Herts &amp; Beds


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



<p>This picture postcard village, complete with ancient bridge crossing the River Great Ouse, also boasts a country park <em>and</em> a village green, as well as tonnes of stunning countryside walks to discover. On the boundary of three counties: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, Harrold is believed to have been occupied since the Stone Age. All this within a sweet 10 miles from Bedford, shall we take a closer look?</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="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Plate of food at the oakley arms harrold" class="wp-image-86167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/food-at-the-oakley-arms-harrold.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On the menu at the Oakley Arms</figcaption></figure>



<p>Not just a village pub, but one of the best in the area, <a href="https://www.theoakleyharrold.co.uk/">The Oakley Arms</a> is a 400-year-old thatched pub run independently by a husband and wife team. You’ll also find another pub with rooms, an Indian restaurant and a couple of chippies for takeaway night. There’s the <a href="https://hocp.co.uk/visit/visitor-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dragonfly café</a> at the Harrold Odell Country Park, as well as a community café at the <a href="https://harroldcentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrold Centre</a>, which opens on Mondays for tea and cake and hosts a monthly Sunday brunch. And, in the nearby village of Felmersham is a farm-to-table pub with boutique rooms, <a href="https://www.thesunfelmersham.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Sun Inn</a>.</p>



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



<p>It&#8217;s not a shop &#8217;til you drop kinda place, but there is a Co-op, a butchers and a couple of florists – <a href="https://www.elworthyflowers.co.uk/">Elworthy Flowers</a> and <a href="https://www.untamedflorals.co.uk/">Untamed Florals</a> – in the village. Plus you can stock up on ice creams and sorbets at local producers, <a href="https://www.riversidedairy.co.uk/">Riverside Dairy</a> in the next village of Carlton. You’ll have to head into Bedford for your proper retail therapy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</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/Tofte-manor-1000x667.jpg" alt="Tofte manor " class="wp-image-86168" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Tofte-manor-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Tofte-manor-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Tofte-manor.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tofte Manor</figcaption></figure>



<p>The village has its own medical practice so you won’t have to schelp miles for your check up. Whilst Olney (over the border in Bucks), Biddenham and Bedford will be your go-tos for beauty treatments, there is one hairdresser in the village, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/no68atharrold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No 68</a>, and the lovely <a href="https://gracewakerhair.co.uk/">Grace Waker Hair</a> in nearby Oakley. <a href="https://www.toftemanor.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tofte Manor</a> in Sharnbrook is a spiritual centre offering wellbeing retreats focusing on yoga, meditation, breathwork and more. As for fitness, there are no slick private gyms here, but you can have a go at <a href="https://freshairnw.simplybook.it/v2/">Fresh Air Nordic Walking</a> and the green gym at Harrold Odell Country Park. There’s also a <a href="https://harroldcentre.co.uk/tennis-club/">tennis club</a> at the Harrold Centre, a <a href="http://www.carltonsquashclub.co.uk/">squash club</a> in Carlton and <a href="https://sportscentre.sharnbrook.academy/">Sharnbrook Community Sports Centre</a> with a gym, fitness studios, HIIT and yoga classes.</p>



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



<p>For a small, yet growing (in recent years the population has doubled!) village there&#8217;s a lively local hub in the <a href="https://harroldcentre.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrold Centre</a>. It was completely redeveloped in 2017 to serve all ages through arts, sports and social events. It also has an outdoor kids&#8217; play area and two tennis courts. You&#8217;ll discover a plethora of local groups to join from choir and am dram to allotment clubs and the rather niche Harrold Calvados society! You&#8217;ll also find a local <a href="http://harroldandcarltonfc.co.uk/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">football club</a> and <a href="http://harrold.play-cricket.com//" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cricket club</a> in the village, plus golf, bowling, tennis and squash groups. </p>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-odell-country-park-from-their-website.jpg" alt="Harrold Odell Country Park" class="wp-image-86170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-odell-country-park-from-their-website.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-odell-country-park-from-their-website-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-odell-country-park-from-their-website-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Harrold Odell Country Park</figcaption></figure>



<p>The biggie, which is right on the doorstep is the <a href="https://hocp.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrold Odell Country Park</a> &#8211; 144 acres of parkland with two lakes and riverside meadow walks as well as a Nature Reserve for wildlife spotting. It&#8217;s open all year round and has won a Green Flag Award for 17 years on the trot! There are kids&#8217; play areas and a calendar of events from conservation volunteering to guided health walks. Just around the corner is <a href="https://www.turveyhouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Turvey House</a>, which is open for special events throughout the year, and if you&#8217;re greenfingered, <a href="https://www.kathybrownsgarden.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kathy Brown&#8217;s Garden</a> in Stevington is well worth a visit. For something more adrenaline fuelled try <a href="https://boxendpark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Box End Water Park</a>, this side of Bedford, or <a href="https://santapod.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Santa Pod Raceway</a> &#8211; home of the European drag racing champs &#8211; just over the border into Northants. </p>



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



<p>The Harrold Centre hosts art exhibitions, film nights and craft fairs. For theatre, award-winning community venue, <a href="https://www.sharnbrookmilltheatre.co.uk/">Sharnbrook Mill Theatre</a>, is only five miles away. Otherwise it’s into Bedford for the big hitters, including <a href="https://www.theplacebedford.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Place Bedford</a>, The <a href="https://www.quarrytheatre.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quarry Theatre</a>, <a href="https://www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bedford Corn Exchange</a> and Vue and Cineworld cinemas.</p>



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



<p>With an average house price under £405,000 you could snap yourself up a great deal here. Detached properties fetch around £520,000, whilst the average semi costs under £400,000 and terraces come in at just over £250,000. </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/2/2024/09/Harrold-Artistry-1000x667.jpg" alt="detached house in Harrold" class="wp-image-86215" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-Artistry-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-Artistry-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/Harrold-Artistry.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Stunning detached 4-bed on the high street. <a href="https://artistryproperty.co.uk/property-details/?pid=25483912" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £825,000</a></figcaption></figure>



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



<p><a href="https://www.harroldpreschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrold Pre-school</a> is handily located in the village, or you&#8217;ll find <a href="https://www.acornearlyyears.org.uk/sharnbrook" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acorn Day Nursery</a> in Sharnbrook. Plus <a href="https://www.carltoncofeprimary.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carlton C of E Primary</a>, <a href="https://www.sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sharnbrook Primary</a> and <a href="https://www.pinchmill.beds.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pinchmill Primary</a> all have a pre-school, too. </p>



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



<p>You&#8217;ll find one Good rated primary in the village, <a href="https://www.harrold.beds.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harrold Primary Academy</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.sharnbrookprimary.beds.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sharnbrook Primary</a> and <a href="https://www.pinchmill.beds.sch.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pinchmill Primary</a> nearby, whilst <a href="https://www.carltoncofeprimary.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carlton C of E Primary</a> is rated Outstanding. As for secondaries you&#8217;ll have to go a bit further, to <a href="https://sharnbrook.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sharnbrook Academy</a>, <a href="https://lincroft.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lincroft Academy</a>, or there&#8217;s a very strong group of independents in Bedford including the all-through <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bedford-girls-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford Girls</a>, all boys&#8217; <a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/bedford-school/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford School</a>, co-ed <a href="https://www.bedmod.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bedford Modern</a> and <a href="https://www.polamschool.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Polam</a><a href="https://www.polamschool.co.uk/"> School</a> and <a href="https://www.pilgrims-school.info/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pilgrims School</a> for Primary. </p>



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



<p>Paul McCartney performed the ‘premiere’ of <em>Hey Jude</em> in the village of Harrold in June 1968, more than a month before it was recorded and released to the public. There was a friendly rivalry between local pubs The Magpie (now closed) and the Oakley Arms as to which one actually hosted the star performance. All together now &#8211; <em>Naah nah nah na-na-na naah</em>.</p>



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



<p>Ok, so it&#8217;s not ideal for the London commute &#8211; the nearest train station being 11 miles away in Bedford, which then gets you to St Pancras within 50-60 mins. However if you work in Bedford it&#8217;s only around a 10 mile drive, whilst Northampton and Milton Keynes are both 15 miles. </p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Harrold

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