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Want to avoid being pressed up against someone sweaty while travelling around this summer? Then escape the city and the London underground by heading out of the city into the Bedfordshire countryside.
Bedfordshire borders the capital and is full of fascinating place to visit, including wide open countryside, canals and a host of other family friendly things to see and do. Here are a couple of ideas of things to do this summer in Bedfordshire.
Befriend some animals
Bedfordshire is home to two animal collections – ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and Woburn Safari Park which are both well worth a visit. Both Whipsnade Zoo and Woburn Safari Park are under 2 hours from central London by car or around an hour and a half via public transport.
Elsewhere there are farm parks and alpaca walking sessions across the county or you can head to the River Ouse where you might end up face to face with an otter or two!
You can find the River Ouse in Bedford, which is around 2 and a half hours by road from central London or 42 minutes using public transport – there is even a direct train from St Pancras International.
Enjoy open space
There is plenty of open spaces across Bedfordshire, including the Chiltern Hills and Dunstable Downs, which is perfect for the warmer weather. Dunstable Downs is managed by the National Trust and over the summer, there are loads of activities going on for the whole family. You can get to Dunstable Downs in around 2 hours by car or an hour and a half by public transport.
Learn something new
There are loads of fascinating places to visit around Bedfordshire, it is where the Afternoon Tea was created, where the BBC had their base during WWII and where Catherine of Aragon was banished during her divorce from Henry VIII. As such you’ll find loads of heritage houses, castle ruins and attractions like the Shuttleworth Collection where you can learn something new about the region. Shuttleworth House and its collection of airplanes is just over 2 hours away from central London by car and under 2 hours by public transport.
