In Features

Bedfordshire might not be the first place to jump to mind when looking for somewhere to spend a few days but being so close to London and full of beautiful countryside, it is certainly a county that should be high on your list of places to visit.

It isn’t just rolling countryside, though you will find it in abundance, there are huge country estates, award-winning attractions, elegant country towns and amazing 18th century architecture to enjoy.

Bedford

We’ll start off with the county town, Bedford has a wonderfully diverse cultural hub and plenty of fun things to entertain you while visiting. You’ll find museums giving you background to the town, plus the Higgins Bedford Museum where you’ll find beautiful water colours and historical artefacts, plus plenty of interesting historical places to look at in the town’s Castle Quarter.

Dunstable

This market town is home to Whipsnade Zoo, run by the Zoological Society of London and is one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in this region. Other top attractions include the Dunstable Priory, a church dating back to Norman times and the site of the divorce between Henry VIII and Catherin of Aragon during his reign. The town also boasts a fabulous filter with a busy calendar throughout the year and miles of countryside surrounding it leading towards the Chiltern Hills.

Biggleswade

This small market town is home to an interesting Victorian Flour Mill which can be visited and was once the home of Jordan’s Cereals which started in the town. It is also where fans of aviation will love finding out more about another former resident, Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth, who has a fleet of early aircraft including some rare machines from the Edwardian time. Be sure to stop by to take a look at his collection!

Luton

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Luton is the site of an airport and that’s it, Luton is actually has a wide range of interesting family friendly attractions including the Stockwood Discovery Centre and the Wardown Park Museum both of which regularly host exhibits and events as well as showing off the history of the town.

Woburn

Last, but by no means least, we recommend a visit to Woburn. This is a village full of Georgian grandeur where you’ll find many of the village’s original town houses, which are now operating as everything from restaurants, antiques shops and cafes. A big focal point is Woburn Abbey, a former monastery which has a wonderful art collection and also the Safari Park, which is located on the grounds and is a great location for a family day out.

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