Bedford vs Milton Keynes – is Bedford basically like Luton?

[MNfamily]

Hi all,

Would really appreciate some honest opinions.

We’re a couple in our early 30s expecting our first baby and have saved a £40k deposit. We’re realistically looking up to around £400k and hoping for a detached 3-bed. We can afford more but we don’t have a bigger deposit saved.

The places coming up in budget are mainly Luton (which we really don’t want — I went to uni there and didn’t love it), Milton Keynes (which seems to have conflicting views), and Bedford.

Bedford looks quite nice on paper, but it’s so close to Luton that I can’t help worrying it might feel similar? That’s probably unfair, but I don’t know the area well enough.

My family are in London/Surrey and husbands are in Lincolnshire so we need somewhere not too far from both.

We’re after somewhere safe and family-friendly with green space and decent schools. We’re not bothered about nightlife or being in the middle of everything. We also don’t have family nearby, so somewhere that feels like a nice community would be nice.

If you live in Bedford, what’s it actually like day to day? Does it feel anything like Luton, or completely different? And if anyone knows Milton Keynes too, how would you compare them ??

Open to other suggestions as well if there’s somewhere we’ve not thought about!

Thanks x

No, Bedford is nothing like Luton. I worked in Luton for many years, live between the two towns, but go to Bedford a couple of times a week.

The river and embankment are lovely. The very centre of the shopping area isn't all that, as per most town centres. Cheap shops, international shops and charity shops etc. But walk a bit further and you've got some great independents, and the Castle road area of Victorian houses and parks is great, with cool shops and cafes etc. There are loads of nice parks, buses to Oxford and Cambridge, trains every fifteen minutes into London. Schools are good, and there are plenty of nice areas to live in. There's a very significant Italian population that dates back to the brickworks, so you'll never be short of nice restaurants and lovely delis.

If you choose to live somewhere in between (so pretty much equidistant from the three towns you mention) Ampthill is a lovely old town, Flitwick larger and with the station for trains to London and Bedford. Very easy access to the M1 from both, and nice semi rural feel.

Milton Keynes is much maligned. Mainly because most people just see it from the main roads, which are very grid-like and don't take you through communities.

It has LOADS of parks, green space and lakes, plus the Grand Union Canal for nice walks. Good shopping etc. Some areas are more village-like than others. Some a bit stark. But it's not a bad place to live by any means, and again, good transport infrastructure.

No, Bedford is nothing like Luton. They are entirely different.

This is seven years old, but the comments section at the very end might be useful to you

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/feb/15/lets-move-to-bedford-bedfordshire?CMP=ShareAndroidAppOther

Bedford definitely not like luton. I'd be looking at the surrounding towns and villages as there's some really lovely places.
I've lived in Milton Keynes and it's got some really lovely parts and some not so nice, it was the most convenient place I've ever lived, so easy to get around, loads of shops and bars, cinema, gyms, snow dome, theatre, parks and woods and lakes. Was pretty great at the time.

As someone who has lived in two of these places, and was born in the third, I have a couple of thoughts. Bedford is not like Luton.I agree with the points saraclara makes. Obviously the independent schools in Bedford are well regarded in addition to the state schools. When (not if) the Universal theme park development begins, there will be some interesting career opportunities throughout the area, which includes MK.
Both locations have significant green spaces, are ideal for commuters and there are various sports facilities available.
I found a strong sense of community in Bedford.

I live slap bang between the two, and work in Luton.
Bedford has some very nice areas, especially near the river, and some of the surrounding villages are lovely. Luton on the other hand ……

Depends who you ask.

I have lived in and hated both if that helps.

Rugby could be a good place to look. Very family friendly, a variety of schools, nice countryside and all the usual amenities. The traffic has become very busy the last 10 years and they have been building a lot of new estates, and not always the doctors, shops and schools to go with them.

Check out Houlton - a lovely new town/village that is basically Rugby, I think it is getting a new train station too, it was built as a community not just a shove 'em up cheap meet our new homes targets, pack 'em in tight type place, it's actually really nice. Rugby central is 50mins to London Euston.

It's also a great place to get to anywhere else with all the motorways and A roads in close vicinity, Birmingham international airport s a 15 minute train ride away too!

The only thing Bedford has in common with Luton is the train company that serves them.

John Betjeman were he alive today would have written his 'come friendly bombs' poem about Luton, not Slough.

Have you thought about Leighton Buzzard? Smaller than the others but with a pleasant Georgian high street and amazing train link into London if that’s important. Decent schools. Good community vibe. You’d definitely get a (60s/70s) 3 bed for £400k

Bedford is fine. Plenty of facilities. Nice and central. Riverside is lovely. It’s a bit dull but MUCH nicer than Luton. Your budget will be tight though for a detached 3 bed. Maybe a small semi in an OK area or a 2 bed terrace in the parks area.
Could look at Kempston for a cheaper house with potential to increase value with Universal studios. Kempston is not currently very nice though!
Do you need to commute?

I’m ex MK, it is a good place for families if you pick the right area. It’s got some really positive features.

I don’t much like Bedford but Bedfordshire villages are nice. Echo Flitwick and Ampthill.

I’d also look further up the A1 - I’m now in Rutland and you’d get something nice for £400k and very easy to London and Lincs

I wonder what impact the planned universal studios park will have house prices in the area. Good short term rental potential in future.

saraclara mentions Ampthill and Flitwick but not sure OP's budget will stretch to that!

I'd describe Bedford as dull. The town centre is run down and it's desperately sad. The river is lovely and Castle Road is entitled nicer than people expect, if a bit hipster is your vibe. Not really a place with detached houses there, though and property in that part of Bedford is pricy.

Luton is incredibly different. They aren't even all that close together so that comment puzzled me.

Bedford could definitely do with investment. I am not sure Universal will be as good a thing as people say - that's for a different thread.

Bedford traffic is pretty awful.

MK is very green because it was planned that way. More detached properties and some good facilities. Lacks soul.

Hands down Bedford every time. Big fat no to Luton and Milton Keynes is enough to send you into a terminal depression, ghastly place.
Personally I'd be looking at villages unless you don't drive.
I was brought up in Pavenham on my grandparents farm but it isn't the social hub it was back then its very much a golf and retirement village now.
They are building a Universal Studios theme park in Kempston just outside Bedford so it's going to be pretty mad when that's done, but hopefully it will give the economy a boost.

Bedford has seen better days but miles better than Luton. The river is Bedfords saving grace. Bedford hospital is dire.

I am a fan of MK, it has great amenities and some lovely areas to live like Stony Stratford, Woburn Sands, Bow Brickhill and other villages on the outskirts.
Loads of sporting clubs and a lakes for rowing, sailing, canoeing and you can learn to water ski plus the snow dome. Best other areas are Caldecotte, Woolston, Willen Lake.

To add i know both areas well and if you need any info ask i will try to help.

Bedford has its downsides like most towns but it’s a million times better than Luton and as PP have mentioned, the areas around especially some of the villages are lovely. MK isn’t pretty but it has a lot for families. Further North into Northamptonshire or as mentioned Rutland, there are some really nice spots too.

I spent 20 years living in a village near Bedford and never once visited Luton. There's so little connection, I'm always surprised to remember the two towns are in the same county,

However, have you also considered St Neots or Huntingdon? Possibly even Stamford. All well placed for travel to London or Lincs.

Demographics are different and so the type of men you get harassed by are different.
Both shitholes tho

The villages on the outskirts of Milton Keynes have a nice feel, or even north MK towards Northants. My family and I lived in Leighton Buzzard for many years but moved north of MK and got a lot more house for our money. Milton Keynes itself has good facilities, entertainment and shopping etc but I wouldn’t want to live in the thick of it. I personally don’t like Bedford or Luton. Like some of the other posters have mentioned St Neots is nice but is more pricey as is closer to Cambridge.

I don't think St Neot's is more expensive. It's a bit further than London and has lots of building going on of more of the kind of housing stock that might suit OP. Also, new town (Wintringham) being built .

Within a few years, MK and Bedford will virtually join together. The villages in between Bedford and MK will be swallowed up.

Re the data above interested in the hot days. DH is obsessed with weather stats : Bedford is quite often the warmest place at night. It's stuffy.

Bedford is nicer than Luton but I wouldn’t choose to live there personally. Another vote for St Neots or Ampthill