Top Things to do in Bedfordshire
Top Hotels in Bedfordshire
- 1. The Waterfront Hotel, Spa & Golf
- 2. Premier Inn Luton Town Centre hotel
- 3. Holiday Inn Express London - Luton Airport, an IHG Hotel
- 4. Flitwick Manor Hotel, BW Premier Collection
- 5. Courtyard by Marriott Luton Airport
- 6. Thistle Express London Luton
- 7. Premier Inn Luton (Airport) hotel
- 8. Travelodge Luton
- 9. Hilton Garden Inn Luton North
- 10. ibis London Luton Airport Hotel
Countries
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Bedfordshire That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom including Ascott House, Leighton Buzzard Railway, Dunstable Downs, Wrest Park, Stockwood Discovery Centre, Wardown House, Museum and Gallery, The Shuttleworth Collection, Priory Country Park, The Higgins Bedford, Parson's Close Recreation Ground.
Restaurants in Bedfordshire
1. Ascott House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
Reviewed By juliesP4172EJ - Luton, United Kingdom
The views and walks here are simply breathtaking .. we only live 15 minutes away and have driven past many times so we thought we would finally take a look!! We have visited many national trust properties recently as we are members and we both agreed this one is up there with the best .. the grounds are amazingly clean and social distance measures are very easily adhered to! It’s not the biggest but who cares !! We would love to look inside when the day finally comes ! Staff were also very pleasant although the tea shop is a little tiny but again it doesn’t matter .. thank you Ascott house for a lovely day out x
2. Leighton Buzzard Railway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 461 reviews
Open March to November, the basic train ride runs from Page's Park, on the south side of Leighton Buzzard, to Stonehenge Works, to the north of the town, and the return journey takes 80 minutes. Santa Specials operate in December, and the railway is closed in January and February. Party bookings can be made either on public services or on a charter basis. Refreshments are available at both ends of the line.
3. Dunstable Downs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 721 reviews
Soar above a breathtaking landscape, sculpted over time, decorated by nature and enjoyed by generations.Stand on top of Dunstable Downs for a view that will simply take your breath away. These Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are designated for the quality of their chalk grasslands.As well as two Scheduled Ancient Monuments (Five Knolls and Medieval Rabbit Warrens) there are many other historical features and the site has much to offer you.The chalk grasslands of the Downs have miles of footpaths and several circular walks, a fascinating history and an abundance of plants and wildlife.Dunstable Downs is within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the highest point in Bedfordshire.The wind-swept ridge provides ideal conditions for a variety of air sports, especially kite flying. On calmer days it's the ideal site to enjoy the view and a picnic.Please note: Chilterns Gateway Centre is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council and managed by the National Trust.
Reviewed By fly2thai - Exeter, United Kingdom
I took my 2 grandsons to the National Trust Summer of Sport during the summer holidays last week, and although it poured with rain, it was still a great day. It's such a beautiful relaxing area, and we plan to return next week, and hope the weather is better. We arrived at 11am and left at 4pm. The children played cricket and football, did some colouring and we ventured to Chute Woods to visit the adventure playground, which they loved, in fact I could hardly make them leave. We did the walk around the woods too and saw all the dens previous families had made. The NT are happy for you to make a den of your own or build on others, which is a great idea. Next week we plan to visit the tree cathedral and do the stone age walk, and play cricket/football again and try our hand at flying a kite. It was a free event, the staff were great especially the gentleman on reception, who couldn't be more helpful and we had lunch and afternoon tea in the cafe. The toilets were spotless, and I thoroughly recommend a visit, as even if you only visit the cafe the views are stunning. It looks as if in hot weather they open all the sliding glass doors in the cafe which must be lovely. There are some great historical photos on the back wall of the cafe too, which were really interesting. Am really looking forward to our return, and I am coming up all the way from Devon !!
4. Wrest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,039 reviews
Reviewed By Keenomanjaro - Croydon, United Kingdom
Just off the A6, Wrest Park is a great place to stop off for an afternoon to take in the house and extensive gardens. The house has a few basic rooms set up with museum-style exhibits, plus a few impressive, if unfurnished, state rooms which are well worth exploring. However, the main draw here has to be the gardens which are well laid out across a large area with ornamental ponds, colourful parterre, a hidden sculpture gallery in the old dairy building, a grand orangery, the old bowling green house, an attractive pavilion and a nice 'Chinese' bridge among the highlights. There's some nice woodland to the far end of the property that's worth spending time in, as various statues and clearings can be found and we spotted muntjac deer out there too. A nice property that would be ideal for a warm summer's day but worked just as well on a bracing, but dry, winter's afternoon.
5. Stockwood Discovery Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 759 reviews
Reviewed By scl8uk - Luton, United Kingdom
An afternoon to entertain my 4 year old grandson while his Mum took a well earned rest and for a local place of interest you can't go far wrong! Free entry and lots to see and do from educational, interactive activities to climbing on an old tractor. A compact but felt expansive attraction with a value cafe and the obligatory gift shop to finish. Considering you're only a mile from central Luton you can have that country feeling. Thank you
6. Wardown House, Museum and Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
Wardown House, Museum and Gallery is situated in the beautiful landscaped Wardown Park, on the outskirts of Luton town centre. The museum houses a range of displays throughout the building, including the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery and the popular Luton Life Gallery. The museum underwent a redevelopment during 2016, reopening in April 2017. Wardown House, Museum and Gallery also holds events and activities for all ages and interests throughout the year.
Reviewed By treatyv - Luton, United Kingdom
Lovely little museum about Luton History based in Luton's famous Wardown Park. This place was orginally a stately home and its grounds were the Capability Brown lanscaoed Wardown Park
7. The Shuttleworth Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 632 reviews
Started by Richard Shuttleworth, who collectected some of the exhibits still here, The Shuttleworth Collection is home to the best collection of genuine WWI aircraft that all still fly in Europe, alongside over historic aircraft from 1909 to the 1950s. The Collection includes the oldest aircraft still flying - the 1909 Blériot. Also, the oldest airworthy British aircraft 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, the 1934 race winning DH88 Comet, record breaking 1936 Mew Gull, 1938 special ops Westland Lysander and many more. Vintage vehicles including a steam locomobile and early buses, cycles and motorcycles are also part of The Collection. Shuttleworth is based at an aerodrome with a grass runway, PPR required but there are no landing fees and aviation fuel available at self-service pumps. It's just off the A1 at Biggleswade with free parking, on-site Play Area, restaurant and adjacent Swiss Garden, and a period Mansion (open event days). May to October it is a top class vintage airshow venue.
Reviewed By BarbaraV340 - Bedford, United Kingdom
It is many years since I last visited the shuttleworth collection and that was on a flying day when many of the planes were out of the hangars. This time my sister and I went on a weekday - it was the school half term holiday so we were expecting it to be very busy. It was, however, very quiet and we were able to walk around in comfort and take our time exploring the exhibits and reading the excellent information boards. I was blown away by the way the planes, cars, buses and bikes were kept and displayed. Those aeroplanes were polished to within an inch of their lives! We were fascinated by the planes used in the film " Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines " and the gyrocopter used in the James Bond film " Live and Let Die " as well as the iconic planes of the two world wars. The display of bicycles from the Ivel factory with local connections was also fascinating. It was good to see the bicycle Dorothy Shuttleworth used into old age. The story of the collection told in a leaflet given to us on the way in is moving. We combined our visit with a visit to the Swiss Garden - a combined ticket was good value and we had a full day out. I know that flying days at Shuttleworth are very popular but my recommendation would be to visit the museum on a normal day- a day out to be recommended for the whole family.
8. Priory Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 369 reviews
Reviewed By LINDAE129 - Grimsby, United Kingdom
Took the family to the Beefeater Restaurant, found on entering the park, for lunch, which was appreciated by all then decided to walk it off around the park and lake This park is well worth a visit A beautiful lake is the centrepiece and sets the scene and this is surrounded by the park This consists of a large area of grass (this was being cleared of equipment following a concert) but there was an enormous area for children to run about kicking a football or playing chase games There was also an area with weird park equipment which the children loved as it was so different There was also a couple of woodland walks which we ventured on These passed a hidden lake and had beautiful narrow walkways covered by overhanging bushes which formed an archway in places and made it all seem a bit fairytaleish. Quite idyllic We then stopped for a very nice ice cream from the small cafe on site Delicious All in all a good afternoons enjoyment was had by all Well worth a visit
9. The Higgins Bedford
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 186 reviews
The Higgins Bedford is Bedford's art gallery and museum. It's a place to explore collections of fine & decorative arts, world-class watercolours, local stories and find out about great Bedfordians. Changing exhibitions mean there is always something new to see. There is lots to do for all the family.
Reviewed By debrichgil - Bedford, United Kingdom
Should be nationally recognised. Firstly you have the rooms celebrating the history of Bedford from prehistoric to present. Then the exhibitions displaying the recent histories of immigrants to the town. Then a fantastic art gallery/rooms with pictures by Turner , impressionists, modernists, contemporary Art, etc. Then upstairs rooms of fantastic glassware, and pottery. Can take a few hours to browse your way round, then a look round the shop, before dining at the very highly rated Higgins Pantry. If you have any time left a visit to the next door Bunyan Museum, and .......Panacea museum. Three treasures in the centre of Bedford.
10. Parson's Close Recreation Ground
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
On 9th May 1848 Parliament passed a private act to allow for common land owned by the church to be awarded to the then Leighton Buzzard Urban District Council “as a place of recreation for the inhabitants of Leighton Buzzard and the neighbourhood”. In 1974 the land transferred ownership from the Urban District Council to the newly formed Parish Council of Leighton-Linslade, who retain ownership today. A dedicated grounds team take pride in managing the park on a daily basis and has overseen the park taking shape to incorporate the many facilities it now has to offer. These include toilet facilities, children’s play area, skate park, youth shelter, multi-use games arena and splash ‘n’ play.
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