Part of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station.

However most of the former RAF station is actually in the parish of Eastcotts, as is the settlement of Shortstown, which was originally built by Short Brothers for its workers.

[citation needed] Shorts also built a housing estate, opposite the site, which they named Shortstown.

For both airships and barrage balloons, Cardington manufactured its own hydrogen, in the Gas Factory, using the steam reforming process.

217 MU, RAF Cardington, produced all the gases used by the Royal Air Force until its closure in April 2000; including gas cylinder filling and maintenance.

In the 2000s decade, the site was used for the development of a new design of airship, the Skycat, by the company Hybrid Air Vehicles.

use the McMullen Park stadium, and play in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One.

The course was the first if its kind to be built in the UK, and hosts national canoe slalom competitions and cups.