Castle Mews, Castle Gate Castle Mews, MK40

You can’t get more central than this, at this spacious ground-floor apartment in the heart of Bedford, benefitting from secure allocated parking and an on-site fitness suite.

Tucked between buildings and accessed via a secluded entryway off Castle Lane, a conversion in 2006 created an exclusive development of just 24 properties. These are ideal as first-time buys, boltholes, or investment opportunities. No.17 is being sold chain-free, and has been receiving £1,000pcm in rent.

While external aspects retain their character, with curved bricks to corners and that warehouse feel, the internal accommodation is contemporary, neutral and ready to move into.

Coming in from the communal hallway via video entry system, the apartment’s entrance hall has wood flooring and a generous storage cupboard. The wood flooring continues into the living space, and there’s another storage cupboard in there too.

The living space is very large, with options for lounge and dining areas, and a workstation if needed. With scope for multiple uses, there’s the ability to work from home at a desk and to host dinner parties at the table without compromising on space or feeling crammed in. Being open to the kitchen gives that sociable atmosphere too.

The monochrome kitchen is fitted in cream cabinetry, black surfacing and high-gloss tiled flooring. There are integrated appliances including an oven, microwave, hob, fridge/freezer and dishwasher, as well as an underset sink and a gap for a washing machine.

As for bedrooms, there are two doubles, both carpeted for comfort. Bedroom one is a substantial size, with more than enough capacity for a superking bed and a whole wall of wardrobes. The windows in the bedrooms, two in each, are frosted to the bottom portion for privacy.

Lastly is the three-piece bathroom, again neutral and modern. There’s a wc, a sink with a built-in mirror behind, and a bath with a shower attachment, a glass screen, and a fully tiled splashback.

Outside, communal areas are tidy, and there’s a quiet courtyard for residents’ use. This is paved, private, and has plants dotted around in freestanding pots. Residents also have use of a fitness suite, down steps from the courtyard. In here is a variety of equipment such as a treadmill, a rowing machine and a selection of weights.

To the front of the building is the parking, set behind secure gates, under cover, and in a stacking system. The apartment comes with one allocated space, and there’s a fob to enter and access.

Being so central, there may not be much need for a car. From the front door, you can be at the station in 15 minutes on foot or under 10 minutes by bike, with trains from Bedford into London in as little as 40 minutes. In only a couple of minutes, you can be sat along the beautiful riverside Embankment, enjoying the thermal spa at the Swan Hotel, or ordering cheese and charcuterie from Decant wine bar in seconds as it’s just steps away from the apartment. Castle Lane also has sophisticated Indian restaurant Thali and Tandoor, vibrant Mexican restaurant Baja, oriental market store Lotus, and The Higgins Pantry, gallery and museum.

Castle Lane is only a tiny cross-section of what Bedford has to offer, and the town centre runs a very long list of cafés, restaurants, bars and pubs, as well as shops, services, activities and entertainment. Live music is something the town excels at, with concerts in the famous parks, at Esquires, and during the River Festival that runs every two years. Bedford’s rugby and football teams are well-known, and there’s strong focus on both sports and watersports in the area. You’ve got a place to call home and culture on your doorstep at Castle Gate.