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, 13 May 2026
Live music: Kaia Kater + Minnie Birch
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £13.50
One for the music purists, this show is unmissable; check out her Tiny Desk Concert and then buy yourself a ticket immediately!
“…plaintive, mesmerising…writes and performs with the skill of a folk-circuit veteran…” said Rolling Stone, and “where bluegrass meets Nina Simone,” said The Guardian
A Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian, Kaia Kater grew up between two worlds: one her family’s deep ties to folk music; the other the years she spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia.
Her old-time banjo-picking skills, deft arrangements, and song-writing abilities have landed her in the spotlight in North America and the UK, garnering critical acclaim from outlets such as NPR, CBC Radio, Rolling Stone, BBC Music, and No Depression.
“You want some authenticity in your folk music or bluegrass – I give you Kaia Kater.”
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Film: The Choral
Stevington Cinema Club 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, 14 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Jazz Music Cruise
From The Kingfisher, Cardington Road, MK44 3SA @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £36
A two-hour cruise from the new departure point, The Kingfisher on Cardington Road.
Entertainment is provided by the Gary Wood Trio. Get 10% off your pre-cruise meal at the Kingfisher when you book the cruise and get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26 at the checkout.
Friday, 15 May 2026
Creative community: Creatives Breakfast
The Higgins Bedford @ 9.15am – 11am
£13 including breakfast
Want to connect with other creative professionals in Bedfordshire?
Join this low-key breakfast social for creative professionals in Bedfordshire, for everyone from architects and designers to producers, photographers, musicians, and illustrators. Whatever your profession: freelance, in-house or anything in-between – come and connect.
Organiser Carly Cook has been running events for two decades and produced the UK’s largest free festival for the creative industries. Not surface-level networking, but genuine conversation with people who understand what it takes to turn creativity into income and impact. Visit carlycookcreative.com/events to find out more and to book.
Friday, 15 May 2026
Comedy: Marcel Lecont’s Whine List
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
The multi-award-deserving deadpan Frenchman serves up a unique Whine List of the audience’s past gripes, moans and misdemeanours, while also dishing out some of his premier erotic poetry.
The show has played to packed audiences all around the world. Expect louche musings, dry wit and Gallic superiority.
Friday, 15 May 2026
Live music: John Bramwell (I Am Kloot)
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
As the singer in I Am Kloot from 1999 to 2014, John Bramwell achieved a Mercury Prize nomination for 2010’s The Sky At Night, a Top 10 chart position for 2013’s Let It All In, numerous UK and European tours and a triumphant farewell at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with an orchestra in 2014.
Now, as a solo artist, he’s travelling a very different path and his stunning new album The Light Fantastic is quite a change from his Kloot days.
Darker clouds have been banished, there are strings and four-part harmonies (a warming development, since Kloot never had any backing vocals) and a dozen gloriously exhilarating, beautifully crafted and observed songs about life, humanity, the universe and everything.
As John puts it, “It’s been great to find the joy of making music once again. These are the most uplifting songs of my career.”
Friday, 15 May 2026
Live music: The Floyd Effect – The Pink Floyd Show
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30
The Floyd Effect has spent almost two decades perfecting their craft, earning a reputation for their meticulous recreations of Pink Floyd’s sound and stage presence.
The band ensures every heartbeat, cash register, and soaring guitar solo is faithfully reproduced. Previous tours have sold out venues across the UK and Europe, and this new show is expected to be their most ambitious yet.
Pink Floyd’s greatest music performed by musicians who love it as much as you do.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Ashmead Road Car Park, Bedford, MK41 7GA @ 7.50am
Just one walk this weekend – a 6.5 miler to see the beautiful bluebells in Clapham Woods.
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, 16 May 2026
VR: Airships XR Pop-up Experience
The Higgins Bedford @ 11am-4pm
Free / booking essential
Discover Bedford’s airship and aviation heritage through cutting-edge storytelling and technology, exploring 3D airship worlds in immersive VR, including virtual museum galleries and historically accurate recreations of the R101 airship’s engine cab.
This immersive experience uses Extended Reality (XR) technologies to gather artefacts, archives and stories into one location and reimagines Bedford’s global flight ambitions.
This is a free event but we recommend that you book a slot (approx. 20 mins) for the best experience.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Music: Spring in Song
The Quarry Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: £17.50
A charity event in aid of the Tibbs Dementia Foundation. An afternoon of nostalgia, of entertainment with a main course of song, a dollop of humour and a hint of Spring.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Live music: Punky Reggae Party presents Karl Phillips & the Rejects + Face Up! + Easydread + The Tics
Bedford Esquires @ 6.30pm
Tickets: £12
The second Punky Reggae Party at Esquires features sets from Karl Phillips & the Rejects, Face Up!, Easydread and The Tics.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Live music: Luther Live and Velvet Voices
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £26.50
Step into a world of soul, romance, and unforgettable grooves with Luther Live & Velvet Voices – the ultimate live theatre experience celebrating the golden era of R’n’B. This electrifying show brings the smooth sounds of Luther Vandross, Alexander O’Neal and many others to life, with powerhouse vocals, a sensational live band, and all the emotion you’d expect from the voices that defined a generation.
Luther Live & Velvet Voices pay tribute to a roll call of R’n’B royalty, including Marvin Gaye, Bobby Brown, and George Benson – delivering hit after hit from the 80s and 90s that’ll have audiences dancing in the aisles and singing every word.
Expect to hear ‘Never Too Much’, ‘Shine’, ‘Give Me The Reason’, ‘Dance With My Father’, ‘Criticize’, ‘Saturday Love’, ‘If You Were Here Tonight’, ‘Sexual Healing’, ‘Give Me The Night’ and many more.
Saturday, 16 May 2026
Live music: The Moonlandingz + Baby Berserk.
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £5 – £20
The Moonlandingz are a semi-fictional, genre-hopping collective of psychedelic, dub, Krautrock, circuit-bent electronics and pop-noir misfits and a seriously entertaining live proposition.
Formed in 2015 by Adrian Flanagan (Eccentronic Research Council / Acid Klaus), producer and synthesist Dean Honer (The All Seeing I / I Monster) and magnetic frontman and lyricist Lias Saoudi (Fat White Family / Decius), the group has since evolved into one of Britain’s most thrillingly unpredictable sonic experiments.
Across their output, they’ve collaborated with Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Maxine Peake, Philip Oakey (The Human League) and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem) with their latest album ‘No Rocket Required’ featuring appearances from Iggy Pop, Nadine Shah and Jessica Winter.
Sunday, 17 May 2026
Walking: “I Never Knew That” 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)
“I Never Knew That”
The most commonly heard phrase after the completion of a Guided Walk. This walk encompasses all that information about Bedford and its many features that YOU never knew!
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, 17 May 2026
Dance: Spinup Youth dance Platform
The Place Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: from £8
Silver Faces Dance Collective CIC presents their first annual platform for the young dancers of Bedford.
With the aim of celebrating the Bedfordshire dance community, this production brings together several groups across the county to share their favourite dance pieces and showcase young talent in our area.
Sunday, 17 May 2026
Live music: The Dirty Rhodes Band Play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Two sets of jazz, soul and Motown covers from the mighty Dirty Rhodes Band.
Sunday, 17 May 2026
Live music: Mozart Estate + The Grubby Mitts
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £5 – £20
Mozart Estate is the current project of one of England’s most singular musical mavericks, Lawrence, previously of the hugely influential bands Felt, Denim and Go-Kart Mozart and the subject of both a movie (‘Lawrence of Belgravia’) and an acclaimed biography (‘Street Level Superstar: A Year with Lawrence’ by Will Hodgkinson).
Read: Pop’s outsiders: Mozart Estate and Grubby Mitts set for Bedford Esquires show
With Mozart Estate fresh from supporting Primal Scream, a renewed interest in his singular output and an impeccable live show, perhaps it could finally be his moment, and Esquires will provide a chance to witness the ‘street level superstar’ deliver his masterly crafted songs, and experience Lawrence’s wry commentary on what it is to live and create today.
Supporting this singular figure will be The Grubby Mitts, the town’s own art-pop outsiders, fronted by acclaimed artist Andy Holden.
This upcoming show marks their first performance in the town since the release of their album Love in the Misanthropocene, and follows a notable headline at London’s ICA — a sign of their growing reach beyond their local roots.
From Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Exhibition: Marston Vale Line 180th Anniversary
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
The Higgins hosts a display to celebrate 180 years of the Marston Vale Line, the first railway line opened in Bedfordshire.
This display will be curated by the Friends of Ridgmont Station volunteers, sharing key milestones and stories for the Marston Vale Line over the decades.
There will be a reminiscence session on 21 May, 11am-12.30pm to share your own memories of the railway.
Tuesday, 19 May 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, 19 May 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 piano recital by Mike Gemmill.
Free with retiring collection.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Live music: Dead Dads Club + Tough Cookie
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12.50
When Chilli Jesson was 14 years old, he lost his father to drug addiction. Burying his feelings, he started a band (Palma Violets), and by 19, Jesson found himself plastered on the cover of the NME and hailed as the most exciting new British group since The Libertines.
Still only in his early twenties when his first band called time, Jesson set about trying to carve out something new. He started a second outfit Crewel Intentions, and then, struggling for money, answered a call from someone looking to hire an indie-minded songwriter to work on a pop project. “…it was brilliant – I signed again for the first time since Rough Trade with Palma Violets, which made me think I was definitely on the right road. And then the A&R who believed in me as this pop star left, and it all shattered again.”
Dead Dads Club is, from its knowing title outwards, a place for anyone who needs it. The first rule of Dead Dads Club is you can talk about whatever you want. Inspired by The Flaming Lips and their ability to write a truly narrative-driven concept record, Jesson wanted to put it all out there: no mystery, no metaphor. The MO was that it would be “very clear and direct. I didn’t want to hide behind anything. I just wanted it to be on the nose.”
Thursday, 21 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Fish and Chip Cruise
From the KingfisherCardington Road Bedford, Bedfordshire GB MK44 3SA @ midday
Tickets: £35.50
A 2.5-hour round trip from Priory Marina with a fish and chip lunch included in your ticket.
Get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26at the checkout.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Bedford Skeptics: The Green Children of Woolpit with Deborah Hyde
North End Club, Roffe Avenue @ 7.30pm
Deborah Hyde revisits one of Britain’s most enduring and eerie tales: the Green Children of Woolpit.
As recorded by two medieval chroniclers, the story of the strange siblings, who claimed to have come from a place of eternal twilight, has fascinated and baffled readers for centuries.
Join Deborah as she carefully unpicks the threads of the story, tracing its roots, variations, and the possible truths hidden behind its luminous green glow.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Classical music: Philharmonia Concert Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Brahms
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Prices vary
Adam Hickox – conductor / Alim Beisembayev – piano
Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto is a masterpiece in piano music writing, a deeply intimate work that remains one of the composer’s best loved. Here, it is in the hands of Alim Beisembayev, winner of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2021.
Brahms’s magnificent First Symphony was many years in the making. The wait was worth it – it’s a 45-minute journey through all the poetry and power an orchestra can conjure.
First, is a performance of Mendelssohn’s overture, Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. Taking inspiration from poetry by Goethe, Mendelssohn’s orchestral seascape is a charming, evocative 10 minutes of musical storytelling.
Friday, 22 – Sunday, 24 May 2026
Children’s Theatre: There’s a Monster in Your Show
The Quarry Theatre @ see website for times
Tickets: from £14.50
Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations are leaping from page to stage, as the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series tours the UK in a brand-new musical show.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Magic: Hudson and Hudson Magicians: Married at First Sleight
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
A hilarious, feel-good magic show from a real-life couple who mix marriage, magic and mind-reading.
Hudson and Hudson are made up of magicians Alan Hudson and Kat Hudson. Both are established acts in their own right. Is it a good idea to work with your husband/wife?
In Married At First Sleight, they try for the ultimate trick…. getting through a whole show without killing each other.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Live music: Queen of the Night – a tribute to Whitney Houston
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £30
Established as the UK’s biggest Whitney Houston tribute, this breathtaking production honours the music, legacy, and unmatched talent of the legendary Whitney Houston. Celebrate Whitney’s remarkable musical repertoire in an electrifying production that honours her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.
Prepare to be captivated by an extraordinary journey through three decades of all-time hits such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time, I’m Every Woman, I Will Always Love You, My Love Is Your Love, So Emotional, Run To You, Saving All My Love, How Will I Know, Million Dollar Bill, The Greatest Love Of All, and many more.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Dance music: Leftfield DJ set + Ryussi
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Electronic music pioneers Leftfield take over Esquires with a rare, intimate DJ set for a night of legendary grooves, seismic bass and immersive, boundary-pushing, high-energy electronic dance music.
Very special support from Ryussi, resident DJ for queer party Feel It, and Loose FM radio host, based right here in Bedford.
From Saturday, 23 May
New Exhibition: Edward Bawden: Snails for All
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
In 1945, after returning from his duties as a war artist in the Middle East, Edward Bawden wrote and illustrated a book about snails for his two young children called ‘Snails for All’.
In 2025 The Higgins Bedford was gifted the book for The Edward Bawden Archive.
Read: Mythical molluscs take centre stage at the Higgins Bedford in new Bawden exhibition
To celebrate this new acquisition, the exhibition will display each page of the book alongside other works from the collection.
You will also be able to buy your own ‘Snails for All’ book from The Higgins Bedford shop. It is being published for the first time with an accompanying essay by design, architecture and art historian Alan Powers.
From Saturday, 23 May – 27 June 2026
Exhibition: Brilliant Corners
The Burnaby Arms
Free entry
Brilliant Corners is a selection of paintings from the series Screens by Roger Woodiwiss.
“I have been working on the Screens series of painted panels for a couple of years or so, they have the form but not the content of mobile phones, the blank screen being the equivalent of a blank canvas,” said Roger.
“This is the first time that I have exhibited a group of them together. The show is ‘a local show for local people’ in a local, but should anyone from further afield be interested they would be very welcome.”
Saturday, 23 May 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.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Food & music: FoodDrunk
Bedford Esquires @ 1pm
Free entry
Is it even offically Summer until FoodDrunk graces Esquires with its presence?
The 13th edition of the food and music celebration rolls into town on bank holiday weekend, with some of the finest street food, live music and DJs.
Acts on the day include Blunt Cactus, Cameo, Cereal Milk, Joelio, Kye Lenette, Matt Astell, Safira Gabrielle, Sycamore, Tash Payton-Bruhl and T.R.A.T.S, plus an eclectic range of DJ sets curated by Roll Your Own Records.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Riseley, near the Fox and Hounds, MK44 1DT @ 1.30pm
Parking at Keysoe International Centre, this seven mile walk follows the North Bedfordshire Heritage Trail to Riseley and back. The cafe will be open before the walk. Please leave plenty of time if using the cafe.
Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Theatre: Pride and Prejudice- But Funny
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17
What do you get if you cross Jane Austen’s most famous novel with a bunch of buffoons?
Pride and Prejudice….but funny! A ridiculous romp through all the Bennets, Bingleys, bachelors and balls (not that kind), and not forgetting the De Burghs and Darcys.
Featuring at least one soaking wet shirt and some excellent boiled potatoes, this hilarious retelling of Austen’s most loved story is not to be missed!
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Classical Music: Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra concert
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: Prices vary
Bedfordshire Symphony Orchestra ends its season with a programme of classics inlcuding Wagner’s Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto for violin, cello and piano and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3.
Conductor: Bjorn Bantock Soloists: Mike Gemmill (violin), Julian Metzger (cello) and Stephen Meakins (piano)
Saturday, 23 May 2026
Live music: Foo Fighters GB
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Following numerous sold out shows at Bedford Esquires the FOO FIGHTERS GB are back for their annual gig. Five musicians at the top of their game, bringing to you the talent and stage presence to perform the Foo’s biggest hits.
Celebrating the hits of the Foo Fighters in full volume, Foo Fighters GB have been rocking out festivals and music venues since summer 2015 with their charismatic and adrenaline pumping show!
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Walking: “The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle” 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 Norman Conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape and in Bedford, a major castle was built in the 12th century. Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224. This year witnesses the 800th anniversary of the Great Siege of Bedford Castle in 1224.
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, 24 May 2026
Live music: The Black and Gold play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
The welcome return of Bedford’s Black and Gold to the Sunday afternoon session.
Sunday, 24 May 2026
Dance music: Fliptrix + DJ Jazz T
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
UK Hip Hop royalty and one quarter of The Four Owls, FlipTrix is in Bedford as part of his Elevation tour.
Monday, 25 May 2026
The John Bunyan Community Boat: Family Eye Spy Cruise
From the KingfisherCardington Road Bedford, Bedfordshire GB MK44 3SA @ midday, 1.30pm and 3pm
Tickets: £10 / £6.50
A 45-minute round trip from Mill Meadow Landing Stage with a free EyeSpy card for kids.
Monday, 25 May 2026
Family fun: Bromham Duck Race
Opposite Bromham Mill @ midday – 4pm
£1/ticket for the general race
Enjoy a fabulous Bank Holiday Monday at the bi-annual Duck Race in Bromham.
The afternoon kicks off with giant ducks taking part in the Business Race (1pm), followed by the Children’s Decorated Duck Race (2pm). The day culminates in the general race (3pm), where members of the public can purchase a number corresponding to a racing duck and compete for a cash prize.
Monday, 25 May 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.
Get £2 off every ticket by entering SPRING26 at the checkout.
You can choose either a morning or afternoon slot, but numbers are limited to ensure the best visitor experience.
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
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
his 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.
