Bedford's Clandestine Past and Historic Landmarks

Because of its location in the South-West of England Bedford became known as the spy capital of Britain.
It was ideally situated within easy distance of several military bases, so many of the secret operations conducted during World War Two were planned and executed from here.
One of the war's most famous missions (Heroes of Telemark), to disrupt the Nazi atomic bomb programme was planned here. Much of the service personnel that came to the town never left, especially those from Italy, and today around 20% of the city's population is of Italian descent.
However, the most famous landmarks Bedford have little to do with the clandestine services.

John Bunyan Museum

This museum is dedicated to the life of the renowned writer. Born in 1628 he was a writer and a preacher and grew in notoriety, often described as "a witch, a Jesuit, a highwayman", and had been imprisoned for preaching at without a licence in the Bedfordshire village of Eaton Socon.
The Museum contains fascinating artefacts from his life including a flute, which he supposedly made from the leg of a stool in his prison cell; his home made violin; the anvil he used to make pots and pans (his occupation by trade was a tinker); and his Will which after his death in 1688 was hidden in the chimney of his house, and would lie undiscovered for 150 years when the house was demolished in 1838.

Wrest Park

Wrest Park is probably England's best kept garden secret. It was virtually inaccessible to the public for decades but this blossoming rose of English heritage is finally open for everyone to enjoy.
90 acres of landscape with French-style architecture, it has become a top ranking site for visitors to Bedfordshire looking for a relaxing country walk.

Woburn Safari Park

The road safari lets you get up close and personal with some of the world's most endangered animals including rhino, tigers and the Przewalski horse, which if it was not for the efforts of Woburn Park would likely already be extinct.
The walking tours you round the small, cute, and fuzzy - some of the animals are all three! Lemurs, cheeky monkeys, brightly coloured tropical birds, and your little ones might even get the chance to feed the penguins.
You can even have a tree top adventure at Go Ape.
The town has the highest population of Italian descent outside of Italy, and you'll find that much of the hospitality industry. Many of the bars, restaurants, and hotels in Bedford have either past or present had proprietors of Italian ancestry.
Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to http://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-bedford