Led by qualified members of the Bedford Association of Tour Guides, each tour promises an engaging and entertaining journey through various aspects of Bedford's heritage.

The next Junior Aquathlon will take place on Sunday 13 October at Robinson Pool in Bedford Park for children and young people in school years 3 to 11 (as at September 2024).

Do your children love swimming and running? Then the Junior Aquathlon is the perfect opportunity for them to test their skills in a fun and friendly competition.

Bookings are still open until Tuesday 1 October at 5.30 pm. 

A Range of over 100 Real ales, Ciders, Perries and Continental Beers in Bedford town centre!

Evening entertainment:

Wednesday: Bedford Ukulele Orchestra

Thursday: Innis Eire band

Friday: Bedford Town Band

Saturday: Blues Brothers tribute band

Paul the magician will perform a magic show for children on Saturday afternoon, followed by light mobile comedy for adults in the evening.

Opening hours

Wednesday 4-11pm

Thursday and Friday 12pm-11pm

Saturday 12pm-10pm

Entry £2 for CAMRA members and £5 for non-members

Pay at the door in cash or by card - there are no advance tickets. Supervised children under age 18 will be admitted at no extra charge to a family area in the Howard Room upstairs on Thursday to Saturday until 5pm.

The Festival sponsor is Gallagher Developments.

During this free family-learning course, learn about how to grow your own food at home, even if you do not have a garden.

Then learn new recipes for healthy and delicious meals and snacks, that are easy to make as a family. Learn about the different food cultures in Bedford Borough and share a delicious meal together.

Upon completion of the course, families will be gifted a pack to take home, containing items such as a blender, measuring cups and a gardening set, so the learning can continue beyond the course.

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity will offer weekly sessions to promote wellbeing among parents in the peri-natal period – during pregnancy and the first year of baby’s life.

The group will support the wellbeing of parents and parents-to-be by offering group nature-based activities that encompass the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connection, Be Active, Learn, Take Notice and Give Back.

Join Puggle and friends for free, fun and creative activities inspired by art in the exhibitions.

It’s a drop-in activity, so no need to book. Just pop in any time from 10.30am to 12pm or from 1pm to 2.30pm and stay for as long as you like.

Feel inspired by nature at these free, fun, creative family workshops. You can harness the power of the sun with cyanotype prints, spread some joy with beautiful crepe flowers or explore typography and storytelling in the galleries.

You can also be amongst the first to try a new murder mystery app mad by Cardboard Clues in ‘Murder at The Museum’.

The events are all free and all brought to The Higgins by local artists and creators. There will be a mixture of bookable and drop-in events, suitable for everyone, from 1 to 100.

The Higgins Bedford is part of Fun Palaces 2024: a free, nationwide campaign for culture at the heart of community and community at the heart of culture.

This event is supported by Arts Council England.

Everyone is invited to join this community litter pick from 10am to 12pm along the Embankment.

We're meeting in St. Mary's Garden, between Bedford Town Bridge and the Riverside Bridge. You can find the location easily using What3Words: ///bowls.rushed.translated

Please wear suitable clothing, children are welcome to join but must be accompanied by a parent or carer.

Following the flooding it may not be possible to have the support of scuba divers, kayakers and the John Bunyan Boat but please keep an eye on the Events team Facebook pag for any updates for this event.

Join trained actor and teacher Toby as he engages children with immersive story reading.

He'll also help children create their own stories using puppets, drawings, songs and the artwork from the gallery.

Ideal for ages up to seven, children must bring along an adult.

Please be aware, space in the gallery is limited and is offered on a first come first served basis.

Bedford is currently delivering several regeneration, transport and skills-led projects within the scope of a £22.6m grant.

These include public realm improvements to St. Paul’s Square, Midland Road and Greyfriars areas.

It also includes transport infrastructure improvements throughout Bedford town centre.

Come and learn more about the projects and provide us with your thoughts. . 

Come and speak to the team and find out more from 12.30pm to 2.30pm

These Saturday craft markets have different local craft traders and free workshop/performance every second Saturday of the month on the Silver Square and along the whole of Silver Street!

From soap flower gifts, up-cycled jars and glasses, wax melts to handmade bags and clothes, hand-painted plant pots and knitwear, you'll find a variety of high-quality and original items that showcase our local crafters’ passion and expertise.

The market runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Celebrate the memory of a loved one at Starlight Hike this October while supporting Sue Ryder.

Get together with family and friends and walk their 5k or 10k route under the stars to remember someone special and help raise vital funds.

Together, we can ensure that everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need.

Your one-stop shop for all things flea, art and produce.

Bedford Flea pride themselves on being the purveyors of quality with the emphasis on locally made, grown and sourced products, from some of our most skilled small businesses and hobbyists.

This market runs on the second Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm.

Recycle Week (organised by Recycle Now) is the UK’s biggest celebration of recycling. This year we join the urgent crusade to save four packaging heroes from the rubbish bin.

Help save Dee Dee the deodorant can, Rey the plastic trigger spray, Yogi the yoghurt pot and Hube the toilet roll tube by placing them in your orange lidded bin so they can be recycled into something new.  

Subscribe to email bulletins from the Recycling and Waste team to discover more about Recycle Week, along with updates throughout the year.

Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a tour of the highlights of Edward Bawden & Me.

The tour runs from 12pm to 1pm and booking in advance is essential. It costs just £6.85, or £5.50 for concessions.

To book places on exhibition tours and workshops please call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm) or go to the website, link below.

Join the Keeper of Social History and explore Bedford’s transport heritage including Airship R101, Bedford Times coach, Dan Albone cycle, the coming of the railways and the Adams Car.

Booking is essential, the tour is from 11.30am-12pm and is just £3.50, or £2.95 for concessions.

These mornings, from 11am to 12.30pm are free and everyone is welcome to come along, share memories, and make new friends.

Refreshments are available for just £1 and there's no need to book.

The post-war boom brought massive changes in the home, it was out with the old and in with the new.

Open-plan living and fitted kitchens with brand new appliances were all the rage.

Come and share some of your favourite things about the home of the 1950s.

Join the friends of Mowsbury Hillfort and Putnoe Wood undertake the annual coppicing in Putnoe wood in Mowsbury Park. Meet at main entrance to wood (what3words location trendy.total.bonds).

Meet 12.45pm for 1pm start and finish by 4pm.

No experience necessary, all tools and training provided.

Wear old clothes, stout boots and gardening type gloves.

Bring together a team of six detectives to unravel a series of curious, whimsical mysteries in your local museum.

Scour the museum to discover hidden clues and 'cardboard' characters, who could be suspects, witness or victims, each holding the keys to the puzzle.

Connect the dots in the stories across the museum and test your wits and problem-solving skills.

Perfect for families, friends, and curious minds looking for a unique expereince in a fun setting.

Join the Park Warden and the volunteers undertaking practical habitat management at Priory Country Park.

Start at 9.30am and finish at 2.30pm, meet at the workshop, behind Cloverdale retreat café.

No experience necessary, all tools and training provided, refreshments provided, bring a mug!

Wear old clothes, stout boots and gardening type gloves. 

This session is the perfect opportunity for Bawden fans and those new to the subject to have an up-close look at the extensive Edward Bawden collection.

Works from the collection, including some that have never been on display before, as well as old favourites, will be introduced by The Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art.

This runs from 10am to 11.30am and must be booked in advance.

To book places on exhibition tours and workshops please call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm) or follow the link below.

Everyone is invited to the launch of this year's Poppy appeal in Harpur Square from 10am to 2pm.

Come and see a variety of military vehicles, Standards, Royal British Legion Riders and pipers.

Browse the beautiful collection of crafts, gifts, cakes and scented candles on the last Sunday of every month, until the end of October.

The craft market runs from 10am to 3.30pm.

Monthly creative activities for families to have a go at together and enjoy from 2-4pm.

Suitable for under twelves, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please be aware that space is limited and there may be a wait to start.

These online sessions allow you to speak with a member of our team in an informal and relaxed environment from 7pm on Microsoft Teams.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about all things fostering.

Booking in advance is essential

A free family fun day to launch the brand new Family Hubs website.

This will be a celebration of all things Family Hubs and a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the services offered from this team. The new Family Hubs website will also be launching, redesigned to make it even easier for local families to find the information they need when they need it.

Activities for all ages and fun for all!

9-10am is SEND friendly.

10am-3pm is open to everyone.

A laugh out loud Murder Mystery Dinner Show. Get ready for an exhilarating night of mystery and mayhem as you join Holmes, Watson and Mrs Hudson as they re-enact their latest mind-boggling case.

With hilarious characters, deadly twists, dastardly turns, and a three-course meal that’s simply to DIE for!

​So, dust off your magnifying glasses and prepare to super sleuth your way through a fully interactive murder mystery evening. Will you use your powers of deduction and discover who dunnit?, or will it be down to Sheer Luck?

Do you find maths a bit scary or do you know someone who would like some support?

Although it can sometimes feel challenging we all use numbers every day – at work, at home and when we’re out.

These different workshops help people to:

• build confidence managing money  
• confidently use maths at home and at work
• shop for less and learn to cook to suit your lifestyle
• support your children with homework
• unlock new career and learning opportunities
• achieve an accredited maths qualification.

As part of the Government’s Adult Numeracy programme known as Multiply, Bedford Borough Council has received funding to offer courses that will help you to improve your skills and confidence with maths.

Up to four hours free parking each day at Allhallows Car Park.

First two hours parking free in Queen Street Car Park.

Up to two hours every Saturday in all Council-owned town centre single and multi-storey car parks.

Free parking all day every Sunday in Council-owned town centre car parks and each day after 6pm in all town centre car parks, except for River Street.

Free on-street parking after 6pm, Monday to Saturday, except for Castle Lane which is 11pm.

Don't forget that bus fares are just £2, and the app operated secure cycle shelter is available on the corner of the Harpur Centre opposite St. Paul's Church - email highways.helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk with your full name, address, and contact number to register an account and find details of the app to gain entry.