Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 16 h 46 min4:40 am – 9:26 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 7 h 43 min8:08 am – 3:51 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People10,648 residentsin the Castle & Kingsway census areaMedian age 37.55,041 households39% of homes owner-occupied19% owned outright17% social rented, 41% private rentedSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Work and commuting7.1% unemployment rate68% of adults are economically active, 5,663 in work, 15% retiredMain industries: retail and wholesale 16%, health and social work 14%, education 11%Getting to work: 33% work from home, 41% go by car, 7% take public transport, 19% walk or cycle65% of those who travel work within 10 km of homeSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
Education and languages42% of adults hold a degree or higher17% have no qualifications, 5% an apprenticeshipMain language: English 79%5% cannot speak English wellSource: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 23°C, lows 12°CColdest month January: highs 8°C, lows 2°C554 mm of rain a year, 11 days with 10 mm or morewettest month October44 days of air frost, 22 summer days above 25°C in a typical yearSource: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991-2020 averages, 2 km grid (highs and lows from the 12 km grid)
Nearby landmarksRink Islandsisland · under a mileLongholme Islandisland · 1.1 miPriory Lakelake · 1.6 miBromham Lakelake · 2.0 miCastle Hillhill · under a mileCardington Spillwaywater · 1.7 miSource: Ordnance Survey Open Names
Parks and green spacesSt Mary's Gardenspark · under a mile · 2 haGreat Denham Country Parkpark · 1.2 mi · 57 haPriory Country Parkpark · 1.4 mi · 115 haThe Bedford Golf Clubgolf course · 1.4 mi · 72 haAddison Howard Parkplaying field · under a mile · 13 haPriory Recreation Groundplaying field · under a mileSource: Ordnance Survey Open Greenspace
Earthquakes36 of magnitude 2 or more within 50 miles since 19708 of magnitude 3+, 1 of magnitude 4+Largest: magnitude 4.0 on 23 Sep 200049 mi away, Warwick, WarwickshireMost recent: magnitude 2.0 on 18 Aug 202522 mi away, Thornborough, BucksSource: British Geological Survey earthquake database
Flood riskRivers and sea: areas at High risk within 500 m of the centrea 1 in 30 chance of flooding in any year, or greaterAlso medium, low risk areas nearbySource: Environment Agency, Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea
Air qualityNO2 11 · PM2.5 7.3 · PM10 12 µg/m³annual mean concentrations, 2024Within UK limits, above the WHO guideline for NO2 and PM2.5Source: DEFRA modelled background pollution maps 2024, 1 km grid
Broadband80% of premises can get gigabit-capable broadband98% can get superfast (30 Mbit/s or more)Every premises can get at least 10 Mbit/s (the universal service obligation)5,245 residential premises in the census areaSource: Ofcom Connected Nations, July 2025
Elevation28 m92 ft above sea levelLand within 1 km ranges from 24 to 40 mSource: Ordnance Survey, OS Terrain 50
Local servicesHospitalCuh At Bedford Hospitalright hereGP surgeryCauldwell Medical Centre34 surgeries within 2 milesright herePharmacyJanssen's Pharmacy18 pharmacies within 2 milesright hereDentistMidland Road Dental Surgeryunder a mileSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
SchoolsWithin 2 mi41 schools22 primary, 5 secondary, 1 all-through, 7 independent, 3 special, 2 nursery, 1 otherPrimaryCauldwell Schoolages 4-11, 415 pupilsunder a mileSecondaryBedford Free Schoolages 11-16, 536 pupilsunder a milePrimaryShackleton Primary Schoolages 4-11, 487 pupilsunder a mileCollegeBedford Collegeunder a mileUniversityCranfield University7.7 miSource: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools
Getting aroundAirportLondon Luton Airport LTN18 miRailway stationBedford St Johnsunder a mileBus stationBus StationBedfordunder a mileBus stops166 within a mileSources: Department for Transport NaPTAN; OurAirports
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the MK43 postcode district.
