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.
Saturday, 14 March 2026
British Science Week: Science Labs
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am onwards
Free entry (some events require booking)
Explore different aspects of science through a range of free, hands-on activities at The Higgins Bedford, as part of British Science Week.
From experiments to exploring nature; engineering to archaeology; rockets to rainbows, there’s something for everyone to try.
Saturday, 14 March 2026
Classical music: Organ recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ midday
Free with retiring collection
Step into the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s church to enjoy a free lunchtime organ recital by Darren Williams.
Saturday, 14 March 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Meeting place: Wilden Village Green, MK44 2PB @ 1.30pm
A seven-mile afternoon walk through the Bedfordshire countryside.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, 14 March 2026
Live music: The South
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £28.50
The South are back on the road and doing what they do best – performing the songs of that great British pop institution, The Beautiful South, to the thousands of fans of these timeless classics.
The South are an impressive nine-piece band featuring former members of The Beautiful South, including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles.
Since the demise of The Beautiful South in 2007, this exciting live band have spent 14 years touring the theatres and festivals of the UK up and down the country.
Saturday, 14 March 2026
Live music: The Workshop Boys
The Flowerpot, Tavistock Street @ 9pm
Free entry
The Workshop Boys are back at the Flowerpot – a true Bedford institution and a band that rarely needs an introduction.
Expect the very best in rock and blues classics, outstanding musicianship, and an unforgettable night of live music. You’ll be hard pushed not to sing along — or at least get those toes tapping!
Sunday, 15 March 2026
Community: St Patrick’s Day celebration
Harpur Square @ 11am – 5pm
Free
Bedford town centre will once again come alive with Irish culture, music and community spirit, as Queen’s Park Community Organisation (QPCO), in partnership with Bedford’s Irish community, brings its St Patrick’s Day craic to Harpur Square.
Read: St Patrick’s Day: a celebration of Irish community, culture and craic
The free, fun-for-all-the-family event takes place on Sunday, 15 March, and is part of QPCO’s Back to Our Roots programme, which celebrates the diversity of Bedford’s cultural heritage. Sláinte!
Sunday, 15 March 2026
Family fun: Crafternoon
The Higgins Bedford @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
Crafternoons are free, monthly creative activity sessions for families to have a go at ‘making’ together and enjoy the chance to get creative. All resources are provided.
Suitable for under 12s. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please be aware that space is limited and there may be a wait to start.
Sunday, 15 March 2026
Live music: Glam Rampage play the Sunday Afternoon
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free
Glam Rampage return to Esquires for the first time in 2026, packing the bar out with a stomping set of Glam Rock covers from Bowie, Slade, Sweet, T.Rex and more…
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
Step into the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s church to enjoy a free lunchtime performance by Min Min Peaker (soprano) and Richard Heyes (piano).
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
Film: Bedford Film Society presents: Memoir of a Snail
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5
This stop motion odyssey of hope triumphing over life’s despair with humanity to spare makes Memoir of a Snail a deft, heartfelt tale.
A bittersweet memoir of a melancholic woman called Grace Pudel, a hoarder of snails, romance novels and guinea pigs.
Tuesday, 17 March – St Patrick’s Day
Live music: Life of Riley
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £ 6 / £12
Having formed in Bedford in 1991, the Life Of Riley are one of Bedford’s best-loved bands and are still going strong after over 35 years.
The band are a full-throttle nod to Irish folk music and dance-along shanties, with dancing shoes compulsory. Make this a Paddy’s Day to remember at Esquires.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Live music: The Kerry George Show
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
International vocalist Kerry George brings her powerhouse voice and captivating stories to the Place Theatre this month, performing iconic songs and heartfelt tales from on the road (and at sea).
From headlining the UK tour of Annie the Musical to leading roles on luxury cruise ships, Kerry has enchanted audiences worldwide. She’s also known for a viral video of her singing to her neighbours during lockdown.
Joining Kerry is the talented Joe Connors, a gifted singer and longtime collaborator with whom she has toured extensively.
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Sport and men’s health: Men’s Health Zone
John Bunyan Sports and Fitness @ 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Free
Healthwise and Better, in partnership with bpha, are hosting their first-ever male health event. This is an opportunity for you to speak to different organisations, hear from guest speakers and have a go at some taster sessions. For more information visit healthwise.bedford@gll.org
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Film: Stevington Cinema Club presents The Choral
Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
An uncompromising new choirmaster (Ralph Fiennes) sets an ambitious task for a Yorkshire town’s choral society after a number of its members leave for the battlefields of the First World War.
Thursday 19 March 2026
Theatre: A Knight of Terror
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Embark on this hilarious Victorian ghost story of a witless young man and a cast of eerie locals, with curses, skulls and shin-kicking.
An old man languishing in his stately home awaits the arrival of his solicitor to share a tale of golden days… Oh, and the Butler is on fire.
Journalist Thomas Carstairs is absolutely hopeless. He’s foppish, foolish and above all, totally unqualified to be a writer. Looking for inspiration, Thomas travels to a remote seaside town and immediately has an unceremonious welcome from the locals who see him for the pathetic, talentless toff he undoubtedly is.
What starts as an innocent writing retreat leads to the discovery of a wizened and mysterious skull of terrifying origins. One that has the power to bring Thomas’ wildest fortunes into being and to awaken a very formidable foe. An armoured one.
Created by Bonnet Dog, A Knight of Terror is a Victorian Gothic Ghost Story that mixes the uncanny tales of M. R. James with the silliness of classic British humour. Join us as we recite this ripping yarn that promises laughs as well as chilling spooks.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Theatre: War of the Worlds (on a budget)
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £14
Step aside HG Wells, take a break Jeff Wayne, go back to your trailer Tom Cruise, the Lamphouse Company is tackling War of the Worlds, and they’re doing it… on a budget.
War of Worlds (on a budget) features one actor, a loop pedal, lots of cardboard, many, many hats and at least two absolutely terrifying (definitely not made out of paper) tripod puppets. Can our hero outrun the aliens, play 25 characters, unwind himself from the microphone cable, stop for a tea break and save the day before it’s too late?
Featuring a full soundtrack of brand new music, and paying homage to HG Wells’ story with a few extra silly additions, War of the Worlds (on a budget) is the musical comedy action adventure we didn’t know we needed!
Suitable for ages 12+
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Meeting place: The Causeway, Carlton, MK43 7AW @ 1.30pm
A seven-mile afternoon walk along part of the North Beds Heritage Trail.
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, 21 March 2026
Children’s Theatre: Pixiematosis
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Everything was perfect in the Midnight Garden.
The flowers grew, the fairies flew, the grobbity grobbits danced a merry dance in the twinkly moonlight. Then one day, without warning, the deranged gardener from next door threw the shed door wide, and the pixies of this nocturnal paradise realised, far too late, that they were being exploited for a distinctly sinister purpose.
‘Pixiematosis’ is not unlike watching a lost episode of Bagpuss, filmed by the Tales of the Unexpected crew… or witnessing Fingermouse being folded up and used to stop a pub table wobbling.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Classical music: Bedford Choral Society presents Verdi’s Requiem
Bedford Corn Exchange
Tickets: £5 – £19
When Rossini died in 1868, Verdi proposed that a requiem should be written in honour of the great man.
The resulting piece of music is often described as the greatest opera he never wrote due to its dramatic intensity and theatricality. The powerful ’Dies Irae’ has been used in many film scores (The Shining, Star Wars, and It’s A Wonderful Life), and it’s safe to say, it has more than stood the test of time.
Conductor – Ian Smith with Bedford Sinfonia. Featuring Katy Crompton (soprano), Nancy Cole (alto), Joseph Doody (tenor) and James Oldfield (bass).
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Live music: Full Circle play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Full Circle are back at Esquires to play the Sunday Afternoon Session. Marc Patching, Andy Childs and Johnny Carr will be playing a mix of their own material and their own take on some classic rock and pop covers.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
The Higgins Bedford
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.
Family fun: Cardboard Clues – murder at the movies
The Higgins Bedford until 12 April
£25/team
Become a detective and unravel a series of curious, whimsical mysteries in your local museum.
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.
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.
