Lifestyles

Beautiful Central Bedfordshire combines career opportunities within a thriving knowledge economy with affordable housing, a high standard of living, and excellent quality of life. The area combines beautiful countryside, towns and villages with new, sustainable communities and fast access to nearby cities.

Homes

Central Bedfordshire is focused on creating new, sustainable communities with attractive, affordable homes and high-quality local services. 32,000 new homes are planned for completion by 2035 including development of new villages, each with their own individual character, shops and community facilities. The BBC's Escape to the Country programme (Dec 2023) offers a great insight to our local area.

Education

Local families have access to high-performing state schools and colleges. 81% of the area’s schools achieve Ofsted ratings of ‘outstanding‘ or ‘good’, and new schools are being built to provide state of the art facilities for residents, families and their children.

Leisure

The area’s new communities are being supported by multi-million pound council investments in modern, attractive and accessible leisure centres and facilities – helping residents to lead healthy and active lives. The council’s commitment to enabling strong, cohesive communities is also reflected in the area’s twelve open and professionally staffed libraries, most of which are located in smaller rural towns or villages. These important council services are accompanied by an impressive array of visitor attractions including those listed below. Have a look at Experience Bedfordshire for more tourist information.

To see more of the area’s unique landscape, geology and resulting rich natural and cultural heritage, watch the Greensand Country video.

Download Central Bedfordshire: A place to live and work to learn more about the great quality of life in Central Bedfordshire.

Situated in 365 acres of woodlands, Centre Parcs Woburn Forest offers a range of indoor and outdoor activities, an award winning spa, a subtropical swimming area, all set within a picturesque landscape and stunning views across the lake.

The multi award winning attraction Woburn Safari Park is a wild animal park, set in over 360 acres of beautiful parkland. Home to over 1,000 wild and exotic animals, and the perfect day out for animal encounters and visiting wonderful wildlife.

ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is a 600 acre zoo and safari park located at Whipsnade, near Dunstable. It is one of two zoos that are owned by the Zoological Society of London, a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa is a five-star luxury hotel, boasting 1,065 acres parklands, an 18 hole Championship golf course, a luxury spa and two restaurants.

Warden Abbey Community Vineyard offers visitors and volunteers an opportunity to learn more about and offer hands on support to this 12th century Cistercian Abbey vineyard.

SWSC offers one of the largest stretches of water for sailing in the Herts, Beds & Bucks area and offers activities such as angling, waterski and powerboat racing.

Chicksands Bike Park offers an extensive collection of woodland bike tracks, jumps, bowls, slaloms, etc. They have a dedicated on site coach that can help you get started with off road cycling right up to helping you conquer that big jump.

Enjoy the high rope and zip wire challenges through this tree top adventure at Woburn Safari Park. Take in the magical views over acres of animal reserves and beyond whilst swinging through the trees.

Spectacular views of rolling chalk grasslands and a seemingly endless sky in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Downs have a fascinating history and miles of footpaths including several circular walks and the Chiltern Gateway Centre.

The Club is a thriving community of gliding enthusiasts, welcoming new members of all ages and backgrounds and offering an ideal place to meet new friends as well as being able to enjoy the wonderful sport of gliding.

Greensand Country is a great place to get outdoors and discover some fascinating history and amazing views. There are fantastic opportunities for exploring the area on foot, bicycle or horseback. Explore routes, facilities and points of interest.

The Lodge Nature Reserve and Gardens is a very special place, offering an exceptionally rich combination of wildlife and heritage experiences. At 220 hectares this is the largest stretch of heathland in Bedfordshire

A food heritage attraction situated on the banks of the River Ivel in Biggleswade.

Home to the Shuttleworth Collection showcasing the best of early aviation and vintage vehicles, the Swiss Garden filled with pretty seasonal colour and the 19th-century Shuttleworth House. Shuttleworth is one of Bedfordshire’s most loved attractions.

Woburn Abbey and the surrounding Estate provide a stunning backdrop and historical setting for Woburn Golf Club. Having hosted sixty professional tournaments across its 3 courses, it is ranked as one of the top 100 courses in UK and Ireland.

The Forest of Marston Vale is 61 sq miles of reclaimed industrial clay pits and wasteland transformed into a Community Forest and lakes, one of 12 in the UK. The vision was to plant trees and use woodlands to improve the lives of people and wildlife.

Wrest Park offers over 90 acres to explore and discover the evolution of the English garden. Stroll through three centuries of landscape design showcasing a range of styles including Dutch and Italian and explore the treasures of the mansion house.

A Cistercian monastery once stood on its grounds but today, set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland, Champneys' Henlow Grange serves as an idyllic countryside spa escape.