Travel Information

The Bedford River Festival always draws huge crowds so it pays to plan ahead and think about where to park or how to get there.

Here's all the information you need...

Car Parking:

Bedford Borough Council operated car parks will run extended hours to accommodate for Festival commuters. These car parks are:

  • Lurke Street: Open until Midnight Saturday & Sunday
  • River Street:  Open until Midnight Saturday & Sunday
  • Riverside: Closed all weekend
  • Queen Street: Open 7am-8pm Saturday, closed Sunday
  • Allhallows: Open until Midnight Saturday & Sunday

Charges will apply on both days, for more information please contact the parking shop on (01234) 227477 or email parkingshop@bedford.gov.uk

Car Parking is available at Bedford International Athletic Stadium, Oasis Pool and Bedford Borough Council car parks. All of these are within a five minute walk of the site.

  • County Hall                                       
  • Cauldwell Street                                      
  • Bedford International Athletic Stadium       
  • Oasis Beach Pool                                   

These car parks will charge £5 for all day parking.


Park & Ride

Driving into Bedford? Park and ride makes alot of sense – easy to use, easy on your pocket and easy on the environment.

Just park in the spacious car park at Elstow and the easy-access buses will whiz you quickly into the town centre, 6 days a week, up to every 10 minutes. There’s CCTV on site and a waiting room with toilets.

It's free to park. Just pay on the bus.
Adult £1.50: Any children under 16 with you travel free
Child £1: If being dropped off at the site, for travelling to & from town on their own
Family £3: Family ticket for up to 7 people in 1 car

For more information on the park and ride services click here


Useful Information

Directions by Road
From M1 North & South- Junction 13, A421
(Please be aware extensive roadworks at junction 13 & A421

From A1- Black Cat Roundabout, A421
Follow the AA signs for the Town Centre or Park & Ride upon reaching the A428 bypass

Directions by Rail
Bedford Mainline Station – 15 minute walk from the site
Bedford St Johns Station – 10 minute walk form the site

Special River Festival Trains run by Marston Vale Community Rail Partnership- Bedford to Bletchley Line

For more Information contact Stephen Sleight on (01234) 832645
Email: stephens@bedsrcc.org.uk / Web: www.marstonvalecommunityrail.co.uk


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