Bedford Borough Council is excited to announce the return of the Bedford River Festival, the free, family-friendly event taking place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July in Bedford. With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, everyone is encouraged to plan their trip in advance.
The River Festival website will continue to be updated with the most recent information, this can be found at https://riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk/.
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning and Prosperity at Bedford Borough Council, said, “We’re committed to making the Bedford River Festival a more sustainable event, and that starts with how people travel to and from it.
“This year, we’re encouraging everyone to consider walking, cycling, taking the bus, or using the train whenever possible. Not only is it a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also be a more relaxing and enjoyable way to start your festival experience.
“For those that choose to drive, we have two special Park and Ride services with free parking, so there’s no need to get stuck in traffic. We have also created two additional car parks at the Bedford Athletics Stadium and Priory Country Park which are not free.”
Sustainable travel options
Bedford Borough Council is committed to promoting sustainable travel options for the festival. We encourage visitors to consider using public transport, cycling, walking or whenever possible.
Buses:
Bus fares remain just £2 for each journey and extra buses will be running throughout the weekend to make getting to and from the festival a breeze.
Park and Ride with free parking
Elstow Park and Ride, MK42 9XF, operated by Grant Palmer will be operating with enhanced services during the festival. Buses will run every 15 minutes from 9am to 9.45pm on both days and cost £2 for anyone per journey to and from Bedford town centre. The last bus from Bedford to Elstow Park and Ride will leave at 10pm.
A temporary Park and Ride site will be created at Mowsbury Park, MK41 8AH, and operated by Stagecoach. Buses will run every 15 minutes, dropping off and collecting at River Street, outside the old Tesco store. On Saturday these run from 9am to 11pm and on Sunday these run from 9am to 9.30pm. This will cost £5 per adult, £3.50 per child (up to 16 years), and £12 for a family of up to 2 adults and 3 children (including return).
Further details of public transport in Bedford Borough can be found at www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/public-transport.
Train
The River Festival is a short walk from Bedford train station. Follow, the signs from the train station to Borough Hall. Turn right as you leave the station on Asburnham Road, turn left at the roundabout and then turn right at the next roundabout, as you cross the bridge you’ll see the festival.
If you are using the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley you can stop at Bedford St Johns Station, even closer to the River Festival. Return tickets are just £2, the normal Saturday service will be running, plus a special Sunday service for the River Festival.
Walking and cycling
Discover routes to walk, wheel and cycle to the River Festival at www.bedford.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/walking-cycling-and-riding.
There is a free secure bike shelter in Harpur Square, Bedford town centre where you can safely store your bike via a smartphone app. For more information please contact Highways.Helpdesk@bedford.gov.uk and they will email you the instructions, you will need to register at least seven days before the start of the festival.
Car Parking
Learn about parking in Bedford Borough at www.bedford.gov.uk/parking. On Saturday, Allhallows Car Park is free for the first four hours, Queen Street is free for the first two hours and all Council owned town centre car parks are free from 6pm. All Council owned town centre car parks are free all day on Sundays.
Additional car parks have been created and are sponsored by Stagecoach. These will be found at Bedford International Athletics Stadium at £7 per vehicle per day and Priory Country Park at £5 per vehicle per day. Please note that only card payments will be accepted at these locations.
Blue Badge holders will have designated parking areas at Longholme Way, MK42 0BX, St. Mary’s Car Park, MK42 9AP which are both hardstanding. There will also be designated Blue Badge parking at Bedford Athletic Stadium, please be aware this is a grassed area. Blue Badge holders can also park for free in all Bedford Borough Council car parks, badges must be displayed at all times.
Road Closures
Several roads will be closed to allow for the festival. A map of the closures is available on the Bedford River Festival programme but generally, these are the roads between the High Street and Newnham Avenue that are south of Castle Road. Residents living on these streets will have access with a valid permit.
We ask that all visitors be mindful of local residents and park in designated areas.
For more information on the Bedford River Festival, including a full schedule of events, please visit the festival website https://riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk/.