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.