Bedfordshire Sightseeing & Activities Guide

recommended places to visit and things to do in Bedfordshire


  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • transport
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  • aviation

large collection of vintage aircraft, cars and motorcycles, plus historic house and Swiss garden

The Swiss Garden

Biggleswade

  • garden
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

an outstanding example of the Regency fashion for creating landscapes in a picturesque alpine style. Also boasts a collection of vintage aircraft and vehicles. Craft activities and trails for children during school holidays

Ascott

Leighton Buzzard

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • ceramics
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • nature
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  • walking
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  • wildlife

'olde English' half timbered Manor House with an exceptional collection of art and oriental ceramics surrounded by extensive gardens

  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • limited opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • ceramics
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  • history
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  • local history

housed in the former Higgins & Sons Brewery within the picturesque gardens of Bedford Castle, the collections reflect the human and natural history of Bedford and the surrounding area

  • natural landscape
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  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
  • -
  • shop
  • -
  • visitor centre

220 hectares of heathland, restored and managed by the RSPB, with rich variety of birds and other wildlife

Forest of Marston Vale

Marston Moretaine

  • natural landscape
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  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
  • -
  • walking
  • -
  • wildlife

225 hectares of woodlands, grassland and meadows, plus the stunning Wetlands Nature Reserve

  • tourist railway
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  • family-friendly
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  • limited opening
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  • café
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  • shop
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  • transport
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  • trains

former industrial narrow-gauge railway, offering passenger trips over 3 mile track, and large collection of narrow-gauge equipment

Mead Open Farm

Billington

  • farm park
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  • zoo
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • café

one of the first open farms in Bedfordshire, spread over 30 acres and home to many farmyard animals, large and small

  • nature reserve
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
  • -
  • café
  • -
  • nature
  • -
  • walking
  • -
  • wildlife

360 acre green space made up of lakes, meadows and woodland with quiet walks, fishing, boating, play areas and bird hides.

  • farm park
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  • zoo
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
  • -
  • café
  • -
  • shop

wide range of farm, zoo and exotic animals, as well as mini fun fair, outdoor play area and indoor soft play area

  • natural landscape
  • -
  • nature reserve
  • -
  • family-friendly
  • -
  • free admission
  • -
  • open year round

ancient woodland, at least a thousand years old, with an unusual soil mixture, giving rise to this unique forest with mosses, fungi & insects.