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U is for Umbrella

Our series of posts helping you to explore the county is an A-Z of Bedfordshire places, landscapes and history. Each post includes tips for walks and places to visit.

In this feature we have a round-up of places to visit on wet weather days. Learn fascinating facts about the history and heritage unique to Bedfordshire and explore some lesser-known venues.

Please check opening times with individual venues – some are seasonal or only open certain days of the week.

Bedfordshire Museums and Galleries

In the heart of Bedford, is the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum – a building steeped in history as the former home of Charles Higgins and adjoining Castle Brewery that he founded.

The museum and gallery combine permanent and temporary exhibitions, drawing on the social, archaeological and natural history that have shaped Bedford, as well as housing extensive collections of art, furniture and other decorative items.

The Stockwood Discovery Centre near Luton is a museum complex set in beautiful gardens. It boasts Europe’s largest carriage collection, housed indoors, as well as galleries telling stories of the real people of the area from prehistory to the present day. It includes collections of rural crafts and trades material, along with archaeological finds such as the jewellery from a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Leighton Buzzard.

Also highlighting historical local traditions, Wardown House, Museum and Gallery focuses on the crafts of Luton such as hat-making and lace-making. The interesting Victorian house, set in parkland, also has several archaeological collections, including the Shillington hoards of Roman gold and silver coins.

On the theme of archaeological finds, the Roman Sandy collection displays coins, vessels, personal and household effects and stone sculpture that was unearthed during digs in the town’s cemetery between 1988 and 1991. The collection can be found at Town Council Offices but can only be accessed by the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Religious Connections

There are two museums with religious connections in Bedford. The Panacea Museum, tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups. The Christian group, formed in the early twentieth century, created their own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford, awaiting a period of peace and happiness called ‘the Millennium’, the arrival of a messiah, and promoted healing through its own publishing and printing house.

View of the outside of the Panacea Museum Bedford — Panacea Museum

The John Bunyan Museum and Library is dedicated to the Bedfordshire-born Christian who is famous for his writing and preaching. The museum contains many of Bunyan’s personal effects from his life as a tinker and a preacher. Examples of his professional metalworking include his iron violin, and the museum also has his portable anvil.

You can read more in his own A-Z feature, J is for John Bunyan

Outside view of the Bunyan Chapel that houses the Bunyan Museum — Bunyan Museum

Historic Houses

Bedfordshire is home to many historic houses.

Woburn Abbey is still (February 2026) undergoing renovation and not open to the public, but you can read about some of its history in our feature A for Abbey. You can also find out more about the history of Woburn at the Woburn Heritage Centre Museum, housed in the old church of St. Mary’s in Woburn village.

Another grand house, Wrest Park offers limited indoor space to explore but has extensive landscaped gardens. Its network of footpaths and parkland garden views make it suitable for drizzly day visits.

View of a parterre and formal gardens through ornate black railings. — Wrest Park Gardens

Military Manoeuvres

Bedfordshire has various locations associated with military operations. The Twinwood Museum is located on the former World War II Night Fighter Training Station, north of Bedford. Several buildings are dedicated to different exhibitions. The aviation museum contains artefacts recovered from crashed military aircraft from the Second World War, along with accounts and often poignant stories of the aircraft and crew. There are also reconstructions of wartime shops and houses. The Glenn Miller Museum is housed inside the airfield control tower and provides an insight into Glenn Miller and his music. The collection continues with a selection of military vehicles and the only wartime Fire Service museum.

RAF Tempsford was a secret airfield of the Second World War, home to 138 & 161 Special Duties Squadrons. Tempsford Museum holds a large archive of material relating to its operations, including individual and crew photographs, documents, maps, aircraft parts and an officer’s uniform. The museum, located in Stuart Memorial Village Hall, Tempsford, also houses a vast collection of local memorabilia, artefacts, documents and photographs associated with the village. The museum’s opening hours are limited to the first Sunday of the month.

Military communication is the focus of the Military Intelligence Museum at Chicksands. The museum highlights techniques and equipment used from the Boer War onwards. As it is located on a military site at least 3 days’ notice is needed and there are some security ID requirements (reopens March).

As well as military aircraft, the Shuttleworth Collection has a large collection of historical vehicles and aircraft housed in large hangers. The museum aims to keep as many of its aeroplanes flying as possible and has the world’s oldest airworthy aeroplane, a 1909 Bleriot XI.

Moving On

For train enthusiasts, an umbrella might be necessary whilst waiting for a train and exploring the Leighton Buzzard Railway Museum. The railway is a rare 2 foot (610mm) gauge industrial light railway and still running trains. The heritage site has an important collection of narrow-gauge stock. The 85-minute round trip is in covered and closed carriages for shelter.

For indoor railway history, Ridgemont Station Heritage Centre gives an insight into the Marston Vale line. Guided tours by one of the volunteers help to tell the story behind many artefacts and signal maps relating to the local railway.