Top 12 Things To Do In Bedford, England

1. Visit the family home of Mabel Barltrop in the Panacea Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Housed inside a beautiful Victorian house, the museum was once the family home of Mabel Barltrop who was the leader of the Panacea Society. After she passed away, her followers continued to worship her and kept this house as a shrine that remains untouched and unchanged till the present day.

Visitors visit the museum and explore the well-preserved rooms and the adjacent garden. One of the main attractions in the museum is Joanna Southcott’s box of prophecy.

If you plan to visit with your group, you can book a tour by prior appointment. The museum encourages creative pursuits such as drawing and painting. You can create your own masterpiece using dry materials excluding charcoal inside the premises of the museum. There is a tea shop onsite that serves an assortment of toasted tea cakes along with hot and cold drinks. Visitors can refuel their energies before returning to explore again.

Panacea Museum

Address: 9 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX, United Kingdom

Website: Panacea Museum

Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed Sun through Wed)

Price: Free

2. Enjoy a game of table tennis in Russell Park

Located off Bedford Embankment, Russell Park provides its visitors with a great spot for recreation. Along with a community café, the park features a great range of sports facilities and gardens.

It opened as a ground for recreation back in the 19th century after the Suspension Bridge was constructed. You can book the park for a sporting event or any other community activity. Visitors can indulge their palates with yummy paninis, sandwiches, and hearty soups at the onsite café. Wash all of that down with coffee, hot chocolates, frappuccinos, and herbal teas.

Russell Park

Address: The Embankment, Bedford MK40 3RH, United Kingdom

Website: Russell Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

3. Pay St. Paul’s Church a visit

Planning a much-deserved vacation in the charming town of Bedford soon? Be sure to swing by St. Paul’s Church to say a few prayers of thanks and well wishes. Located in the bustling and vibrant St. Paul’s Square, St Paul’s Church is a Catholic Church right in the center of town, proximate to local shops, dining spots, and recreational areas. Built in the medieval era, this sacred place of worship showcases an architectural beauty beyond compare. Masses are conducted daily in the church, and it even hosts religious events that everyone is welcome to participate in.

St Paul’s Church

Address: St Paul’s Square, Bedford MK40 1SQ, United Kingdom

Website: St Paul’s Church

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (Daily)

4. Admire the views from River Great Ouse Embankment

Bedford provides tourists and locals lots of sights to see with its enchanting landscape and abundance of natural wonders within the boundaries of the town. The River Great Ouse is one of the many natural attractions that you’ll fall in love with when you visit Bedford. A great location where you can go to admire its beauty is at the River Great Ouse Embankment. It is a tranquil place with lots of local shops and eateries, and it is within close proximity to The Bedford Swan Hotel and the quaint The Embankment gastropub. The Embankment showcases a fascinating structural design that is made from stone blocks.

River Great Ouse Embankment

Address: Bedford, UK

5. Learn about art at The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum

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The stunning town of Bedford does not only boast of enchanting natural wonders, but it is also a town with a rich cultural heritage. If its art and culture you’re after, be sure to add The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum in your elaborate vacation itinerary in town. Managed by Bedford Borough Council and the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Collection, nesting in Castle Lane, The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum features fascinating old brewery structures. Plus, it has a gallery with exhibits that revolve around architecture, history, and 20th-century art. From paintings to vases and other crafts, this attraction is a haven for artists and regular people with a deep appreciation for arts and culture.

The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum

Address: Castle Ln, Bedford MK40 3XD, United Kingdom

Website: The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 5pm, Sun: 2pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)

6. Go on a fishing adventure in Priory Country Park

Bedford has an abundance of charming parks and recreational areas. One of them is the lovely Priory Country Park, situated in Barker’s Lane. This vast green space covers 360 acres (145.7 hectares) of woodland and water. There, you’ll see an enchanting lake which is along the River Great Ouse. The park was officially opened to the public in 1986, after a series of gravel extraction that lasted until 1977. It has three entrance points. Lots of people come to the park to set up a picnic with their loved ones, play in the vast open space, fish in the lake, go boating with friends, and some like to bring their dogs to Priory Country Park for a walk.

Priory Country Park

Address: Barkers Ln, Bedford MK41 9DJ, United Kingdom

Website: Priory Country Park

Opening hours: 6am - 10pm (daily)

7. Interact with fascinating animals at Herrings Green Activity Farm

Another fantastic tourist attraction that you should not miss when you visit Bedford is Herrings Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Centre. It is an interesting farm that houses a vast collection of birds of prey. Proximately 200 different types of birds can be seen at the farm. Not just that, aside from admiring birds, there are lots to do in Herrings Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Center. You can enjoy a tractor ride, watch a critter show, come close and personal with an alpaca, have fun in the playground, relish on delicious sweets in the Tea Room, and gulp on flavorful milkshakes in Ice Cream and Milkshake Shack.

Herrings Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Centre

Address: Cotton End Rd, Wilstead MK45 3DT, United Kingdom

Website: Herrings Green Activity Farm & Bird of Prey Centre

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

Price: From 16 USD

8. Discover the life of an iconic English writer in John Bunyan Museum

John Bunyan is a remarkable English Christian Writer and preacher that is celebrated in England. In Bedford, there is a fascinating museum that is dedicated to him and his life - John Bunyan Museum in Mill Street. John Bunyan is known for his revolutionary books that inspire literature and the world, and one of them is the Pilgrim’s Progress. The John Bunyan Museum houses a lot of his works, and it has old photographs and things that once belonged to the renowned writer. It also has archives that try to narrate to people his life and adventures.

John Bunyan Museum

Address: Mill St, Bedford MK40 3EU, United Kingdom

Website: John Bunyan Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

9. Relive your childhood in Summerfields Miniature Railways

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On your vacation in Bedford, don’t forget to check out the interesting Summerfields Miniature Railways. Managed by Bedford Model Engineering Society, this attraction features three track systems that visitors can hop aboard miniature trains and experience the fun they give. The park is operational for 20 years now, and since its opening, it has been a popular destination for families, friends, and even couples on a romantic getaway. Guests can also admire real steam trains that are exhibited in the place. After a fun-filled time of rides and games at Summerfields Miniature Railways, feast on delicious snacks and drinks at the little cafe on-site.

Summerfields Miniature Railways

Address: Summerfield Barns, High Road, Haynes MK45 3BH, United Kingdom

Website: Summerfields Miniature Railways

Price: From 1 USD

10. Admire vintage aircraft in Shuttleworth Collection

Indeed, Bedford is home to a multitude of museums that tell its culture and heritage. One of the most fascinating museums you’ll find in town is the Shuttleworth Collection, and it is situated in Old Warden Aerodrome. This museum was opened in 1963, and it revolves around aeronautics and automotive. It boasts interesting vintage well-maintained aircraft and different vehicles. Aside from exhibits, Shuttleworth Collection hosts community events like afternoon tea, a guided tour in The Swiss Garden, camping activities, and a lot more.

Shuttleworth Collection

Address: Old Warden Aerodrome, Hill Ln, Biggleswade SG18 9EP, United Kingdom

Website: Shuttleworth Collection

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

Price: From 4 USD

11. Play some exciting sports in Bedford Park

A spacious charming urban park in town, Bedford Park is one of the most well-trafficked parks in Bedford. Preserved and maintained by Bedford Borough Council, this lovely park showcases a breathtaking landscape with a lake that serves as the centerpiece of the place. It showcases a Victorian design that is popular during its construction era in the 19th-century. Bedford Park is home to majestic and lush mature trees and gorgeous flora, such as daffodils, crocuses, and anemones. Also, the park has sports facilities that visitors can utilize, including basketball, tennis, football, and rounders. On top of those, it has a fantastic playground on-site that kids will surely have a lot of fun swinging and sliding to their hearts’ content.

Bedford Park

Address: Bedford, UK

Website: Bedford Park

12. Check out the Bedford Castle

Bedford Castle is a famous medieval landmark in the stunning town of Bedford, UK. It was constructed in 1100, and it is a remarkable structure during the First Baron’s War and other important events in the United Kingdom. Although most of the facade of this landmark was destroyed, visitors can still see remnants of its architectural design. Plus, Bedford Castle has picturesque views of River Great Ouse, and it has a number of excellent dining spots.

Bedford Castle

Address: Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX, United Kingdom

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

Make the most of your Bedford vacation

Bedford is a lovely English city that is an ideal place to spend a much-deserved vacation. It has lots of lovely parks where you can unwind, admire nature, and even play some exciting sports. More so, it has fascinating museums that will surely excite history buffs and art enthusiasts. If you are planning an escapade on this side of the UK, use this list as your guide in coming up with an elaborate itinerary.