Measuring the distances…
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Thinking of living at MK42 8BU? 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 is 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%
3 crimes recorded on Foster Road 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Road Primary Academy | Primary | 350 m | 46% met the expected standard |
| Camestone School | Primary | 950 m | 48% met the expected standard |
| Balliol Primary School | Primary | 1.1 km | 39% met the expected standard |
| Springfield Primary School | Primary | 1.2 km | 51% met the expected standard |
| Queen's Park Academy | Primary | 1.5 km | 61% met the expected standard |
| Daubeney Academy | Secondary | 1.2 km | Attainment 8: 38.5 · 4.2% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Kempston Academy | Secondary | 1.7 km | Attainment 8: 40.3 · 7.2% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College | Secondary | 1.9 km | Attainment 8: 42.1 · 6.8% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Bedford Free School | Secondary | 2.3 km | Attainment 8: 46.5 · 10.3% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Polam School | Independent | 2.5 km | – |
| Bedford Girls' School | Independent | 2.7 km | 42.1% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Bedford Modern School | Independent | 3.1 km | 47.5% of GCSEs at 8–9 |
| Sport | Nearest | Distance | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | Addison Howard Park | 580 m | 16 |
| Swimming | Kempston Pool | 710 m | 11 |
| Golf | The Bedford Golf Club | 1.4 km | 6 |
| Rowing | Star Rowing Club | 2.2 km | 5 |
| Bowls | Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club | 770 m | 3 |
| Football | Alexander Sports Centre | 2.5 km | 3 |
| Squash | John Bunyan Sports And Fitness | 3.1 km | 3 |
| Badminton | Alexander Sports Centre | 2.5 km | 2 |
| Judo | Kraken MMA & Fitness | 3.0 km | 2 |
| Wrestling | Kraken MMA & Fitness | 3.0 km | 2 |
| Water ski | Box End Water Park Cable Tow | 1.7 km | 1 |
| Ski | Box End Park | 1.8 km | 1 |
| Canoe | Viking Kayak Club | 2.2 km | 1 |
| Climbing | Alexander Sports Centre | 2.5 km | 1 |
| Cricket | Alexander Sports Centre | 2.5 km | 1 |
| Volleyball | Alexander Sports Centre | 2.5 km | 1 |
The 16 sports with most places shown, of 42. 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 Bedford, a short drive or bike ride (2.0 km), with 3.8m journeys a year; its busiest route is to London St Pancras International.
The nearest bus stop is Saxon Centre, 400 m away, with a bus about every 11 minutes on weekdays (routes 1, C10, C1, C2).
Central London is 73 km away as the crow flies.
The nearest primary school is Bedford Road Primary Academy, a few minutes' walk (350 m); 46% met the expected standard.
The closest top-rated primary is Great Denham Primary School (1.4 km).
The nearest secondary is Daubeney Academy, 1.2 km away; Attainment 8: 38.5 · 4.2% of GCSEs at 8–9.
Top-rated secondaries within reach: Bedford Free School (2.3 km) and Goldington Academy (4.3 km).
The nearest supermarket is Tesco, 300 m away; Lloyds Chemist (300 m) for top-ups.
The nearest GP surgery is King Street Surgery (350 m), with Speedwell Pharmacy the closest pharmacy (350 m).
For a haircut, Star Nails is 300 m away.
The nearest full A&E is Bedford Hospital, 1.8 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).
It's quiet in the evenings: only 8 restaurants, cafés and pubs in the neighbourhood itself.
Hub Club at Project229 is the closest café or restaurant (300 m), and Kempston Constitutional Club the nearest pub (350 m).
Crime is around the national middle: about 70 per 1,000 residents a year.
There are 12 listed buildings.
It's a mix of homes: 18% flats and 30% detached houses.
The typical home here was built in 1973-1982.
The nearest park is Addison Howard Park, 450 m away; for exercise, Cryselco Park Pavilion (1.1 km).
Air quality is around the national middle (nitrogen dioxide 8.4 µg/m³).
For holidays, London Luton is 29 km away.
Most households own their home, 15% 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.
42 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.
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