River Festival parking and travel

The Bedford River Festival always draws huge crowds and you are advised to plan ahead and think about how to get here, where to park and how to get around the 105-acre site.

We would like visitors to consider how they travel to the event and where possible use public transport or use other sustainable modes of transport.

By bus

Stagecoach will be running extra buses to make it easier for people to get to and from the River Festival. Please check its timetables for routes and further information.

By train

Trains run by these companies all come to Bedford Station. Please check websites for times, or use your preferred online journey planner.

Park & Ride

Elstow Park & Ride (MK42 9XF) will be running an enhanced service during the River Festival weekend. Elstow Park & Ride is located in Progress Park on the A6 - just north of the A6 junction of the A421. Pay on the bus - £3 per person, per journey.

By bike

A bike storage shelter has now opened in Bedford town centre, near Harpur Square enhancing the bike racks that are currently there.

To access the shelter, please email highways.helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk with their full name, address in Bedford Borough and phone number.

You will then receive details on how to access the unit and will need to download the ‘Okey Access’ app on your smart phone.

By car

Visitor parking is available at the town centre car parks.

Parking is also available at Everard Meadow and Bedford International Athletics Stadium at £10 a vehicle per day (card payments only will be accepted).

Blue badge holders can park in the Everard Meadow and Athletic Stadium car park but please be aware that this is a grass field.

Additional car parking for disabled visitors will be available at Longholme Way (MK42 0BX), and in St. Mary’s Car Park (in between Borough Hall and Bedford College) Cauldwell Street (MK42 9AP). You must display your blue badge.

Road closures

Please be aware many road closures will be in place to allow the Bedford River Festival to happen – please see map below. We ask that if you are attending the event you are considerate of local residents and park in official car parks.

Resident only parking:

Newnham Road
Albany Road
Waterloo Road
Rothsay Road
Bushmead Avenue (south of Castle Road)
Howbury Street (south of Castle Road)
Bower Street (south of Castle Road)
Pembrooke Street (south of Castle Road)
York Street (south of Castle Road)
Denmark Street (south of Castle Road)
Dudley Street (south of Castle Road)
George Street (south of Castle Road)
Shaftesbury Avenue
Kingsley Road
Tennyson Road
Beresford Road
Russell Avenue
The Embankment
Newnham Avenue (south section)

Residents' Parking Pass application

Only residents of the closed roads will be able to apply so please check map to see if this applies to you. Please read the following information before starting the application form. It details all of the road closure points and what documents are required.

Key information and terms and conditions:

You must attach a copy of your V5C Vehicle Registration Certificate or valid car insurance this application form for your application to be processed.
On Friday 17 July at 7pm the Embankment road will close between Albany Road to Bushmead Avenue. (Albany Road and Bushmead Avenue will be open up to the Embankment road).
To access the closed roads residents must produce their completed pass and will be granted access if safe to do so. The pass will give you access through the barrier and into your properties but will not allow access onto the Embankment. You will not be able to access through the barrier without a validated pass.

Road closure points

The Embankment will be closed from the High Street along its entire length to Longholme Way from 5am on Saturday 18 July until 11.59pm on Sunday 19 July with the following affected:

Albany Road, Rothsay Road and Bushmead Avenue, between Castle Road and the Embankment, will be closed with access for residents only (no access to the Embankment).
Residents of Albany Road, Rothsay Avenue, Bushmead Avenue and Waterloo Road can gain access to their properties from Castle Road only. Access will only be allowed if there is a parking space available within the road closed area or for dropping off/picking up.
Howbury, Bower, Pembroke, York, Denmark, Dudley and George Streets will be closed from Castle Road. Shaftesbury Avenue, Russell Avenue and Kingsley Road will also be closed and will be residents-only parking.
Russell Avenue will have limited parking along part of the park side, this area will be police coned and is to assist in allowing access for residents and emergency vehicles.
Newnham Road from its junction with St Cuthbert’s down to the Embankment will also be closed.