Bedford is a lovely town where you can explore for days! The town centre, Priory Country Park and surrounding villages will keep you and the family entertained. But if are you based in Bedford you might fancy a day out every now and then!
Oh and we’ve included some date ideas in collaboration with datebedfordshiresingles.co.uk too! Finding date ideas and places to go in 2020 has been a bit of a struggle for obvious reasons. Now that the world is opening up again, I hope that some of the ideas below will inspire a date day/night with a long-term partner or first date alike!
I always love exploring fun things to do nearby my hometown and luckily Bedford has loads. As we all know it’s handily located close to London, but we’ve all been there before! I’ve rounded up some other fun things to do within an hour away from Bedford. It includes things suitable for toddlers, older children and adults!
Cambridge
🚗 50 minutes
Cambridge is a lovely town definitely worth exploring on your day out. If you’ve never been before, simply walk around the town and enjoy the articecture and river. Go punting, have a nice lunch and do some shopping.
Good to know: If you are driving in from Bedford I’d highly recommend using the Madingley Road park & ride. This way you can avoid driving in the town. You simply park your car (for free) and take the bus into town. The fare for the bus is £3 return (up to 3 kids go free with every paying passenger) and they go every 10 minutes.
Go Ape! Woburn
🚗 22 minutes
Fancy a bit of an adventure? Located in Woburn safari park you will find Go Ape!, where you can climb the treetops, complete with zip wires and bridges. Put your physical strength and brainpower to the test by navigating the treetop course. If you get lucky, you might spot an elephant or two from above!
If you’ve found someone on a Bedfordshire dating site then this is a good first date idea. Show your adventurous side as you fly through the treetops creating memories as you go.
Good to know: Go Ape! recommend you wear sensible clothes for climbing and sturdy shoes (no sandals, open toes or heels). Parking is free, and you should aim to arrive 30 minutes before your session start.
Woburn Safari Park
🚗 26 minutes
Who doesn’t love a day in nature, looking at different animals? This is something fun for the entire family: young and old! I’m sure you’ve heard of Woburn Safari Park, where you can see impressive animals like lions, giraffes, rhino’s and lots more. The park has a Road Safari, Foot Safari and Leisure Park to make your day out packed with fun!
Good to know: You can only access the safari park with a car. You’ll need this to go through the Road Safari. Parking for the Foot Safari and Leisure Park is free. And you must buy a ticket in advance!
Ampthill
🚗 18 minutes
If you want some time out near Bedford exploring a lovely small town, head to Ampthill. Only an 18 minute drive from Bedford town centre and a great place to explore for a morning or afternoon. Walk around the nice streets of the town and you can’t miss out on a visit to Houghton House. A shell of a 17th-century mansion, this is a fun place for kids to play hide and seek!
Good to know: Houghton House is free to access with a free car park available. Check the council website for parking in Ampthill town.
Gulliver’s Land – Milton Keynes
🚗 24 minutes
If you have young children to entertain then Gulliver’s Land is a fantastic day out. Near Milton Keynes, this children’s theme park has fun rides, a dinosaur and farm park and plenty of attractions to keep the little ones entertained!
Good to know: Parking at Gulliver’s Land is free. You can also overnight at this fun theme park if you wanted to extend your stay!
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
🚗 42 minutes
Did you know ZSL Whipsnade is the UK’s biggest zoo?! They look after an amazing range of animals, including hippo’s, lemurs, cheetas and penguins (my favourite!). And the park is well-equipped for British weather, with a dedicated ‘wet weather guide‘.
Good to know: You can park your car for free in an external car park and walk around the zoo, or you can take your car in with you and park in designated areas. See more information here.
These are my top ideas for a fun day out near Bedford! They should all take you less than an hour in the car (depending on traffic of course). Where will you go next?
