Bedford Tourist Guide
The ancient town of Bedford, with its riverside gardens is a major tourist destination. Pretty limestone villages with warm and welcoming inns and pubs are found to the north of the town. Many of these pubs and inns were used by airmen, including Glenn Miller, based at the WWII airbases in the area during the War. A new WW2 trail links many of the former airbases in the area. The giant airship hangers at Cardington and the world famous Shuttleworth collection at Old Warden Park provide an insight into Bedfordshire’s history of aviation innovation. As you travel through the county you can’t miss the gigantic airship hangers at Cardington more recently used as the set for the blockbuster movie “Batman Begins” the Hangars are a reminder of the areas rich aviation heritage. Britain’s first hot air balloon landed there too!
Bedford Tourist Guide – Out and about
Bedford is the county town and is dominated by the river and its many fine buildings. An attractive landscaped riverside walk stretches from one side of the town to the other where many regattas and other events take place. The Georgian towns of Ampthill or Woburn should be visited if you have a love of antiques. Woburn is also home to the magnificent abbey – home of the Duke of Bedford. Get back to nature in Luton’s landscaped parkland, amongst the chalk-life flora and fauna of the magnificent Dunstable Downs or on a safari at Woburn – with some of the world’s most endangered species at some of the UK’s best animal attractions at Woburn Safari Park and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park. An attractive landscape of gently rolling countryside, meandering rivers and pretty villages await – it’s difficult to believe you are only a stones way from London. Bedfordshire is a great county for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Bedford Tourist Guide – History
Bedford has some famous connections; it was the home and prison of John Bunyan, with many of the villages are associated with his preaching and world famous book ‘The Pilgrims Progress’ Prison Reformer John Howard, although born in London, was high Sheriff of Bedfordshire. Comedian Ronnie Barker and comedian and actor John le Mesurier are both Bedfordians. Historians can follow the WW11 ‘Airfield Trail’ around the north of the county, once alive with the Big Band sound of Glenn Miller (who was stationed here during the war). It was from the airfield at Twinwood that he took his final flight. For a real ‘vintage’ experience, visit the Shuttleworth Collection where aircraft are kept in full flying order and can often be seen ‘looping the loop’ in the skies above Old Warden.
Bedford Tourist Guide – Eat and Stay
Visitors have a choice of destinations to eat, including friendly family village pubs, inns and teashops serving homemade food – often made with locally produced ingredients where some places still serve the traditional ‘Bedfordshire Clanger’ a pasty shaped pie with a savoury filing at one end and sweet at the other! Alternatively there is the cosmopolitan atmosphere and aromas of international cuisine in the towns of Bedford, Luton and Dunstable. Bedford, with its large Italian population, offers a wide range of Italian bars and restaurant and with authentic Indian, Thai, Chinese and Italian dishes there is something to suit every body. Further afield in Bedfordshire, Woburn offers many establishments offering gourmet delights in its many restaurants and pubs. When you have eaten and drunk your fill, the choice of places to stay ranges from international chain hotels to country house splendor, friendly farm and country accommodation and business conference hotels.
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