Bedfordshire Tourist Information
An exciting mix of attractions await in beautifully rural Bedfordshire. The county contains one of Britain's best choices of fun family farm parks and animal parks including award winning Woburn Safari Park, Whipsnade Zoo one of Europe's largest animal conservation parks, Wild Britain with Butterly Jungle and top farm centres such as Mead Open Farm and Thurleigh Farm Centre. Historic airfields in Bedfordshire include Twinwood famously associated with legendary band leader Glenn Miller and host to the Glenn Miller Museum and Festival. Shuttleworth Aerodrome near Biggleswade features an outstanding collection of early Edwardian flying machines.
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Luxury Bedfordshire country house hotels and quality B&Bs feature in historic market towns such as Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Biggleswade. County town Bedford along the River Great Ouse contains acclaimed art galleries and museums in its cultural quarter and has close links with John Bunyan, author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress'. More acclaimed museums and a fantastic arts, sports and nightlife scene feature in Luton which boasts three fast mainline rail links to London and one of Britain's fastest growing airports on its doorstep, London Luton Airport. The Bedfordshire countryside offers a choice of cutting edge sports centres and raceways popular with both leisure and business travellers.
Bedford Tourist Information
Riverside market town Bedford is Bedfordshire's main county town containing a host of top museums and galleries centred around Bedford cultural quarter. John Bunyan, author of the classic English Puritan text 'The Pilgrim's Progress' was born just outside of Bedford. Bunyan's historic links with Bedford are explored in-depth at the John Bunyan Museum. Internationally acclaimed Bedford art gallery the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery displays work by Constable, Turner, Hogarth, Blake and many more high profile artists of the past and present.
Located at the head of the River Great Ouse, Bedford is a popular area for boating holidays with the Great Ouse navigable all the way to the Norfolk Coast. Bedford accommodation includes historic inn hotels and high quality Bedford guest houses close to the riverside and cultural quarter. Bedford station affords fast direct train links to Luton Airport Parkway and St Pancras International (Eurostar).
Things to Do around Bedford
A fantastic choice of attractions around Bedford cater for all tastes from family farm parks like Thurleigh Farm Centre to cutting edge sports centres like Bodyflight offering ski diving and surfing training.
Top drag racing centres and high performance car racing centres around Bedford are popular with both leisure and business travellers. A particular historic feature around Bedford are World War II airfields like Twinwood, the airfield from which legendary band leader Glenn Miller took his last flight. Twinwood Airfield today hosts numerous festivals and events and contains a selection of museums including the Glenn Miller Museum.
Beautiful Bedfordshire villages around Bedford include Georgian market town Ampthill, famous for its antiques. Discover self catering holiday barns and cottages in Thurleigh and Riseley close to the Cambridgeshire border. Camping, caravan parks, farm B&Bs and luxury guest houses around Bedford are numerous serving both the leisure and business visitor.
Biggleswade Tourist Information
Historic market town Biggleswade is the main centre in the heart of the beautiful East Bedfordshire countryside. Top Bedfordshire attraction near Biggleswade is the Shuttleworth Aerodrome, home to a range of attractions including a historic early aircraft collection, the Swiss Garden and a Bird of Prey Centre. Numerous nature reserves around Biggleswade feature wetlands, heathland and ancient woodland. Around nearby Sandy is RSPB The Lodge nature reserve, home to Bedfordshire's largest area of heathland.
Biggleswade is ideally situated just off the A1 motorway, close to the Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire border making it an ideal holiday base for touring. Biggleswade town centre hosts weekly markets and offers a fine choice of quality B&Bs and country hotels.
Dunstable Tourist Information
Perfect as a gateway to the Chilterns countryside, Dunstable is home to the cutting edge environmentally friendly Chilterns Gateway Centre situated on the high Dunstable Downs (Bedfordshire's highest point) with panoramic views of the Vale of Aylesbury. Historic crossroads Dunstable contains charming coaching inns, spectacular historic churches and the Grade II Listed Priory Heritage Centre with tea rooms.
Ample choice of fine Dunstable bed and breakfast accommodation, historic hotels and quality chain hotels are available in and around the town centre, all conveniently close to nearby Luton Airport and the M1 motorway. Hugely popular Bedfordshire family attraction near Dunstable is Whipsnade Zoo, one of Europe's largest wildlife conservation parks.
Leighton Buzzard Tourist Information
A unique feature in Leighton Buzzard and nearby Linslade is the Grand Union Canal, which passes through this scenic Ouzel Valley area of Bedfordhire en-route to Limehouse in London. The Leighton Linslade stretch of the Grand Union is popular for narrowboat cruising and there are pretty canalside walks and pubs in the area. Leighton Buzzard is an attractive historic Bedfordshire market town with weekly markets, numerous historic buildings and nearby pubs. Trains from Leighton Buzzard to London Euston have a journey time of just 30 minutes.
Accommodation in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade includes charming historic inn B&Bs and hotels. You'll find great family attractions in Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding area including the endearing Leighton Buzzard Railway and the superb Mead Open Farm with all weather indoor and outdoor attractions.
Luton Tourist Information
The great mix of facilities and attractions in Luton combined with its accessible position close to the M1 and Luton Airport make the town a popular base with both business and leisure travellers. Outstanding museums in Luton include the Wardown Park Museum which its fascinating hat collection and Luton Life Gallery. Premier theatres and entertainment centres in Luton include the Library Theatre, the Hat Factory and just outside the centre the Stockwood Discovery Centre which is both museum and concert venue. Sports and leisure facilities in Luton are impressive, featuring cutting edge golf centres and a choice of swimming pools and health and fitness centres.
Accommodation in Luton close to Luton Airport includes a wide choice of quality hotels and great value Luton B&B guest houses. Many Luton hotels offer park and fly deals. Luton boasts three mainline railway stations including Luton Airport Parkway and Luton station. All have fast direct rail links to London (30 minutes).
Luton Airport Tourist Information
One of Britain's fastest growing airports, London Luton Airport sits just off the M1 motorway with shuttle bus link to Luton Airport Parkway station. As well as being a major London gateway airport, Luton Airport has superb travel transfer links to surrounding Home Counties locations. Extensive bus and rail links to Luton Airport are from Bedford, Dunstable, Milton Keynes and St Albans. A wide choice of luxury and budget Luton Airport hotels can be found in and around the airport.
Woburn Tourist Information
Woburn is home to award winning Bedfordshire attraction Woburn Safari Park and beautiful Woburn Abbey with Humphry Repton gardens and deer park. Woburn attractions are just a 10 minute drive off the M1, clearly signposted from the motorway. Further premier attractions in Woburn include three Championship golf courses and the acclaimed Woburn Abbey Antiques Centre situated in the Abbey grounds. Beautiful Woburn village contains charming inn B&B hotels, fine specialist shops and award winning restaurants, all perfect for romantic weekend breaks. Woburn hotels also offer outstanding conference and wedding facilities.
