Fun things to do in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire is just across the border from where we live in Hertfordshire so we often find ourselves heading over there for a walk or to visit one of the many family days out in Bedfordshire. I decided to put this list together to remind myself about all the amazing things to do in Bedfordshire so that I have plenty to keep my kids occupied this summer.

Bedfordshire has wonderful countryside to explore as well as the impressive River Great Ouse running through the county town of Bedford. There are two excellent zoos and some really engaging museums – ideal things to do with kids in Bedfordshire.

Do you have any recommendations of places to go in Bedfordshire with kids? Let me know in the comments below.

This page may contain affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay.

Take a look at my article about things to do in Cambridgeshire

Animal attraction in Bedfordshire for families

Take the kids to the zoo in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire boasts not one but two impressive animal attractions. I’ve not taken the kids to Woburn Safari Park yet but I’ve heard good reports from friends who’ve visited (having your windscreen wipers removed by monkeys is optional apparently). Whipsnade zoo meanwhile is the largest zoo in the country and has some reassuringly large enclosures which made me feel a bit better about seeing animals in captivity.

Highlights of Whipsnade include the rhinos, lions and tigers, and for our kids, the African painted dogs. The dogs aren’t very beautiful but our boys loved them. There’s also a really good play area with a handily placed café close by. Our kids were also rather taken by the “hold a poo” photo opportunity – you’ll need to visit the zoo to understand what I mean…

The views of the Chiltern hills from Whipsnade are stunning – particularly from the penguin enclose. Ensure you bring comfy shoes and plenty of snacks when you visit Whipsnade. We walked 10 kilometres during our day there.

RSPB The Lodge near Sandy

There is a mixture of habitats at this wildlife reserve near Sandy – wetland, grassland, woodland and heathland. There’s a visitor centre, play space and a range of walking trails of varying lengths.

Find out more about RSPB the Lodge

Learn about birds of prey in Bedfordshire

There are owls, eagles, falcons, hawks and kites at the Bedfordshire Birds of Prey Centre – part of Herrings Green Activity Farm. There are several flying displays throughout the day and the falconers are on hand to chat about the birds and their conservation. The farm also has all the usual kid-friendly stuff to entertain little ones including a play area and mini ride-on tractors.

Visit a children’s farm in Bedfordshire

Visits to farms seem to have an increasingly tenuous link to animals and more emphasis on play grounds. But they keep the kids happy and there’s usually somewhere to get a decent coffee.

There are several family-friendly farms to visit in Bedfordshire – including Herrings Green mentioned above. The most well known kids’ farm is Mead Open Farm which has lots of animals to pet along with some pretty fantastic play areas. Another fun day out is Woodside Farm which is a bit smaller but with the same sort of attractions.

If you like your farm to have keener emphasis on the animals, a more creature-centric option is Animal Edge near Woburn Center Parcs. This is a more low key experience and the farm also offers animal assisted therapy.

Interesting museums to explore in Bedfordshire

John Bunyan Museum

Learn about the life and works of the famous writer John Bunyan, author of “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” The museum features interactive exhibits and storytelling sessions for children.

Take a trip through aviation history at the Shuttleworth Collection

Our kids have visited Duxford countless times as it’s quite near to where we live. So I’m really keen to take them to the Shuttleworth Collection. As well as an impressive array of vintage aircraft, there’s also a good range of classic cars and motorbikes.

Shuttleworth also has lovely grounds to explore including a kids’ play area and the Swiss Garden which has a grotto and a little Swiss cottage. There’s also a woodland walk with a sculpture trail which is popular with little ones.

Find out more about the Shuttleworth Collection

The Higgins Bedford

This museum and art gallery features a diverse range of collections, including art, archaeology, and local history. They often have special exhibitions and family-friendly events.

Find out more about the Higgins

Summer family days out Bedfordshire

Visit a lido in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire has two lidos. There’s the well known Woburn lido and also the lesser known Eversholt lido – both are a great day out. Woburn lido is open year-round so if you fancy some cold water swimming, this is the place to come!

Find out more about where to swim outdoors in Bedfordshire

Go kayaking or paddleboarding on the River Great Ouse

Head to Bedford and enjoy a day out on the River Great Ouse. You can hire canoes, kayaks and paddleboards in central Bedford and take to the water for an hour or a day.

Find out more about paddling on the River Great Ouse

Go for a walk in Bedfordshire

There are some fantastic family walks in Bedfordshire. Greensand Country is a wonderful area to explore and its website has a long list of walks to choose from. Stretching from Leighton Buzzard in the south west over to the Cambridgeshire border at Gamlingay in the east, the landscape features a rich range of habitats including woodlands and heathland.

We love walking in the Chilton Hills. Barton Hills National Nature Reserve is stunning with far reaching views and varied terrain to keep the kids interested. I’ve written more about it in my article on family walks and you can read about other nearby walks in my post about walks in Hertfordshire.

There are some lovely bluebell walks in Bedfordshire – the Lodge at Sandy (mentioned above) is a good spot to visit if you fancy wandering through some of these stunning blooms. Check out my guide to bluebell woods in the UK for more ideas, I’ve also written an article about the best bluebell woods in Hertfordshire in case you’re on that side of Bedfordshire.

Go fly a kite on Dunstable Downs

The views from Dunstable Downs are really incredible. You won’t be the only one flying your kite on the Downs. When we’ve visited, there’s always been LOTS of kites – small family affairs and then some real giants. When there’s a decent wind (often), it’s an impressive sight.

There’s a good little café as well as picnic benches outside.

Dunstable Downs is also great for walking. Not far from the main visitor centre is the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral – trees planted to look like the nave of a great church. Planted after the First World War by Edmund Blyth in memory of his fallen comrades, it’s a peaceful spot to wander through.

Find out more about Dunstable Downs

Go on a bike ride in Bedfordshire

One of my boys loves Chicksands – a slightly terrifying off-road bike park through the woods. There are pump tracks and some fairly sedate routes for people like me along with plenty of pretty scary tracks which I hope my children will not be going down any time soon. There’s some pretty impressive cyclists there – if you don’t have a bike, it’s a great place to watch others having fun.

There are plenty of less hair-raising cycling adventures to be had in Bedfordshire – Greensand Country mentioned above has some good routes for families and the Forest of Marston Vale has plenty of kid-friendly bike routes. I also like the sound of the Biggleswade Green Wheel – a green route around the outskirts of Biggleswade with “spokes” leading into the town centre. It’s a great route to cycle or walk for families.

I’ve put together a collection of off-road cycle routes for families in Hertfordshire – worth a look if you’re not far from the border. I’ve also written an article about kid-friendly bike rides across the UK – perfect for a read if you’re heading off on a staycation.

Explore the grounds of Wrest Park

Visit this English Heritage site and explore the stunning gardens, enjoy a picnic, and let the kids run around the expansive grounds – there’s a decent playground. The park also hosts various events and activities.

Find out more about Wrest Park

Unusual things to do in Bedfordshire

Explore Jordan’s Mill

Described as a food heritage attraction, this historic mill on the River Ivel is a great way for kids to learn about where their food comes from and how the processes used to get it to our plate have changed over time.

There are gardens to explore, crops to learn about and woodlands to wander through. There’s plenty laid on for kids – guided tours, trails and craft activities.

Find out more about Jordan’s Mill

Smell the flowers in Kathy Brown’s Garden

This colourful garden is a joy to explore with wisteria-laden arches, silver birch avenues and waving grasses. There’s also homemade cake – in case this is more of a draw for the kids.

Find out more about Kathy Brown’s Garden

Learn about the importance of trees at the Forest of Marston Vale

There are lots of activities for children at this charity-run forest in the making. It’s a great way for kids to learn about the importance of tree planting. There are craft events at the forest centre, trails to follow and a wetland area with bird hides.

This 61 square mile area was once an intense area of industry with clay pits dug to supply the local brick trade. It is now one of 13 community forests. Over two million trees have been planted since the scheme began.

Find out more about the Forest of Marston Vale

Rainy day attractions in Bedfordshire

Take the kids rock climbing in Bedfordshire

There’s a decent indoor climbing wall at the leisure centre in Flitwick for kids to enjoy. And if you’re close to the Herts border, check out my list of climbing walls in Hertfordshire.

Stockwood Discovery Centre

This is a great destination if you’re looking for free things to do in Bedfordshire with kids. There’s a really diverse range of attractions here. Firstly, Stockwood boasts the largest collection of horse-drawn carriages, there are galleries exploring local social history and there’s the all important play area (outdoors).

Find out more about Stockwood Discovery Centre

Water slide fun at Oasis Beach Pool

If your budget won’t quite stretch to the Center Parcs in Bedfordshire, you can have a day out at this fun swimming pool centre in Bedford. There are water slides and a wave machine plus floats to glide around on.

Find out more about Oasis Beach Pool

Enjoy afternoon tea in Bedfordshire

Apparently, the tradition of afternoon tea originates in Bedfordshire – thanks to the tummy rumblings of the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Whether this is true or not, there’s certainly no shortage of places to continue this past time in Bedfordshire.

There are afternoon teas for all budgets – Luton Hoo is the place to go if you fancy the full on decadent experience while a more cheap and cheerful tea and cake is on offer at Ridgemont Station vintage tea room.

Find out more about afternoon tea in Bedfordshire here

****

Do you have any recommendations of things to do in Bedfordshire? Tell me about your favourite days out in Bedfordshire in the comments below.