Bedfordshire is an accessible East of England county offering historic towns, scenic walks, cultural attractions, and unique local foods.
Rushden Lakes
Rushden Lakes is a large shopping and leisure centre in Northamptonshire featuring retail shops, a cinema, various restaurants, and outdoor leisure activities including kayaking and adventure golf. It also has a visitor centre overlooking a lake for wildlife viewing.
Shaw's Corner
Shaw's Corner is the preserved home of George Bernard Shaw in Hertfordshire, showcasing his Edwardian Arts and Crafts house, original interiors, garden, and unique writing hut.
Dunstable Downs
Dunstable Downs, the highest point in Bedfordshire, is a chalk escarpment in the Chiltern Hills offering outdoor activities like gliding and kite flying, with rich natural history and ancient archaeological sites. It is managed by the National Trust and accessible via walking trails.
Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills
Smithcombe, Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills is a National Trust Site of Special Scientific Interest featuring chalk grassland with rare plants, an Iron Age hill fort, and medieval rabbit warrens, offering a rich outdoor natural and historical experience.
Pitstone Windmill
Pitstone Windmill is a historic 17th century post mill in Buckinghamshire, known as the earliest windmill dated in the British Isles. Visitors can explore the outdoor site and learn about traditional corn milling. The National Trust manages the site, which is open to the public on summer Friday afternoons.
Wrest Park
Wrest Park is a Grade I listed country estate in Bedfordshire featuring a historic English country house with early Rococo Revival interiors and extensive formal gardens with notable landscaping by Capability Brown. Visitors can explore both indoor historic interiors and outdoor formal gardens, with the estate also serving as a filming location for various productions.
Willington Dovecote and Stables
Willington Dovecote & Stables is a National Trust property in Bedfordshire featuring historic 16th-century stables and a large stone dovecote with nesting boxes for over 1500 pigeons, both Grade I listed.
Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
Whipsnade Tree Cathedral is a 9.5-acre garden in Bedfordshire laid out in the form of a cathedral using various tree species. It serves as a living tribute and a place of reflection with chapels for each season and is managed by the National Trust.
The Mall (Luton)
Luton Point is a large indoor shopping centre in Luton, Bedfordshire, offering a wide variety of retail stores, ample parking, and dining options. It features modern retail space with easy access via escalators, located centrally with a notable entrance at St George's Square.
Houghton House
Houghton House is a ruined Jacobean mansion in Bedfordshire, owned by English Heritage and open for free public access during daylight hours. Visitors can explore the outdoor remains of this historic Grade I listed building situated on elevated land with scenic countryside views.
De Grey Mausoleum
The De Grey Mausoleum in Flitton, Bedfordshire, is a significant historic mausoleum housing many monuments to the De Grey family, featuring architecture from the early 17th to 18th century. It is open to the public under English Heritage and is a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument.
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire offers a 360-acre drive-through safari experience with a wide range of animals including lions, elephants, and rhinos. It includes a Foot Safari area with smaller animals and interactive exhibits, as well as leisure amenities such as a family restaurant and play zones, making it suitable for visitors of all ages.