Construction | 7 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 6 |
| Education | 5 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 4 |
| Other | 3 |
| Real estate activities | 3 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 2 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 2 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Information and communication | 1 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 820 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 1,618 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's Oak Primary School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | 2out of 4 | 317 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Shackleton Primary School Pearcey Road , MK42 9LZ | 3out of 4 | 740 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Elstow School Abbeyfields Road Abbeyfields , Elstow MK42 9GP | 3out of 4 | 1,247 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 1,623 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Shortstown Primary School Beauvais Square , Shortstown MK42 0GS | 3out of 4 | 2,053 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 267 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 3out of 4 | 1,708 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Daubeney Academy Orchard Street , Kempston MK42 7PS | 3out of 4 | 2,469 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Goldington Academy Haylands Way , MK41 9BX | 3out of 4 | 2,971 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 3,073 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 1,842 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 1,407 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 1,531 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| KWS School 51 Brunel Road , Bedford MK41 9TJ | - not rated | 2,234 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St John's School Austin Canons , Bedford Road MK42 8AA | 4out of 4 | 2,249 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford School De Parys Avenue , MK40 2TU | - not rated | 2,612 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| K.M.J. Catering Ltd | Bunyan Centre, 187-189 Mile Road | 143 yd | |
| Mile Road, Allotment & Leisure Gardens Association | 149 Mile Road | 268 yd | |
| AMA’S Palace (E&G Kitchen) | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 394 yd | |
| THE HUNTERS' GRILL | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 394 yd | |
| Lagos Lounge | Unit 1, Windsor Road | 394 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bull | The Bull, 259 London Road | 2 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrowden Fisheries | 2 Harrowden Lane | 388 yd | |
| Golden Star | 204 London Road | 426 yd | |
| Fully loaded Bedford Ltd | 52 Harrowden Road | 441 yd | |
| Wok Inn | 159 London Road | 588 yd | |
| Tasty Peri Peri | 139 Harrowden Road | 821 yd |
| Business Name | Address | Food hygiene rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Stop Convenience Store | Unit 2, Abbey Chase, Abbey Fields | 722 yd |
| Facility Name | Sport Objects | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford Academy (Closed) Mile Road | artificial grass pitch, grass pitches | 222 yd |
| John Bunyan Health And Fitness MILE ROAD | health and fitness suite, squash courts | 234 yd |
| Harrowden Middle School (Closed) Oak Road | grass pitches | 267 yd |
| Bedford Academy MILE ROAD | artificial grass pitch | 345 yd |
| Jubilee Park SOUTH LODGE SOUTH LODGE CANVIN WAY | grass pitches | 471 yd |
| Moor Lane Recreation Ground Moor Lane | grass pitches | 607 yd |
| Abbey Middle School (Closed) Mowbray Road | grass pitches, swimming pool | 983 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 | 98.5% |
| Percentage of premises that have Ultrafast Broadband (300Mbit/s or greater) coverage from fixed broadband | 98.5% |
| Percentage of premises that have coverage from a Gigabit capable service from fixed broadband | 98.5% |
| 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 | 80 Mbit/s |
| Average download speed | 126.9 Mbit/s |
| Minimum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Maximum download speed | 1000 Mbit/s |
| Median upload speed | 20 Mbit/s |
| Average upload speed | 16.8 Mbit/s |
| Maximum upload speed | 50 Mbit/s |
Broadband statistics are based on Ofcom's Communications Market Report (CMR) 2022.