The parish borders the town of Bedford, with Mowsbury Park, farmland and Freeman's Common acting as a buffer between the two settlements.

A housing estate called Woodlands Park was established in the southern part of Ravensden parish in the late 2000s.

The estate is separated from the village by farmland, with vehicular access to the community coming from the Brickhill area of Bedford.

In April 2015 Woodlands Park became part of Brickhill parish, but remains part of Great Barford ward for elections to Bedford Borough Council Pubs The village is currently served by one pub, The Horse and Jockey, which sits at the top of Ravensden hill directly next to the Church, though previously there had been three other pubs; The Case Is Altered, on Church End, though this closed in 1995 and is now in residential use; The Blacksmiths Arms, previously The Cross, which was situated at the crossroads, and which closed in the early 2000s; and The White Lion, which was opposite the site of The Blacksmiths Arms, until the two came under the same ownership in 1941, at which time the decision was taken to close the former and transfer its licence to the latter.

Schools Ravensden (Church of England) Primary Academy is situated at Vicarage Close in the centre of the main village.