From April, the John Bunyan Community Boat will return to the River Great Ouse with a programme of popular cruises through Bedford’s countryside, as well as something new for the 2026 season.
Since its launch twelve years ago, more than 60,000 passengers have enjoyed travelling along the Great Ouse to Kempston in the west and Great Barford in the east thanks to the boat’s crew of volunteers.
Passengers can enjoy a relaxing journey through the Bedford countryside or gain a new perspective of the town and Embankment, complemented by refreshments available from the boat’s onboard galley.
This summer, the John Bunyan Community Boat will offer its ever-popular Afternoon Tea cruises to the Kingfisher Hotel, Cream Tea cruises, Fish and Chip cruises for both lunch and supper, and music cruises featuring Jazz, Motown, Seventies disco and Irish tunes.
Perfect for celebrating a special occasion, the Anchor Lunch cruise to Great Barford will also be returning, and there are budget-friendly options on Thursday and Sunday Afternoon cruises, where food is optional.
During bank holidays and the summer school holidays, the Family EyeSpy cruise along the Embankment is. Make a day of it by visiting Longholme boating lake or Landmark golf at Russell Park.
Explore Bedford
New for this season is the Explore Bedford cruise, which allows boarding at Priory Marina and disembarking at the Suspension Bridge to explore the Embankment, nearby museums, or to join a guided tour with Bedford Tour Guides. Passengers will be collected after two hours for the return journey to Priory Marina.
Customers booking any cruises in April or May can get £2 off tickets by using the discount code SPRING26 at the checkout.
The new season kicks off with an EyeSpy Cruise on Easter Monday, 6 April, and tickets are on sale now.
For details of prices, times and dates, or to book your tickets, visit the John Bunyan website here.
