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River Great Ouse  Having had absolutely no prior knowledge of Bedford I presumed that it would be a fairly sleepy East of England town - so it came as quite a surprise to discover that there's a lot going on there.
Did you know, for example, that the renowned Philarmonia Orchestra is resident in Bedford, or that it's a university town, with two De Montfort campuses? That it houses the UK's largest Italian population - meaning that its many Italian restaurants come with added authenticity? That the River Great Ouse runs through the town, providing a dramatic backdrop and leisure resource - with a nightly "switching-on" of The Embankment illuminations that adds a stunning glow to the waterfront? |
 And it doesn't stop there:
- Bedford has a weekly gourmet market that sells an array of scrumptious food. - The town hosts regular entertainment such as Music in the Meadow on Sunday afternoons in the summer. - Annually, there's an International Kite Festival, Bedford Heritage Festival, and Festival of Fire & Light. - There's also a yearly Glenn Miller festival on the outskirts of town. - The Bedford Regatta, in May, is Britain's largest one-day river rowing regatta. - And there's a biennial River Festival which is the second largest free festival in the UK, being beaten only by the Notting Hill Carnival. - Bedford has a group of independent schools, known by the collective moniker "Harpur Trust Schools" which have an excellent reputation for education. In total, there are four schools and one pre-preparatory school. |
Then you've got the still-affordable property prices and generally attractive housing stock, the mere 40 minutes train journey into London, and the excellent access to Luton and Gatwick airports. This town ticks quite a few boxes.
Harpur Centre
Sounds impressive, doesn't it? That was certainly my thinking as I headed off to check it out for myself but the truth of the matter is that the reality doesn't quite live up to the hype.
The problem, it seems, is the layout. Basically, it's a bit tricky to find your way around the place - or "poor legibility", if you want the official terminology.
Take the river, for example. Once upon a time Bedford relied heavily on the Great Ouse for trade and defence, but in our modern world this is no longer the case and its primary function now is as a leisure attraction.
So while it's fulfilling this purpose very successfully in some parts of town, such as the Priory Marina and boating lakes, the section closest to the centre is underdeveloped and underused, and as a result both river and town seem quite disconnected despite being mere minutes apart.
And it's a similar story with Bedford's unique historic features. The castle mound, Bunyan Meeting Free Church, St Paul's Church, and the museum and art gallery are located close together, in a central location for both town and river, yet there doesn't seem to be any correlation between the different elements.
Not that you can't or don't appreciate all these features individually, of course, because you do: St Paul's Church is a magnificent building and the Embankment and the River Great Ouse are beautiful. It's just that it would be a whole lot better if it was all a bit more fluid.
Thank goodness, then, for Bedford's local council, who are set to come to the rescue with some ambitious regeneration plans.
St Paul's Church
They are looking at proposals which aim to create a much more defined link between town, river and historic features, and it's a move which could transform the look and feel of the whole town centre.
The plan includes developing a new Riverside Quarter, which will have a centre piece "signature building", six floors of which will be for residential use. The ground floor will feature one or two specialist shops and restaurants opening onto a grand public square on the banks of the Great Ouse.
A new pedestrian footbridge will be built between here and the town side of the river, which will also lead to a new Cultural Quarter in Castle Lane.
This will feature residential units, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as enhancing the town's unique historic elements, and creating an impressive new building which will combine Bedford Museum and the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery.
Further redevelopment plans include improvements to the retail district and the train and bus stations. And Bedford will see around 16,000 new homes being built over the next 15 years, having been set this target by John Prescott's former office (ODPM).
If all goes according to plan and the town does manage to achieve "sought-after" status, it's likely to have a positive effect on property prices which are already higher than in nearby Luton and Milton Keynes but still a fair way behind many Southern towns.
So, things are looking up for Bedford, it would seem: the potential is definitely there, it just needs a little honing to turn it into a truly desirable place to live.
1. Bedford Central
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Poets Area  Where is it? - basically the area to the east of the railway tracks at the northern side of the River Great Ouse, up to Brickhill Drive and Polhill Avenue, with Queen's Park over to the western side of the tracks.
What's there? - not surprisingly you'll find a wide range of housing styles here - lots of Victorian terraces, plus semis, detacheds, flat conversions and purpose-built flats including high-rises. Particularly sought-after options include the enclave around De Parys Avenue and beautiful Bedford Park, and around Russell Park, with the streets overlooking parkland being among the best in town (such as Park Avenue, De Parys, Waterloo Road). The smart Victorian houses of the Prime Ministers Area (Gladstone Street, Hartington Street etc), and the Poets Area off Shakespeare Road are also desirable; many of these streets contain flat conversions which is an ideal choice for fans of period properties who can't afford a whole one in today's market. |
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Tower blocks  If you prefer more modern housing, check out the consistently popular Riverfield at the east side of town. This development was built around ten years ago and has a range of properties from one-bed cluster homes through to five bed detached houses, with a handy Tesco superstore close by.
On the opposite side of Barker's Lane from here, an enclave made up principally of traditional 30s housing including that old classic, the three bed semi, is another favourite option for families and older people (Risborough Road, Wendover Drive etc). There's also a good choice of terraced housing and ex-council properties in the town centre including tower blocks, and there are a growing number of modern developments, particularly around the two stations, which are ideal for commuters and slightly more affluent first-timers. Further recent developments can be found down by the river: Sovereign Quay, Heron Quay and Crown Quay form an attractive group of swish riverside apartments which, in somewhere like London's Docklands, would cost a whole lot more than their current price-tag in Bedford. Buyers? - enough of a property mix to suit practically all buyers and budgets. Pros? - being close to the town centre means that everything you need is on hand, and there are three town centre Harpur schools (Bedford Modern, Bedford High and Dame Alice Harpur), as well as the De Montford University campus on Lansdowne Road. Cons? - town centre living isn't for everyone due to the noise factor (Bedford is fairly traffic-heavy). |
2. Queen's Park
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Queen's Park  Where is it? - also in central Bedford but lies to the west side of Bedford train station, stretching up to Bromham Road.
What's there? - Main property type is terraces, then semis, and there are also some flats, both purpose-built older styles and newly built varieties, and some detached houses. This is one of the areas where stamp-duty isn't paid on properties under £150,000 which is usually an indication of a run-down or deprived area: Queen's Park veers more towards the run-down, in-need-of-a-facelift side rather than deprivation, which means there's the potential to pick up a relative bargain. There are also some modern purpose-built apartment developments, especially around the station (Henley Road, Crowe Road) which appeal to the commuter market, and can still come in at under £150,000 for a two bed flat. And a recent development by Barratt Homes is proving popular with young professionals and commuters: Capital Connexion just off Hurst Grove is a group of smart apartments which are very handy for Bedford's main train station. At the moment, only one and two bedroom flats are available, but Barratt have plans to extend the development and build some two, three and four bed flats and townhouses - a good sign that developers can see the area's potential. Queen's Park has a few local schools and churches, a recreation ground, a community centre, a mosque and a Sikh temple. Bedford Golf Course is at the western side. Buyers? - commuters, first-time buyers, families on a budget, buy-to-let investors (new builds). Pros? - close to station, town centre and river; stamp-duty exempt up to £150,000. Cons? - some streets could do with a spot of smartening-up. |
3. Bedford Southside
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Southside semi  Where is it? - south of the river and west of the railway tracks, and partly extending over Mile Road.
What's there? - lots of terraces and semis, and some purpose-built flats. Bedford's Southside is the slightly less desirable side of town, due to a higher number of council properties, although many of these are now owner-occupied. Several of the streets to the east of London Road (Fenlake, Hockcliffe, Barford and Acacia roads) are examples of where the mainly terraced houses are occupied by a mix of private owners and council tenants. Parts of the Southside district are exempt from stamp-duty to the value of £150,000 (those that come under the political wards of Kingsbrook and Cauldwell) which makes buying a tad more affordable, and it's possible to get a bit more property for your money compared to the more upmarket north-side. Between Ampthill Road and London Road, Elstow Road forms a natural division between an area of traditional 30s houses and ex-council properties to the east side, and some fairly new builds (approximately ten years old) to the west - mainly apartments, two bed terraces and three bed townhouses. |
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Southside new apartments  Local shops, pubs and takeaways are situated on busy London Road and, of course, the town centre's facilities are just a stroll over the bridge across the water, or a few stops away by bus.
Bedford Hospital (south wing) is located over to the west of the district, off Kempston Road. Buyers? - first-time buyers, buy-to-let investors, commuters. Cons? - doesn't have as good a reputation as the north-side of town, due to the higher proportion of council housing, although new residential developments are attracting different types of buyers, and estate agents are beginning to label Southside as an up-and-coming district. |
4. Kempston
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Kempston semi  Where is it? - a district located to the south-west of Bedford, south of the River Great Ouse and west of the railway tracks.
What's there? - a high proportion of 30s-built properties, primarily semi-detached; terraces from various dates including Victorian; flat conversions and purpose-built flats. There are also some new-builds such as the recent townhouses in King William Street and Ryswick Road's modern terraces, and the fairly recent Hillgrounds development is a consistently popular choice. At the west of the district (by Box End Road) is a semi-rural area known as Kempston Rural which has beautiful large detached homes in a lovely country setting, and there is a lower school for local children. Amenities-wise, Kempston has plenty: shops on Bedford Road, a Sainsbury's superstore, pubs and restaurants, schools and churches, a library, a swimming pool, a gym, Addison Howard Park and several playing fields. Pros? - self-contained area with very good facilities and easy access to the A1. Cons? - not many, although rail commuters should aim to be at the eastern side unless they want to endure a bus journey on top of their train journey. |
5. Elstow
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Abbeyfields development  Where is it? - Elstow comes in two parts: the older, village area which lies to the west of Progress Way and includes West End, High Street and Wilstead Street, extending down to incorporate Moss Lane and South Avenue.
The other part is the modern (4-5 years old) Abbeyfields development which includes everything off the extensive Abbeyfields Drive. What's there? - the older section has various property types including detacheds, semis and bungalows, as well as character homes, for example the charming period cottages in West End. Abbeyfields consists primarily of impressive 4/5 bedroom and smaller detached homes, and three bedroom semis set in a very attractive modern estate. A recent development by Persimmon Homes, Elstow Manor, is a selection of two, three and four bedroom homes located at the northern side of the village. Elstow has some local facilities including schools, a church, a few shops including a general store, post-office and pharmacy, a pub, a restaurant, and a playing field. Pros? - pretty countryside setting and a village-y feel with local amenities, and good access to the by-pass. Cons? - wouldn't suit anyone who enjoys being in the thick of things. |
6. Eastcotts
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Meadowsweet development  Where is it? - from Meadowsweet Drive towards The High Road.
What's there? - mixture of ex-council properties and the modern Meadowsweet development, built approximately eight years ago. Ex-council properties are mainly semis and terraces, while the estate has two and three bedroom homes with a few apartments. Buyers? - first-timers, commuters. Pros? - easy access onto the by-pass, not too far from town, and proximity to the Bunyan Sports Centre. Cons? - not much to it aside from housing. |
North Bedford
7. Brickhill
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Brickhill detached  Where is it? - north of Bedford Park over to Kimbolton Road at the east.
What's there? - a generally sought-after district which contains the whole property mix from purpose-built blocks of flats through to large detached homes and bungalows, in a mix of estate and non-estate housing. There are some local shops on Avon Drive, several schools including two Harpur establishments (Pilgrim's pre-Preparatory and Bedford Modern), good access to Clapham and Bedford parks, and bus routes into the town centre. Buyers? - the wide property mix means it's suitable for a range of budgets but the suburban nature makes it a good family enclave. Pros? - a generally attractive area with good choice of schools, particularly the Harpur schools. Cons? - could prove to be too suburban for child-free families. |
8. Putnoe
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Putnoe semi  Where is it? - runs from Kimbolton Road over to Church Lane, north of Polhill Avenue.
What's there? - a popular housing district with properties dating from the 60s onwards in a variety of styles including semis, terraces, and detacheds, ranging in size from one to six bedrooms. Flats tend to be scarce. Putnoe has some local shops (including newsagents, hairdresser, bookmaker, off-licence, butchers and take-away). There's also a library, several schools, a church, a petrol station and a pub, and the expansive Mowsbury Park and Golf Course is off Kentworth Road at the north. Buyers? - great for families with school-age children but appeals to all sorts. Pros? - sought-after, leafy suburb with good schools and pleasant housing. Cons? - social animals may feel stifled by the lack of nightlife. |
9. Goldington
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Goldington terrace  Where is it? - to the eastern side of Church Lane, adjacent to Putnoe.
What's there? - mixture of privately owned and council housing dating from the 60s. Terraces and semis are the property mainstay but you can also find some detached and some purpose-built flats. Elms Farm Industrial Estate is over to the eastern side along with the Premier Health & Fitness club, and Goldington has some local shops and schools, and access to the Tesco superstore to the south of Goldington Road. Buyers? - a mixture, but good for families and first-time buyers. Pros? - affordable housing in a popular district. Cons? - similarly to Putnoe, there's not much in the way of entertainment facilities, and council-housing may be off-putting to some buyers. |
Living Here
Transport
Swan Hotel by river
Trains - Bedford Midland mainline station has First Stop Connect service to London King's Cross, journey time around 50 minutes. Through services to Gatwick (90 minutes) and Brighton (2 hours 15 minutes).
Northbound trains to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Bedford St Johns station - Silverlink operated service to Marston Vale and to Bedford Midland station.
Road - Bedford is 50 miles north of London on the A6 London / Carlisle Road, with the A1 to the east and the M1 to the west.
Also easily accessible are Cambridge (40 minutes to the east via the A428 / A45), and Milton Keynes (25 minutes), Buckingham (35 minutes) and Oxford (35 minutes) to the west via the A428/A421/A422.
Air - direct train links to Luton (30 minutes) and Gatwick (90 minutes).
Heathrow, Birmingham and East Midlands airports are also within 90 minutes driving time and Stansted within 60 minutes.
Bedford High Street
Two indoor shopping centres, the Harpur and the Howard Centres, connected by Silver Street and High Street.
Harpur Centre - good selection of big name stores including Boots, WH Smith, Argos, JJB Sports, Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins and Cargo Home Furnishings. Café facilities are available on the lower ground floor, and there's a car park with just under 100 spaces.
Howard Centre - a mix of high street shops such as TK Maxx and smaller, specialist shops, with a Café Prego serving refreshments.
The Boulevards (Horn Lane) - lots of small curiosity-type shops, perfect for browsing. Bedford's shopmobility scheme is located here - this provides manual and battery-powered wheelchairs and scooters, and a pushchair loan service.
Markets - Bedford was granted a market charter in 1166 and it's remained a thriving market town ever since.
There's a twice-weekly Bedford Charter Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays featuring around 40 stalls selling all manner of goods in the central St Paul's and Harpur Squares.
On Thursdays, there's a gourmet market, on Fridays it's a flower and plant market, and there's a Farmers' Market on the second Thursday of the month.
Streets around the shopping area, some of which are pedestrianised, have further shops, including a large Debenhams on the High Street.
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Bedford Museum - housed in the former Higgins Brewery and the beautiful gardens of Bedford Castle by the Great Ouse Embankment. Includes collections featuring the local community, archaeology, geology, and more.
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery - a combination of the restored Victorian home of the Higgins family who were famous local brewers, and an adjoining art gallery with a stunning collection of watercolours, prints, drawings, glass and lace. Situated in Castle Lane.
Bunyan Museum - a museum dedicated to the life and works of the author of the classic "The Pilgrim's Progress" who lived and spent jail-time in Bedford during the late 1600s (he was charged with un-licensed preaching). Situated in the Bunyan Meeting Free Church in Mill Street.
Bedford Creative Arts - a community-focused group who encourage participatory arts projects using film, photography and animation. The BCA Gallery is located in Castle Lane.
Bedford Castle - During the 11 th century an earthwork motte and bailey fortress was constructed in Bedford, and was later clad in stone before it was destroyed in the great siege of 1224.
The remaining Castle Mound underwent a major facelift in 2004, and is open to the public during daylight hours, and a timber-framed building on the top allows an excellent vantage point over the River Great Ouse.
Bedford Tourist Information Centre is located in the Town Hall in St Paul's Square.
Embankment parkland
Bedford certainly isn't short of parkland and open spaces, and the quality of what's there really sets it apart from other places, particularly around the River Great Ouse. These include:
The Embankment - is known as one of England's most beautiful riverside settings with its delightful blend of gardens and river meadows, elegant bandstand and suspension bridge. Every evening at dusk a spectacular "switching-on" ceremony lights up the entire area.
Bedford Park - dates from Victorian times and is an expansive area of beautiful parkland, with formal gardens, a lake and a fountain. Children's play area to the east.
Priory Country Park - further down the riverside from the Embankment, this park is the base of the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust.
Its many lakes make it the perfect haunt for local anglers and water-sports fans; ornithologists say it's a stop-off point for migratory birds; and the park is also used as an educational venue for schoolchildren.
The Priory Marina and Priory Sailing Club are also located here.
Bedford Rowing Club
Bedford Athletic Stadium - athletic venue which caters for national and international athletes. Outdoors facilities include two rugby pitches, athletics field and eight lane running track. Indoors there's a 60 metres sprint track, courts for various sports including football, and space for activities such as martial arts and fitness classes.
Aspects Leisure Park - large leisure and entertainment complex with a Fitness First centre, Megabowl, UGC cinema, a bar and three restaurants. Located in Newnham Avenue.
Oasis Beach Pool - swimming pool with giant water slides and wave generators, set in a "space age pyramid".
Robinson Swimming Pool - Bedford's largest swimming complex with three pools - the main pool, a beginner's pool and a diving pool. There's also a gym in the complex. Centrally located in the grounds of Bedford Park.
There is also a swimming pool at Hillgrounds Road in Kempston.
Bunyan Sports Centre - good indoor sporting facilities including a main hall which can accommodate either two five-a-side football courts or eight badminton courts, and a small hall which can be used for fitness classes or meetings. Also has a gym, multi-purpose room, squash courts, outdoor courts and a weight room.
Goldington Bury - cricket ground where legendary player Jack Hobbs once worked and played.
Mowsbury Park Golf Course - golf course and driving range.
Bedford Rowing Club - taking full advantage of the River Great Ouse.
Other water-based activities available in the town are wind-surfing, jet biking and water skiing.
Bedford Civic Theatre
Civic Theatre - centrally located in St Paul's Square, the Civic hosts professional performances.
Mill Theatre - a converted windmill which now plays host to five regular companies, staging around eight productions per year.
Corn Exchange - attractive multi-purpose venue which hosts theatre, comedy and music performances, and has the Philharmonia as Resident Orchestra. The venue can be hired out for various events such as conferences and weddings.
Bowen West Theatre - owned and run by De Montfort University, the theatre hosts professional seasons during Autumn and Spring featuring dance, cutting-edge theatre, music and comedy.
Bedford Cinema - six screen UGC cinema at Aspects Leisure Park.
There's also a good array of Italian venues as Bedford has the largest Italian community in the UK - over ten per cent of its population.
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Bedford Corn Exchange  Bedford River Festival - held over two days in July every second year, this festival attracts around 250,000 visitors, making it the UK's second largest free festival - first place goes to the Notting Hill Carnival. Attractions include live music, fun fairs, carnival procession, fireworks and stalls. This year's festival has just passed, so the next one will be in July 2008.
Music in the Meadow - takes place on Sunday afternoons throughout July and August. The Victorian bandstand in Mill Meadows plays host to various local music groups. Glenn Miller Festival - celebrating the music of the legendary Glenn Miller who played his only outdoors concert in an RAF base at the Twinwood Airfield just outside Bedford, which is the site of the festival. It has been running for five years and as well as featuring Miller's music, a range of bands and vocalists reproduce songs from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and other stars of the era. |
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The Harpur Trust & The Harpur Trust Schools Bunyan Meeting Free Church  The "Harpur Trust Schools" is a collective moniker for a group of independent schools in Bedford, all of which have a particularly good reputation for education.
These schools are named after Sir William Harpur, a Bedford-born tailor who became Lord Mayor of London in 1561 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I the following year. But it was several years later, in 1566, that Harpur's actions would leave a lasting legacy for Bedford - together with his wife, Dame Alice, he created an endowment to sustain a school which he had previously established in the town. Harpur's endowment also made provision for "the marriage of poor maids of the town, for deprived children to be nourished and informed, and for any residue to be distributed to the poor of the town." This was called the Harpur Trust (also known as The Bedford Charity) and is still operational, promoting "education, recreation with a social welfare purpose, and the relief of hardship and need". Today, the charity employs 1,200 people locally. There are now four independent Harpur Trust Schools and one pre-preparatory school in Bedford: the (original) Bedford School, Bedford Modern School, Bedford High School, Dame Alice School and Pilgrims pre-Preparatory School. |
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John Bunyan Plaque at Bunyan Meeting Free Church  John Bunyan, whose most famous work was "The Pilgrim's Progress", was born in the parish of Elstow at the south of Bedford, and was a tinker before he became a preacher and author.
He wrote this world-renowned book in Bedford's county gaol where he was imprisoned for almost 12 years between 1661 and '72, having been charged with "unlicensed preaching". On his release from prison, Bunyan was appointed pastor of the Independent congregation in Bedford, and they purchased a barn in Mill Lane, now Mill Street, in which to hold their meetings. There is still a church on this site which is now called the Bunyan Meeting Free Church - it also contains a museum dedicated to Bunyan's life and works, and has a large collection of artefacts and memorabilia. |
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John Howard - Penal Reform John Howard statue  Another influential Bedford man was John Howard, High Sherriff of Bedfordshire in the 1700s, who was the pioneer of penal reform.
Horrified by the conditions of Bedford Gaol, he travelled up and down the country, and subsequently made seven trips throughout Europe to compare institutions elsewhere in an attempt to find a humane system. The Howard League for Penal Reform is named in his honour. |
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St Paul's Church Spire of St. Paul's Church  The south porch of this landmark building dates all the way back to the 13 th century, and its wonderful spire can be seen throughout the town. It serves as both a parish church and the Civic and County Church of Bedford, and has a programme of daily services which can be attended by visitors.
St Paul's is steeped in history, which is not surprising, considering its age: John Bunyan once preached a sermon here as did John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism; and, from 1941 to the end of the Second World War, the church was used by the BBC to broadcast the Daily Service. Sir William Harpur is buried at St Paul's Church where a brass plaque marks his coffin. |
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Castle Lane Bedford castle mound  Castle Lane is set to become Bedford's "cultural quarter" - proposals are still being finalised, but current plans are to:
- Link the area to the river and the town centre, and create a pedestrian friendly atmosphere. - Create space for specialist shops, cafes, bars and restaurants - Enhance the setting of historic monuments and create a castle archaeological park or trail. - Amalgamate the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum into a larger, more impressive, building. - Construct residential units including affordable housing to encourage more people to live in the centre of town |
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Riverside Square River Great Ouse  (detailed planning application expected in 2006/07)
- Plans are to create a prestigious mixed use site by the river, this one involving: - Residential-led scheme, including apartments, in a prestigious new building - Creation of grand public square at the riverside - Retail facilities, restaurants and bars - New pedestrian footbridge |
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Town Centre West Bedford High Street  (planning permission being sought this year)
Proposals include the creation of: - Residential units - New bus station - New shop units, bars and restaurants - Leisure / multiplex - Multi-storey car park - Additional food retail store - New department store |
Some of the further regeneration proposals include a new office and residential area by the main station, and improvements to the station itself; upgrading the shop facades in the High Street; and implementing a better traffic system in the centre.
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