Cranfield is a village and civil parish in the west of Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Milton Keynes. It had a population of 4,909 in 2001, increasing to 5,369 at the 2011 Census. and is in Central Bedfordshire.

The hamlet of Bourne End is located just north of Cranfield, and is part of the civil parish. Wharley End was a separate settlement, but now forms the northern part of Cranfield village, by the university.

Cranfield is a village and civil parish in the west of Bedfordshire, England, between Bedford and Milton Keynes. It had a population of 4,909 in 2001, increasing to 5,369 at the 2011 Census. and is in Central Bedfordshire.

The hamlet of Bourne End is located just north of Cranfield, and is part of the civil parish. Wharley End was a separate settlement, but now forms the northern part of Cranfield village, by the university.

Cranfield's airfield was originally an RAF training airfield and was used after the war by the College of Aeronautics, which has now become Cranfield University. The future of the airfield is uncertain - one runway was closed to allow the construction of the Nissan Technical Centre and technology park which is west of the University at the entrance to the campus. It is being developed on a phased basis by Cranfield University and its development partner. The park's objective is to encourage knowledge-based companies to locate their activities on the park and to encourage the growth of such companies. A major extension to the technology park was started in January 2007 using land on Cranfield Airport.

In August 2005 a new business incubation centre was opened. It was designed to encourage and support hi-tech and knowledge based pre-start and early start companies during the formative stages of their development.

Kennett Aviation, who previously operated a range of vintage aircraft from Cranfield, was forced to move to North Weald due to these plans. However, Cranfield is still home to one of the few remaining serviceable English Electric/BAC Lightning jet fighters.