Wilstead is a village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated within the Borough of Bedford, approximately five miles south of the Bedford town centre, just off the A6 road connecting Bedford to Luton.
While the village is commonly known as Wilstead, the civil parish retains the name Wilshamstead. Historically, the name has been recorded in various spellings, including Wylhamstead. As of 2005, the population of the parish was estimated at 2,550 residents, the majority of whom reside in the main village along with smaller hamlets and isolated houses.