Guided walks

Enjoy a relaxed and entertaining walking tour of Bedford in the company of a member of the Bedford Association of Tour Guides.

See the programme of walks for 2024.

Cost

All walking tours are £4.00 per person, or £2.00 for children over eight.

How to book

Book online on The Higgins Bedford Website or call the Box Office on 01234 718044.

Children of all ages are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

Bookings for group walks can be arranged for a maximum of 18 people per Guide, with a minimum charge of £40 per group.

Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile. If you have any access needs, please advise the Box Office when booking.

If you have specific questions please email info@bedfordtourguides.org.

Walking tours 

Walks take place from April to October:

  • each Sunday
  • the first and last Wednesday of the month 
  • two Saturdays on the May bank holiday weekends. 

Walks start at 11am and cover a distance of one to two miles, lasting for between 90 minutes to two hours.

Other than the Bedford’s Movers and Shakers tour, each walking tour starts at the gold post box opposite St Paul’s Church. This is close to Bedford’s Old Town Hall, MK40 1SL and the What3Words location is “lanes.snake.gone”.

 

Walking tours for 2024

Bedford's Movers and Shakers

You will know of the 'mugshot', but did you know it was first introduced into the criminal justice system by Robert Evan Roberts, a reforming governor of Bedford Prison in Victorian times? Join us on this walk and meet Roberts and others who made a difference in Bedford and in the world; an astronomer, a polar explorer, the first woman county councillor and discover how some of the most attractive private dwellings in Bedford came to grace this area of town.

Please note that this tour starts opposite Bedford Prison, at the top of St. Loyes Street, Bedford, MK40 1HG. The What3Words location is “resort.brings.copper”.

  • Sunday 2 June
  • Sunday 7 July
  • Sunday 18 August
  • Wednesday 25 September

Tales of the Tower and Steeple

St. Paul's and St. Peter's churches have a fascinating history and many stories to tell. Join us on a brief tour of each church and discover why they have played such an important and integral part in the development and history of the town itself.

  • Wednesday 5 June
  • Wednesday 3 July
  • Wednesday 7 August 
  • Wednesday 4 September

Bedford has a story waiting to be told

Discover some surprising facts and stories about Bedford that will hopefully leave you saying... ‘Well I Never Knew That!’ 

  • Sunday 5 May
  • Saturday 25 May
  • Wednesday 26 June
  • Sunday 28 July
  • Sunday 11 August 
  • Sunday 13 October

The Jewel in Bedford's Crown

The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown is undoubtedly the River Great Ouse and its Embankment. This entertaining and informative circular walk takes you along the banks of the river, which has been described as one of the finest riverside settings in England. Learn the story of the Victorian Embankment development and enjoy a walk in the ornamental gardens. 

  • Sunday 14 April
  • Sunday 9 June
  • Sunday 30 June
  • Sunday 8 September
  • Sunday 29 September
  • Wednesday 30 October

The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle

The Norman conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape, and, in Bedford, a major castle was built in the 12th century. Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224. This year witnesses the 800th anniversary of the Great Siege of Bedford Castle in 1224.

  • Monday 8 April
  • Sunday 26 May
  • Wednesday 31 July
  • Sunday 15 September
  • Sunday 20 October

Bedford in World War II

A walk that reveals the way of life in Bedford and some of the little-known facts about the role it played during World War II. Learn how Bedford became the main hub of the BBC during the war and how it also became a centre of wartime entertainment. Discover a ‘secret’ Bedford and the connections of the town to the code breakers at Bletchley Park.

  • Wednesday 1 May
  • Wednesday 29 May
  • Sunday 14 July
  • Sunday 1 September
  • Sunday 6 October

The Silent Faces of Bedford

Bedford has many impressive statues and memorials. They cannot speak for themselves, but our guides can tell you their story and why they take their place in Bedford’s history.

  • Sunday 21 April
  • Sunday 12 May
  • Sunday 23 June
  • Sunday 4 August
  • Wednesday 28 August
  • Wednesday 2 October

The Life and Times of John Bunyan

Discover the story of Bedford’s most famous son, who was imprisoned for his non-conformist preaching. Visit the site of the cottage in which Bunyan and his family lived, the churches in which he worshipped and the site of the gaol in which he spent 12 long years where he began to write of one of the bestselling books in history, The Pilgrim’s Progress

  • Wednesday 24 April
  • Sunday 19 May
  • Sunday 16 June
  • Sunday 22 September
  • Sunday 27 October

 

Self-guided tour

You can also follow a self-guided with with The Invisible Folk Walking Tour of Bedford High Street.

Other walking, cycling and riding routes

Bedford Borough has lots of opportunities for you to walk, cycle or ride for both leisure and business journeys, discover more here.