Bedford

With 352 restaurants listed for a town of its size, Bedford has an appetite that reaches well beyond the usual high street options. The choice runs from La Piazza and La Rotonda Pizzeria for a straightforward Italian night out, to KOKORO and Kokoblack for something quicker and more casual, alongside familiar names like KFC. There's also a strong community strand to eating here, with places like Kingswell Community Hub showing that food in Bedford isn't just about restaurants in the traditional sense - it's woven into how the town gathers.

Bedford itself sits astride the River Great Ouse, and the river shapes a lot of how people spend their time here. The Embankment, with its gardens and Russell Park nearby, is the natural place to walk off a meal, and the Canoe Trail gives a more active way to see the water. Bedford Park adds another green space in the town, so days here tend to alternate between a proper sit-down meal and time spent outdoors along the water or in the parks.

Visitors staying over have a decent spread of options. In town, the Bedford Swan Hotel and Embankment Hotel put you close to the river and the restaurant scene, while the Holiday Inn Express Bedford is a reliable base for anyone here on a shorter trip. For something quieter, De Parys Guest House, dParys and Albero Bedrooms offer B&B-style stays, and Flitwick Manor Hotel is a step further out for those wanting a bit more countryside around them.

Beyond eating and sleeping, Bedford has enough to fill a day or two. The John Bunyan Museum ties the town to its literary history, while Priory Country Park is the obvious choice for a longer walk or some time by the water. For something more active and a bit different, Skirmish Central and the escape-room challenge of Don't Get Locked In give visitors, especially groups, something to do before heading back out to try one of the town's many restaurants.