Bedfordshire - 82 Attractions You Must Visit

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About Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire is not only a wonderful county to live in, but also to visit and enjoy with all the family. Bedfordshire is the ideal location for a day trip, especially from the neighbouring areas of London, Buckinghamshire and Cambridgeshire. There is so much to do, you’ll wish you were staying longer, so be sure to make a list of all the places.

Types of Attractions in Bedfordshire

Activities Around

List of Attractions in Bedfordshire

Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Amaravati is a Theravada Buddhist monastery situated at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south-east England. It is near the Hertfordshire village of Great Gaddesden. Its chief priorities are the training and support of a resident monastic community, and the facilitation for monastic and lay people alike of the practice of the Buddha's teachings. It was located in an iconic location and is famous in this area.

Ascott House

Ascott House

Iconic Buildings

Ascott House is a former hunting box that dates back to the 16th Century was donated to the National Trust in 1949 by Anthony de Rothschild, together with the Ascott Collection. It is set in a 3,200-acre estate. There are a few steep slopes in the gardens, however many of the paths are level and provide stunning views over the Aylesbury Vale. All visitors using the paths and grounds are asked to take care and wear the appropriate footwear.

Ashridge House

Ashridge House

Iconic Buildings

Once a royal residence to King Henry VIII and home to his daughter Princess Elizabeth I situated in the heart of the rolling Chiltern Hills, only 30 miles north of London. Today, Ashridge is home to Hult International Business School's Ashridge Executive Education program, as it has been since 1959. The estate is currently owned by the National Trust.

Barton Hills National Nature Reserve

Barton Hills National Nature Reserve

Outdoors- Other

1 Day Treks

Mountain Peaks

A beautiful nature reserve that has a large population of the rare pasque flower and several other rare plants are present in the downland, including greater pignut and fleawort. This post is also flourished with different verities of butterflies and the occurrence of springs and a chalk stream at the foot of the valley increases the beauty of this area. Between April and August is the best time to visit this paradise.

Barton Springs

Barton Springs

Outdoors- Other

Within Zilker Park's 358 acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin - Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, ideal for year-round swimming. The Springs serves as home to the endangered Barton Springs Salamander and is listed as a federally protected habitat.

Bedford Castle Mound

Bedford Castle Mound

Iconic Buildings

A majestic castle which was was first built as a motte in the 11th century, and later a shell keep was added, to be followed by a round tower with curtain walls. It was built by Henry I in a position overlooking the River Great Ouse. The castle remained a ruin until the urban expansion in Bedford during the 19th century when houses were built across much of the property. Today only part of the motte still stands, forming part of an archaeological park built on the site between 2007 and 2009.

Bedford Park

Bedford Park is a Grade Two listed English Heritage Victorian park in the north of Bedford. Created in 1888 it is the largest urban park in Bedford and contains a lake, multiple play areas, and sports facilities. The park has many mature trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous borders and naturalized bulb borders. One of the beautiful locations where you can spend some good times.

Brampton Wood Nature Reserve

Brampton Wood SSSI is a 133-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cambridgeshire, owned and managed by The Wildlife Trusts for Beds, Cambs & Northants as a nature reserve. You can spend many hours roaming the trails and verdant spaces here at Brampton Reserve. One of the peaceful area which offers a natural living in the centre of woods.

Bridgewater Monument

The monument was built in 1832 in memory of the third Duke of Bridgewater who once lived in Ashridge house. As you walk around its York stone base, notice how the monument is dedicated to 'the father of inland navigation' because the duke became famous for building canals during the Industrial Revolution. One of the iconic monument in this area which shows light to the history of England.

Buckden Towers

Buckden Towers

Iconic Buildings

Monuments

This was an important residence belonging to the powerful Bishops of Lincoln. The first residence at Buckden would have been built of wood. Around 1225 Bishop Hugh de Wells built a new house of stone. The site was protected by a curtain wall and moat. Within the substantial courtyard and outer yard, comfortable accommodation and facilities, including a chapel, a churchyard, an orchard, and a park, were provided for the bishops and their entourages.

Cainhoe Castle

Cainhoe Castle

Iconic Buildings

Cainhoe Castle remains as a prominent earthwork on the north side of the road from Clophill to Shefford. The castle was of the motte and bailey type. The motte was the mound, on which would have stood a wooden tower. The bailey was the open area enclosed by a bank, ditch, and wooden wall. The castle was of the motte and bailey type. The motte was the mound, on which would have stood a wooden tower. The bailey was the open area enclosed by a bank, ditch, and wooden wall.

Castle Ashby Gardens

Castle Ashby Gardens

Parks

Iconic Buildings

Botanical Gardens

A beautiful serpentine park and a Victorian garden which was set in the heart of a 10,000-acre estate, the 25 acres of extensive gardens are a combination of several styles including the romantic Italian Gardens, the unique Orangery, and impressive Arboretum. The full Castle Ashby experience also involves a menagerie, children's play area, plant centre, tea room and gift shop.

Chichele College

Chichele College

Iconic Buildings

Monuments

Chichele College is a rare surviving example of a chantry college. It was founded in 1422 by the locally born Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury. It’s a very special place; a Scheduled Monument which has considerable historical significance to the town and many who visit the site are enchanted by its spiritual atmosphere.

Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wellingborough

This church is the masterpiece of Sir Ninian Comper built between 1908 and 1930. It is a free essay in the gothic style fearlessly mixed with classical appropriations. The design and interior of the church were influenced by the Oxford Movement and the Victorian revival of ritualism. It was one of the main attractions in this area and is visited by many tourists along.

De Grey Mausoleum, Flitton

De Grey Mausoleum, Flitton

Man-made Structures- Other

The De Grey Mausoleum is attached to the mid-15th-century parish church of St John at Flitton, Bedfordshire. It was first built in the early 17th century, before being expanded in 1704.The mausoleum contains a remarkable collection of funerary monuments spanning three centuries. The mausoleum is possibly the largest and most magnificent sepulchral chapel attached to an English church.

Dunstable Downs

Dunstable Downs

Outdoors- Other

Dunstable Downs is the highest point in the East of England and one of the best-known viewpoints on the Chilterns ridge, which was situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the Chiltern Hills. It attracts a lot of tourists and also its views are truly mesmerizing.

Emberton Country Park

Emberton Country Park

Parks

Man-made Structures- Other

Emberton Country Park is one of only two large parks in Milton Keynes which comprises play equipments, a lake, and public loos. A short walk from the main car park is a really good play area. The highlights include a pirate ship and a big green twisty slide. The green slide is quite quick so bear that in mind if you have younger children. It also Offers camping, fishing, walking, conservation area and picnicking.

Forest of Marston Vale

Forest of Marston Vale

Outdoors- Other

Forests

a perfect day out for the family! It brings up to 30% tree cover, transforming the landscape and making it a thriving place to live, work and play. The Forest of Marston Vale is one of twelve of community forest projects in the United Kingdom. The total area covered is 61 square miles, but most of this land is in private ownership. There are incentives for landowners to plant trees, and the target for community forests, in general, is to reach 30% tree cover.

Go Ape Woburn (Treetop Challenge, Zip Lines, High Ropes)

Go Ape! is an outdoor adventure company which runs tree top ropes courses under the names Tree Top Challenge, Tree Top Adventure and Zip Trekking, as well as ground-based Forest Segway Safaris.

Grafham Water

Grafham Water

Lake/ River/ Ponds

A beautiful and small lake which was created in 1965 to provide people with drinking water and was immediately colonized by wildlife. The nature reserve surrounds the western side of the reservoir and contains ancient and plantation woodlands, grasslands, and wetland habitats such as reedbeds, willow, and open water. It is also one of the prime bird-watching sites in the county, with rarer visitors such as osprey and the occasional Slavonian grebe and so more.

Map of attractions in Bedfordshire

Comments

For more information about Bedfordshire, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedfordshire