Flitwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flitwick |
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 Church of St Peter and St Paul |
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 Flitwick
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| Population | 12,700 12,998 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TL033350 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDFORD |
| Postcode district | MK45 |
| Dialling code | 01525 |
| Police | Bedfordshire |
| Fire | Bedfordshire and Luton |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Flitwick, is a town and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "a hamlet on the River Flitt". The spelling Flytwyk appears in 1381.
The nearby River Flit runs through Flitwick Moor, a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Contents
Location
It is broadly equidistant between Bedford 10 mi (16 km) and Luton 10 mi (16 km). It shares many services with the neighbouring town of Ampthill, with which it shares a boundary.
Nearby settlements
Ampthill, Maulden, Clophill, Flitton, Greenfield, Steppingley, Pulloxhill, Westoning, Harlington, Barton le Clay, Tingrith, Eversholt, Millbrook
Leisure
There is a sports centre with a 25-metre swimming pool with kids pool attached. The leisure centre also has a gym, squash courts with leagues and gymnasium. A new leisure centre was built for opening in early March 2015. The existing leisure site's future is yet to be decided.
Flitwick Town Council own and operate from The Rufus Centre on the outskirts of the town on Steppingley Road. The Centre is also a busy conference and special event venue with office space to lease.
Flitwick has four pubs; the Crown, the Swan, the Bumble Bee and the Blackbirds. The pub formerly known as the Crown (or the Wheatsheaf) re-opened as an Indian restaurant called the Indian Lodge. A membership-operated social club, The Flitwick Club, is situated on The High Street, opposite the Drivestyle yard.
Center Parcs Woburn Forest opened in July 2014 on the outskirts of Flitwick at Warren Wood.
Transport
Road
Flitwick is 5 miles (8 km) from junction 12 of the M1 motorway.
Bus
The main bus services are as follows:
42 (Grant Palmer) provides an hourly daytime service Mondays to Saturdays providing a connection to: Westoning, Harlington, Toddington, Ampthill, Houghton Conquest, and Bedford. Mondays to Saturdays – no Sunday service.
42 (Stagecoach) provides an hourly daytime service Mondays to Saturdays to Ampthill, Kempston and Bedford. Mondays to Saturdays – no Sunday service.
44 (Grant Palmer) Bedford via A6 to Bedford, Wilstead, Flitwick, Silsoe (Monday - Friday Only)
200 (Grant Palmer) provides a two hourly service to Ampthill, Shefford, Clifton and Biggleswade. Mondays to Fridays only.
34 (Grant Palmer) Milton Keynes
Rail
Flitwick has a station on the Thameslink line (First Capital Connect took over the franchise on 1 April 2006, taken over again on 14 September 2014 by Govia Thameslink Railway). Trains go north to Bedford and south to Luton, St Albans, London, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, East Grinstead, and Brighton making it a popular place to live for commuters.
Landmarks
Flitwick is famous for its Flitwick Manor House, currently used as a hotel and restaurant.
There is also physical evidence of a Norman era motte and bailey castle site, locally known as "The Mount".
The Church of St Peter & St Paul is located in the town.
Sport
It has four football teams: Flitwick Town, who play in the Bedfordshire County League Premier Division, Flitwick Ladies, who play in the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Women's First Division, Flitwick Eagles, and Dinamo Flitwick. It is also home to Flitwick Cricket Club (The Otters) which has over 50 adult playing members and 160 Colts.
Notable people
- Henry John Sylvester Stannard RBA FRSA (12 July 1870 – 21 January 1951), British watercolour artist whose patrons included the British Royal Family.
- Michael Crowther, prominent American wildlife conservationist and founder of the Indianapolis Prize, grew up in Flitwick, living there from age 4 until age 17. He attended Flitwick Primary School and Bedford Modern School.
- Brian Stein, former Luton Town professional footballer, lives in Flitwick.
- Malcolm Wynn, former English cricketer, was born in the town
Images for kids
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The Blackbirds public house
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Flitwick Manor
