Whatever your recreational, social or sporting interests, the wide range of opportunities around the Cranfield campus area are sure to offer something for everyone.
Cranfield is right at the centre of two very beautiful and interesting worlds: the modern city of Milton Keynes and the country town of Bedford. Both options are just a few miles away from campus.
Bus service: The university bus that everyone can use. Uno provides local transport links from Bedford to Milton Keynes via Cranfield University. The buses run frequently and at regular times each day.
Train services: London is easily accessible via trains from both Milton Keynes and Bedford. MK Central’s Virgin Trains Avanti West Coast service to Euston, in the heart of the capital, takes just 35 minutes, and other major cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester are also covered. Trains from Bedford to central London take around 45 minutes, and there is also a direct line to the coastal town of Brighton.
Travelling outside the UK: London Luton Airport is just over 32km from Bedford or 40km from Milton Keynes, and accessible by regular train or bus services from both towns. There are also good links with several airports slightly further afield, including London Heathrow, London Stansted, London Gatwick and Birmingham.
During your time at Cranfield we can promise that you will never run out of places to eat and drink, both on and off campus.
If you fancy branching off campus, you will be pleased to find that the surrounding areas of Milton Keynes and Bedford offer a wide range of exciting places to eat including Indian, Chinese, European, Japanese and popular burger joints.
Some popular places to eat in Milton Keynes include the Centre:MK, The Hub and 12th Street.
At the heart of Milton Keynes is the city centre, home to the Centre:MK, a large bustling shopping district, comprising over 230 stores. You’ll find high-end fashion stores such as Harrods, John Lewis, popular department stores such as M&S and Next and an impressive variety of restaurants and snack stalls should you need to take a quick pit stop.
In Bedford, you will find the Harpur shopping centre with 36 well-known and popular stores, from Boots to Primark, and The Arcade where you’re bound to find a ‘one-of-a-kind’ item. Known for its character, Bedford’s popular speciality market is also a place to visit if you enjoy new and fresh food. You will also find plenty of independent stores, from cafés to jewellers, pocketed around this cultural town.
Close to Cranfield is the most successful theatre outside London’s famous West End, Milton Keynes Theatre. Here you will find an exciting 1,400 seat theatre where the stage comes to life with musicals, opera, ballet and pantomime.
Within the centre of MK, you will find two multi-screen cinemas bringing you the latest films: Cineworld (also located in Bedford), which is situated within Xscape and has one of the first 4D cinematic experiences, and the new Odeon IMAX near Milton Keynes Stadium.
Milton Keynes is a designed city with a culture for art and imagination. Paired with the cultural and historical town of Bedford, there is plenty to see.
Bletchley Park allows visitors to dive into a world of mystery and experience the secret world of the Second World War’s code-breaking huts, and is also home to the National Museum of Computing.
Have a passion for art? MK Gallery is a thought-provoking and debate-inducing public gallery offering free access to visitors who wish to see contemporary art featured from around the world. Bedford is home to The Higgins, which showcases a fascinating variety of different exhibitions throughout the year.
Woburn is also well worth a visit, with its stunning Abbey and Gardens and safari park.
Come and find out if Cranfield is the right place for you. We host and attend a range of events, virtually, on campus and around the world!
