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, 24 June 2026
Walking: “A Tour of St Peter’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. Peter’s church is one of the oldest Saxon churches in Bedfordshire. It has withstood attacks by the Vikings and the Normans and two world wars and has played an important part in the history and development of Bedford. Join our guides on a tour of this historic church and discover 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, 25 June 2026
NT Live screening: Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Stevington Cinema Club Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT@ 6.45pm
Tickets: £16
BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville joins Aidan Turner in a striking new staging of the classic novel. Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival.
Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Community: Creatives Breakfast
The Higgins Pantry, Castle Lane @ 9.15am – 11am
Tickets: £11.50 (includes breakfast)
Want to connect with other creative professionals in Bedfordshire?
Join this relaxed breakfast social for creative professionals in Bedfordshire. From architects and designers to producers, photographers, musicians, and illustrators. Whatever your profession: freelance, in-house or anything in-between – this is a great opportunity to meet and connect.
Friday, 26 and Sunday, 28 June 2026
Live music: Bearfest
The Bear, Bedford High Street @ all weekend
Tickets: £5/day / £10 for the weekend
Bearfest returns for 2026, bringing 30+ bands to everyone’s favourite Bedford High Street boozer, and there will be some exciting surprise guests along the way. Follow their social channels for updates.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Live music: Everywhere At Once festival presents: John Otway
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16
John Otway is an English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.
A visit to a fortune teller would have a profound effect on the young Otway. After gazing into her crystal ball, she confirmed that Otway would indeed be a star and would have success with a blonde-haired musician.
Otway took this prediction very seriously and teamed up with Wild Willy Barrett (the only musician he knew who fitted the fortune teller’s description). In 1972, the pair released their first single. Gypsy/Misty Mountain was a dedication to the fortune teller who had assured Otway that fame and stardom were just around the corner. The single would be the first of a string of flops, but it did capture the attention of The Who’s Pete Townshend, who offered to produce some tracks for the duo.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Live music: Antarctic Monkeys
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17.50
Meet the Antarctic Monkeys… The longest serving tribute and the UK’s Number One band to the Arctic Monkeys.
Since the early 00s, the band has gone from strength to strength, headlining the biggest tribute festivals, achieving their own annual tour of the O2 Academy venues nationwide, and touring internationally.
With their impeccable attention to detail, their passion for delivering an authentic Arctic Monkeys experience, and a set list that has something for everybody, Antarctic Monkeys are the original and most experienced band in their field of mimicking Turner, Helders, Cookie and O’Malley perfectly.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Summer fun: Bottles, burgers and Bedford Resortwear
The Arc, Howard Street @ 10am – 3pm
Free
The sun’s out, and this Saturday, the team at The Arc are here to get you summer-ready.
First up, make sure that if you’re going to a festival or any summer event, that you are REPPING our glorious town in any or all of their fabulous Resortwear, available from their dedicated market stall outside the shop. Beach bags, bucket hats, t-shirts and pouches – they’ve got you covered.
Then, get your Frank Green bottle engraved (any bottles bought on the day will be engraved for free) and stuff your face with a Crown and Heel smashburger.
The bar will be open, the tunes will be playing, and the vibes will be flowing.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Learning: Open Day and Garden Party
Rothsay Education Centre, Rothsay Gardens @ 11am – 2pm
Free entry
The REC’s annual open day is the perfect excuse to explore the Centre, chat with tutors and dip into free taster sessions including Physics (but not the way you remember it); Criminal Psychology; Taiwan and Tai Chi. Stay for sausages from the BBQ, Pimms and fundraising stalls.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Creativity: Printing at the Panacea
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd MK40 3NX @ 11am – 3pm
Free drop-in
Join local artist Anne-Marie Abbate to make art on the Panacea Museum’s antique printing press. This month’s theme is lino printing, so pop in anytime during the session to make your very own artwork. Suitable for ages 6- 96.
Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 June 2026
Festival of Flight: Airships XR Pop-up Experience
The Shuttleworth Collection, SG18 9DT @ 9am – 4pm
Adults: £48 / U18s free
Discover Bedford’s airship story in this pop-up experience that uses cutting-edge technology to allow you to explore a multi-room immersive airship gallery, step back in time with VR, access AI films and interact with 3D models through Augmented Reality.
This pop-up event is part of Shuttleworth’s Festival of Flight Air Show weekend. To book tickets, visit the Shuttleworth website.
Saturday 27 June, Sunday 28 June & Sunday 5 July 2026
NT Live screening: The Playboy of the Western World
The Quarry Theatre: @ 2pm
Tickets: £16
Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Live music: Feet + Human Interest
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Tickets: £17.50
Feet are back in Bedford and this time, it’s for a pre-England World Cup match warm-up show.
Taking place at 5pm, this gig is the perfect double feature: guitars first, football second. Feet have received plenty of critical acclaim for their two albums and with a third on the way, this is not a show to miss!
Part of Everywhere At Once, powered by The National Lottery, this is one of over 1,200 gigs across the UK, across one weekend, supporting grassroots venues.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Gardens: Bring your own picnic
Kathy Brown’s Garden, The Manor House, Church Road, Stevington MK43 7QB
Tickets: £11 / £5.50 | Booking required
Enjoy a long summer evening in the beautiful surroundings of Kathy Brown’s Garden in Stevington. Bring your own picnic and take advantage of the late sunset.
Sunday, 28 June 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)
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.
Monday, 29 June – Friday, 3 July 2026
Art & culture: Bedford School Creative Arts Festival
Bedford School, De Parys Avenue MK40 2TU @ times vary
Many events are free, some have booking fees / tickets to the Jazz Evening: £14/£7.50
A wonderful opportunity to join the boys and staff at Bedford School for their week-long Creative Arts Festival – a vibrant celebration of creativity, talent and expression.
Across the week, audiences can enjoy an exciting programme of music concerts, art exhibitions and dramatic performances, alongside a special keynote address from award-winning actor and Old Bedfordian, Jonno Davies.
Showcasing the very best work from their talented boys across Music, Drama, Art and Media, the Festival highlights the breadth and quality of creative life at Bedford School. Many events are free to attend, making it a wonderful opportunity to experience and support the arts within our community.
Monday, 29 June:
The President’s lunchtime concert @ 12.50pm
Keynote speech: Jonno Davies @ 1.50pm
End of year A-Level & GCSE art exhibition @ 6.30pm
‘Choices’ presented by the Bedford school Fourth Form Theatre Company
Tuesday, 30 June
Media Studies A-Level screening @ 6pm
Wednesday, 1 July
House Drama @ 6.30pm
Thursday, 2 July
Creative Arts Festival concert @ 6.30pm
Friday, 3 July
Jazz Evening with the Bedford school Jazz Orchestra – 7.00pm, Friday 3 July
More information and event listings can be found at the Bedford School website here.
Tuesday, 30 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, 30 June 2026
North Beds Art Society lecture: Jewellery – from Downton to Gatsby by Andrew Prince
The Addison Centre, Kempston @ 11am
Andrew made many of the jewels worn by the main characters in the acclaimed TV series Downton Abbey, inspiring him to compose a lecture based on the changing styles of the period 1890 to 1929.
Downton to Gatsby explores an extraordinary era when great couturiers collaborated with the finest of craftsmen to produce creations of outstanding quality and glittering opulence.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
A viola recital by Philharmonia Instrumental Fellow, Emily Clark. Free with retiring collection.
From Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Local history: Celebrating 150 years of Wells and Co.
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
Founded in 1876 by Charles Wells, the business began at Horne Lane Brewery, brewing beers and growing a thriving pub estate. In 2019, it moved to Brewpoint and rebranded as Wells & Co., marking an exciting new chapter.
Find out more about their 150-year journey in this new exhibition at the Higgins Bedford
Wednesday, 1 July 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.
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Live music: Bedford Summer Sessions presents Deacon Blue + The Lightning Seeds
Bedford Park @ 5pm
Tickets: from £60.25
This July, Bedford Summer Sessions returns to the beautiful surroundings of Bedford Park with another stellar line-up, promising four memorable nights in the heart of the town.
The opening night (Thursday) sees Scottish favourites Deacon Blue take to the stage, joined by special guests The Lightning Seeds. Their back catalogue of much-loved hits will be the perfect uplifting start to the weekend.
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Live music: Irish Music Night
The Castle, Newnham Street @ 8.30pm
Free
Traditional foot-tapping Irish tunes and a great craic guaranteed.
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Live music: Limehouse Lizzy
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £21
Limehouse Lizzy are back in town on Thursday 2nd July – a true celebration of all things Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Family fun: Puggle Club Creative activities for Early Years (age 5 and under)
The Higgins Bedford @ 10.30am – midday and 1pm – 2.30pm
Free
A chance to get creative, have fun, and socialise at this free drop-in. There’s no need to book, just pop in to the Higgins throughout the sessions and stay for as long as you like. Children must be accompanied by an adult; come and join in the fun.
All activities are subject to availability; if the room is getting a bit full, we might ask you to wait until there is space.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Dance music: Remixed Fridays – all age disco
The George and Dragon, Mill street @ 5.30pm – 9pm | £7.50 adv / £10 on the door
Tickets £7.50 online / £10 on the door. (Accompanied children are free)
Love dancing or just want to be part of a community event? Here is your opportunity to bop your way into the weekend.
If you’d like to make a music/ dance request email the organisers at remixedfridays@gmail.com and they’ll do their best.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Live music: Bedford Summer Sessions presents UB40 featuring Ali Campbell + Bitty McLean + Reggae Roast ft MC Horseman
Bedford Park @ 5pm
Tickets: from £52.15
Friday brings a reggae-flavoured celebration to Bedford Park as UB40 featuring Ali Campbell headline, supported by Bitty McLean and Reggae Roast featuring MC Horseman.
Expect plenty of sing-along moments and feel-good vibes.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Live music: Banks Arcade x Tropic Gold
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £17
Banks Arcade are a modern heavy metal band that has dismantled the traditional genre walls to fuse the raw, physical violence of metal with the maximalist energy of alternative electronic music and hip-hop.
Drawing inspiration from underground electronic artists, modern hip hop, and classic metal-core the band has always been hellbent on creating something unique.
Evolving from a New Zealand underdog to a global force, they have sold out headline shows across the Southern Hemisphere and dominated international stages, including Download Festival, while supporting heavyweights such as The Plot in You, Northlane, and Thornhill.
Tropic Gold is a UK-based band blending alternative, metal, pop, and electronica, creating dynamic, genre-bending music with emotional depth, gaining support from BBC Radio 1, RockSound and Kerrang! to name a few.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Live music: Red Hot Chili Peppers UK
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14
Red Hot Chili Peppers UK are the country’s funkiest, freshest, upliftin’ tribute band, and these four funky monks are all passionate about recreating the live experience in a way that always puts the music first.
The band’s sets comprise the whole of the Chili Peppers’ output, focusing on great live versions of the hits and sought-after rarities. Utilising much of the same gear and outfits as the band, you’d be hard-pressed to find a tone or feel closer to the originals.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Shop local: Bedford Makers Summer Market
Bunyan Meeting, Mill St MK40 3EU @ 10am – 4pm
Free
With everything from ceramics and jewellery to paintings and prints, you’ll find incredible one-of-a-kind products and gifts at this summer’s Bedford Makers Market.
The brainchild of artists Cath Loukes and Bethany Wells, the market is a celebration of local artisans, creatives and craftspeople.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Creative community: Artists’ Social @ 10.30am – midday
Albero Lounge – Upstairs, or outside if the weather permits
Free
Enjoy a coffee and chat with other artists to meet friends, share experiences, and hear about creative projects happening in Bedford.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Family fun: Patronal Summer Fete
St Mary’s Church, Church Lane @ 11.30am
Free
Everyone is warmly invited to St Mary’s Church for their annual Patronal Summer Fete this Saturday.
As well as traditional stalls, games and activities, there will also be refreshments of homemade sandwiches and cakes inside the Hall, and a BBQ outside in the Paddock.
The church and tower will also be open, so why not try your hand at ringing the church bells as part of the tower tours, or speak to one of the visiting emergency services officers.
Fun for all the family with free admission.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Comedy: Charity Comedy Night in aid of The Road Victims Trust
The Place Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: from £17.50
For over 30 years, the Road Victims Trust has been the UK’s only charity providing free, long‑term specialist emotional and practical support to people bereaved or seriously injured due to road collisions within Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
As a local charity, they rely on support from partnership organisations and fundraising events, such as this comedy night, which are essential to ensure they can continue to deliver their unique services.
Headliner is Matt Daniel Baker.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Live music: Bedford Summer Sessions presents Tom Grennan
Bedford Park @ 5pm
Tickets: from £60.55
For many Bedfordians, Saturday’s Summer Sessions headline act may be the most eagerly anticipated. Local star Tom Grennan returns to Bedford Park for what is expected to be a triumphant hometown performance.
Special guests Brooke Combe and Fiona-Lee complete the bill.
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Live music: CODA – a tribute to Led Zeppelin
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16
Following their previous three sell-out shows at Bedford Esquires, CODA are back by popular demand.
CODA are Europe’s most authentic tribute to the mighty Led Zeppelin, featuring four musicians who faithfully recreate the excitement, energy, passion and magic of the world’s most famous rock band.
The attention to detail is unrivalled: they’ve got the sound, the look, the hair, the instruments and the on-stage mannerisms, you could almost believe you were watching the real thing. Expect all the classics and much more in this incredible, brand-new show.
Sunday, 5 July 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 entertainingf 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, 5 July 2026
Family fun: Robotics Workshop
The Higgins Bedford @ 2.15pm – 3.15pm & 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Free (suitable for 5 to 12-year-olds)
Enjoy a fun hands-on introduction to coding, logic and creativity through games and stories.
Places are limited, so booking is essential. The workshop lasts an hour. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults do not need to book a place.
To book a place for children, visit the website at thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Book_Online, call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Wednesday – Saturday, 10am-4pm).
Sunday, 5 July 2026
Live music: Bedford Summer Sessions presents Paul Weller + Miles Kane + Arkayla
Bedford Park @ 5pm
Tickets: from £67.30
The Bedford Summer Sessions series concludes on Sunday with the legendary Paul Weller, supported by Miles Kane and Arkayla. The Modfather’s enduring appeal and extensive back catalogue make him a fitting choice to close the festival weekend, so expect tracks from across his 54-year career.
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Children’s Art Competition and Exhibition
Sir William Harpur Gallery at the Higgins Bedford until 4 October
The Children’s Art Competition features more than 100 pieces of artwork created by pupils from schools across Bedford Borough. The children aged 4 to 18 have created their artwork at workshops with professional artists visiting their schools.
The theme for the 2026 exhibition is ‘Aspire: Nurturing Potential’, based on their aspirations, goals, dreams, hopes and what they want to be or do in life.
This may be looking ahead to the year before they go to secondary school, when they leave school, or even later in life. The competition and exhibition are a collaboration between The Harpur Trust and 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.
