Bedford area

Hi all

DH has an interview with Mid Bedfordshire District Council on Monday, so IF he gets an offer, we may be moving. The council house will move from Ampthill to Shefford sometime mid 2006, so we will probably want accommodation in an easy commute to Shefford. Public transport ideal, but we can get a car if needed.

I think Flitwick is the nearest railway station.

Do any of you guys know anything about Mid Beds?

What, no one lives in Bedfordshire? I heard it was rural but wow! 

sorry...i don't live in that area.  but i just wanted to post something so i could stay off your sh*t list of people who didn't respond to your post.   

sorry i couldn't be of more help. 

i came across someone else that was asking the same thing as you:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=2170.0;topicseen

there wasn't a response to that either. 

LOL

Well, apparently if we move there, an American will be a novelty to the locals!!

I've been considering Beds. as a possibility for our move to the UK.  I used to live in Luton many years ago, but I'm told it's gone downhill quite a bit since the 1980s.  I'm looking for a place, though, that has a reasonable commute time to London, so more lower Beds.  Good luck.

I spent a good many years of my childhood in Luton, after moving out from north London with my parents when I was young.    I left in 1980 though, so I'm not in a position to comment as to the best or worst places for housing etc.  these days. 

I used to live in Luton many years ago, but I'm told it's gone downhill quite a bit since the 1980s. 

My parents' decision to leave in 1980 was based on the way that they saw the place had started to deteriorate just since we moved there in 1971.   I've been back for a visit a few times, and in fact I took a trip back to Luton just last year.  Seeing how it's changed in 25 years,  I know my parents made the right decision.

I wouldn't even consider living in Luton these days.  The final straw for me was when I walked back to my old junior school and saw that's it's now been turned into a mini-fortress, with CCTV, barriers, and dire warning notices about trespassing.   

By BIL and his family live in Wooton which isn't really my cup of tea, but it's pleasant enough with a handful of nice pubs and a bit of green space.

We think if he gets the offer we'll live in Milton Keynes.

Have you been to Milton Keynes, Carla? Not being funny, but there are loads of prettier places in north Bucks....

We think if he gets the offer we'll live in Milton Keynes.

I hope you like roundabouts!   

i must admit MK is one of those places i like to visit.  for ikea, habitat, easy to get around, etc.  but pretty sure i wouldn't want to live there.  one of my favorite towns nearby is olney.  might be too far for you though.   

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, I'm not that bothered about a place being pretty as long it is convenient, big enough to suit me, and comfortable to me. I live in Nuneaton at the moment (which some people would consider a real dump!) and like it just fine. I have been to MK and thought it felt comfortably American...and anything would be better than Flitwick or Ampthill, from what DH reports!

We'll keep our options open, obviously, and they may not even want him, at the end of the day!

Olney is a 37 minute drive to Shefford, so could be an option. THanks for the tip!

they have the funiest pancake races for shrove tuesday.  would love to go one of these years.  and they have a homemade ice cream parlor.  i don't live there but i often drive to get to the M1. 

The biggest towns will probably be Luton and Milton Keynes.
My personal pros and cons:
Bedfordshire/MK area is pretty boring and the towns seem rathe lifeless.  Having been to MK for work quite a bit it is rather American in feel but I imagine everyone scatters out of town after work and it's not very easy to get around without a car, in which you'll have lots of fun with roundabouts and wondering where you've gotten yourself lost after having driving around 50 roundabouts.

There is some nice countryside if you get out in some of the villages.  Luton airport is nearby which is great for trips to the Continent and around the British Isles.

There are some nice amenities in MK.  There's a big shopping area with lots of well known shops.  There's the big snowdome and a number of golf courses about as well as David Lloyd gym, etc.

The train out of MK is fast to London and the Northwest and is a major stopping point.

Having spoken to a few people moving to MK, there are some rough bits in the centre, I understand Coffee Hall is *REALLY* rough, I know there are a few other really not very nice areas.  I think going out past Shenley west/northwest is supposed to get pretty nice.  But, you will be a car travel to the station.