Herts &amp; Beds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Are you hankering for village life but still want amenities on your doorstep? Peaceful Clophill is ideally located close to buzzy Bedford yet has a population of only 2,000. It punches above its weight for families with an active community life, good schools and a couple of great pubs, plus there are acres of forest and wetlands to discover with walking trails all around.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Flyinghorsemeal-1000x667.jpg" alt="The Flying Horse" class="wp-image-91554" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Flyinghorsemeal-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Flyinghorsemeal-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Flyinghorsemeal.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: The Flying Horse</figcaption></figure>



<p>There are two good pubs in the Clophill. <a href="https://www.theflyinghorse.co.uk/#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Flying Horse</a>&nbsp;is a stylish contemporary barn conversion serving up quality pub food including vegan dishes and kid-friendly options, while the <a href="https://www.stonejug.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Stone Jug</a> on the edge of the village is the place for real ale. If you fancy a bit of otter-watching over your morning coffee (yes please!), try the new <a href="https://www.greensandtrust.org/clophill-lakes-nature-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riverside Café</a> at Clophill Lakes. For more cafes and pubs head to Ampthill a 5-minute drive away&nbsp;– we like the <a href="https://www.surfincafe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Surfin Café</a> and foodie hot-spot the <a href="https://www.acornpubs.co.uk/whitehartampthill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">White Hart</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/NuyardGardenCentre-1000x667.jpg" alt="Clothes at Nuyard Garden Centre &amp; Farm Shop" class="wp-image-92608" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/NuyardGardenCentre-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/NuyardGardenCentre-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/NuyardGardenCentre.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nuyard Garden Centre &amp; Farm Shop</figcaption></figure>



<p>Clophill is quite small but it has a convenience store for essentials and a Post Office. <a href="https://www.woburncountryfoods.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woburn Country Foods</a> at West End Farm delivers fresh quality meat to your door, and <a href="https://parrishfarms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parrish Farms</a> will take your orders for delivery of fresh onions and shallots. <a href="https://www.nuyardwestoning.co.uk/clothing-footwear/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nuyard Garden Centre &amp; Farm Shop</a> near Flitwick is a one-stop shop for all things outdoorsy – they also have a good selection of casual clothing. For indie gifts shops and high-end boutiques your best bet is Ampthill.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/evokebeauty.bedfordshire/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Evoke Beauty</a> in the village will keep your nails up to scratch, while the beauty barn at <a href="https://www.chloe-eleanor.com/the-studio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chloé Eleanor</a> is good for facials, lashes and brows. For hair,&nbsp;check out <a href="https://www.ampthillhairsalon.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lauren Claire</a> in Ampthill or <a href="https://luciahairart.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lucia Hair Art</a>. Need a workout? <a href="https://tribestrengthgym.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tribe Strength Gym</a> has a range of free weights while nearby <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Chapel-End-Farm/100083411047445/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chapel End Farm </a>holds regular wellness walks. There’s also a multi-use games area at nearby <a href="https://www.silsoecommunitysportscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Silsoe Community Sports Centre</a> for all things sporty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>For a small village Clophill packs a solid punch on the social front and the <a href="https://www.clophillvillagehall.com/community-clubs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clophill Village Hall</a> is a bustling hub of activity. It hosts pilates, art classes, toddler groups and a flower club. The village has a traditional summer fete and scarecrow festival every year, and you&#8217;ll find music nights at <a href="https://www.theflyinghorse.co.uk/#/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Flying Horse</a> pub. There’s also a <a href="https://clophillac.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cophill Archery Club</a>.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Clophill-eco-lodges-1000x667.jpg" alt="Clophill Eco Lodges" class="wp-image-85063" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Clophill-eco-lodges-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Clophill-eco-lodges-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/Clophill-eco-lodges.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Clophill Eco Lodges</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.greensandtrust.org/about-clophill-lakes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clophill Lakes</a> is a fab new nature reserve criss-crossed with wetland and woodland walks, and nearby <a href="https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/ampthill-forest-maulden-wood/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maulden Wood</a> is one of the largest and most significant ancient woodlands in Bedfordshire; there’s a well-surfaced path running through it so you can explore on foot, bike or horseback. The off-grid <a href="https://www.clophillecolodges.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clophill Eco Lodges </a>have various trails you can join, and the lodges can be booked if you have too many guests coming at once. <a href="https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/82/countryside/434/walking/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Greensand Ridge Walk</a> is a local gem, offering beautiful views of the Bedfordshire countryside. Woburn with its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woburn.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Abbey&nbsp;</a>(currently closed for refurbishment) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woburnsafari.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Safari Park</a> is a 15-min drive away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Houghton-House-Ampthill-FROM-PR-1000x667.jpg" alt="Houghton House" class="wp-image-85869" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Houghton-House-Ampthill-FROM-PR-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Houghton-House-Ampthill-FROM-PR-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Houghton-House-Ampthill-FROM-PR.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Houghton House</figcaption></figure>



<p>The 17th-century&nbsp;<a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/houghton-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houghton House</a> is a ruined Jacobean mansion overlooking rolling Bedfordshire countryside and is great for a picnic. And if you want more medieval history, head to <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/de-grey-mausoleum-flitton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">De Grey Mausoleum</a> in Flitton – it’s home to sculpted memorials spanning nearly two-and-a-half centuries (1614–1859).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>This loveliness doesn&#8217;t come cheap, and the average house price around here is £680,000. Detached properties fetch around £740,000, and you can get a semi for less than £400,000. Terraces come in at just over £300,000.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Clophillproperty-1000x667.jpg" alt="Clophill property" class="wp-image-92589" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Clophillproperty-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Clophillproperty-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/Clophillproperty.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://www.taylorbrightwell.co.uk/property-for-sale-back-street-clophill-bedford-pi-tbea796.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">4 bed detached property on the market for over £1.5M</a></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.clophillpreschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clophill pre-school</a>, run from the village hall, is rated Outstanding by Osted, plus there’s <a href="https://www.clophillstmarysschool.co.uk/Little-Acorns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acorn Nursery</a> based at Clophill St Mary’s CofE Lower School.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Primaries in the area include <a href="https://www.clophillstmarysschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Mary’s VA CofE Lower School</a> and <a href="https://www.mauldenlower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maulden Lower School</a>, both rated Good by Ofsted.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gravenhurstacademy.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gravenhurst Academy</a> is a 5-min drive away and is rated Outstanding. For state secondary schools there is <a href="https://www.redbornecommunitycollege.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Redborne Upper School &amp; Community College</a> in Ampthill and <a href="https://www.etonbury.org.uk/welcome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Etonbury Academy</a> in Arlesey, also both Good. Nearby independents include <a href="https://stcolumbascollege.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Columba’s College</a> and <a href="https://bedfordgreenacre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford Greenacre School</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Fun fact – the village of Clophill&nbsp;is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Clopelle. It means &#8216;tree-stump hill&#8217;.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Public transport is limited so you are going to be in the car a lot. But the village is well-connected by road with easy access to the A6 for trips to Bedford (20 mins) and it has good links to the M1 and A1. Arlesey train station is 15 mins away – from there you can zip into Kings Cross in less than 40 minutes.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 260 Best Places to Live</a></em>.&nbsp;</p>


Clophill

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