13 Days Out With Kids In Bedfordshire

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The county of Bedfordshire in the East of England is set within glorious scenic countryside. With rolling hills and flowing rivers, it’s bursting with charm.

If you’re looking for family days out in Bedfordshire then you’re in the right place! Whether you want to immerse yourselves in the county’s history and culture with a museum visit or if you want to head to one of its many family attractions from zoos to aqua parks, we’ve narrowed it down to our top 13.

Perfect for: Thrill seekers and young adventurers over 1m tall!

If you have a head for heights then why not challenge yourselves to the Treetop highropes at Go Ape Woburn. Located within Woburn Safari Park, eight metres above the ground, you can zip and swing through the treetops with a selection of treetop adventures to suit all ages.

Where is it? Woburn Park, Woburn, Bedfordshire, MK17 9QN.

How much to budget for: Adult tickets from £26.40 and Children from £20.

Don’t miss: Look out for the roaming wallabies and enjoy the views of the safari park from the treetops.

Perfect for: Kids aged 2-10 years who love animals.

Head to Herrings Green Activity Farm in Bedfordshire for a jam-packed family fun day out. With over 200 birds on display and daily programmes packed full of flying shows, meet and greets and the chance to groom and pet their ponies and donkeys.

Where is it? Herrings Green Farm, Cotten End Road, Wilstead, MK45 3DT.

How much to budget for: £7 per child, £10 per adult or £30 per family (maximum of 6 guests). Under threes go free.

Don’t miss: The ice cream and milkshake shack- yum!

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Perfect for: Kids aged 5-14 years who love trains and transport.

Re-opening on Saturday 19th September, The Leighton Buzzard Railway is a great family day out for families with train fanatics on board! With quarry digger displays where you can see how sand was dug and transported to local quarries to free guided tours of the Engine Shed, this is a must-see attraction.

Where is it? Pages Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 4TN.

How much to budget for: Adults £10.50, Children (2-17) £6.50 and under twos go free!

Don’t miss: Take a 85-minute return train ride in one of their very own steam locomotives!

Perfect for: Kids aged 0 - 14 years who love animals.

Discover Woburn Safari Park twice over, by foot and by car! Buckle up and take the exciting road safari through the kingdom of carnivores, where you’ll see tigers, wolves, lions, and bears, the Savannah Grasslands where you’ll be able to spot Southern white rhinos and Ankole cattle. Continue your journey by foot for daily keeper talks and demonstrations.

Where is it? Crawley Road, Woburn, Ridgmont, Bedford, MK43 0TU.

How much to budget for: Prices start from £23.99 per Adult, £18.99 per child and under threes go free.

Don’t miss: The Mammoth Play Ark- an indoor soft play adventure for children under 11 years old. Inside you’ll find climbing areas, obstacle courses and super slides. Bookings must be made online prior to your visit and there is a £2 entrance fee per ticket.

Perfect for: Kids aged 0-12  years who love animals and outdoor fun.

You’ll find all of your favourite farmyard animals and reptiles at Woodside Animal Farm. Aside from the animals, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep the whole family entertained, with a crazy golf course, a woodland adventure trail, an outdoor playground, tractor rides, and an indoor play barn- perfect for rainy days!

Where is it? Mancroft Road, Slip End, Luton, LU1 4DG.

How much to budget for: £9 per Adult, £8 per child and under twos go free.

Don’t miss: Cuddly Encounters- where the kids will get to pet, feed, and cuddle some of their favourite animals in hands-on sessions.

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Perfect for: Kids aged 2-16 years who love outdoor adventures.

This Green Flag park sits within 360 acres of scenic countryside and boasts two lakes where you have access to fishing facilities and water-sports. You’ll find Route 51, a family-friendly cycle path running through the park, guided walks, and bike hire available.

Where is it? Barkers Lane, Bedford, MK41 9DJ.

How much to budget for: Free admission, fishing per day at £3.50 for adults and children £1 per day.

Don’t miss: The visitor centre and on-site cafe at Priory Lake.

Perfect for: Kids aged 1-12 years who love animals and outdoor fun.

There is so much to see and do at Mead Open Farm, from interacting with their farm animals with activities like bottle-feeding lambs to stroking rabbits to the abundance of outdoor play activities on offer. From Go-Karts, sand and water play, crazy golf to digger village (a child-friendly construction site) the kids will be left spoilt for choice!

Where is it? Stanbridge Road, Billington, Bedfordshire, LU7 9JH.

How much to budget for: Adults £13.45, Children £12.45 and under twos go free.

Don’t miss: Topsy Turvey Towers adventure playground - with rope bridges, treetop towers and slides with a separate play area for under fives.

Perfect for: Kids aged 2-16 years who love animals.

Spend a day at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, the UK’s largest zoo and home to over 3,000 animals including, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, and zebras, not to mention the aquariums and the beautiful butterfly house - this is a day out that the whole family will enjoy!

Where is it? ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2LF.

How much to budget for: Prices start from £26 per Adult, £15.60 per child. Under threes go free.

Don’t miss: Take a ride on the Jumbo Express steam train through the wild animal territory and learn all about the Zoo’s residents with a host of daily animal talks and demonstrations.

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Perfect for: Kids aged 4-16 years who love museums.

Head to Stockwood Discovery Centre to explore the history of Bedfordshire. Inside you'll find collections of geology, archaeology, and social history. Take a wander around their extensive gardens and let the kids let off some steam at the children's outdoor discovery play area.

Where is it? Stockwood Park, London Road, Luton, LU1 4LX.

How much to budget for: Free admission.

Don’t miss: The award winning display of Mossman carriages, the largest collection of its kind in the UK.

Perfect for: Kids aged 2-14 years who like planes and transport.

This Shuttleworth Collection has been open to the public since 1963, with six aircraft and vehicle hangers there is plenty to see from vintage aircraft dating back to 1909 to veteran bicycles. Once the kids have had enough of the planes, you’ll also find an outdoor play area with a climbing frame and slide.

Where is it? Shuttleworth Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EA.

How much to budget for: Adults £15 and children under 16 go free!

Don’t miss: The Shuttleworth Swiss Garden, a miniature world where ten magical fairies live- see if you can spot them all!

Perfect for: Kids aged 3-16 years who love the outdoors.

Head to Rushmere County Park in Bedfordshire for a family fun day outdoors. Immerse yourselves in nature with the oak wood sculpture trail, where you’ll find sculptures of A lizard, tiger beetle, woodpecker, and a damselfly, find hidden fairy doors and take a seat in the Giant’s chair.

Where is it? Heron View Visitor Centre, Linslade Road, Heath and Reach, LU7 0EB.

How much to budget for: Free admission.

Don’t miss: Make sure to head to Tree Tops Cafe where they serve up delicious refreshments.

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Perfect for: Kids aged 6-16 years who are confident swimmers and love outdoor water sports.

Looking for some action packed water-sports to keep the kids entertained? At Box End Park kids can have a splash at stand up paddle boarding, cable towing, or take part in their Lake Ninja obstacle course where they can leap, balance, and swing their way through exciting courses.

Where is it? Box End, Kempston, Bedfordshire, MK43 8RQ.

How much to budget for: From £15.00 per person.

Don’t miss: You won't want to miss the giant size Aqua Park. This inflatable water obstacle course will have the kids leaping, climbing, and swinging their way to the finish line and is home to the UK’s biggest water mega side!

Perfect for: Kids aged 1-10 years who love trains and transport.

All aboard the miniature train! Kids will love this little attraction in Haynes, Bedfordshire. Take the kids for a ride on one of their working miniature steam trains, a great little spot for train enthusiasts, or kids interested in engineering.

Where is it? Summerfield Barms, High Road, Haynes, Bedfordshire, MK45 3BH

How much to budget for: Entry is £1, under twos go free.

Don’t miss: The Station Buffet where you can find yummy refreshments and buy souvenirs.