The 10 Best Museums in Bedfordshire, England

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Situated above Ampthill Fireplaces, the Ampthill-micro museum is the first of its kind in Bedfordshire. Detailing the past of our historic Georgian market town, Ampthill. The exhibition shows the history of the small Bedfordshire town all the way back to 1089 with its initial mentioning in King William the Conqueror’s Domesday book. Travelling through time the exhibit shows how the town was involved with King Henry VIII, the rapid redevelopment of the 1700s and many more interesting points in the towns long history. The museum also allows visitors to get hands on with history, featuring a copy of the famous book ‘Masquerade’ by Kit Williams which sent the whole country on a treasure hunt for a golden hare which was buried in Ampthill and inspired a whole generation of treasure-hunting books, this amongst other things are available to view in the museum. The museum is open 10am-5pm Monday to Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday.

Wardown House, Museum and Gallery is situated in the beautiful landscaped Wardown Park, on the outskirts of Luton town centre. The museum houses a range of displays throughout the building, including the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery and the popular Luton Life Gallery. The museum underwent a redevelopment during 2016, reopening in April 2017. Wardown House, Museum and Gallery also holds events and activities for all ages and interests throughout the year.

The museum has since been renamed the Military Intelligence Museum, and a new TripAdvisor review page has been created under that name.

Started by Richard Shuttleworth, who collectected some of the exhibits still here, The Shuttleworth Collection is home to the best collection of genuine WWI aircraft that all still fly in Europe, alongside over historic aircraft from 1909 to the 1950s. The Collection includes the oldest aircraft still flying - the 1909 Blériot. Also, the oldest airworthy British aircraft 1912 Blackburn Monoplane, the 1934 race winning DH88 Comet, record breaking 1936 Mew Gull, 1938 special ops Westland Lysander and many more. Vintage vehicles including a steam locomobile and early buses, cycles and motorcycles are also part of The Collection. Shuttleworth is based at an aerodrome with a grass runway, PPR required but there are no landing fees and aviation fuel available at self-service pumps. It's just off the A1 at Biggleswade with free parking, on-site Play Area, restaurant and adjacent Swiss Garden, and a period Mansion (open event days). May to October it is a top class vintage airshow venue.

This is amazing encapsulation of the airfield and the surrounding area as it was in WWII. It is one of the most impressive memorials to the US aircrew who flew from the UK I have ever visited.

The Higgins Bedford is Bedford's art gallery and museum. It's a place to explore collections of fine & decorative arts, world-class watercolours, local stories and find out about great Bedfordians. Changing exhibitions mean there is always something new to see. There is lots to do for all the family.