The village and civil parish of Elstow lies just south‑west of Bedford in England, retaining a semi‑rural character with surrounding farmland and small pockets of housing. Its compact centre contains historic buildings and a parish church that point to medieval origins, while the wider area functions largely as a residential community for the nearby town.
Elstow is best known historically as the birthplace of the 17th‑century writer John Bunyan, and the village’s past also includes a medieval priory and other surviving historic fabric. Today the local economy is mainly residential and service‑based, with an active parish council and community groups that maintain village life while many residents commute into Bedford or further afield to London for work.
Postcode districts covering Elstow
Most populated places nearby
- Milton Keynes 13.1 miles
- Northampton 19.6 miles
- Luton 14.7 miles
- Bedford 2.1 miles
- Stevenage 18.3 miles
- Hemel Hempstead 24.5 miles
- Aylesbury 24.9 miles
- Kettering 22.7 miles
- Kettering Town 22.6 miles
- Welwyn Garden City 23.8 miles
- Dunstable 15.5 miles
- Wellingborough 17 miles
Neighbouring places
- Kempston South Ward 1.1 miles
- Wixams & Wilstead Ward 1.1 miles
- Cauldwell Ward 1.2 miles
- Wixams Built-up area 1.3 miles
- Kempston Built-up area 1.4 miles
- Kempston Central & East Ward 1.5 miles
- Shortstown Built-up area 1.5 miles
- Kempston North Ward 1.6 miles
- Kingsbrook Ward 1.7 miles
- Kempston Hardwick Built-up area 1.9 miles
- Kempston West Ward 2 miles
- Greyfriars Ward 2 miles
Example postcodes in Elstow
MK42 9XR, MK42 9FX, MK42 9XU, MK42 9GL, MK42 9YH, MK42 9FZ, MK42 9XQ, MK45 3JA, MK42 9YG … See all
Transport links
- Luton Airport 16.6 miles
- Stansted Airport 33.5 miles
- Bedford St Johns Railway Station 1.5 miles
- Kempston Hardwick Railway Station 2 miles
Hotels near Elstow Ad
- Holiday Inn Express Bedford 3 0.6 miles
- Verve Hotel 4 2.5 miles
- Embankment Hotel 4 1.9 miles
- Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel 4 1.9 miles
- The Knife and Cleaver 3.2 miles
- Albero Bedrooms 1.9 miles
- d'Parys 2.5 miles
- Bedford Swan Hotel 4 1.9 miles
- Woodland Manor Hotel 3 3.8 miles
- Bedford Town Centre (Riverside) hotel 3 1.9 miles
Schools in Elstow
- Elstow School Primary
Local points of interest
- Moot Hall Museum 0.6 miles
- Redbourne College College 6.2 miles
- Wrest House Estate 7.2 miles
- Silsoe College - Cranfield University College 7.2 miles
- Flitwick Moor Nature reserve 7.3 miles
- Woburn Abbey Estate 10.2 miles
- Santa Pod Raceway Recreation 10.5 miles
- Toddington library Library 11.3 miles
- Theatre MK Theatre 12.8 miles
- Milton Keynes Xscape Shopping centre 12.9 miles
- Midsummer Place Shopping centre 13.3 miles
- Stadium MK Stadium 13.3 miles