cafe
Caffeine & Machine: The Bowl
The Bedfordshire location set in a dramatic former quarry bowl, opened in 2023 as the brand's third venue.
4 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Lidlington
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Lidlington
Lidlington works well as a base: 10 minutes from Steppingley, 12km from Aston Martin Works Heritage.
Lidlington is in England, United Kingdom, with about 1,200 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Steppingley, about 4 km away.
Lidlington is a small village and civil parish in Central Bedfordshire, England surrounded by farmland, in the Marston Vale. The hamlets of Boughton End and Thrupp End are also part of the parish.
The village has an unusual Gothic-style church built by the Duke of Bedford in 1845 and a thatched pub on its High Street.Read more
Lidlington is set on the Southern part of the vale's 'basin'. The village has a lower school for 5–9 year olds named after Thomas Johnson, a Dick Whittington-type character who was Lord Mayor of London in 1840–41.
Brogborough Lake (also known as Lidlington Lake) at the edge of the village is popular for birdwatching and fishing. The lake is also used for windsurfing and stand up paddle surfing. The nearby landfill site (which was known as Brogborough Landfill site) was the largest landfill in Europe before closing to new deposits in 2009. With a population of about 1300 voters and over 500 homes, Lidlington is defined as a small village. It has a village hall, a pub, a hairdresser and a general store, plus a "farm store" on the A421. Lidlington has retained a daily doorstop milk and newspaper delivery service, but has lost its village post office. The village also has a single congregation Anglican/Baptist/Methodist church, members of which worship regularly in the chapel.
The village lies between the main A421 Bedford to Milton Keynes road and the A507 Ampthill to Woburn road. Lidlington railway station is on the Marston Vale Line which gives good access for walkers along the Greensand Ridge long-distance footpath which passes nearby the village. Local speculation is that the ridge was the model for the "Delectable Mountains" in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Lidlington Hill may also be Bunyan's "Hill of Difficulty".
Lidlington is adjacent to the site of the Millbrook Proving Ground (formerly the Vauxhall test track), which is distinguishable from the air by its large circular track. To the north of the Parish of Lidlington is Cranfield Airport, used by small aircraft and for training flights.
To the west of the village at the former brick works is a business park which is home to Amazon.com UK. The former brickworks to the east of the village are known as Lidlington Pit and forms part of the regeneration of the Forest of Marston Vale area.
Like many other villages in the area it was formerly part of the Duke of Bedford's estate. Hence some London place names e.g. Bedford Square, Russell Square, Eversholt Street, Woburn Place and in Camden, NW1, Lidlington Place can be found near Mornington Crescent underground station.
Lidlington United currently play in the Bedfordshire Football League Premier Division after being promoted in three successive seasons. The village also has a cricket team, and all-weather tennis courts at the recreation ground.
Lidlington is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The entry reads Litinclitone: Abbess of Barking.
In April 2008 the area was listed as a site for the Government's 'ECO-town' competition.
In July 2008 the brownfield locations for the 'ECO-town' were dropped in favour of using the prime farmland surrounding Lidlington.
Early in 2009 the developers' plans for an 'ECO-town' were dropped.
In August 2025 the Lidlington Run Club was launched. All abilities welcome and meet every Monday at 6.30pm for a weekly 5k run.
Where to Stay in Lidlington
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Lidlington?
Within an hour or so of Lidlington: Caffeine & Machine: The Bowl (4 km), Aston Martin Works Heritage (12 km), Bletchley Park (13 km), ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (21 km).
Are there any good drives near Lidlington?
The nearest famous roads are Crystal Palace Circuit and Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Where is Lidlington?
Lidlington is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Steppingley.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,185
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 52.0415, -0.5591
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Lidlington
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Aston Martin Works Heritage
The spiritual home of Aston Martin at the original Newport Pagnell factory, offering heritage servicing, restoration, and sales.
12 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Bletchley Park
Victorian estate where Alan Turing and thousands of codebreakers cracked the German Enigma cipher, arguably shortening WWII by years. Restored huts, working Bombe machine, and the National Museum of Computing next door.
13 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
The UK's largest zoo set across 600 acres of Bedfordshire parkland with drive-through animal enclosures.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Santa Pod Raceway
Europe's premier drag racing venue in Northamptonshire, hosting iconic events like the FIA European Finals and Flame & Thunder.
22 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Super Sausage Cafe
Legendary transport cafe on the A5 Watling Street near Potterspury, a favourite fry-up stop for bikers and classic car runs heading between London and the Midlands since the 1960s.
24 km · about 30 min drive
museum
The Silverstone Experience
Immersive museum at the home of British motorsport telling the story of the past, present, and future of racing.
31 km · about 35 min drive
racetrack
Silverstone Circuit
The home of British motorsport, hosting the first ever F1 World Championship race in 1950
32 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Lidlington
2 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 49 kmThe Backs, CambridgeThe famous riverside meadows behind the Cambridge colleges, offering iconic views of King's College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and punts on the Cam.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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