Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger what’s on guide lands every Wednesday and is the only guide you need to find out what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires.
Wednesday, 1 – Thursday, 9 April
Family fun: Easter activities
The Higgins Bedford @ times vary
Prices: vary – check website for details
During the Easter school holidays, the Higgins Bedford is hosting a wealth of family-friendly workshops, including clay badge-making, archaeology, and felt-making. Book at the Higgins website.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Live music: Courtney Barnett
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: SOLD OUT
No, it’s not an April Fool’s prank; Courtney Barnett is actually playing in Bedford this week. Although tickets have sold out, keep an eye on Esquires’ socials for returns.
In the hands of Courtney Barnett, fragments of everyday life become rich and riveting. A deft lyricist and virtuosic guitarist, she is an emblem of millennial wit and one of Australia’s most successful musical exports.
Barnett is also a powerhouse live act, playing slots at festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, Governor’s Ball, Primavera, and Lollapalooza.
Thursday, 2 April 2026
Family fun: Easter activities
John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street @ 11am – 3pm
£2 per child / no booking required
Spring has sprung with the return of the John Bunyan Museum’s Crafty Thursday activities this Easter. Create bouncy spring-bunnies, pop-up cards, pictures and Easter decorations. Suitable for ages 4+.
Fancy a challenge? Explore the museum and take part in the free Easter Egg quiz. Complete the trail and find the answer to win a mini chocolate egg.
Thursday, 2 – Saturday, 4 April 2026
Theatre: Young@part present – The Addams Family
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm (2pm matinee on Saturday)
Tickets: Prices vary
The Addams have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years and Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan, would be only too happy to continue living that way.
Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter, Wednesday, however, is now an eighteen-year-old young woman who is ready for a life of her own. She has fallen in love with Lucas Beinecke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal, respectable Ohio family — the most un-Addams sounding person one could be.
And to make matters worse, she has invited the Beineckes to their home for dinner. In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change.
Thursday, 2 April 2026
Live music: Irish Music Night
The Castle pub, Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Another night of foot-tapping Irish tunes.
Thursday, 2 April 2026
Quiz: Esquires’ monthly music quiz
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
£2 per person/maximum of six per team
Head to Esquires for their monthly music quiz on the first Thursday of every month. Teams of up to six people compete in the quiz featuring music from the 50s to the present. Cash prize for the winning team.
Good Friday, 3 April 2026
Live music: Acoustopaea
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 6pm
Free entry
Acoustopaea are a three piece acoustic band playing a mix of rock and pop covers.
Easter Saturday, 4 April 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walks
Morning ramble meeting place: Riseley, near the Fox and Hounds, MK44 1DT @ 10am
Afternoon walk meeting place: Milton Ernest Garden Centre, MK44 1SH @ 1.30pm
This week’s morning walk (meeting at 10am) is a leisurely exploration of the Riseley area on part of the North Beds Heritage Trail (4.5 miles).
In the afternoon (meeting at 1.30pm), North Beds Ramblers will be taking on a six-mile walk towards Twinwoods as part of their 50th birthday celebrations.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Easter Saturday, 4 April 2026
Live music: Good Health Good Wealth
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
Good Health Good Wealth are an alternative singer-songwriter duo consisting of London vocalist, songwriter and producer Bruce Breakey and guitarist, producer and model Simon Kuzmickas.
Inspired by visionaries such as N.E.R.D, Daft Punk and the personal storytelling of The Streets and Mac Miller, they cherry-pick elements from a broad range of genres whilst remaining unmistakably British in the process.
Easter Saturday, 4 April 2026
Live music: SHAM 69 + Knock Off
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £32.50
Last year SHAM 69 played at Esquires in Bedford for the first time in 30 years – and the band loved the show so much that they asked if they could come back as part of their 50th anniversary shows.
Knock Off have kindly agreed to be special guests again.
Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026
Family fun: Unicorn Live!
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 1pm and 4pm
Tickets: £12
After the sell-out success of Princess Live!, here’s a brand new show for 2026… Unicorn Live!
Harmony, Melody and Starlight are the best of unicorn friends. Join them as they use their magical unicorn powers to save the show and conjure up the magical fourth band member. Watch in amazement as they use the power of song and dance to create the band, Unicorn Live!
After every performance, there is a free photo opportunity with Harmony, Melody and Starlight.
Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026
Live music: The Workshop Boys play the Easter Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Formed by former members of Los Marbles and Cutting Out, The Workshop Boys have fast become one of Bedford’s most loved bar bands.
Returning to Esquires for an Easter Sunday Session.
Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026
Live music: Max Milligan and Robbie Stewart Matthews
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 7pm
Free entry
Head to The Castle on Easter Sunday for an evening with the talented Max Milligan and Robbie Stewart Matthews singing acoustic Blues tunes.
Easter Monday, 6 April 2026
On the river: Family EyeSpy Cruises
Mill Meadows landing stage @ 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm
Tickets: £10/£7.13
Keep the kids entertained during the school holidays with the John Bunyan Boat’s Family EyeSpy cruises.
Relax and cruise through Bedford’s countryside and enjoy the wildlife on the Great River Ouse. See how many birds you can spot…
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Food & drink: Bedford Bakes
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 6pm
Free entry
Bedford Bakes is a baking club where everyone is welcome and this month, the theme is ‘All Things Green’.
“During the meeting we share our bakes, both sweet & savoury, swap recipes & discover new creations,” said organiser, Naomi.
“It’s the perfect chance to connect with fellow bakers & enjoy new treats in a warm & welcoming atmosphere. No sign up, no fee and no need to book; just turn up with your bakes.”
Tuesday, 7 – Saturday, 18 April 2026
Exhibition: For the Love of Books
The Basement @ Bunyan, Mill Street
Free
2026 is the tenth anniversary of The Basement at Bunyan Community Art Gallery, a space that is not only a gallery, but also a space to celebrate books. As a birthday treat, the venue will host an exhibition of books, book illustrations and artwork using books.
On Saturday, 11 April, there will be storytelling and a book signing by David Litchfield and Julia Jarman. There will be ‘drop-in’ craft activities throughout the exhibition.
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Family fun: Easter activities
John Bunyan Museum, Mill Street @ 11am – 3pm
£2 per child / no booking required
Spring has sprung with the return of the John Bunyan Museum’s Crafty Thursday activities this Easter. Create bouncy spring-bunnies, pop-up cards, pictures and Easter decorations. Suitable for ages 4+.
Fancy a challenge? Explore the museum and take part in the free Easter Egg quiz. Complete the trail and find the answer to win a mini chocolate egg.
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Children’s Theatre: Nurse Dessy
The Place Theatre @ 11am
Free
Follow the beloved Nurse Dessie as she brings history to life, sharing the inspiring legacy of Mary Seacole and real-life stories from the Windrush generation. Designed for children and young people, this show fosters empathy, resilience, and cultural pride through creative sessions full of learning and fun. Children’s snacks and activity packs included!
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Family fun: Exciting Science
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 2pm
Tickets: £15
WARNING….WARNING…..EXTREME FUN ALERT!
This brand new, exciting and educational show will amaze and astound all ages from four years & upwards.
With fun and fact filled experiments, watch in amazement as the crazy scientists recreate a volcanic eruption, transform a vacuum cleaner into a missile launcher, and blast you with their incredible smoke blaster.
Prepare to be amazed!
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Film: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT@ 7.15pm
Tickets: £16
What if you could open a doorway and walk through it to re-live a defining moment from your past?
Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present…and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.
Ends on Sunday, 12 April
Family fun: Cardboard Clues – murder at the movies
The Higgins Bedford
£25/team
Don’t miss your last chance to become a detective and unravel a series of curious, whimsical mysteries in your local museum.
This season of Cardboard Clues at the Higgins Bedford ends on Sunday, so why not book with your friends and family over the Easter weekend?
Scour the Higgins Bedford to discover hidden clues and ‘cardboard’ characters, who could be suspects, witnesses or victims, guided by the Cardboard Clues app.
Connect the dots in the stories across the museum and test your wits and problem-solving skills. Perfect for families, friends, and curious minds looking for a unique experience in a fun setting.
Friday, 10 April 2026
Art and culture: Bedford Art Society Meeting
Putnoe Heights Church, MK41 8EB @ 7.30pm
David Johnson will be demonstrating how to paint forest light in acrylics. More information can be found on their website.
Friday, 10 – Sunday, 12 April 2026
Film: Bedford Independent Film Festival 2026
The Quarry Theatre @ times vary
Tickets: Prices vary
After its inaugural event in 2025, the Bedford Independent Film Festival (BIFF) is back for 2026, celebrating the best of independent cinema.
Once again, the Quarry Theatre will host a weekend of cinematic joy, with a programme designed to delight filmmakers, cast, crew and enthusiasts alike.
Read: Lights, camera, Bedford: Independent film festival returns for 2026
Over the course of three days, the festival will feature a variety of independent feature films and a wide selection of shorts across an array of genres, showcasing work by new and established filmmakers from around the world.
Expect thought-provoking talks from industry professionals, as well as special networking events. Whether you’re a filmmaker seeking inspiration, a film lover looking for your next favourite, or just curious about the world of indie cinema, there’s something here for you. You can check out the full selection on their website.
Friday, 10 April 2026
Live music: Mechanical Animal ft Korn Again – NIN UK – Deaftones – Spouky Kids
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £15 – £19
A whole evening of heavy sounds come to Esquires’ main stage this months, featuring a quadruple threat of tributes to Korn, Deftones, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson.
Four bands, one mission – to lovingly recreate the sights and sounds of four heavyweights of the 00s alternative scene – don’t miss em.
Friday, 10 April 2026
Classical music: Philharmonia concert – Bruce Liu plays Ravel
Bedford Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square @ 7.30pm
Tickets: prices vary
The Philharmonia welcomes outstanding pianist Bruce Liu to Bedford.
Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G was inspired by the jazz he heard on a tour of the United States. Ravel frames a serenely beautiful Adagio with outer movements of carefree, effervescent energy. It’s the perfect showcase for the “magician’s fingers” (Le Monde) of Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition.
Tchaikovsky himself said that his Fifth Symphony represented “a complete resignation before Fate”, but that hasn’t stopped it becoming a firm audience favourite. It opens with the sound of funereal footsteps on the clarinet. A singing horn melody gives the second movement a more hopeful mood, but the fateful ‘footsteps’ theme returns in the third movement waltz, and triumphs in the stormy finale.
To open, conductor Ryan Bancroft has chosen Britten’s Four Sea Interludes. They’re taken from his opera Peter Grimes, a compelling portrait of a fishing community whose lives are intertwined with the sea and the weather. The orchestra vividly depicts the different faces of the sea, from dawn tranquility to a fearsome storm.
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Sci-fi: Bedford Who Charity Con
Kings House, Ampthill Road @ 10am – 5.30pm
Tickets: £49/£20
Two incarnations of the nation’s favourite Time Lord – Colin Baker and Jo Martin – will be in Bedford this spring when they appear at the town’s annual charity Doctor Who convention, Bedford Who Charity Con.
Colin played the Doctor in the 1980s, and Jo played the Doctor from 2020 to the present. They’ll be joined by a host of other celebrity guests, including Nicola Bryant (Peri), Terry Molloy (Davros), and David Banks (the leader of the Cybermen in the classic series).
There are around half a dozen annual Doctor Who conventions in the UK, and Bedford Who is generally rated as one of the best of all [of course! – Ed]. The convention has a strong reputation for being fun, friendly, relaxed, informal, and for having a great atmosphere.
For tickets, please go to the convention’s website at bedfordwhocharitycon.co.uk
Saturday, 11 April – Saturday, 9 May 2026
Exhibition: Dead Pub Signs of Bedfordshire Reimagined
The Burnaby Arms, Stanley Street
Free entry
Head to the Burnaby Arms this month for an exhibition of reimagined signs of long-lost pubs created by local artists.
Reminisce about Bedfordshire’s lost pubs over a drink – and you can pick up copies of Lloyd Lugsden’s Dead Pubs of Bedfordshire series while you’re there. Cheers!
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Live music: Collision Festival
Bedford Esquires @ 12pm – 11pm
Tickets: £30
A curated all day event of new noise as Collision Festival returns for 2026!
For those of you who like things a little heavier, Collision have been putting together exceptional line ups for some time now. After a break this year, we’re really pleased to see them return to the venue, with their first wave of artists including the likes of Dream State, Lastelle and Native James.
Sunday, 12 April 2026
Shopping: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market is back
Harpur Square @ 10am – 3pm
Free
One of our favourite events, the Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market, is back with its first market of 2026, and we can’t wait.
The usual eclectic mix of traders can be found at their new location on Harpur Square, with live music sponsored by The Cellar Bar and and array of delicious street food to keep your strength up. Expect a mix of antiques and vintage, talented artists, and locally produced food, drink, skincare and homewares.
Saturday, 12 April 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Harrold Odell Country Park, MK43 7DS @ 10am
Afternoon walk meeting place: Roxton Village Hall, MK44 3EB, park considerately in the village @ 1.30pm
After meeting at Harrold Odell Country Park, take part in a 12.5-mile walk along the Three Counties way and the North Beds Heritage Trail to Clifton Reynes, then Newton Blossomville and Turvey.
In the afternoon (meeting at 1.30pm), walk the Roxton Circular, including part of the North Beds Heritage Trail (7.5 miles).
Sunday, 12 April 2026
Walking: “The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the What’s On Hub in Silver Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The Jewel in Bedford’s Crown is undoubtedly the River Great Ouse and its Embankment. This entertainig and informative circular walk takes you along the banks of the river, which has been described as one of the finest riverside settings in England. Learn the story of the Victorian Embankment development and enjoy a walk in the ornamental gardens.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday, 12 April 2026
Classical music: Cantamus Chamber Choir
St Peter de Merton Church, Bedford @ 3pm
Tickets: £10 on the door
Motets by J S Bach and works celebrating the 400th anniversary of John Dowland and the 450th anniversary of Thomas Weelkes. Conductor: Gary Mudd.
Tickets in aid of church funds
Sunday, 12 April 2026
Live music: The Feelgood Band play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Playing all your favourite Dr. Feelgood tunes and some you didn’t know you knew. Covering all the lineups from Wilko to Steve Walwyn.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
The Higgins Bedford @ extended until 2 September
Free entry
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson, this exhibition tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero Noel Carrington (1895–1989). Schooled in Bedford with his sister Dora, Noel Carrington became one of the most influential figures in 20 th century design. Through the Puffin Picture Books and Country Life he commissioned, edited and published some of Britian’s most loved children’s picture books.
Read: Celebrating Bedford’s unsung publishing hero: Noel Carrington and Puffin Picture Books
He saw the genius in artists such as Kathleen Hale, publishing books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat and championed emerging artists such as Hilary Stebbing. With Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and Mervyn Peake he commissioned books such as ‘High Street’, ‘Life in an English Village’ and ‘Captain Slaughterboard’.
Through beloved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Exhibition: Edward Bawden – Printmaker
The Higgins Bedford until 26 April
Free entry
Take a trip to the Higgins Bedford to explore the Edward Bawden Printmaker exhibition, which celebrates Bawden’s remarkable legacy as ‘The Master of the Linocut’ and offers visitors a chance to delve into his innovative techniques and artistic achievements.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a secretive Christian group formed in the early twentieth century that created its own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
As featured on BBC Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town.
Every Tuesday
Community: Tuesday Chess Café
The Pavilion in the Park @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
If you’re a keen chess player or have always wanted to learn, then the weekly chess cafe at the Pavilion in the Park is for you.
Players meet every week and there’s no membership, no fee – just turn up. All you need to do is buy a coffee to support the venue. Any standard, from complete novice to Grand Master, welcome.
