The county town of Bedford is set in a rich rural landscape
and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The town’s history
has been influenced by its position on the River Great Ouse,
it has been navigable to the town since the middle ages,
making it an important market town and a centre for English
lace making. Over the centuries successive influxes of
workers from abroad has given modern day Bedford an
ethnically and linguistically diverse population, including
a thriving Italian community, whose descendants arrived to
make bricks in the area in the 1950’s.
The vibrant town centre includes the Harper and Howard
Shopping Centres, high quality shops, many unique
independent retailers, along with major retailers and
department stores, complemented by a wealth of cultural
and entertainment venues.