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 Specialty Museums in Bedfordshire That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom including The Signals Museum - RAF Henlow, Stockwood Discovery Centre, Wardown House, Museum and Gallery, Intelligence Corps Museum, The Shuttleworth Collection, 306th Bombardment Group Museum, Panacea Museum, John Bunyan Meeting House and Museum, Vauxhall Heritage Centre, Twinwood Museum.
Restaurants in Bedfordshire
1. The Signals Museum - RAF Henlow
2. 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
3. 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
4. Intelligence Corps Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
The museum has since been renamed the Military Intelligence Museum, and a new TripAdvisor review page has been created under that name.
5. 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.
6. 306th Bombardment Group Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
This is amazing encapsulation of the airfield and the surrounding area as it was in WWII. It is one of the most impressive memorials to the US aircrew who flew from the UK I have ever visited.
Reviewed By croozn33 - Gilbert, United States
I have not seen this mentioned here, but potential visitors should be interested to know that RAF Thurleigh and the 306th Bombardment Group were the inspiration for the 918th (3 times 306) Bomb Group at "RAF Archbury" (which did not exist) in the novel, the movie with Gregory Peck and the subsequent TV series in the US.
7. Panacea Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 135 reviews
Discover the amazing story of the unique religious community who created their own Garden of Eden in the centre of Bedford.
Reviewed By RabbitRoamer
If you are of a certain age you may recall the curious newspaper advertisements regarding Joanna Southcott’s Box and a form of spiritual healing ... this peculiar offshoot of Anglicanism and middle-class eccentricity was the source of these ... The Panacea Society itself existed as a religious organisation for nearly a hundred years until the last members died in 2012 ... but in its last years arrangements were made to transfer its work and assets to a charitable trust that became the Panacea Trust of today ... This is their Museum ... A fascinating place that strikes a neutral tone (it does not proselytise) as it guides you on a journey through social, political and religious thought of the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries (via Southcott, Wroe, Jezreel et al.) to arrive at the origins of the Panacea Society, and their surprisingly Feminist flavour of Anglicanism ... … and then there is THE BOX … All of this is excellently presented in various buildings around the Campus, which is a lawn area that the Society considered to be on the site of the Garden of Eden … you are most welcome to rest here in pleasant surroundings. There is a small but peaceful Chapel and a tea shop in the Founder’s House. Recommended for those with an interest in social history … and Edwardian interior design … An excellent visit, allow a couple of hours, there’s more than you expect, and could also be combined with a visit to the Bedford Museum and Art Gallery opposite … An unexpected Gem that is highly recommended ..!
8. John Bunyan Meeting House and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
This museum tells the story of the humble Bedford man who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the greatest novels in the English language. During his remarkable life Bunyan was a soldier, tinker, preacher and dissenter, spending 12 years in Bedford prison for illegal preaching. Explore Bunyan’s life and times; see 17th Century Bedford, hear Bunyan tell his story, and discover more about how one man’s story touched the world. With family trails, holiday activities, and exhibitions there is plenty to see and do. See the artwork at the Basement at Bunyan Gallery, with a programme of community art exhibitions and workshops. Visit Bunyan Meeting church, built in 1850 it stands on the site of Bunyan’s original church where he was minister from 1671 to 1688. Scenes from The Pilgrim’s Progress can be found on the bronze entrance doors and stunning stained glass windows.
Reviewed By 907docl
If you are at all interested in the history of Christianity, you should visit the Bunyan Museum - while it is not large, it chronicles the life and ministry of John Bunyan - whose Pilgrim's Progress is one of the most published and read books in the world. One of the displays is the pulpit that Bunyan preached from during his life as the pastor of the Bedford meeting. The staff is really knowledgable and willing and anxious to share their knowledge of John Bunyan!
