District Profile

Useful information about South Bedfordshire, including transport, education and quality of life.

Communications

South Bedfordshire is situated some 25 miles to the north west of London, providing excellent access to the heart of the national motorway network. With the M1 running through the District and the M25 being less than 25 miles away, over three quarters of the UK mainland population can be reached within a same day return journey.

Rail links from nearby Luton mean London St Pancras can be reached in thirty minutes, whilst the train from Leighton Buzzard can be in London Euston in forty minutes. Fast InterCity services operate on both these lines, and rail freight services are also available from Luton railway station.

The needs of the air traveller are well catered for in South Bedfordshire. As well as nearby London Luton Airport http://www.london-luton.co.uk/, which offers direct flights to several European cities, other international airports including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stanstead are readily accessible within a ninety-minute drive.

London Luton Airport Destinations (PDF 13.9KB)

For sea freight the ports of Tilbury, London, Felixstowe and Southampton can both be reached within 2.5 hours. 

Economy

Unemployment in South Bedfordshire is consistently below the national and regional average.  Manufacturing remains an important sector of the local economy, and recently a food and drink sector has emerged in Dunstable/Houghton Regis.

Unemployment Figures (PDF 20.1KB)

Please see our Census Data page for population and socio-economic information. Or visit Nomis for a more detailed economic profile of the district.

Education

South Bedfordshire benefits from a number of high-quality educational establishments, many of which offer services designed to meet the needs of local businesses.

The University of Bedfordshire (formerly the University of Luton) offers a range of courses for local businesses, many of which are free of charge. These range from ICT to communications and people skills. The University is also involved with the Shell technology Enterprise Programme and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, whereby local businesses can have the opportunity to employ under-graduates and graduates to work on specific projects. For more information, see http://www.beds.ac.uk.

Cranfield University offers research and consultancy services; part-funded projects such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships; sponsorship of student projects; and continuing professional development courses, www.cranfield.ac.uk/business

Dunstable College, www.dunstable.ac.uk, and Barnfield College in Luton and Bedford, http://www.barnfield.ac.uk, offer an extensive range of vocational courses.

A Skills Institute at Kingsland, Houghton Regis, has recently been launched.  The £4 million investment, funded through the Investing in Communities programme and with land donated by Bedfordshire County Council, consists of a sports therapy unit, construction centre and business incubation units.  This complements a range of other vocational training and business support available at the site.

The Learning Warehouse Leighton-Linslade, a result of the collaboration between Bedfordshire Local Education Authority, Barnfield and Dunstable Colleges of Further Education and Adult and Community Learning Bedfordshire, offers a wide range of programmes for adults. The centre in the Grovebury Road Industrial Estate houses purpose built and well equipped modern facilities including large ICT rooms, rooms that can be hired out by local companies and a conference suite.

Chamber Business offers a range of work-based learning, including Apprenticeships.

For details of local schools, visit the Bedfordshire County Council website.

Quality of life

South Bedfordshire offers more than just an economic solution to your company's relocation needs.

The district can offer a wide choice of accommodation from thatched cottages and canal boats to modern apartments and manor houses. Commuting from home to office is easy, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the many leisure opportunities on your doorstep.

Nowhere in South Bedfordshire is more than a short ride away from glorious countryside. Dunstable Downs offer 130 acres of public access in The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with circular walks, a picnic area, a visitor centre and spectacular views. The Downs are used by hang-gliders and visitors can also watch traditional gliders taking off and landing at the London Gliding Club below.

Other areas of countryside open to the public include Stockgrove Country Park situated between the villages of Heath and Reach and Great Brickhill and comprise over 74 acres of woods and parkland, an ornamental lake and a picnic area. Sundon Hills Country Park, Sharpenhoe Clappers and Totternhoe Knolls are also popular countryside areas.

Set in 600 acres of beautiful parkland, Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is home to 2,500 animals and is one of Europe's largest conservation centres. Other animal collections can be seen at Woodside Animal Farm and Leisure Park, whilst Mead Open Farm with its wide range of established farm animals is not far away.

For more information on the attractions in the area, visit our Leisure and Culture section.

Dunstable is home to The Grove Theatre, a new 780 seater theatre and Leighton Buzzard has its own small theatre.

The three main towns in the district offer a range of shopping possibilities. The Quadrant Shopping Centre in Dunstable, Waterborne Walk in Leighton Buzzard and Bedford Square in Houghton Regis feature a range of high street stores.  The towns also feature several smaller independent stores, with Leighton Buzzard in particular, offering shopping mews and alleys to explore.

Good road and rail connections mean that London and all its attractions are within easy reach.

Updated 21 August 2008