HERITAGE

BEDFORD

“CRUISE PLUS” DAY TOURS

GREAT DAYS OUT

FOR GROUPS

Bedford: a gem of a

tourist destination

Based on the banks of the beautiful River

Great Ouse, the historic market town of

Bedford offers a treasure chest of pleasures - relaxing river trips, intriguing museum

collections, castle ruins, winding back streets,

undercover shopping and specialist

markets. Take time to explore Bedford and

discover little-known jewels.

Bedford is the second oldest Borough in the

United Kingdom, in easy reach of London and

midway between Oxford and Cambridge. The

siege and destruction of a Norman castle,

religious turmoil, and secret military activities

during World War II are just part of its story.

It has a highly-rated art gallery and museums

at the heart of a new ‘cultural quarter’ close

to beautiful Victorian landscaped gardens and

the delightful River Great Ouse.

Heritage Bedford is a collaboration

between the principal arts, leisure and culture

providers in the town that helps visitors to get

the most out of the time they can spend

here.

The “Cruise Plus” programme

Heritage Bedford’s “Cruise Plus” Programme

is managed for the group by the John Bunyan

boat company www.johnbunyanboat.org You

charter the boat and tell us the other

attractions you want to visit. We put all the

arrangements in place for you, so that you can

visit several attractions but have just one point

of contact.

Provisional bookings will be held for as long as

possible. A minimum Deposit of £150 must be

paid in order to have a Booking confirmed.

The Balance must be paid no later than 28

days prior to the Booking date. Cancellation

terms apply. In the event of high river levels,

strong currents or storms, cruises may be

rerouted or replaced by another attraction,

and services may affect timing of visits to

Bunyan Meeting.

Wheelchair users are most welcome but

require extra seating spaces on board and

changes to walking routes, so this must be

discussed prior to booking as it affects

maximum group size.

For further information and bookings contact

Katrina Allen, Administrator, John Bunyan

Boat, 0330 1239511

charters@johnbunyanboat.org

Arrangements for coaches

The coach drop off/pick up point at Castle Lane (MK40) is central to all attractions. All

cruises depart and return to Newnham Steps on The Embankment, within the cultural

quarter, a short walk away.

Coaches can be parked at Priory Country Park (MK41 9DJ), next to the marina where the

John Bunyan Boat is moored. Drivers can travel by boat with the crew to the cruise

departure point and return to fetch the coach by boat or taxi. If drivers do not want to go

on the boat, it is a short taxi ride to the town centre and a driver information pack and

refreshment vouchers can be supplied. If drivers do not want to leave the coach,

refreshments are available at the Beefeater Priory Marina pub.

Alternatively, coach parking is available at Bedford town centre locations including

Melbourne St pay & display car park (MK42 9AX).

At the heart of every tour is a

relaxing lunchtime cruise

The John Bunyan is Bedford’s new trip boat

Passengers love the personal service given by

the highly trained volunteers who run it.

Cruise the River Great Ouse in warmth and

comfort whatever the weather– watch the

scenery drift past through picture windows

and enjoy lunch aboard (ploughman’s or fish

and chip options). The boat has a fully licensed

bar and galley café, an access lift and wide-

door toilet.

The 90-minute “Cruise Plus” trip departs

from the cultural quarter and covers the

historic town centre upriver to the

stupendous Guru Nanak Gurdwara temple;

crew highlight key points of interest.

Choose from ten themed half-

day or day tours

Add your choice of visits to one or more of

Bedford’s star heritage attractions, with

morning or afternoon refreshments as shown

in the tour programmes:

John Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting

reveal the life of the author of The Pilgrim’s

Progress

The Higgins Bedford offers superbly

displayed local collections of art and

design and local history

Town Trail highlights key people and

places in Bedford’s 1000-year story,

including Castle Mound

Panacea Museum tells the story of a

unique religious community in Bedford

All in one place – the delightful

cultural quarter of the town

All attractions are within a ten minute walk of

each other in the cultural quarter of the town.

If you can stay longer, Bedford has a wealth of

pretty streets and squares, interesting

buildings and lovely riverside gardens, just a

few minutes’ stroll away, with a range of

specialist shops and markets, bars and cafes.

Simple to arrange

Coach drop off and parking are

straightforward. Tour booking is simple:

one contact point and an all-inclusive

price per person, for a minimum group

size of 30 up to a maximum of 50.

“Cruise Plus” Day Tours

Tuesdays to Saturdays, April to October

Heritage Bedford attractions

All the attractions listed also offer group tour arrangements independently of the Heritage Bedford

“Cruise Plus” Day Tours programme. See websites for details.

John Bunyan boat: private hire and

public cruises

The John Bunyan boat is available Tuesdays to Sundays,

April to October, for hire by groups of up to 50 people.

Local groups regularly charter the boat for special outings

and we welcome groups from further afield. Charter

cruises can be morning, afternoon or early evening, and

normally last 1.5-3 hours. We cruise through the historic

heart of Bedford and out into the surrounding countryside.

We offer a licenced bar and galley café, morning pastries,

lunches, afternoon teas, and champagne sunset cruises. We

also offer a wide range of standard public and special

cruises, including jazz nights, lunch and tea cruises, and fish

& chip supper cruises. Smaller groups of under 30 people

are welcome to make a block booking on public cruises.

See separate brochures or online for details for private

charters and public cruises.

www.johnbunyanboat.org

John Bunyan Museum & Bunyan

Meeting

The John Bunyan Museum tells the story of the Bedford

man who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, one of the greatest

novels in the English language. During his remarkable life

Bunyan was a soldier, tinker, preacher and dissenter. He

spent 12 years in Bedford prison for illegal preaching and it

was here that he wrote his masterpiece. Bunyan Meeting

church was built in 1850, and stands on the site of Bunyan’s

original church where he was minister from 1671 to 1688.

Visitors should particularly see the scenes from The Pilgrim’s

Progress on the bronze entrance doors and stunning stained

glass windows.

A dedicated museum tour guide will lead you around the

church and museum, explaining the history of the site, and

the inspiring story of the life and times of Bedfordshire’s

famous son John Bunyan.

www.bunyanmeeting.co.uk/museum

Bedford Guided Town Trail

Guides give a relaxed and entertaining journey back

through the ages as they reveal the characters and buildings

that make up the fabric of Bedford’s 1000-year history. The

tour includes St Paul’s Church and Castle Mound, which

tells the story of a Royal Charter, a not so ‘civil’ war and

why the castle is no more. The Town Trail goes at an easy

pace and should be suitable for those with limited mobility.

Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear is required.

Other walks are available outside the “Cruise Plus”

programme (book through the Travel and Tourism Centre

in Bedford). All walks are led by qualified members of the

Bedford Association of Tour Guides. A Town Trail leaflet is

also available. www.visitbedford.org

The Higgins Bedford

Housed in the historic buildings of Castle Brewery and the

home of the Higgins family, the art gallery and museum is a

place to explore wonderful and varied collections. Visitors can enjoy world-class watercolour and print collections

which form the basis of an inspiring exhibitions programme,

and a wide-ranging design collection featuring unique

groups of work by the designers William Burges and

Edward Bawden.

In the history galleries, find out more about Bedford,

known just as ‘somewhere in England’ when the BBC

moved here to escape bombing during WWII. There are

collections of archaeology, ethnography, social and natural

history which cover early settlement and the town’s

growth, through to the Great Bedfordians in history and

the present day. www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

The Panacea Museum

What are the contents of Joanna Southcott's box? Who is

Shiloh and when will they arrive? Is the Garden of Eden

really in Bedford? Visitors can find out at the Panacea

Museum which tells the story of one of the most curious

religious communities in England that only finally dissolved

in 2012. The exhibits include ornately staged rooms which

remain ready for Archbishops who will never arrive, letters

from exasperated princesses, a cradle and exquisitely-regal

robes for a messianic baby who was never born.

During a tour of the stunning museum buildings groups can

discover the amazing story of the unique community and

enjoy refreshments in the beautiful gardens.

www.panaceatrust.org

Heritage Bedford “Cruise Plus” Tours Tours combine a cruise with a visit to one or more heritage attractions to match the

interests of your group.

Depart for another destination after your tour is over, or linger a while to enjoy the shops,

markets, squares and streets of the town centre, or take a stroll along the lovely riverside

gardens. We provide a “Free Time in Bedford” leaflet including town map when you book.

Half day tours (£20pp)

Visit Heritage Bedford:

Design Your Own Tour

Prefer to build your own tour of the

town? Bedford’s historic heart has a wealth of wonderful places to

explore. Riverside restaurants,

specialty markets, a state of the art

theatre, free museums, archives or

historic sites and a year-round

programme of free festivals and

events. To plan your day visit

www.heritagebedford.com

Tour 10.30-12.00* 12.00-13.30

1. Cruise + Art &

Design at The Higgins

Coffee and guided tour focusing on the Cecil Higgins Collection with its world-class watercolours and

prints, and unique groups of work by designers William Burges and Edward Bawden.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan with

lunch.

2. Cruise + History

at The Higgins

Coffee and guided tour of The Higgins Bedford, taking in the history of this fascinating site and the

wider story of Bedford.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan with

lunch.

3. Cruise + John

Bunyan Museum

Coffee and guided visit to the John Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting, revealing the life of the author

of The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan with

lunch.

4. Cruise + Panacea

Museum

Coffee and guided tour on the unique religious community that created its own Garden of Eden in

Bedford in the 20th century.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan with

lunch.

5. Cruise + Town

Trail

Coffee at Bunyan Meeting, starting point for a guided tour of key characters and buildings in Bedford’s

1000-year history.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan with

lunch.

Day tours (£25pp) If you’re able to stay for longer, choose a tour with two visits, one before and one after

your lunchtime cruise.

Extended day tours (£30pp) Or choose an extended day tour that combines a cruise with three heritage attractions to

make the most of a day in beautiful Bedford.

Notes

* Allow 5-10 minutes for moving between activities; guides will advise.

The timing of tours in the “Cruise Plus” programme is fixed.

Bespoke tours can also be arranged on request; please ask for details.

Tour 10.30-12.00* 12.00-13.30* 13.30-15.00

6. Bedford

History cruise

Coffee at Bunyan Meeting, the start of a guided Town

Trail of key characters and buildings in Bedford’s 1000-year history.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan

with lunch.

Guided tour of The Higgins Bedford, taking in the history of

this fascinating site and the wider story of Bedford, with tea.

7. Bedford

Believers cruise

John Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting: coffee and

guided visit revealing the life of the author of The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan

with lunch.

Panacea Museum: Discover the unique religious community that

created its own Garden of Eden in Bedford, with tea.

8. Bedford

Art & Inspir-ation

cruise

Coffee and guided tour of the Cecil Higgins Collection

with its world-class watercolours and prints, and unique groups of work by

designers William Burges and

Edward Bawden.

Relaxing river trip on the John Bunyan

with lunch.

Guided visit to the John Bunyan Museum and the splendid

stained glass windows and bronze doors of the Bunyan Meeting, with tea.

Tour 10.30-12.00* 12.00-13.30* 13.30-15.00* 15.00-16.30

9. Bedford

Place & People cruise

Coffee and guided tour of The Higgins

Bedford, taking in the history of this fascinating site and

the wider story of Bedford.

Relaxing river trip on the

John Bunyan with lunch.

Guided visit to the John Bunyan

Museum and Meeting, with tea.

A guided Town Trail of key characters and

buildings in Bedford’s 1000-year history.

10. Bedford

Museums cruise

John Bunyan Museum and Bunyan Meeting:

coffee and guided visit revealing the life of the author of The

Pilgrim’s Progress.

Relaxing river trip on the

John Bunyan with lunch.

Panacea Museum: Discover the

unique religious community that created its own

Garden of Eden in Bedford, with tea.

The Higgins: an introductory tour of

the highlights of the collections in The Higgins Bedford.

Evening and overnight stays Round off your day with afternoon tea, or a drink and

an early supper at the heritage hotels with which the

John Bunyan boat regularly partners: the Swan Hotel in

the town centre (built as a coaching inn for the Duke of

Bedford with a staircase from the mansion thought to

be the inspiration for the House Beautiful in The Pilgrim’s

Progress) or the Barns Hotel on the river downstream.

If you can stay overnight, Bedford has a thriving arts,

music and theatre scene and a wide range of places to

dine that reflect its cultural heritage, including Italian and

Indian restaurants. There are places to stop overnight to

suit all tastes and budgets. Simply add your own choice

of accommodation, evening meal and entertainment.

Love Bedford provides information on what’s on, and

places to eat and stay.

Further information and bookings contact Katrina Allen,

Administrator, John Bunyan Boat, 0330 1239511 charters@johnbunyanboat.org

Useful links

www.lovebedford.co.uk

www.visitbedford.org

The Swan Hotel www.bedfordswanhotel.co.uk

The Barns Hotel www.barnshotelbedford.co.uk

Quarry Theatre www.quarrytheatre.org.uk

The Place www.theplacebedford.org.uk

Bedford Corn Exchange www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk