Shortstown sits on the south‑eastern edge of Bedford in Bedford Borough, originally laid out in the 1920s as a planned village for workers at the nearby Cardington airship works. The enormous Cardington Airship Sheds loom as the most distinctive local landmark, a reminder of the area's aviation history and now occasionally used for events and film work.
Today Shortstown is largely residential, mixing the original 1920s terraces with extensive modern housing developments and community facilities such as a primary school, shops and sports pitches. Its proximity to Bedford and convenient commuter links to London have made it popular with families, while active local groups and the aviation heritage give the ward a strong community identity.
Postcode districts covering Shortstown
Most populated places nearby
- Milton Keynes 15.6 miles
- Northampton 22.1 miles
- Luton 14.6 miles
- Cambridge 23.7 miles
- Bedford 3.4 miles
- Stevenage 16.6 miles
- Hemel Hempstead 24.5 miles
- St. Albans 24.5 miles
- Kettering 24.1 miles
- Kettering Town 24 miles
- Welwyn Garden City 22.5 miles
- Dunstable 16 miles
Neighbouring places
- Cotton End Built-up area 0.9 miles
- Cardington Built-up area 1 mile
- Shortstown Built-up area 1.2 miles
- Cople Built-up area 1.4 miles
- Kingsbrook Ward 2.1 miles
- Wilshamstead Parish 2.3 miles
- Willington Built-up area 2.4 miles
- Wilstead Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Riverfield Ward 2.5 miles
- Haynes Built-up area 2.6 miles
- Elstow Parish 2.6 miles
- Cauldwell Ward 3 miles
Example postcodes in Shortstown
MK42 0UN, MK42 0NU, MK45 3BA, MK44 3UA, MK42 0US, MK44 3SE, MK45 3AA, MK42 0TZ, MK42 0FB … See all
Transport links
- Luton Airport 15.9 miles
- Stansted Airport 31.1 miles
- Bedford St Johns Railway Station 3.3 miles
- Bedford Railway Station 3.9 miles
Hotels in Shortstown Ad
Schools in Shortstown
- Sheerhatch Primary School Primary
- Shortstown Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Moot Hall Museum 2.9 miles
- Wrest House Estate 6.7 miles
- Silsoe College - Cranfield University College 6.9 miles
- Redbourne College College 7.1 miles
- Flitwick Moor Nature reserve 7.8 miles
- Woburn Abbey Estate 11.7 miles
- Toddington library Library 12.1 miles
- British School Museum Museum 12.2 miles
- Santa Pod Raceway Recreation 12.3 miles
- Putteridge Bury Estate 13.5 miles
- Hayley Wood Forest 13.5 miles
- Wimpole Estate Estate 15.2 miles