The Harpur ward sits immediately west of the central area of Bedford, close to the banks of the River Great Ouse. It mixes Georgian and Victorian terraces with pockets of post‑war housing and more recent apartment developments, and benefits from easy access to the town centre, parks and public transport.
Culturally it’s a varied area with long‑standing neighbourhood groups, independent shops, cafés and pubs alongside social housing; the ward takes its name from the Harpur family and the Harpur Trust, whose historic endowments have shaped local education and buildings. In recent years there have been modest regeneration and community initiatives aimed at improving high streets and public spaces while keeping the area’s central, lived‑in character.
Postcode districts covering Harpur
Most populated places nearby
- Milton Keynes 13.9 miles
- Northampton 18.1 miles
- Luton 17.5 miles
- Bedford 0.9 miles
- Stevenage 20.8 miles
- Kettering 20 miles
- Kettering Town 19.9 miles
- Dunstable 18.2 miles
- Wellingborough 14.5 miles
- Bletchley 15.5 miles
- Bletchley and Fenny Stratford 15 miles
- Rushden 10.8 miles
Neighbouring places
- Greyfriars Ward 0.8 miles
- Queens Park Ward 0.9 miles
- De Parys Ward 0.9 miles
- Bedford Built-up area 0.9 miles
- Brickhill Parish 1.1 miles
- Biddenham Parish 1.3 miles
- Castle & Newnham Ward 1.3 miles
- Clapham Built-up area 1.5 miles
- Cauldwell Ward 1.7 miles
- Putnoe Ward 1.7 miles
- Kempston North Ward 1.8 miles
- Great Denham Built-up area 1.9 miles
Example postcodes in Harpur
MK40 2RU, MK41 7LH, MK41 7RR, MK41 7LZ, MK41 7FZ, MK40 2QT, MK40 2TE, MK40 2HJ, MK40 2TH … See all
Transport links
- Luton Airport 19.4 miles
- Stansted Airport 35.3 miles
- Bedford Railway Station 0.7 miles
- Bedford St Johns Railway Station 1.3 miles
Hotels near Harpur Ad
- Verve Hotel 4 0.4 miles
- Woodland Manor Hotel 3 1 mile
- d'Parys 0.5 miles
- Embankment Hotel 4 1.1 miles
- Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel 4 1 mile
- Albero Bedrooms 0.9 miles
- Bedford Swan Hotel 4 1 mile
- Holiday Inn Express Bedford 3 2.8 miles
- Premier Inn Bedford Town Centre 3 0.9 miles
- Bedford Town Centre (Riverside) hotel 3 0.9 miles
Schools in Harpur
- Bedford Modern School Independent - all ages
- Edith Cavell Primary School Primary
- Livingstone Primary School Primary
- Polam School Independent - primary
Local points of interest
- Moot Hall Museum 2.2 miles
- Santa Pod Raceway Recreation 8 miles
- Redbourne College College 8.8 miles
- Wrest House Estate 10 miles
- Flitwick Moor Nature reserve 10 miles
- Silsoe College - Cranfield University College 10 miles
- Woburn Abbey Estate 12.4 miles
- Nene Park Stadium 13.5 miles
- Theatre MK Theatre 13.5 miles
- Milton Keynes Xscape Shopping centre 13.7 miles
- Linford Wood Forest 13.8 miles
- Toddington library Library 13.9 miles