Kempston is a sizeable town immediately to the west of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England, lying close to the floodplain of the River Great Ouse. It has medieval roots but expanded markedly in the 19th and 20th centuries; the nearby airship sheds at Cardington and neighbouring Shortstown, where the R101 was built, give the area a distinctive industrial‑heritage landmark.
Today Kempston is largely residential with pockets of light industry and local shops, acting as a commuter base for Bedford and, for some residents, London or Milton Keynes. It retains a strong community feel with sports clubs, parish events and green spaces, and its mix of Victorian terraces and post‑war housing reflects the town’s phased growth.
Postcode districts covering Kempston
Most populated places nearby
- Milton Keynes 12.1 miles19.5 km
- Northampton 18.2 miles29.4 km
- Luton 15.3 miles24.6 km
- Bedford 2.2 miles3.5 km
- Stevenage 19.5 miles31.4 km
- Hemel Hempstead 25 miles40.2 km
- Aylesbury 24.5 miles39.4 km
- Kettering 21.7 miles34.9 km
- Kettering Town 21.6 miles34.7 km
- Welwyn Garden City 24.9 miles40 km
- Dunstable 15.8 miles25.5 km
- Wellingborough 15.8 miles25.5 km
Neighbouring places
- Kempston South Ward 0.3 miles0.5 km
- Kempston Central & East Ward 0.3 miles0.5 km
- Kempston West Ward 0.6 miles1 km
- Kempston North Ward 0.6 miles1 km
- Great Denham Built-up area 1.1 miles1.7 km
- Elstow Parish 1.4 miles2.3 km
- Cauldwell Ward 1.5 miles2.4 km
- Queens Park Ward 1.6 miles2.6 km
- Box End Built-up area 1.7 miles2.8 km
- Wixams & Wilstead Ward 1.7 miles2.8 km
- Greyfriars Ward 1.8 miles2.9 km
- Wootton Built-up area 1.9 miles3 km
Example postcodes in Kempston
MK42 7LT, MK42 9DG, MK42 8UN, MK42 7HP, MK42 7EF, MK42 8BX, MK42 7TT, MK43 8RB, MK42 8AY … See all
Transport links
- Luton Airport 17.4 miles28 km
- Stansted Airport 34.9 miles56.1 km
- Kempston Hardwick Railway Station 1.5 miles2.5 km
- Bedford St Johns Railway Station 1.6 miles2.6 km
Hotels near Kempston Ad
- Holiday Inn Express Bedford 3 0.9 miles1.5 km
- Verve Hotel 4 2 miles3.3 km
- D'parys 2.4 miles3.8 km
- Woodland Manor Hotel 3 3.2 miles5.2 km
- The Kingfisher Pub and Hotel 4 2.9 miles4.7 km
- Bedford Swan Hotel and Thermal Spa 4 2 miles3.2 km
- The White Hart 4 5.7 miles9.2 km
- Cranfield Management Development Centre 6 miles9.7 km
- Mitchell Hall 6.1 miles9.8 km
- Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel 4 1.9 miles3 km
Schools in Kempston
- Balliol Primary School Primary
- Camestone School Primary
- Daubeney Academy Secondary
- Grange Academy Special
- Kempston Academy Secondary
- Kempston Rural Primary School Primary
- Ridgeway School Special
- Springfield Primary School Primary
- St John's School Special
Local points of interest
- Moot Hall Museum 1.2 miles1.9 km
- Redbourne College College 6.5 miles10.4 km
- Flitwick Moor Nature reserve 7.7 miles12.5 km
- Silsoe College - Cranfield University College 8 miles13 km
- Wrest House Estate 8.1 miles13.1 km
- Santa Pod Raceway Recreation 9.5 miles15.2 km
- Woburn Abbey Estate 10 miles16 km
- Toddington library Library 11.5 miles18.5 km
- Theatre MK Theatre 11.8 miles18.9 km
- Milton Keynes Xscape Shopping centre 11.9 miles19.1 km
- Linford Wood Forest 12.1 miles19.5 km
- Midsummer Place Shopping centre 12.2 miles19.6 km