Parks

Bedford Park is Bedford's largest urban park, offering open green spaces, formal gardens, sports facilities and children's play areas. Popular for walking, running and community events, the Victorian park also features a café, ornamental ponds and seasonal floral displays.

Box End Park is an outdoor leisure destination near Bedford centred around a series of lakes. Visitors can enjoy watersports including cable wakeboarding, paddleboarding, kayaking and open water swimming, as well as a café, accommodation and activities for all ages throughout the year.

Harrold-Odell Country Park is a popular nature reserve on the banks of the River Great Ouse, offering lakes, woodland and riverside walks. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, fishing, a children's play area, picnic spots and a café, making it a great destination for a relaxing day outdoors.

Jubilee Park is a well-used local green space in Bedford, with play areas, sports facilities, open space and a particularly good skate park. It’s a genuine neighbourhood park that’s popular with local children, young people and residents looking for somewhere outdoors close to home.

Mowsbury Park is a pleasant and spacious local park in Bedford, with plenty of open grassland, walking routes, play areas and sports facilities. It’s a quieter, greener spot that’s great for families, walking the dog, getting some fresh air or enjoying a relaxed afternoon outdoors.

Priory Country Park is a large riverside park in Bedford with lakes, meadows, woodland and walking and cycling trails. The park is popular for wildlife watching, watersports, picnics and family outings, and includes a café, visitor centre and children's play area.

Harrold-Odell Country Park is a popular nature reserve on the banks of the River Great Ouse, offering lakes, woodland and riverside walks. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, fishing, a children's play area, picnic spots and a café, making it a great destination for a relaxing day outdoors.

Shuttleworth is a heritage attraction near Biggleswade featuring a collection of vintage aircraft, historic vehicles and steam engines. Visitors can also explore Swiss Garden, enjoy a café and attend regular flying displays and family events throughout the year.

The Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park in Marston Moretaine is a beautiful outdoor destination just a short drive from Bedford. The park features lakes, woodland, meadows and walking and cycling trails, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. The Forest Centre also offers a café, visitor facilities and activities, making it a great day out for families, walkers and cyclists. It wins extra points for accessibility.