May half term and Jubilee Weekend
As well as the usual holiday round up we included a selection of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, activities and events will take place across Bedford Borough to mark the occasion. We have also launched the Summer of SEND 2022 so check out the calendar here for some more half term ideas
Bromham’s Royal Duck Race - Thursday 2 June 2022 12pm-4pm
Duck Race on Her Magesty The Queen’s Jubilee weekend! Head to Bromham Bridge for the annual Duck Race with a Royal twist! Food Stalls and fun in the field opposite Bromham Mill, car parking is available on the field.
Thursday 2 June 2022 12pm-4pm. Free Entry. Find out more on their website
Community Parade with Queen’s Park Community Organisation - Saturday 4 June 2022. 2pm to 6pm
Head to Tesco in Midland Road for 2pm to be part of the Jubilee Parade! Work your way to Queen’s Park Community Orchard for the festival where there’ll be facepainting, music and food plus lots more.
Saturday 4 June 2022. Free Entry. Find out more on their facebook page.
Days Out - Activities
360 Play Milton Keynes
360 Play Rushden Lakes
Box End Park
Climb Quest Milton Keynes
Cineworld Bedford
Crazy Golf Outside in Milton Keynes
Eat and Bowl St. Neots
Flip Out Trampoline Park - Rushden Lakes
Gullivers Land
Gravity Trampoline Park Xscape Milton Keynes
Hollywood Bowl - Milton Keynes
Kempston Swimming Pool
Oasis Beach Pool - Bedford
Ready Steady Roll board games café just outside Sharnbrook
Robinson Pool- Bedford
Top Jump Milton Keynes
Vue Cinema Bedford
Xtreme 360 trampoling park St. Neots
Days Out - Farms/Safari Parks/Zoo
Days Out - Museums
Days Out - Open Spaces
Ampthill Park
Cycle/Walk following Route 51 from Priory Marina to the Danish Camp
There is a walking/Cycling following Route 51 that follows the old railway line from the Marina to the Danish camp and there is free parking at Aspects or the Priory Marina.
Follow signs from the entrance to the marina turn first left by the recycling facilities and follow that road and you pick up the path as you walk/ride over the bridge. Don't forget a bike lock for when you on site.
For more info click here the map is at the bottom of the page
Blue badges holders are required to pay for parking
Jordans Mill Historic Mill and Gardens
Millennium Country Park and forest of Marston Vale
The park is free, however there is a charge for parking blue badges holders are required to pay.
Parking Charges apply
Parking Charges apply
Some of the walks have passing views of Woburn Abbey and pass through the deer park. The walk start from the FREE car park in Park Street.
It is FREE to access the large wide open spaces, toilets and the adventure playground which is located opposite the cafe. You just pay to view the house and the gardens.
Day Out - Outdoor Pools and Water Activities
EyeSpy Cruises on the John Bunyan Boat - Tuesday 31 May 2022 at 12.00pm, 1.45pm & 3.00pm. £5 per person
Keep the kids busy with the John Bunyan Family EyeSpy cruises, while you relax as we cruise by Bedford’s landmarks along the Embankment and the wildlife on the Great River Ouse. See how many of the landmarks you can spot?
Tuesday 31 May 2022 at 12.00pm, 1.45pm & 3.00pm. From £5 per person. Book in advance on their website
FREE Activities for Children at local libraries across Bedford Borough.
Free activities for children
In celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, there will be free activities for children, at local libraries across Bedford Borough to mark the occasion.
Free craft activities for children
Libraries across Bedford will be holding free craft activities for children to get involved and celebrate the Queen's Platinum.
You can find out more information in the tables below.
Bedford Central Library
DateTimeActivity
|
Saturday 28 May |
11:00am - 3:30pm |
Royal Paperchains |
|
Monday 30 May |
11:30am - 3:30pm |
Crown Wooden Coasters |
|
Tuesday 31 May |
11:30am - 3:30pm |
Platinum Jubilee Colour In Fuzzy Art Bookmarks |
|
Wednesday 1 June |
11:30am - 3:30pm |
Make your own crowns |
|
Saturday 4 June |
11:00-3:30pm |
Lego & Royal Colouring In |
|
Sunday 5 June |
11:30-1:30pm |
Sunday Fun Day Craft Mash Up |
Kempston
DateTimeActivity
|
Saturday 28 May |
10am - 3:30pm |
Jubilee Scratch Art |
|
Monday 30 May |
2 - 4:30pm |
Corgi Craft |
|
Tuesday 31 May |
TBC |
Jubilee Bunting |
|
Wednesday 1 June |
2 - 4:30pm |
Create a Crown |
|
Saturday 4 June |
10am -3:30pm |
Jubilee Colouring Bookmarks |
Wootton
DateTimeActivity
|
Saturday 28 May |
11:15am - 12:30pm |
Large London Colouring Sheets |
|
Monday 30 May |
2:30 - 4:30pm |
Bunting |
|
Tuesday 31 May |
10:15 -11:30am |
Corgi & Beefeater Masks |
|
Wednesday 1 June |
2:30 - 4:30pm |
Crowns |
|
Saturday 4 June |
11:15am-12:30pm |
Lucky Dip |
Bromham
DateTimeActivity
|
Saturday 28 May |
10:15am -12:30pm |
Jubilee Colouring |
|
Monday 30 May |
10:15 - 11.30am |
Jubilee decorations |
|
Sun catchers |
||
|
Tuesday 31 May |
2:15 - 4:30pm |
Jubilee Crafts |
|
Wednesday 1 June |
10:15am -12.30pm |
Scratch Art Magnets |
|
Cupcakes |
||
|
Saturday 4 June |
10:15am - 12:30pm |
Lucky Dip Crafts |
Putnoe Library
DateTimeActivity
|
Saturday 28 May |
9:45am - 3:30pm |
Jubilee Colouring & Scratch Art cupcakes |
|
Monday 30 May |
2:15 - 3:30pm |
Tea pot Coasters crafts |
|
Tuesday 31 May |
10:15am - 3:30pm |
Jubilee Bookmarks |
|
Jubilee Scratch Art Magnets |
||
|
Saturday 4 June |
10:15am - 3:30pm |
Tea Party Keyring crafts |
Online FREE services
Are you aware of the range of FREE online services giving you access to thousands of e-books, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers - all you need is your library card number and PIN. Don't have a PIN? Request one here you just need your library card number and postcode.
- FREE Ebooks and Audiobooks - downloadable e-books, audiobooks and magazines all in one place
- Emagazines - Choose from over 2,000 free e-magazines - download them or read online via the web or Libby app on your tablet or phone - anytime and anywhere!
- Pressreader - Thousands of national and international newspapers and magazines to be read online or downloaded
- Freegal - Millions of tracks to be streamed for up to 5 hours a day or download 5 tracks a day to keep
Please visit the Virtual Library to find out more.
Family Activities at The Higgins Bedford
Bank Holiday Opening Hours
|
Open 2pm - 5pm |
|
Open 2pm - 5pm |
- Places are limited and must be booked in advance.
- Book online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 - line open Monday to Friday 11am-3pm.
- Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Accompanying adults go free and do not need to book a place.
- Please email thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk if you need to cancel your place.
- We are sorry, but cancelled tickets cannot be refunded.
Garden Party
Tuesday 31 May
Workshops start at 11:15 am, 12:45pm and 2:15pm
£3.05 per child
Design and decorate your own gardening apron. It has pockets!
Suitable for under 12’s.
Storytelling with Grandma Mo
Wednesday 1 June
Workshops start at 11:15am, 12:45pm and 2:15pm
£3.05 per child
Listen to Grandma Mo’s story in the galleries, then make seedling pots and plant your own sunflowers. Suitable for 3 to 7 year olds.
Jubilee
Thursday 2 & Friday 3 June
2pm - 4pm
Free Entry
No Need to Book - Drop In
Decorate a hat or a crown for your own Jubilee celebrations. Suitable for Under 12s
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please note space is limited and there may be a wait to join the activity.
Fun with Trains - Tuesday 31st of May, Bedford Athletic Stadium
FUN WITH TRAINS
Activities: Epic train track with over 100 trains to play. Bouncy castle, Hot Wheels, ride ons and dinosaurs. For details on play sessions please visit: www.trackplay.co.uk 
A day of fun for the kids who enjoy playing with trains, here they can do so until their hearts are content. With over 500 feet of train track and over 100 different trains and carriages to choose from we guarantee that your kids will have a never to forget experience. Having a GIANT THOMAS Train track to play with will provide fun and fantastic memories for your children. Sit back and relax as you will have no clearing up to do and we even provide free tea and coffee when you bring a reusable cup (for adults only!)
Cost
60 mins £7.50 per child, free for adults
90 mins £10 per child, free for adults
Jubilee Kids Crafts at the Forest Centre, Marston Vale
Little ones can head to Marston Vale Forest Centre for some Jubilee crafts and decorate their very own wooden memorabilia to remember this very special occasion! Each child will be provided with the paint and a bookmark, keyring and badge to decorate. Ticket includes all materials for crafting, and the decorated memorabilia to take home at the end of the session.
Tuesday 31 May 2022 11am-2pm. £4 per child. Book your session on their website
May Half Term - Autism Bedfordshire Animal Farm Monday 30th May various slot available
Right royal knees-up at our Kids Rule events this May half-term at Wrest Park
Get ready for a right royal knees-up at Wrest Park‘s Kids Rule events this May half-term. Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with historic performers, hands-on activities and fresh-air family fun.
At Wrest Park you can immerse yourself in what it was like to be a child during the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebrations. Play with Victorian Toys and Games and learn all about how they had fun in the Victorian era. Find our Toys and Games enthusiasts outside of the Orangery and get hands on with a wide selection of Victorian classics. Specific sessions are being run throughout the day where you can learn about life during a Victorian Jubilee, how life changed during Victoria’s reign, and the rules to some of the best Victorian games! These are at; 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Saturday 28 May – Sunday 5 Jun 2022 10am-5pm. Book tickets on their website
Total Pop Party - Sunday 29th of May 3pm Bedford Corn Exchange
The Perfect Party for your little ones. Total Pop Party is brand new and exciting for 2022!
These incredible girls celebrate the modern day pop legends from Little Mix, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, P!NK, Anne Marie, Panic at the Disco, Dua Lipa, Jonas Brothers, Jess Glynne, The Spice Girls, Justin Bieber and so many more.
Incredible Choreography, Brilliantly Entertaining and a Non-Stop Pop Party from Start to Finish. Singing and dancing all the way, Total Pop Party is an excellent introduction for kids who are too young to go to the big concerts but don’t want to miss out on seeing their favourite pop stars!
Come join the girls for the best party in town
TICKET PRICES
| Adult | £12.00 |
| Child (under 14) | £10.00 |
To book visit https://www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/total-pop-party/?bid=8364
Town Centre Jubilee Trail – 19 May to 9 June
To celebrate the Jubilee, 12 crowns have been hidden in various windows around the town centre. Why not explore the town while following the map to find the crowns?
Maps can be downloaded online or can be collected from The Higgins or Central Library.
The trail will run from Thursday 19 May through the long Jubilee weekend and ends on Thursday 9 June.