In Things to do

Within easy reach of London and with miles of countryside to explore, Bedfordshire is somewhere you can experience the best of both worlds. If you have a layover in Luton on your way to London or elsewhere this year or perhaps want to do something different, here are some of the prettiest villages the county has to offer.

Woburn

Perhaps one of the more well known villages, Woburn might be small but it certainly packs a punch, being home to both Woburn Abbey and Woburn Safari Park which both bring in thousands of visitors every year. With its Georgian architecture and being conveniently located on the outskirts of Milton Keynes and close to the M1, it’s easy to reach, but not so easy to leave.

Ickwell

Don’t be put off by the name, Ickwell is a picturesque village and has one of the oldest cricket clubs in Bedfordshire. The village was also the birthplace of Britain’s most respected clock maker, Thomas Tompion. The village green is particularly picturesque and features a permanent maypole, just in case you doubted the heritage traditions of the residents.

Cardington

Cardington is probably best known for the connection with the Cardington Airship and the fact that it was known as the training base for the RAF. Surrounded by countryside, this is somewhere you can really immerse yourself in nature.

Pavenham

As one of the county’s smallest villages, this is somewhere you can easily miss but is always worth visiting. It is located on the outskirts of Bedford and you can enjoy some walks along the River Great Ouse, spying thatched cottages and visiting the two nature reserves.

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