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 miles25 km
- Northampton 22.1 miles35.6 km
- Luton 14.6 miles23.4 km
- Cambridge 23.7 miles38.2 km
- Bedford 3.4 miles5.5 km
- Stevenage 16.6 miles26.7 km
- Hemel Hempstead 24.5 miles39.5 km
- St. Albans 24.5 miles39.5 km
- Kettering 24.1 miles38.8 km
- Kettering Town 24 miles38.7 km
- Welwyn Garden City 22.5 miles36.2 km
- Dunstable 16 miles25.7 km
Neighbouring places
- Cotton End Built-up area 0.9 miles1.4 km
- Cardington Built-up area 1 mile1.7 km
- Shortstown Built-up area 1.2 miles2 km
- Cople Built-up area 1.4 miles2.3 km
- Kingsbrook Ward 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Wilshamstead Parish 2.3 miles3.7 km
- Willington Built-up area 2.4 miles3.9 km
- Wilstead Built-up area 2.5 miles4 km
- Riverfield Ward 2.5 miles4.1 km
- Haynes Built-up area 2.6 miles4.2 km
- Elstow Parish 2.6 miles4.2 km
- Cauldwell Ward 3 miles4.8 km
Example postcodes in Shortstown
MK44 3SL, MK42 0FU, MK42 0PE, MK42 0GU, MK44 3TT, MK42 0ZL, MK42 0GZ, MK42 0QL, MK42 0BW … See all
Transport links
- Luton Airport 15.9 miles25.7 km
- Stansted Airport 31.1 miles50 km
- Bedford St Johns Railway Station 3.3 miles5.2 km
- Bedford Railway Station 3.9 miles6.3 km
Hotels near Shortstown Ad
- The Kingfisher Pub and Hotel 4 1.8 miles2.9 km
- Holiday Inn Express Bedford 3 3.2 miles5.1 km
- D'parys 3.8 miles6.2 km
- Verve Hotel 4 4.2 miles6.7 km
- The White Hart 4 6.4 miles10.2 km
- Woodland Manor Hotel 3 5.3 miles8.5 km
- Bedford Swan Hotel and Thermal Spa 4 3.4 miles5.4 km
- The Crown Pub, Dining & Rooms 7.3 miles11.7 km
- The Willows Training Centre 8 miles13 km
- Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel 4 3.4 miles5.4 km
Schools in Shortstown
- Sheerhatch Primary School Primary
- Shortstown Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Moot Hall Museum 2.9 miles4.7 km
- Wrest House Estate 6.7 miles10.8 km
- Silsoe College - Cranfield University College 6.9 miles11.2 km
- Redbourne College College 7.1 miles11.5 km
- Flitwick Moor Nature reserve 7.8 miles12.5 km
- Woburn Abbey Estate 11.7 miles18.9 km
- Toddington library Library 12.1 miles19.4 km
- British School Museum Museum 12.2 miles19.6 km
- Santa Pod Raceway Recreation 12.3 miles19.8 km
- Putteridge Bury Estate 13.5 miles21.7 km
- Hayley Wood Forest 13.5 miles21.8 km
- Wimpole Estate Estate 15.2 miles24.4 km