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{{short description|Town in Bedfordshire, England}}
{{About|the town in England}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | type                     = Town
 | official_name            = Bedford
 | pushpin_map              = UK#England
 | country                  = England
 | region                   = East of England
 | static_image_name        = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 250
| image_style              = border:1;
| perrow                   = 2/1/2
| image1                   = Bedford, St Paul - geograph.org.uk - 5439416.jpg
| caption1                 = [[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul’s Church]]
| image2                   = Harpur Centre - geograph.org.uk - 4928611.jpg
| caption2                     = [[Bedford Modern School|Harpur Centre]]
| image3                  = Shire-Hall-Bedford-20050921-003.jpg
| caption3                     = [[Shire Hall, Bedford|Shire Hall]] next to the [[River Great Ouse|River Ouse]]
| image4                   = Finger Lakes, Bedford (40730065135).jpg
| caption4                 = [[Priory Country Park]]
| image5                   = H for The Higgins, Bedford - once the Castle Brewery - geograph.org.uk - 4742166.jpg
| caption5                 = [[The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum|The Higgins]]
  }}
 | static_image_caption     = 
 | population               = 106,940
 | population_ref           = (2011 built-up area including [[Biddenham]] and [[Kempston]])<ref name=BUA />
 | os_grid_reference        = TL055495
 | coordinates              = {{coord|52.135|-0.470|display=inline,title}}
 | post_town                = Bedford
 | postcode_area            = MK
 | postcode_district        = MK40–MK45
 | dial_code                = 01234
 | constituency_westminster = [[Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bedford]]
 | london_distance          = {{convert|46|mi|km}}
 | london_direction         = S
 | unitary_england          = [[Borough of Bedford]]
 | lieutenancy_england      = [[Bedfordshire]]
}}

'''Bedford''' is a [[market town]] in [[Bedfordshire]], England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the [[Borough of Bedford]] local government district.

Bedford was founded at a [[ford (crossing)|ford]] on the [[River Great Ouse]] and is thought to have been the burial place of King [[Offa of Mercia]], who is remembered for building [[Offa's Dyke]] on the Welsh border. [[Bedford Castle]] was built by [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], although it was destroyed in 1224. Bedford was granted borough status in 1166 and has been represented in Parliament since 1265. It is known for its large [[Italians in the United Kingdom|population of Italian descent]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=The Guardian |title=Italians in Bedford |website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=23 January 2006 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jan/23/britishidentity.features113}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|History of Bedfordshire}}
The name of the town is believed to derive from the name of a [[Saxon]] chief called Beda,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brief History of Bedford |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/local_history_and_heritage/brief_history_of_bedford.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208003952/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/local_history_and_heritage/brief_history_of_bedford.aspx |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=29 March 2011 |publisher=Bedford Borough Council}}</ref> and a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] crossing the [[River Great Ouse]]. Bedford was a market town for the surrounding agricultural region from the early [[Middle Ages]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} The [[Anglo-Saxon]] King [[Offa of Mercia]] was buried in the town in 796;<ref name="BEASE_133">Simon Keynes, "Cynethryth", in Lapidge, ''Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England'', p.&nbsp;133.</ref> this is believed to be in his new minster, now the Church of St Paul,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Haslam |first=Jeremy |date=1986 |title=The Ecclesiastical Topography of Early Medieval Bedford |journal=Bedfordshire Archaeology |url=https://www.archaeologyuk.org/cbasm/index_htm_files/VOLUME%2017.PDF |volume=17 |pages=41–2, 46, 48}} {{open access}}</ref> or on the banks of the Great Ouse where his tomb was soon lost to the river.<ref>{{Cite web |title=King Offa's tomb |url=https://hefenfelth.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/king-offas-tomb/ |access-date=29 December 2016 |website=wordpress.com|date=4 August 2014 }}</ref>{{better source needed|reason = self published|date=August 2020}} In 886 it became a boundary town separating [[Wessex]] and [[Danelaw]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedford Timeline, Earliest Times – 1800 |url=http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_timeline_early.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201083747/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_timeline_early.htm |archive-date=1 December 2008 |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=Bedfordshire Libraries }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Whitelock |first=Dorothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUSqIR2qaaIC&q=bedford+886+danes&pg=PA416 |title=English Historical Documents c. 500–1042 |publisher=Routledge |year=1979 |isbn=9780415143660 |editor-last=Douglas, David C. |edition=2nd |access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> It was the seat of the [[Barony of Bedford]]. In 919 [[Edward the Elder]] built the town's first known fortress, on the south side of the River Great Ouse and there received the area's submission. This fortress was destroyed by the [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]]. [[William II of England|William II]] gave the barony of Bedford to Paine de Beauchamp, who built a new, strong castle.

Bedford traces its borough charter in 1166 by [[Henry II of England|Henry II]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brief History of Bedford |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/BriefHistoryofBedford |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=Bedford Borough Council |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716141901/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/BriefHistoryofBedford |url-status=dead }}</ref> and elected two members to the [[unreformed House of Commons]]. The new [[Bedford Castle]] was razed in 1224 and today only a mound remains. From the 16th century Bedford and much of Bedfordshire became one of the main centres of England's lace industry, and [[Bedfordshire lace|lace]] continued to be an important industry in Bedford until the early 20th century. In 1660 [[John Bunyan]] was imprisoned for 12 years in [[Bedford (HM Prison)|Bedford Gaol]]. It was here that he wrote ''[[The Pilgrim's Progress]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Bunyan (1628–1688) |url=http://www.bunyanpress.co.uk/jbunyan.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726053136/http://www.bunyanpress.co.uk/jbunyan.htm |archive-date=26 July 2007 |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=The Bunyan Press}}</ref> The River Great Ouse became navigable as far as Bedford in 1689. Wool declined in importance with brewing becoming a major industry in the town. The 19th century saw Bedford transform into an important engineering hub. The northern part of the town was badly damaged in the Great Fire of Bedford in 1802, which destroyed 72 properties in the St Loyes area.<ref>[https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=975302&resourceID=19191 Heritage gateway]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fq6IDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21 Secret Bedford, page 21]</ref> 21 years later, the [[Great Flood]] of Bedford swamped most of the town when the [[River Great Ouse]] burst its banks. The former Phoenix public house in St Johns Street has a stone marker in its wall almost two metres above ground level, representing the maximum height of the floodwater in 1823.<ref>[https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm86FP_Great_Flood_of_1823_The_Phoenix_St_Johns_Street_Bedford_Bedfordshire_UK Great Flood marker]</ref> In 1832 gas lighting was introduced, and the railway reached Bedford in 1846. The first [[Corn Exchange, Bedford|corn exchange]] was built 1849,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1849 & Friday 1 March 1850 |url=http://www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/ |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=Bedford Corn Exchange}}</ref> and the first drains and sewers were dug in 1864.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedford Borough records introduction |url=http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/GuidesToCollections/BedfordBoroughRecordsIntroduction.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827174804/http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/GuidesToCollections/BedfordBoroughRecordsIntroduction.aspx |archive-date=27 August 2008 |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=Bedfordshire County Council }}</ref>

Bedford's first woman town councillor was Mary Milligan who, in 1919, was also the secretary of the local Women's Citizens League.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/Resources/PDF-Documents/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/Womens%20History%20Sources.pdf|title=Sources for Women's History|publisher=BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON ARCHIVES & RECORDS SERVICE|pages=56}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite book|url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/Resources/PDF-Documents/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/Womens%20History%20Sources.pdf|title=Sources for Women's History|publisher=BEDFORDSHIRE & LUTON ARCHIVES & RECORDS SERVICE|pages=56}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Old Town Hall, Bedford.jpg|thumb|left|[[Old Town Hall, Bedford]]]]
The contiguous Bedford built-up area forms the largest settlement in the wider [[Borough of Bedford]]. The borough council is led by a [[Elected mayors in the United Kingdom|directly elected mayor]] who holds the title 'Mayor of Bedford', an office which was first held by [[Frank Branston]], until his death in 2009. The current mayor of Bedford is Tom Wootton<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bedford.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-and-senior-staff/mayor-bedford-borough | title=Mayor of Bedford Borough &#124; Bedford Borough Council }}</ref> from the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].

The Bedford built-up area is divided into 10 [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]] for elections to the Borough Council:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bbcpro-portal.microsoftcrmportals.com/council-and-democracy/elections-and-voting/review-of-polling-districts-and-places/ward-and-polling-district-maps/|title=Wards and polling district maps|access-date=3 December 2023|work=Bedford Borough Council}}</ref> [[Brickhill]], [[Castle, Bedford|Castle]], [[Cauldwell, Bedfordshire|Cauldwell]], [[De Parys]], [[Goldington]], [[Harpur]], [[Kingsbrook, Bedford|Kingsbrook]], [[Newnham, Bedfordshire|Newnham]], [[Putnoe]], [[Queens Park, Bedford|Queens Park]], [[Kempston East]] and [[Kempston West]]. Within the Bedford urban area, only Brickhill,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brickhillparishcouncil.gov.uk/|title=Brickhill Parish Council - Supporting the Community|access-date=3 December 2023|work=Brickhill Parish Council}}</ref> Biddenham<ref>{{cite web|url=https://biddenham.org.uk/|title=Biddenham Parish Council|access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> and Kempston<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kempston-tc.gov.uk/|title=Kempston Town Council|access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> elect their own [[Parish councils in England|parish council]]s, while the rest (and majority) of the built-up area is unparished. Kempston is the only civil parish in both the built-up area and Borough of Bedford which has a [[town council]].

Bedford is served by [[Bedfordshire Police]] The Chief Constable since January 2023 is Trevor Rodenhurst. The elected [[Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner]] of that force is [[John Tizard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections 2024 |url=https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Council_government_and_democracy/Local-democracy/voting-and-elections/previous-elections/pcc/Pages/pcc-elections-2024.aspx |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=m.luton.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedfordshire PCC: Labour beats Conservative Festus Akinbusoye |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1vmld34w4o |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=www.bbc.com |date=3 May 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Bedford forms part of the [[Bedford (UK Parliament constituency)|Bedford constituency]], represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom Parliament]]. The current Member of Parliament (MP) for Bedford is [[Mohammad Yasin (politician)|Mohammad Yasin]], who is a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

==Geography==
Bedford is {{convert|46|mi|km}} miles north-northwest of [[London]], {{convert|65|mi|km}} southeast of [[Birmingham]], {{convert|25|mi|km}} west of [[Cambridge]] and {{convert|19|mi|km}} east-southeast of [[Northampton]].
The town of Kempston is part of Bedford's built-up area, as is the village of Biddenham. Other villages adjacent to, but outside of, the built-up area include [[Bromham, Bedfordshire|Bromham]], [[Elstow]], [[Renhold]] and [[Ravensden]]. [[Wixams]] is a [[new town]] which is being developed to the south of Bedford. Villages in the Borough of Bedford, outside of the built-up area, with populations of more than 2,000 (as of 2005) include [[Clapham, Bedfordshire|Clapham]], [[Elstow]], [[Oakley, Bedfordshire|Oakley]], [[Sharnbrook]], [[Shortstown]], [[Wilstead]], and [[Wootton, Bedfordshire|Wootton]]. There are also many smaller villages in the borough.
[[File:Great Ouse at Town Bridge, Bedford.jpg|thumb|center|600px|[[River Great Ouse]] at Town Bridge, Bedford looking towards St Paul's Church and the Swan Hotel.]]

==Climate==
As with the rest of the United Kingdom, Bedford has a [[oceanic climate|maritime climate]], with a limited range of temperatures, and generally even rainfall throughout the year. The nearest [[Met Office]] weather station to Bedford is Bedford (Thurleigh) airport, about {{Convert|6.5|mi|km}} north of Bedford town centre at an elevation of {{Convert|85|m|ft}}. Temperature extremes at the site have ranged from {{Convert|39.5|C|F}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Met Office on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1549421924052246534 |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> in July 2022, down to {{Convert|-15.3|C|F}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=1982 Minimum |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/BEDFORD_AIRPORT/14-01-1982/35580.htm |access-date=3 March 2011}}</ref> in January 1982. However, such extremes would likely be superseded if longer-term records were available – Historically, the nearest weather station to Bedford was Cardington about {{Convert|2.4|mi|km}} south south east of the town centre with an elevation of {{Convert|30|m|ft}}. This location recorded a minimum of {{Convert|-18.3|C|F}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=1963 Minimum |url=http://www.mtullett.plus.com/1962-63/january_1963.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715093717/http://www.mtullett.plus.com/1962-63/january_1963.htm |archive-date=15 July 2011 |access-date=3 March 2011}}</ref> during January 1963.

Rainfall averages around {{Convert|610|mm|in|abbr=on}} a year, with an excess of {{Convert|1|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} falling on 115 days.

Sunshine at around 1,550 hours a year is typical of inland areas of southern-central England.<ref>{{cite web | title=Bedford Aerodrome (Bedford) Location-specific long-term averages | url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcr9j7whk }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Bedford (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1980–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
<!-- Record high temperatures -->
<!-- Note that record temperatures should only be used when the data period is of the greatest length possible. -->
|Jan record high C = 14.9
|Feb record high C = 18.6
|Mar record high C = 22.4
|Apr record high C = 27.1
|May record high C = 28.6
|Jun record high C = 31.3
|Jul record high C = 39.5
|Aug record high C = 35.9
|Sep record high C = 32.1
|Oct record high C = 28.1
|Nov record high C = 17.6
|Dec record high C = 15.7
|Jan record low C = -15.9
|Feb record low C = -14.0
|Mar record low C = -6.9
|Apr record low C = -5.7
|May record low C = -2.1
|Jun record low C = 1.8
|Jul record low C = 4.9
|Aug record low C = 5.0
|Sep record low C = 2.0
|Oct record low C = -3.7
|Nov record low C = -7.9
|Dec record low C = -15.0
|Jan high C = 7.3
|Feb high C = 8.0
|Mar high C = 10.6
|Apr high C = 13.7
|May high C = 16.7
|Jun high C = 19.8
|Jul high C = 22.4
|Aug high C = 22.2
|Sep high C = 19.0
|Oct high C = 14.7
|Nov high C = 10.2
|Dec high C = 7.5
|year high C = 14.4
|Jan mean C = 4.4
|Feb mean C = 4.8
|Mar mean C = 6.7
|Apr mean C = 9.1
|May mean C = 12.0
|Jun mean C = 15.0
|Jul mean C = 17.4
|Aug mean C = 17.3
|Sep mean C = 14.6
|Oct mean C = 11.1
|Nov mean C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 4.7
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.5
|Mar low C = 2.8
|Apr low C = 4.5
|May low C = 7.3
|Jun low C = 10.2
|Jul low C = 12.3
|Aug low C = 12.3
|Sep low C = 10.2
|Oct low C = 7.5
|Nov low C = 4.2
|Dec low C = 1.9
|year low C = 6.4
<!-- Record low temperatures -->
<!-- Note that record temperatures should only be used when the data period is of the greatest length possible. -->
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 52.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 40.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 37.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 44.3
|May precipitation mm = 47.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 50.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 51.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 58.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 50.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 65.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 56.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 55.2
|year precipitation mm = 608.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 11.1
| Feb precipitation days = 9.3
| Mar precipitation days = 9.0
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 8.5
| Jun precipitation days = 8.8
| Jul precipitation days = 9.2
| Aug precipitation days = 8.9
| Sep precipitation days = 8.6
| Oct precipitation days = 10.3
| Nov precipitation days = 11.0
| Dec precipitation days = 11.0
| year precipitation days =114.8
|Jan sun = 62.8
|Feb sun = 84.7
|Mar sun = 117.5
|Apr sun = 157.8
|May sun = 195.0
|Jun sun = 189.0
|Jul sun = 200.6
|Aug sun = 184.8
|Sep sun = 143.5
|Oct sun = 107.6
|Nov sun = 66.6
|Dec sun = 58.5
|year sun = 1568.3
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gbuw75d29
|title = Station: Bedford, Climate period: 1991–2020
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = 15 December 2024}}</ref>
| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php
|title= Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature, Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature
|publisher= Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 16 December 2024
|archive-date= 1 February 2023
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php
|url-status= dead
}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics <span class="anchor" id="Demography"></span>==
[[File:Bedford population pyramid.svg|thumb|Population pyramid in 2021]]
Bedford is home to one of the largest concentrations of Italian immigrants in the United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census, almost 30% of Bedford's population were of at least partial Italian descent. This is mainly as a result of labour recruitment in the early 1950s by the [[London Brick Company]] from [[Southern Italy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedford's Italian question |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/england/beds_herts_bucks/article_1.shtml |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=BBC – Legacies}}</ref> From 1954 to 2008 Bedford had its own Italian [[Consul (representative)|vice-consulate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedford Italian Community |url=http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_az_italiancommunity.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119140210/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedford_digitisation_az_italiancommunity.htm |archive-date=19 January 2008 |access-date=10 February 2008 |publisher=Bedfordshire Libraries}}</ref>

In addition to Italian immigrants, Bedford has also been the recipient of significant immigration from India (8.1% of Bedford's population;<ref name=ONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276881&c=bedford&d=13&e=13&g=423312&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1208287590687&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812|title=Check Browser Settings|publisher=|access-date=15 April 2008|archive-date=11 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111075939/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276881&c=bedford&d=13&e=13&g=423312&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1208287590687&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}} Indians began arriving from the late 1950s onwards from the [[Punjab region|Punjab]] area, many of whom worked at the London Brick Company), Eastern Europe (particularly in the 2000s) and Scandinavia, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Northern Cyprus, Malta, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Albania, Turkey, The Middle East, East Asia, South East Asia, Africa (3% of Bedford's population is of Sub-Saharan descent<ref name=ONS />{{failed verification|date=November 2023}}<ref name=opendemocracy>http://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/matt-kennard/inside-bedford-fragile-success-story-of-muliculturalism-home-of-yarls-wood{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} inside-bedford-fragile-success-story-of-muliculturalism-home-of-yarls-wood</ref>{{failed verification|date=November 2023}}), the Caribbean, and South America, making it one of the most ethnically, racially, and linguistically diverse towns in the United Kingdom outside of London in proportion to its size.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=BedfordBID | url=http://www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk/history-of-bedford-1/4528730674 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723170321/http://www.comearoundtobedford.co.uk/history-of-bedford-1/4528730674 | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 July 2012 | title=Brief History of Bedford Town Centre | accessdate=24 June 2010 }}</ref>

At the 2011 Census, the ethnic mix of the Bedford urban area was 74.4% white, 4% mixed, 15% Asian or Asian-British, 5% Black or Black-British, and 1% "other ethnic group".<ref name="BUA">{{NOMIS2011|id=E34004993|title=Bedford Built-up Area|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> In terms of national identity, just over 50% identified as English only, 24% as British only and 15% only as a non-UK identity; just over 8% had a "British and other" identity.<ref name=BUA />

In 2001, Bedford was 69% Christian, 24% Irreligious, 3% Muslim, and 2% Sikh. By 2021, Bedford was 48% Christian, 40% Irreligious, 7% Muslim, and 2% Sikh.

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable"
|+ Religious groups in Bedford (2001−2021)
! rowspan="2" |Religious group
! colspan="2" |[[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]]<ref>{{Cite web   |title=   TS030 - Religion |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/asv2htm|access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web   |title=   KS209EW - Religion|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/KS209EW/view/1946157199?cols=measures|access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2001 United Kingdom census|2001]]<ref>{{Cite web   |title=   UV015 - Religion|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2001/UV015/view/1946157199?cols=measures|access-date=2024-04-11 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk }}</ref>

|-
![[Population|{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}]]
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!{{abbr|Pop.|Population}}
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}

|-
| [[Christianity in the United Kingdom|Christian]]
|   88,178
| {{Percentage |   88,178|   185,225| 2 }}

| 93,346
| {{Percentage | 93,346|    157,479| 2 }}
| 101,720
| {{Percentage | 101,720|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Muslim]]
|   13,059
| {{Percentage |   13,059|   185,225| 2 }}

|   8,610
| {{Percentage |   8,610|    157,479| 2 }}
|   4,803
| {{Percentage |   4,803|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikh]]
|    4,114
| {{Percentage |    4,114|   185,225| 2 }}

|   3,336
| {{Percentage |   3,336|    157,479| 2 }}
|   2,740
| {{Percentage |   2,740|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Hinduism in the United Kingdom|Hindu]]
|    3,045
| {{Percentage |    3,045|   185,225| 2 }}

|   2,420
| {{Percentage |   2,420|    157,479| 2 }}
|   2,567
| {{Percentage |   2,567|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Buddhism in the United Kingdom|Buddhist]]
|  629
| {{Percentage |   629|   185,225| 2 }}

|   509
| {{Percentage |   509|    157,479| 2 }}
|   355
| {{Percentage |   355|   147,911| 2 }}
|-

| [[Judaism in the United Kingdom|Jewish]]
|    232
| {{Percentage |   232|   185,225| 2 }}

|   171
| {{Percentage |   171|    157,479| 2 }}
|   180
| {{Percentage |   180|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Religion in the United Kingdom|Other religion]]
|    2,014
| {{Percentage |    2,014|   185,225| 2 }}

| 1,506
| {{Percentage | 1,506|    157,479| 2 }}
|   432
| {{Percentage |   432|   147,911| 2 }}
|-
| [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|Irreligious]]
|  73,954
| {{Percentage |  73954|   185,225| 2 }}

|    47,581
| {{Percentage |    47581|    157,479| 2 }}
|    35,114
| {{Percentage |    35114|   147,911| 2 }}
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total responses
!   185,225
! {{Percentage |   185,225|   185,225| 2 }}

!   157,479
! {{Percentage |   157,479|   157,479| 2 }}
!   147,911
! {{Percentage |   147,911|    147,911| 2 }}
|-
|}

==Landmarks==
[[File:StPaulsChurchBedford.jpg|thumb|left|[[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul's Church]]]]
[[Bedford Park, Bedford|Bedford Park]] is the town's largest [[urban park]] and is located directly to the north of the town centre. The park retains many original features from its Victorian design and construction, including a [[cricket pavilion]] and [[bandstand]] which are both still in use. [[Priory Country Park]] is a large [[country park]] located on the northern bank of the [[River Great Ouse]] in eastern Bedford. Both parks have been awarded [[Green Flag Award|Green Flag status]].

Bedford's principal church is [[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul's]], in the square of the same name at the historic centre of the town. It is the Civic Church of the Borough of Bedford and County of Bedfordshire and has a tall, iconic spire which is one of the dominant features of the town. There was an early Minster church on the site by 1066 and work on the present structure began in the early 13th century, but little remains from that period. [[John Bunyan]] and [[John Wesley]] both preached in the church. In 1865–1868 the tower and spire were completely rebuilt and the two transepts added and lesser alterations have been made since. From 1941 to the end of the [[Second World War]] the [[BBC]]'s daily service was broadcast from St Paul's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Daily Service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5sFq5GhJ5nN76DXFSXVK3zZ/history-of-the-daily-service |access-date=27 July 2017 |website=BBC Religion and Ethics}}</ref> Another notable local church is [[St Peter's Church, Bedford|St Peter's]], on St Peter's Street, which contains some of the oldest architectural remains in Bedford, the most ancient being the two [[monolith]]s. St Paul's Church also hosts the town's Visitor Information Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 August 2018 |title=Bedford to get new Visitor Information Centre |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/bedfordians-speak-out-over-that-yougov-survey-and-now-a-new-tourist-information-centre-is-on-its-way/ |website=www.BedfordIndependent.co.uk}}</ref>

Just outside the town lie the [[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]] [[airship hangar]]s. The hangars have been used to shoot scenes for movies such as ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[Batman Begins]]'', ''[[The Dark Knight]]'',<ref name="Captain">{{Cite web |title=Where Did They Film That? |url=http://www.wheredidtheyfilmthat.co.uk/location.php?loc_id=588 |website=www.wheredidtheyfilmthat.co.uk}}</ref> and ''[[Inception]]''.<ref name="Inception">{{Cite web |title=Inception to Film at the Airship Shed in Bedfordshire &#124; Nolan Fans |url=http://www.nolanfans.com/2009/07/13/inception-to-film-at-the-airship-shed-in-bedfordshire/ |website=www.nolanfans.com}}</ref> The hangars can be seen from the [[A421|Bedford Bypass]].

Despite being far upriver from the sea, seals have occasionally been reported as swimming as far inland as Bedford.<ref name="SLIDESHOW: Seal in the River Great Ouse">{{Cite web |title=SLIDESHOW: Seal in the River Great Ouse |url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/slideshow-seal-in-the-river-great-ouse-1-1094310 |access-date=11 October 2015 |website=Bedford Times & Citizen |archive-date=30 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130224712/http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/slideshow-seal-in-the-river-great-ouse-1-1094310 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Surprise guest puts seal on festival">{{Cite web |title=Surprise guest puts seal on festival's pearl |url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Surprise-guest-puts-seal-festivals-pearl-celebrations/story-21710209-detail/story.html |access-date=11 October 2015 |website=Bedfordshire On Sunday}}</ref><ref name="Sunbathing seals make long trip inland from the Wash">{{Cite news |title=Sunbathing seals make long trip inland from the Wash |work=BBC News |date=11 August 2015 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-33865252 |access-date=11 October 2015 }}</ref>

The [[Old Town Hall, Bedford|Old Town Hall]] dates back to 1550 and the building was originally constructed as a school.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall|num= 1114520| access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

{{Panorama
 | image = File:Bedford_Skyline.JPG
 | alt = A panoramic view looking over a town.
 | fullheight = 392
 | caption = View of the Bedford skyline, taken from [[Renhold]] in 2013
 | height = 200
}}

===River Great Ouse===
[[File:C20WarMemorialBedford.JPG|thumb|right|[[First World War|Bedford War Memorial]]]]
The [[River Great Ouse]] passes through the town centre and is lined with gardens known as the Embankment. Within these gardens, opposite Rothsay Road, stands a war memorial to the men of the town killed in the [[First World War]]. The memorial was designed in 1921 by the sculptor [[Charles Sargeant Jagger]] and depicts the Anglo Saxon Lady Athelflaed, who ruled Mercia, killing a dragon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel Stannard/Bedfordshire County Council |year=2007 |title=The First World War Memorial, Bedford |url=http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedfordshire_buildings.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127204916/http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/bedfordshire_buildings.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2007 |access-date=4 November 2007 |website=Bedfordshire Buildings and Monuments}}</ref> The inscription reads

{{cquote|<small>1914 † 1919<br />TO BEDFORDIANS WHO DIED, MANY IN EARLY YOUTH, SOME FULL OF YEARS AND HONOUR, BUT WHO ALL ALIKE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY.</small>|30px|30px|}}

===Bedford Castle===
[[Bedford Castle|Bedford Castle Mound]] is the remnant of Bedford's medieval [[castle]], located close to the centre of the modern town, less than a hundred yards from Bedford Bridge and the High Street. In around 2000, Bedford Borough Council built a sloping retaining wall on the south side, facing the river. Although almost completely modern, the wall does incorporate a few pieces of historic masonry. A paved path leads round the side of the mound up to the top, which is a flat circular grassy area. A small wooden structure of the same date at the top of the wall, much like a bus shelter, protects tourists from the rain while they view the river embankment.

==Transport==
{{main|Transport in Bedford}}

===Railway===
There are two stations in Bedford. The main [[Bedford railway station]] is on the [[Midland Main Line]], providing inter-city services to [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] and the East Midlands, operated by [[East Midlands Railway]]. Stopping services, operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]], run through London to [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]]. Bedford's other lesser used station is [[Bedford St Johns railway station|Bedford St John's]] which in on the [[Marston Vale line|Marston Vale Line]]. Services are operated by [[West Midlands Trains|London North Western Railway]] and run between [[Bletchley railway station|Bletchley]] and [[Bedford railway station|Bedford's main station]].

===Road===
Road access to and from the town is provided by the [[A6 road (England)|A6]] and [[A421 road (Great Britain)|A421]] roads; the former connects the town with [[Kettering]] to the north-west, and Luton to the south, whilst the latter connects the town with Milton Keynes and the [[M1 motorway|M1]] (at Junction 13) to the west, and the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] to the east (near [[St Neots]]) via a bypass, with both being around {{convert|10|mi}} away. Other roads that serve or skirt the town include the [[A422 road|A422]], which runs westwards into Milton Keynes (also connecting to the M1 at Junction 14 via the [[A509 road|A509]]), and the [[A428 road|A428]], which runs between [[Coventry]] and [[Cambridge]].

The new Greyfriars surface car park and the refurbished Allhallows multi-storey car park both implement a pay on foot system. Greyfriars occupies 142 parking spaces, including 7 designated disabled spaces, although there is a 2-hour per day parking limit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A New Bus Station for Bedford |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/bedford_bus_station/preferred_contractor_selected.aspx |access-date=12 September 2017 |website=Bedford Borough Council |archive-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912191724/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/bedford_bus_station/preferred_contractor_selected.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Buses===
[[File:Bedford bus station - geograph.org.uk - 496438.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bedford bus station]] in July 2007]]

[[Bedford bus station]] serves the town and was reopened on 29 March 2015, after undergoing £8.8million regeneration which began in 2013. 
The main operators in and around the town are [[Stagecoach East]] and [[Stagecoach Midlands]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bus Operators |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/public_transport/bus_operators.aspx |access-date=5 June 2017 |website=www.bedford.gov.uk |language=en |archive-date=18 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518144552/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/transport_and_streets/public_transport/bus_operators.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Bedford}}
Bedford Borough previously operated a [[three-tier education]] system, which was arranged into [[Lower school|lower]], [[Middle school|middle]] and [[upper school]]s, as recommended in the [[Plowden Report]] of 1967. The arrangement was put to the vote in 2006 with a view to moving to the two-tier model, but was rejected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2006 |title=Two-tier school proposal rejected |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/5173424.stm |access-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> On 17 November 2009, borough councillors voted 19 to 17 in favour of a two tier system, which would then be phased in. However, following the defeat of the Labour Government in 2010, the new coalition government announced that the funding necessary for the switch to a two-tier system would no longer be available. As a result, the switch proceeded on a school by school basis as national funding was due to cover most of the cost. However, in July 2015, the council announced the intention to support the transition to a system of two tier education across the whole borough in a coordinated way. At the time, only the Wootton cluster of schools chose not to transition. As of September 2018, all of the borough's schools have converted to two-tier. The [[secondary school]]s currently operating in the borough are [[Bedford Academy]], [[Bedford Free School]], [[Biddenham International School and Sports College|Biddenham International School]], [[Castle Newnham School]], [[Goldington Academy]], [[Mark Rutherford School]] and [[St Thomas More Catholic School, Bedford|St Thomas More Catholic School]].

Bedford is home to four private schools run by the [[Harpur Trust]] charity, endowed by Bedfordian [[William Harpur|Sir William Harpur]] in the 16th century. These are:
* [[Bedford School]] for boys aged 7–18
* [[Bedford Modern School]], a former boys' school which became co-educational in 2003 for pupils aged 7–18
* [[Bedford Girls' School]] for girls aged 7–18. (Merged September 2012 – Formerly Bedford High School for Girls and Dame Alice Harpur School)
* Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School

Smaller private institutions include [[Bedford Greenacre Independent School]] (boys and girls aged 3–18), and Polam School (boys and girls aged 12 months to 9 years), neither of which are part of the Harpur Trust.

Bedford hosts a campus of the [[University of Bedfordshire]], which prior to a merger with the University of [[Luton]] in 2006 had been a campus of [[De Montfort University]] (itself now solely based in [[Leicester]]). For further education, the town is served by [[Bedford College, Bedford|Bedford College]] and [[The Bedford Sixth Form]]. Additionally, [[Stella Mann College of Performing Arts|Stella Mann College]] is a private college, which offers a range of further education courses relating to the [[performing arts]].

==Religious sites==
[[File:QPSikhTemple.JPG|thumb|left|The Guru Nanak [[Gurdwara]] in [[Queens Park, Bedford|Queens Park]]]]
The town has a high number of places of worship, including the Civic and County Church of [[St Paul's Church, Bedford|St Paul's]] and the Church of [[St. Peter's Church, Bedford|St Peter's]]. There are three from the [[Newfrontiers]] network, as well as Polish, Arab, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian [[Roman Catholic]] churches, [[Latter Day Saint|LDS]] ([[Mormon]]) meeting houses, [[Church of Greece|Greek]], [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian]] and other [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] churches, [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] churches, [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] churches, [[Baptists|Baptist]] churches, [[Evangelical]] churches, [[The United Methodist Church|Methodist]] churches, [[Protestant]] churches, [[Church of England|Anglican]] churches and various independent churches and other places of worship that cater to the different ethnic, racial, and language groups. There are four [[Islam]]ic  mosques in the town. There are also [[Buddhist]] and [[Hindu]] temples in the town.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Bedford has the largest [[Sikhism|Sikh]] [[gurdwara]] in the United Kingdom outside London, alongside two other Sikh gurdwaras; one of which is in Kempston. Bedford has [[Guru Ravidass]] and [[Balmiki sect|Valmiki]] temples.

There are [[Quaker]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]] and [[Wicca]]n communities who meet and have their own places of worship in the town.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} There is no longer a synagogue in Bedford, but Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue |url=http://www.bedfordshire-ps.org.uk/}}</ref> based in [[Luton]], meets in Bedford once a month for the town's Jewish community. The nearest [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] synagogue is the Luton United Synagogue, a [[Lubavitch]] synagogue in Luton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Luton United Synagogue |url=https://lutonsynagogue.org.uk/index.php?page=home |access-date=16 February 2023 |website=lutonsynagogue.org.uk}}</ref> Bedford is the former headquarters of the [[Panacea Society]], founded in 1919, who believed that the town would have an important role in the [[Second Coming]] of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], and that Bedford was the original location of the [[Garden of Eden]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Panacea Society |url=http://www.panacea-society.org/home.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522122521/http://www.panacea-society.org/home.htm |archive-date=22 May 2013 |access-date=7 January 2013}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Culture==
[[File:BedfordCornExchange.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Bedford Corn Exchange]]
[[The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum]], Bedford is housed in the recreated Victorian home of the Higgins family of [[Victorian era|Victorian]] brewers and in a modern extension. The museum has local history collections, while the galleries have notable collections of watercolours, prints and drawings, ceramics, glass and lace.

Bedford contains several works of [[public art]], most notably the [[Statue of John Bunyan]], the [[Statue of John Howard, Bedford|Statue of John Howard]],<ref name="Baker">{{Cite book |author=Margaret Baker |title=Discovering Statues |volume=1 Southern England |pages=8–9}}</ref> and [[Reflections of Bedford]], a statue by British sculptor [[Rick Kirby]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reflections of Bedford - Bedford Town Centre Statues - Digitised Resources - The Virtual Library |url=https://virtual-library.culturalservices.net/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/statues_bedford_book_reflections.htm |access-date=7 November 2022 |website=virtual-library.culturalservices.net}}</ref>

The Panacea Museum tells the story of the [[Panacea Society]], a religious community formed in the early twentieth century.

The [[Corn Exchange, Bedford|Bedford Corn Exchange]] is the largest entertainment venue in the town and plays host to a variety of performances, meetings, conferences, concerts and private functions. The venue has been host to many great entertainers such as [[Glenn Miller]] and [[Bob Hope]].

The [[University of Bedfordshire Theatre]] is the largest theatre in Bedford and hosts many larger productions as well as projects from the university. There is an active [[amdram]] (community theatre) scene, with groups such as the Swan Theatre Company, Bedford Drama Company (formerly Bedford Dramatic Club), Bedford Marianettes and ShowCo Bedford producing plays and musicals in venues like the Place Theatre and the Corn Exchange. The Bedford Pantomime Company produces a traditional pantomime at the Bedford Corn Exchange each Christmas. Esquires (one of the town's premier live music venues) regularly plays host to many notable bands and acts from all over the United Kingdom as well as showcasing local live music.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2019 |title="It's like a family" – Bedford bands speak of their love of Esquires during #IVW19 |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/its-like-a-family-bedford-bands-speak-of-their-love-of-esquires-during-ivw19/ |website=www.BedfordIndependent.co.uk}}</ref>

Every two years, an event called the "[[Bedford River Festival]]" is held near the river in Bedford during early July. The event lasts for two days and regularly attracts about 250,000 visitors. The event includes sports, funfairs and live music. It is the second-largest regular outdoor event in the United Kingdom, beaten in numbers only by the [[Notting Hill Carnival]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=River Great Ouse |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/RiverGreatOuse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306182754/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/RiverGreatOuse |archive-date=6 March 2008 |access-date=29 January 2008 |publisher=Bedford Borough Council}}</ref> The Bedford Regatta each May is Britain's largest one-day river rowing regatta.

Other annual events include "Bedford by the Sea" (when large quantities of sand are deposited in the town centre), the "Bedford International Kite Festival" and "Bedford Festival of Motoring" in June.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2019 |title=Kites, cars and chill-out coming to Bedford's Russell Park |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/kites-cars-and-chill-out-coming-to-bedfords-russell-park/ |website=www.BedfordIndependent.co.uk}}</ref> "Proms in the Park", held in early August, is a popular musical event.

Bedford's special brand of the ordinary has resulted in regular small TV and radio appearances, for instance the upbeat episode of ''[[Mark Steel's in Town]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 4 - Mark Steel's in Town, Series 8, Bedford |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09h3rc9 |website=BBC}}</ref> contrasting with the less enthusiastic treatment in ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''. The "Bedford of Bedfordshire's Community Calendar" segment of this US show featured Bedford-bred [[John Oliver]].<ref name="rollingstone">{{Cite magazine |last=Leight |first=Elias |title=Watch John Oliver, Stephen Colbert Spoof Public Access Show |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/watch-john-oliver-stephen-colbert-spoof-public-access-show-114165/ |access-date=8 February 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=8 February 2017 }}</ref>

==Tourism==
In December 2023, [[Universal Destinations & Experiences]] announced that it had purchased 480 acres (later expanded to around 700 acres) of land on a former brickworks site near [[Stewartby]], on the outskirts of Bedford, with the company exploring the possibility of building a theme park and resort in the area, citing Bedford's proximity to London and Luton Airport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universal Studios buys Bedford brickworks for theme park plan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-67761926|date=19 December 2023|access-date=30 December 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

In 2024, [[Universal United Kingdom]] was announced to be in the planning and approval phases, with construction potentially beginning as early as January 2025, and the park itself slated for completion around 2030.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universal UK Project {{!}} |url=https://universalukproject.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Erica Roffe & Paul |date=2023-12-19 |title=Breaking news: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough |url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/breaking-news-universal-studios-confirm-they-are-planning-a-theme-park-in-bedford-borough/ |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Bedford Independent |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==New technologies==
Following successful rollouts of autonomous delivery robots in nearby Milton Keynes, Northampton and [[Cambridgeshire]] by [[Starship Technologies]], in July 2022, the company announced a partnership with Bedford Borough Council and [[The Co-operative Group]] to rollout the autonomous robots in the Bedford built-up area, delivering from three Co-op stores in Goldington, Queens Drive and Kempston, an area spanning 45,000 residents and 20,000 households.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Starship and Co-op roll-out delivery robots to Bedford and Kempston|url=https://www.bedford.gov.uk/news/2022/starship-and-co-op-roll-out-delivery-robots-bedford-and-kempston|date=19 December 2023|access-date=30 December 2023 |publisher=Bedford Borough Council}}</ref>

==Media==
===Television===
Local news and televisions programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]] from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter.

===Radio===
Local radio stations are [[BBC Three Counties Radio]] on 95.5 FM, [[Heart East]] on 96.9 FM, [[Greatest Hits Radio Bucks, Beds and Herts]] on 96.2 FM, [[In2beats]] on 106.5 FM and Bedford Radio which is the local radio station.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bedford.radio/about | title=About Bedford Radio }}</ref>

===Newspaper===
The town has two local newspapers, the [[Times & Citizen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.org.uk/product/583 |title=Bedford Citizen |publisher=[[Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK)]] |date=27 February 2023 |access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref> and the [[Bedford Independent]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/ |title=Bedford Independent |publisher=[[Bedford Independent]] |date=29 December 2023 |access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref> with both being distributed freely across the Borough of Bedford and neighboring settlements within Central Bedfordshire.

==Sport==
{{See also|Sport in Bedfordshire}}
There is a long-standing sporting heritage in the Bedford borough with long-established rugby and football clubs. The town has four [[rugby union]] teams called [[Bedford Blues]], Bedford Queens, Bedford Swifts and [[Bedford Athletic]]. Since 2004, Bedford also has a [[rugby league]] team, [[Bedford Tigers]], who compete one tier below the [[National Conference League|National Conference]].

Taking into account the size of its overall urban area, Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a fully professional [[association football|football]] team. [[Bedford Town F.C.]] currently plays at the seventh level of the [[English football league system]] and [[Real Bedford F.C.]] play at the eighth level.

[[File:Bedford-rowing-club-2012-07-08 14.46.01.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bedford Rowing Club]] boathouse]]
Rowing is also a major part of the sports scene with a number of regatta events hosted throughout the year from February to October; the most significant of these being Bedford Regatta which, in terms of numbers of crews participating, is the second largest in the country. It was on Bedford's River Great Ouse that Olympic rower, [[Tim Foster]], honed his skills as a student of Bedford Modern and member of star club; indeed the borough has produced many other champions of sport past and present including [[Stephanie Cook]], [[Gail Emms]], [[Liz Yelling]] and [[Paula Radcliffe]] who is Life Vice-President of Bedford & County Athletic Club

[[Viking Kayak Club]] organise the Bedford Kayak Marathon with [[canoe racing]] held along the Embankment on Bedford's riverside and organise national ranking [[canoe slalom]] events at the [[Cardington Artificial Slalom Course]] (CASC), which was the first [[artificial whitewater]] course in the United Kingdom. CASC is also the venue each year for the United Kingdom's National Inter Clubs Slalom Finals, the largest canoe slalom event by participation in the United Kingdom. [[Etienne Stott]] – 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist's Club.

Bedford Borough was a major host of national teams preparing for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] and [[2012 Summer Paralympics|Paralympics]]. The [[Maldives Olympic Committee|Maldives National Olympic Committee]] based its competing athletes in the borough, while Paralympic athletes from [[Angola at the Paralympics|Angola]], the [[Central African Republic at the Paralympics|Central African Republic]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], the [[Gambia at the Olympics#Paralympics|Gambia]], [[Ghana at the Paralympics|Ghana]], [[Ivory Coast at the Paralympics|Ivory Coast]], [[Jamaica at the Paralympics|Jamaica]], [[Lesotho at the Paralympics|Lesotho]], [[Morocco at the Paralympics|Morocco]], [[Niger at the Paralympics|Niger]], [[Pakistan at the Paralympics|Pakistan]], [[Senegal at the Paralympics|Senegal]], [[Tunisia at the Paralympics|Tunisia]] and [[Uganda at the Paralympics|Uganda]] were also based in the area. With the exception of [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]] (which hosted various sailing events), Bedford Borough accommodated more Olympic teams in 2012 than any other local authority area in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=On Your Marks! Bedford Borough to host teams from around the world ahead of London 2012 |url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/archived_news/february_2012/on_your_marks.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714070430/http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_news/archived_news/february_2012/on_your_marks.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2012}}</ref>

==Filmography==
* The popular [[BBC Television|BBC TV]] series ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]'' was filmed in and around Bedford during the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em |date=15 February 1973 |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069634/ |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}
* A 2017 feature on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'' called "Bedford of Bedfordshire's Community Calendar", in which [[John Oliver]], who grew up in Bedford, described the town as 'scrappy'. The segment featured the [[Shuttleworth Collection]], the [[Forest of Marston Vale]], the Place Theatre, the [[Bedford Corn Exchange]] and local bookshop Rogan's Books, among others.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==Public services==
[[File:Bedford-Hospital-Britannia-Road.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Bedford Hospital]]]]
[[Bedford Hospital]] is a district general hospital that operates from two sites in the town, providing a wide range of services, although patients requiring advanced health services are referred to specialist units elsewhere, particularly [[Addenbrooke's Hospital]] in [[Cambridge]], which has a partnership with Bedford Hospital. Bedford Hospital's catchment area is based on the Borough of Bedford and parts of [[Central Bedfordshire]].

[[Bedfordshire Police]] is responsible for policing in Bedford, and operates a main police station in the town centre. Fire and rescue services in Bedford are coordinated by the [[Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service]]. Bedford's [[fire station]] is in the [[Newnham, Bedford|Newnham]] area of the town and is staffed 24 hours a day.

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Bedford, United Kingdom|List of people educated at Bedford School|List of Old Bedford Modernians}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bedford - John Speed's map (1611).jpg|Bedford in 1611
File:Bedford Bridge from Antiquities of England by (1783) by Francis Grose.jpg|Bedford Bridge in 1783. This version of the bridge was replaced in 1813.
File:Bedford engraved by J.Roper after G.Cole published 1806.jpg|Bedford in 1806
File:BedfordCastleNight.jpg|[[Bedford Castle|Bedford Castle Hill]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|England}}
* [[Transport in Bedford]]
* [[Healthcare in Bedfordshire]]
* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
https://www.bedford.gov.uk/
{{Commons and category}}
{{wikivoyage|Bedford}}

{{Adjacent communities|state=expanded
 | Centre    = Bedford
 | North     = [[Thurleigh]]
 | Northeast = [[Cambridge]]
 | East      = [[Great Barford]]<br>[[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]]<br>[[Cardington, Bedfordshire|Cardington]]
 | Southeast = [[Letchworth Garden City]]<br>[[Hitchin]]<br>[[Stevenage]] 
 | South     = [[Luton]]<br>[[Flitwick]]<br>[[Ampthill]] 
 | Southwest = [[Milton Keynes]] 
 | West      = [[Biddenham]] 
 | Northwest = [[Northampton]]<br>[[Wellingborough]]<br>[[Kettering]]
}}
{{Areas of Bedford}}
{{Bedfordshire}}
{{Places in Bedford Borough}}
{{River Great Ouse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bedford| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Market towns in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Great Ouse]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Bedfordshire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Bedfordshire]]