WHY?

After a picture postcard rural village with a great pub and a unbelievably easy London commute? Then perhaps Henlow’s the one. This pretty spot (complete with 13th-century church) is well-connected with Flitwick station just a stone’s throw away.

EAT

The Crown (gastro with rooms) would be our go-to for a delightful high-end Sunday lunch and a good wine list. 

SHOP

For most things, you’ll be wanting to pop into Arlesey (3 miles) or Bedford (just over 10 miles), but there is a useful village shop, a chippy, a pet shop (one of those great one where you take the children in and they cry until they come out with a chinchilla). There are also two professional bakers: Shereen’s Cakes and Bakes and The Henlow Baking Company– perfect for that birthday party centrepiece that you really don’t have the skills or time to even attempt. 

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Follow the footpaths between Henlow and Arlesey and take in the majesty of grand Georgian house, Henlow Grange. There are also gorgeous riverside rambles and the Henlow Bridge Lakes to discover.

AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE

As you can see, the prices for nice three/four bed properties are around a very reasonable £400k, with terraces coming in below £300,000. Satchells, Lane & Bennetts are some of the great property agents in the area.

HOT PROPERTY

SCHOOLS

Henlow’s Church of England Academy (rated ‘good’ by Ofsted last year) takes children from years 5 to 8 and if it’s independents you’re after, there’s: St Francis’ College, Princess Helena College and St Christopher School.

BEST KEPT SECRET

The village has a SPA! The gorgeous Henlow Grange Champneys Spa is just outside the village in a glorious old cistercian monastery surrounded by 150 acres of parkland. Bliss.

COMMUTE

44 miles. Woburn is a 2-minute drive to Arlesey Station, with trains taking just shy of 40 minutes from there to St Pancras.  

View the full Top 200 Best Places to Live