Bedford

Located in the South East of England, Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire. Bedford was originally a market town for the agricultural county during the middle ages and is known for its associations with medieval wool production and, until the 20th century, with lace making.

Bedford is rich in historical landmarks and cultural points of interest. One such site is the Bedford Castle Mound, which was the seat of the Barony of Bedford since the year 919 and was the site of numerous conflicts. The Castle is in a convenient central location in the modern town.

The town is also rich in cultural entertainment prospects with a number of popular theatres, museums, and entertainment venues such as the Bedford Corn Exchange and Esquires, which offers regular live entertainment. The River Great Ouse, passes through the town and is decorated with gardens known as The Embankment along its course, making the town a popular retreat for holiday makers looking for a traditional break in a very typically English location or for visiting by barge.

It is here that John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress during his incarceration in Bedford Gael in the 1660s. It remains one of the most significant Christian works in English literature, having never been out of print. John Bunyan was a preacher at Bradford's historical Saint Paul's church — the current building of which was built in the 13th century; although there has been a church on the site since 1066.

Bedford has been used as a film set for several notable productions including Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2009) and the popular seventies television comedy series Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.