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The silver thread of the River Great Ouse winds and loops its way across North
Bedfordshire. Quiet backwaters, popular fishing spots and fine riverside walks lined with gardens and meadows make North Bedfordshire such a pleasure to visit. Away from the towns, the
river links a string of beautiful limestone villages in the Ouse Valley.
The county town of Bedford is dominated by its fine buildings and the
river. Its prosperity dates from the late 17th century when the town became an important distribution point for goods up and down the Great Ouse. Cheap public school education became
widely available in the late 19th century, attracting many new residents and this educational tradition is still strong today. Bedford is also synonymous with John Bunyan.
Things to see and do:
- See medieval architecture and visit the churches of St Paul, St Peter, St Mary and St John in
Bedford. The Swan Hotel, Dame Alice Street Almshouses, High School, old Town Hall, Adelaide Square, St Cuthbert's Street, The Crescent and John Howard's statue and house are also well
worth seeing.
- Walk along the Embankment Gardens, Bedford's treatment of its riverside is unsurpassed in England.
- Pick up the Pilgrim's Trail around Bedford and its surrounds. A guide to the places and
museums associated with John Bunyan can be obtained from Bedford Tourist Information Centre.
- Visit a fully restored water mill at Bromham. Nearby is Stevington Post Mill, where harnessed wind power did all the hard work.
- Celebrate the past at Bedford Museum and Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Museum.
Market Days and Early Closing Days
Bedford: Wednesday and Saturday
Early Closing: Thursday
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