Measuring the distances…
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Thinking of living at MK42 7PG? Who your neighbours would be, how far the schools, station, shops, GP and parks are from the postcode itself, which schools are near and how they do, what there is to do at the weekend, and a day in the life here.
Most daily things are within reach on foot; the station and GP are further.
Answer a few questions in Where could I live? and this will use your own priorities. Until then, try a perspective.
Working out the fit…
here typical · scale 0–50%
0 crimes recorded on Orchard Drive in the last 12 months. The street →
here typical · scale 0–50%
here England and Wales · scale 0–100%
here England and Wales · scale 0–50%
| School | Stage | Distance | Latest results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kempston Rural Primary School | Primary | 250 m | 67% met the expected standard |
| Balliol Primary School | Primary | 1.1 km | 39% met the expected standard |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy | Primary | 1.5 km | 46% met the expected standard |
| Great Denham Primary School | Primary | 1.6 km | 72% met the expected standard |
| Springfield Primary School | Primary | 2.2 km | 51% met the expected standard |
| Kempston Academy | Secondary | 900 m | Attainment 8: 40.3 · 7.2% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Daubeney Academy | Secondary | 2.3 km | Attainment 8: 38.5 · 4.2% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College | Secondary | 2.9 km | Attainment 8: 42.1 · 6.8% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Wootton Academy | Secondary | 3.0 km | Attainment 8: 44.3 · 8.1% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Bedford Free School | Secondary | 4.0 km | Attainment 8: 46.5 · 10.3% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Polam School | Independent | 4.0 km | – |
| Bedford Girls' School | Independent | 4.4 km | 42.1% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Sport | Nearest | Distance | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | Addison Howard Park | 2.3 km | 12 |
| Swimming | Kempston Pool | 2.4 km | 10 |
| Golf | The Bedford Golf Clubhouse | 2.0 km | 4 |
| Rowing | Star Rowing Club | 3.9 km | 4 |
| Bowls | Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 2.4 km | 3 |
| Football | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 3 |
| Squash | Towers Health And Racquets Club | 4.6 km | 3 |
| Judo | Kraken MMA & Fitness | 4.6 km | 2 |
| Wrestling | Kraken MMA & Fitness | 4.6 km | 2 |
| Water ski | Box End Water Park Cable Tow | 1.1 km | 1 |
| Ski | Box End Park | 1.2 km | 1 |
| Climbing | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 1 |
| Cricket | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 1 |
| Badminton | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 1 |
| Volleyball | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 1 |
| Basketball | Alexander Sports Centre | 3.8 km | 1 |
The 16 sports with most places shown, of 38. Named clubs, pitches and centres mapped in OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and facilities registered with Sport England Active Places (Contains Data © Sport England, CC BY 4.0). Neither list is complete, so a club not shown may still exist.
The nearest station is Kempston Hardwick, a short drive or bike ride (2.7 km), with 10k journeys a year; its busiest route is to Bedford.
The nearest bus stop is Hill Rise, 400 m away, with a bus about every 50 minutes on weekdays (routes C1, C2).
Central London is 72 km away as the crow flies.
The nearest primary school is Kempston Rural Primary School, a few minutes' walk (250 m); 67% met the expected standard.
None of the state primaries within 2 km has Ofsted's top rating.
The nearest secondary is Kempston Academy, 900 m away; Attainment 8: 40.3 · 7.2% of GCSEs at 8–9.
Top-rated secondaries within reach: Bedford Free School (3.2 km) and Goldington Academy (5.3 km).
It's a family area: 21% of residents are under 15.
The nearest supermarket is Lidl, 350 m away; McKenzie Butchers (850 m) for top-ups.
The nearest GP surgery is The Village Medical Centre (1.6 km), with The Village Pharmacy the closest pharmacy (1.5 km).
For a haircut, Amaani is 1.0 km away.
The nearest full A&E is Bedford Hospital, 2.7 km away, rated requires improvement by the CQC.
At its trust, 63% of major A&E patients were seen within 4 hours in September 2026 (the NHS standard is 95%), and 60% of people waiting for planned treatment had waited under 18 weeks (typical wait 15 weeks).
There's a handful of places to eat and drink locally: 18 restaurants and cafés, 4 pubs and bars.
Archers Rest Cafe & Bistro is the closest café or restaurant (1.0 km), and Kempston Hammers Sports & Social Club the nearest pub (650 m).
Crime is around the national middle: about 119 per 1,000 residents a year.
It's a mix of homes: 13% flats and 18% detached houses.
The typical home here was built in 1965-1972.
The nearest park is Ridgeway Woodland Country Park, 950 m away; for exercise, Box End Park (1.2 km).
Air quality is around the national middle (nitrogen dioxide 9.2 µg/m³).
For holidays, London Luton is 28 km away.
Most households own their home, 14% rent privately.
Written from the figures on this page: Census 2021, DfT journey times (2019), NaPTAN/ORR, Ofsted, CQC, FSA, police.uk and planning registers. Figures describe the neighbourhood around the street.
5 places on this map are within about a 10-minute walk.
Walking times are estimates from straight-line distance. Food businesses from the FSA food hygiene register; schools from the DfE register; nurseries from Ofsted's childcare register; care homes from the Care Quality Commission; pools, sports halls, tennis and golf from Sport England Active Places (contains data © Sport England); everything else © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Map © OpenFreeMap, OpenMapTiles, OpenStreetMap contributors.
More for moving: Moving for a reason · Where could I live? · Places like Kempston West & South · Compare a shortlist
| Bedford Modern School |
|---|
| Independent |
| 4.4 km |
| 47.5% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
Every primary near MK42 7PG, ranked → · Every secondary → Ranked on results, with Ofsted and SEN; each school's page says how hard it is to get in.
No state primary within 2 km has Ofsted's top rating.