Whatever your child's age there is always something to enjoy. Get cracking in  a multi-level play area where kids can climb, clamber and slide over all sorts of adventurous obstacles. What’s next? What about a ball pond where your children can dip and dive in a pool full of colourful balls? All of the above would make for serious family fun. Of course parents are not forgotten either as a cafe is never far away. You can relax with a tasty coffee and a slice of cake. What more could you want?

Indoor and Soft Play Areas

Weather is too nice to stay indoors? Want to stretch your legs? Children need to run wild?  Then head to one of the UK's fantastic parks and playgrounds on offer and breath in that fresh air!

Parks and Playgrounds

Ever imagined galloping along a beach?  Maybe you're more of a fantasy fan or just enjoy spending time with animals, either way horse riding might be for you. A great outdoor activity for the whole family with children able to start from as young as 4. It is an amazing way to take in local scenery, connect with nature, have a little adventure or enjoy at a relaxing pace.   

Horse Riding

Discover the trees like never before. Scramble, climb and jump through high rope assault courses, don't forget to bring your courage!  A great outdoor activity for families and adults alike, and dotted throughout the UK. Why not try the adventure for a day out on your next staycation?   

High Ropes Courses

Spend the day creating your very own handcrafted pot, vase, or bowl. Or if you have less time on your hands why not try painting a premade version?  A relaxing, indoor family activity. Perfect for creatives and on a rainy day visit one of the many ceramic cafes for coffee, tea, cakes, and of course, crafting!   

Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes

The UK is the home of the amazing steam train! This integral part of our lives and history means we are lucky to still have many running steam railways and transport museums and attractions.  Why not experience the romance of a steam train ride in the Welsh mountains or across Bodmin and try out a railway or transport attraction on your next holiday.  

Railway and Transport 

Art and crafting are wonderful pastimes and something the whole family can be involved in, whatever age and whatever skill!   Both children and adults can enjoy the wide range of things this relaxing (mostly!) hobby offers, from finger painting and clay modelling to sewing, woodcarving or basket making. As families are now looking for new things to do on holiday, many places are offering arty activities, or local artists will run day courses with lovely things to make.  And the bonus with this hobby is, there is always something to take home with you at the end!  Have a look at all the different art and craft activities to do in the area you are staying in and unleash your inner Michaelangelo!   

Arts and Crafts

Enjoy your Escape to the countryside at an Activity Farm. Activity farms offer hands-on feeding with lots of  animals including workshops and experiences that help get you even closer to farm life.  Or Visit a fantastic and wild Zoo where you can see Rhinos, Bears, Lions, monkeys and more!

Childrens Farms and Petting Zoos

Thinking of delving into the world of karting? We're sure you're raring to go! Well don't think twice and book yourself and friends or all the family on an ultimate go karting experience! Once you're kitted out with the appropriate gear, you'll have your safety talk that tells you everything you need to know about racing, so listen up! When that's over and you're out on the track,  go karts pack a mean punch...  On your mark, get set, GO!  

Go Karting

These days you need to really hunt for a Lido.  They are out there but you need to know where to look.  And when you find one they really are worth it.  From Devon to Aberdeen to Yorkshire you can find magnificent outdoor swimming pools across the UK, and they combine exercise, mental wellbeing and the wonders of fresh air.  Don't believe me?  Give it a try.  The feeling of outdoor swimming really does wonders for the soul.  Plus some of them have really amazing views too. Most lidos are open in the warmer months only (how very, very sensible) but some are open all year round.  Brrr.  So in this instance pack a wetsuit, ice pick and Bear Grylls survival pack for when you drag yourself out.  Yes OK I'm a fair-weather Lido swimmer.  But this is to my detriment I'm sure.  Studies have actually proven that swimming in colder water helps you sleep better, improves circulation and boosts your immune system.  Plus, you feel like a total hero when you come out of the water and everyone is clapping.  Find a Lido near you and give it a go! 

Lidos

The UK has a huge array of museums and art galleries for you to enjoy. From the big hitters in London, such as the Natural History Museum, V&A, Tate Modern and National Portrait Gallery, to exciting living museums where your family can step back in time (such as the Black Country Museum in the West Midlands or the Highland Folk Museum in the Cairngorms). These Museums let your kids get hands-on with history, attending School and learning about farming, crafts, and much more. Art Galleries are not just for the grown ups! They now have workshops and child-friendly trails to inspire even the youngest artists to start drawing.  So why not try out one of our Museums or Art Galleries on your next holiday?   

Museums and Art Galleries

Learn to paint or refine your skills... Painting is a completely inclusive activity for the whole family!  Head to a pottery painting class with your friends and take away a keepsake from your holiday! Or let the kids express their creative side with some hand painting!  Maybe you're already proficient and want to polish your brush technique. Whatever the weather, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Painting workshops

Pottery is an ancient craft and great fun! Sometimes a little messy, anyone can have a go at either hand building a pot, or getting to grips with a throwing wheel. You can create something beautiful and uniquely yours in no time at all. Families can enjoy together and kids as young as 2 can play with clay, or have a go at painting a pre-made pot. It’s the perfect wet weather or winter activity.

Pottery

Hurrah, it's Autumn! That stunning time of year when the skies are blue, the air is crisp and the trees are turning that beautiful golden orange before-they all-drop-off colour.  Christmas is coming, Bake Off is on the telly and before we all hunker down for the long nights ahead, we have a month or two of wonderful outdoorsy stuff to get out of our system.  And most importantly, it is Pumpkin Season.  Woo Hoo! Who doesn't love those creepily carved orange globes popping up in every window ledge from now until Halloween. This year though, how about this: instead of grabbing a dodgy looking squash from the local supermarket, why not.....pick your own?!  There are hundreds (literally) of places to pick your own Pumpkins all over the UK and it is great fun.  Head off at half term for a rural outing with the kids; there are farms and nurseries everywhere with rows of delicious pumpkins just waiting to be chosen and taken back to their forever home (hmmm, ok, until they are made into a pie or have a spooky face carved into them). So find a farm near you and book in.   Once you've booked and are revved up to go, I've got some tips on how to select your perfect pumpkin: 1. check your pumpkin has a good strong green stem. 2. while we are on about stems, NEVER carry your pumpkin by the stem.  If you drop it, the whole thing will break and worse still, so might toes. 3. make sure it doesn't have any cuts in it or soft patches. 4. get a really lovely orangey one - all over....any green or brown bits might mean it is over or under ripe #carvingnightmare 5. looks aren't everything.  Yes, make sure it is orange but don't go for a perfect globe.  A slightly misshapen one adds way more character to your masterpiece and it won't taste any different. You now have your Squash Diploma Level 1.  Whether you are using your Pumpkin to make delicious wedges and cakes, or you just want to carve out a grotesque toothy face, picking your own is way more fun than buying one.   Check out the Pumpkin Picking farms near you today!       

Pumpkin Picking

Lions, Tigers and Bears.... Always dreamt of getting up close to a herd of southern white rhinos or a giraffe? Not to mention the well-known stripes of a zebra, prized Ankole cattle, ellipsen waterbuck, Congo buffalo, swamp-loving red lechwe and the eland, largest of all antelope species! Let's explore and learn all about these incredible animals who roam the earth!

Safari Parks

Looking for an easy access waterboard sport? Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) might be for you! Easy to pick up in just half an hour, glide across lakes, rivers and seas on your paddle board. Kids can start from as young as 5 and lots of our partners have child and teen sized paddleboards.

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

Want to enjoy a leisurely swim or a splash with the family? You can find an array of incredibly fun activities for all the family at a Leisure Centre including tennis, badminton, roller skating, aerobics, gym, dance classes and many more! Whatever takes your fancy, they have it! 

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Take you family and friends bowling for an afternoon or evening! Whatever your level or age, ten pin bowling is for the whole family and is the perfect location on a rainy day! The objective is to knock down all ten pins on the first roll of the ball (a strike), or failing that, on the second roll (a spare)... but let's not get bogged down with the rules.  Younger children can join in too, thanks to lighter and smaller bowling balls, bowling ramps and alley railings. Book your spot today so you don't miss out!

Ten Pin Bowling Alleys

If you decide to take a holiday in the UK to an area you don't know (or maybe you do but want to know more), an excellent way of seeing around and actually getting to see the "best bits" is by taking a tour with a local guide or someone in the know. Walking tours, cycling tours, boat tours, pogo-stick tours (ok maybe not the last one) - whatever suits your family best, can be booked online or at local visitor information centres and make a real difference to your stay.  You can find out the history of a place, local facts or even go on something weird and wonderful like a ghost walk or follow in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes or Jack the Ripper.  Eek.  An open top bus journey can take away the hours pounding the pavement to look around a large city. Boat trips and river cruises are also a great way of seeing a lot of things in a small amount of time, giving you a completely different aspect of the town you are visiting.  Join a large boat or charter something smaller yourself and follow the river along to get a better look at all the surround countryside.  

Tours and River Cruises

There are a huge number of zoos, wildlife and safari parks all over the UK and most are well worth a visit and provide a really exciting and unique day out.  The broad difference between them is that Zoos tend to keep animals with their own species in smaller enclosures for a real up-close encounter, whereas a visit to a Safari Park usually involves driving around much larger enclosures to see groups of animals - maybe rhino, giraffe and gazelle all in one setting.  Some are self-drive (for a monkey snapping off your wing mirror type affair) or in others you are guided round in a truck, spotting lions and elephants from afar - similar to an African safari, just without the plus-size sunset, hot weather and flamboyant tribespeople (although lets not get too picky about this; most UK safari parks are just a couple of hours from home and do not involve remortgaging the house to go). Many zoos and parks now are great conservation pioneers and animal rescue centres, so by visiting, you are often contributing to real global issues, supporting endangered species or deforestation or other genuine threats to wildlife.  The parks usually have lots of information about these causes and it can be a great way to get the kids to learn about the world we live in, the animals from different continents and the dangers they face.

Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Safari Parks

Bedfordshire is made up of a number of different market towns and pretty rural villages.  The largest towns are Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Bedford, and it is home to Luton airport.  The location of this county - at the centre of the UK's motorway, rail and air networks and just 30 minutes from the capital city mean that it is excellently situated.  Many of the rural villages are picturesque and peaceful and it is a popular place to visit. Things to do here include Woburn Safari park, Whipsnade Zoo, Woburn Abbey and several country parks and historic houses.  

Central Bedfordshire, East England, UK

Bedford, East England, UK

Hertfordshire, East England, UK

Luton, East England, UK

The county of Bedfordshire is home to rivers, rolling countryside, wildlife parks full of big cats, historic houses and castle ruins.  Visit the glorious Chiltern Hills to see some local wildlife - fallow deer and kestrels - and enjoy all the outdoor adventures that Bedfordshire offers.  The neighbouring county of Hertfordshire offers garden towns, cathedral cities and beautiful historic buildings.  

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, East England, UK

East Anglia, East England, England, UK

Essex, East England, UK

The East of England contains Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The area has stunning countryside and is a perfect place to get outdoors.

East of England, UK

East Midlands

London, UK

North East England

North West England

South East England, UK

South West England, UK

West Midlands, UK

Yorkshire and the Humber, UK

England is a totally unique travel destination, well known for its history, natural beauty, vast range of attractions and beautiful countryside landscapes and coastlines. 

England, UK

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the extraordinary United Kingdom; home to mountains, caves, rivers, dramatic coastlines, medieval villages and vibrant cities.

Top

Accommodation

Heron's Rural Retreat

Edlesborough, Buckinghamshire – St Mary’s Church

Chiltern Yurts

Re:treat Glamping

Loves Lane Camping & Caravanning

Wild Canvas Camping

Radwell Lake campsite

White Cottage Country Camping

Great Gransden Certificated Site

Woodlands Caravan And Motorhome Touring Site

Turnpike Farm Campsite

Tithe Farm Certificated Site

The Wheatsheaf

College Farm Certificated Site

Radwell Mill Lake Campsite

Rose And Crown Pub

Outfields Farm ( The Paddock )

Loves Lane Camping & Caravanning

1st Leighton Buzzard Scout Group

The Old Stone Barn

Activities & Experiences in central-bedfordshire

Broadway Studio & Gallery

The Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park

Cineworld Bedford

The Stables Equestrian Centre

Rocklane Riding Centre

Brook Stables Riding School

Robinson Pool

Orbital Trampoline Park

Knebworth House Gardens and Park

Futures Fun Factory

Laser World

Box End Park Watersports

The Lodge

Mead Open Farm

Bedford Treasure Trail

The Bunyan Sports Centre

Howard Park and Gardens

Cre-Art-Ivity

Quadrenalin Quadbiking Centre

Woburn Lido

Places nearby

bedford

hertfordshire

luton

Things to do in central-bedfordshire