Clifton is Between Henlow and Shefford, 5 miles from  Biggleswade. It is near the River Ivel and has attractive features including a  village pond and thatched cottages.

Local facilities include Lower and  Upper Schools, a Post Office/store, two general stores and a butchers. The  village stores was formerly the Chequers pub, and in front of the building is  the mounting stone used by the Biggleswade Harriers to help riders mount their  horses. It is served by a mobile library and is on the main bus route from  Hitchin to Bedford.

All Saints Church, built about 1320, was enlarged in  the 15th century by the addition of a chapel. A large west window was inserted  and parts of the tower rebuilt. It has a 13th century font, a painted screen  under the tower and a huge alabaster 16th century tomb dated 1549. The Baptist  Chapel used to be known as 'sore fingers chapel' because it was built by a straw  plait merchant called Lenton who gave a lot of work to locals.

Clifton  was one of the county's main centres for making rake and scythe handles called  'snaths'. The firm making them, called Slater, was founded in 1823 and closed  during the First World War. They also made hammer hefts, mangle rollers, lamp  lighters and skittles and balls for local public houses.