Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger’s 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, 10 June 2026
Great Big Green Week: Swap together for Good with QPCO
Bhagwan Valmik Mandir Community Centre MK42 9JB @ 1pm – 5pm
Free
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Great Big Green Week: Swap together for Good with QPCO
The Mount Zion Pentecostal Church, Midland Road MK40 1DW @ 10.30am – 12.30pm
Free
Pop along to the free drop-in sessions organised by the Queens Park Community Organisation as part of Great Big Green Week.
Contribute to the community’s own circular economy by taking part in the plant and seed swaps – bring a plant, take a plant – plus there will be learning sessions to discover how to start your own ‘grow your own’ journey.
Free entry and all are welcome, from beginners to green-fingered experts.
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Live music: Aly Berry – a night of jazz
The Cellar Bar, 75 High Street @ 7pm
Tickets: £10
Named as ‘one of the UK’s most exciting rising jazz artists’, Aly’s smooth, sultry vocals and distinctive style have begun to quickly captivate audiences, bringing a whole new sound to the music scene.
Originally from the north of England, at 18 she moved to London to pursue careers in music and modelling. It wasn’t long before she found herself immersed in London’s Jazz scene and crossed paths with Paul Higgs, an accomplished jazz composer and musician.
What started as a creative partnership soon turned into a full-fledged musical project that culminated in the creation of Aly’s debut album, ‘Hope This Reaches You In Time’.
Aly was recently nominated for Jazz/Blues artist of the year 2025 at the Jools Holland Boisdale Awards.
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Life Drawing: Circus of Illustration and Castle Life Art present – Drag-themed life drawing session
Basement at Bunyan, Mill Street, MK40 3EU @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15 / £10 available from Eventbrite
Join the Circus of Illustration and Castle Life Art for a special drag-themed life drawing session starring the one and only Ginger Snaps. Expect stunning costumes, glam makeup and killer poses.
Friday, 12 June 2026
Live music: The Dogs D’Amour Ft Tyla
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22.50
Famous appearances on Top of The Pops down to the requisite touring in a rusted out Transit van – but there have always been three constants: great songwriting, loyal fans and, of course, Tyla.
Their raunchy blues based rock and roll, the sense and feeling of romanticism remind one of Keith Richards or Ronnie Wood. They play real songs in their unique style. Meaningful lyrics and played with gusty guitar driven rhythm.
Friday, 12 June 2026
Live music: Chris Helme (The Seahorses)
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Chris Helme, the former frontman of The Seahorses, makes a very welcome return to Bedford as part of their singer-songwriter series for 2026.
After a busy year touring his last album, World of my Own, Chris has been back in the studio to record stripped back versions of some of his 30-year back catalogue. Expect a night of music that’s raw, soulful, and just a little bit bruised.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Community: Bedford Repair Cafe
Project 229, Kempston MK42 8DA @ 10am – 3pm (last walk-in @ 2.30pm)
Free / donations welcome / no booking required
Turn up any time and queue for one free repair per household from the Repair Cafe’s team of friendly fixers.
Repairs on small household electrical items, bike maintenance, sewing and textile repair, woodwork and mechanical repairs.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Art workshop: Riverside Birds
Project 229, Kempston MK42 8DA @ 10am – 1pm
Free / no booking required
As part of Bedford Creative Arts’ Nature Together in Kempston project, take part in this free, drop-in art workshop with artist Anne-Marie Abbate.
Alongside the Repair Café, help create a flock of beautifully decorated birds in the ‘Riverside Birds‘ workshop. No booking required!
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Great Big Green Week: Events at the Higgins
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am – 4pm
Free
As part of Great Big Green Week, visit the Higgins Bedford to learn new skills like whittling or wood carving, relax and unwind during Liz Burfield’s forest bathing and mindful doodling session, or explore nature on the smartphone discovery walk.
For younger audiences, Nature’s Playground will be running snail-themed crafts, dressing-up, stories and sensory play for children aged three to eight, and there will be information stands from community group Country Days, seed planting with Zesti Foundation and more.
Bedfordshire Natural History Society (BNHS) will be hosting a nature table and volunteers from The Higgins will be running a plant stall with a beautiful array of indoor and outdoor plants for sale.
Whittling Taster Session – 11am – 12.30, 1pm – 2.30pm and 3pm – 4pm
Booking Essential Suitable for adults and supervised children aged 10-plus.
Higgins Plant Stall 11am – 4pm
Suitable for all.
Country Days Nature Table 11am – 4pm
Suitable for all.
Zesti Foundation Seed Planting 11am – 4pm
Suitable for all.
BNHS (Bedford Natural History Society) Nature Table 11am – 4pm
Suitable for all.
Nature’s Playground 2pm – 4pm
Drop-in. Suitable for children aged three to eight.
Smartphone Discovery Walk 2-3.30pm
Booking Essential. Suitable for adults and supervised children aged 10-plus.
Canopy & Craft Taster Session 3- 4.30pm
Booking Essential. Suitable for adults.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Great Big Green Week: Seed and Book Swap
John Bunyan Museum @ 10am – 2pm
Free
Good for the body and mind, the John Bunyan Museum is hosting a seed swap and book swap as part of its Great Big Green Week celebrations. There will also be children’s craft activities.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Great Big Green Week: Craft Stash Swap
The Panacea Museum @ 11.30am – 3.30pm
Free
This is your chance to clear out any art and craft supplies you don’t want and swap for something you do. It’s completely free, and even if you don’t have anything to swap, you can still take home something inspiring.
Come along for a good crafty rummage.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Classical music: Organ recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ noon
Free with retiring collection
An organ recital by Tim Campain (St Mary Magdelene, Coventry). Free with retiring collection.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Wootton Village Hall, MK43 9EU @ 1.30pm
A six-and-a-half mile walk towards Cranfield.
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.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Dance music: Herd Alldayer
Herd, St Cuthbert’s Street from 2pm
Tickets: £10 (early bird) – £25
Herd’s next All Dayer, is a celebration of 30 years of Freerange records. There will be a stellar line of label favourites, including the boss man Jimpster, Phillipa travelling over from Berlin and Matt Masters, who makes the excellent Freerange records radio show.
If you like proper house music, this is the day for you.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Live music: General Levy
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £20/£25
The ‘incredible’ General Levy is best known for being the voice of one of the most famous Jungle anthems ever, 1994’s Incredible, which went to number 8 in the UK Charts.
One of the most in-demand and distinctive MCs on the planet, Levy has been tearing up events for the last three decades, bringing an unparalleled energy to his sets.
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Live music: Bedford Town Band community concert
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road MK40 2PF @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14 / under 18s free cash or card on the door or online in advance (booking fee applies)
Bedford Town Band was established in 1894 and promotes traditional English brass banding and musical arts.
This month, Craig Patterson is conducting the group at the St Andrew’s Community Concert.
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Shopping: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art & Local Produce Market
Harpur Square @ 10am till 3pm
Free
The Flea fam is back on Harpur Square, with antiques, collectables, art, food, live music and more.
Let’s manifest some sunshine, and we’ll see you there…
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Walking: “Plaques and Plinths” 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)
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind some of the blue plaques that adorn several buildings around the town or wanted to know more about some of the statues and monuments that grace the town centre? This walk will reveal the stories behind the Plaques & Plinths and why such recognition is warranted.
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, 14 June 2026
Film: Milestone: Streets Paved with Gold
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 5pm
Tickets: prices vary
Milestone: Streets Paved with Gold is a powerful new film honouring the Windrush generation and the Caribbean migration experience in Britain.
Adapted from Victor Richards’ acclaimed one-man play, this 60-minute cinematic journey follows Augustus Cleveland Johnson from his 1948 arrival in England through decades of resilience, family, culture, and identity.
Blending voiceover, vivid recreations, and historical archives, the film immerses viewers in a heartfelt tribute to a generation that helped shape modern Britain. Filmed across Leicester and the Midlands, it’s a moving, sensory celebration of Caribbean-British heritage.
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Live music: The X-Certs play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free
The X-Certs will be playing new-wave and post Punk covers plus some classic 60’s and 70’s rock at the bar at Esquires.
Monday, 15 June 2026
Walk: Not Everything Sucks X Rainbow Bedfordshire LGBTQ+ community walk
Meet outside Bedford Swan Hotel @ 6.15pm
Free
Join us for a casual evening walk in a welcoming space, where you can chat, meet new people, or enjoy a quiet stroll, no pressure either way.
No booking required. Everyone and allies are welcome, not exclusive to Rainbow Bedfordshire members.
Tuesday, 16 June – Saturday, 20 June 2026
Exhibition: Finding Joy
The Basement at Bunyan, Mill Street, MK40 3EU @ 11am – 4pm
Free entry
Local artists Shan Edwards, Norma Wall, Jackie Gooding and Joanna Clark have curated an exhibition around the idea of ‘finding joy’, inviting other artists to take part and respond to the theme.
Despite the current doom and gloom of the world, the artists have found joy in unexpected places. Pop in for a pick-me-up.
On Saturday, 20 June, meet the artists between 11am and 4pm. Refreshments provided.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Gardens: Kathy Brown’s Garden
The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington MK43 7QB @ 10.30am – 1pm / 2pm – 4.30pm
Tickets: £11 / £5.50 | Booking required
Enjoy a guided walk around the beautiful gardens of the Manor House in Stevington, which have been created by Kathy Brown and her husband Simon over the last 30 years.
You can choose either a morning or afternoon slot, but numbers are limited to ensure the best visitor experience – and that there is enough cake!
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
A violin recital by Philharmonia fellow, Esther Zaglia. Free with retiring collection.
Tuesday, 16 June – Saturday, 20 June 2026
Theatre: The Full Monty
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm plus Saturday matinee @ 2.30pm on Saturday
Tickets: from £16
Get ready for a night of laughter, heart, and unforgettable entertainment as RUFF Theatre brings Simon Beaufoy’s The Full Monty to the stage.
Based on the smash-hit film, this hilarious and heartfelt play follows a group of out-of-work men who come up with a bold plan to make ends meet.
With courage, camaraderie, and plenty of cheek, they discover much more than they bargained for, including self-belief, friendship, and the power of daring to bare all.
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Food & drink: Bedford Bakes
The Castle pub, Newnham Street @ 7.30pm
Free / all welcome
Bedford Bakes is a baking club where everyone is welcome. This month’s theme is: Take Five Ingredients.
A great chance to share bakes (both sweet and savoury), swap recipes and discover new creations. It’s the perfect chance to connect with fellow bakers and enjoy new treats in a warm and welcoming atmosphere
No sign up, no fee, no need to book just turn up with your bakes.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Walking: “A Tour of St Paul’s Church” 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)
St. Paul’s church has been at the centre of Bedford’s life for over one thousand years and has many stories to tell. Join us on a tour of this beautiful church in the heart of Bedford as we tell its story.
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.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Walk: Bedford Bridges walk
Priory Country Park, MK41 9RX @ 7pm
An evening five-mile walk around the lake at Bedford Priory County Park and then over the many bridges crossing the River Great Ouse.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Springsteen – Deliver Me From Nowhere
Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT@ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
Bruce Springsteen biopic with Jeremy Allen White in the titular role, focusing on the singer’s intense creative process to write his album, Nebraska.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Bedfordshire Humanists: The radical life of Thomas Paine with Paul Fitzgerald
The North End Club, Roff Avenue MK41 7TW @ 7.30pm
Free (donations appreciated)
Thomas Paine was a major revolutionary thinker who turned abstract ideas about liberty, reason, and self-government into something ordinary people could understand and act on.
He helped drive the American Revolution, especially through Common Sense and later Rights of Man. Paul Fitzgerald is a cartoonist, graphic novelist, and prop builder based in Manchester. A humanist freethinker, he also serves as chair of the Peterloo Memorial Campaign.
Paul will explore the radical life, ideas, and revolutionary impact of Thomas Paine, and discuss his forthcoming new title ‘Loose Cannons’, an entertaining historical romp through the lives of many freethinking humanist icons.
Friday, 19 June 2026
Live music: Forever Springsteen
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17.50
You wait years for a Bruce Springsteen event in Bedford, and then two come along at once…
In the same week as Stevington Cinema Club screens, the Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere, Esquires is hosting Forever Springsteen, a seven-piece band, paying homage to the entire E Street Band.
Experience the energy, musicianship, and spirit of The Boss as the band takes you on a downbound train through his legendary career.
Every era of Bruce Springsteen’s catalogue is present – from the unforgettable hits such as Badlands and Born To Run to fan favourite tracks such as Racing In The Street and The River – and represented in the most authentic way possible without seeing The Boss himself.
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Great Denham Park and Ride, MK40 4FA @ 1.30pm
A seven-mile walk encompassing Kempston via the golf course.
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.
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Classical music: Bedford Choral Society Summer concert: Mozart Requiem and Haydn Nelson Mass
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £20 / £17 / students £5 and one accompanying adult £5. Includes a free programme
If you enjoy being enveloped in the rich sound of choral music, Bedford Choral Society’s June double-bill concert is not to be missed.
Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass (“for troubled times”) were written in the same decade, the 1790s, and yet are very different in style. Mozart’s Requiem is intense, emotional and familiar from films and advertising.
Haydn’s Mass builds its drama with dark orchestration and a jubilant finale. There is nothing quite like hearing these powerful and beautiful choral works sung live with over a hundred voices, accompanied by Bedford Sinfonia, with soloists Elizabeth Bottone, Judy Louie Brown, Rhydian Jenkins and Philip Tebb.
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Live music: Nic-Cage Against the Machine + Guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £13
Catch a one of a kind tribute like no other – the music of legendary punk-rock icons Rage Against The Machine, reimagined in the most brilliantly chaotic way possible; fronted by a Nicolas Cage impersonator.
This band delivers all the attitude, energy, and absurd fun you’d expect. Complete with movie-inspired props, costumes, and a wild stage presence!
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Dance music: Zed Bias + Matt Jam Lamont
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £20
A midsummer celebration of bass with a stacked line up, ft Zed Bias AKA Maddslinky + Matt Jam Lamont (Tuff Jam) and more.
Zed Bias is a producer and DJ from deep within the UK dance music scene, setting the blueprint for the darker UK Garage sound at the end of the 90s, after his first Top 30 track with ‘Neighbourhood’. Matt Jam Lamont is another stalwart of UK Garage, a champion of the genre in its infancy and now one of its most beloved forefathers.
One half of the legendary ‘Tuff Jam’, a remix team with a huge back catalogue of defining records.
Sunday, 21 June 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, 21 June 2026
Live music: Mainline Big Band Summer Concert
Kempston Hammers Sports And Social Club @ 7.30pm
Free / donations welcome
Website link and imagery https://www.mainlinebigband.co.uk/#Gigs
Bedford’s Mainline Big Band is a full-sized swing band with four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, keyboard, bass and drums.
The band plays pieces from the Glenn Miller era through to the present day, and you are guaranteed a great night out, whether you are a dancer or just love good music.
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 20th-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.
