Woburn (Bedfordshire)

Woburn has more than 200 listed Georgian buildings, many antique shops, pubs, chic restaurants and a fabulous tea-room for the truly English experience! If you visit in early September you will have a fabulous time at their yearly Oyster Festival: food, drink, live music and street entertainers, as well as champagne and Oysters, make this a great day out for all the family.

By road

From London, take the M1 and leave at junction 13, then take the A4012. From Milton Keynes, either take the M1 from junction 14 to junction 13 (then A4012) or head towards to M1 but instead take the A5130 to Woburn. From Bedford, take the A412 towards junction 13 of the M1, then take the A4012

By train

Woburn Sands is the nearest railway station. It is served by trains that run between Bletchley (near Milton Keynes) and Bedford. There are no direct trains to Milton Keynes or London. Bus 138 links Woburn Sands station with Woburn.

From London

From Euston station: head towards Milton Keynes. Either go to Bletchey for the train to Woburn Sands or continue to the next stop, Milton Keynes, and take a bus to Woburn (see By bus section).
From St Pancras station: head towards Bedford. Either go to Flitwick and take bus 10A to Woburn or continue to the next stop, Bedford and take the train to Woburn Sands.

By bus

From Milton Keynes, bus 138 runs from central Milton Keynes to Woburn. Buses 160 and 165 run between Bedford and Leighton Buzzard via Woburn

• Woburn Abbey

  phone: +44 1525 290333
  It is set in 3,000 acres of beautiful gardens complete with a deer park and fabulous buildings and really is a must-see if you find yourself in Bedfordshire. The abbey has been home to the Dukes of Bedford for more than 300 years and is now occupied by the 15th Duke and his family. There are many things to do at the Abbey: if the weather is nice maybe a picnic lunch in the stunning grounds watching some of the ten species of deer, or you can join one of the tours looking at the many paintings collected at the Abbey, including those by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Van Dyck and Cuyp. There is also a fabulous Tea Room where you can enjoy traditional afternoon tea in true English style and the Woburn at War exhibition, which illustrates the impact of wars on Woburn Abbey.

• Woburn Safari Park

  phone: +44 1525 290407
  address: Woburn Park, Crawley Rd
  It offers an amazing safari adventure where you might least expect it! Drive around in your own car and experience the beauty of wild animals up close and personal... but watch out for those mischievous monkeys! Aside from seeing sea lions, birds of prey, elephants, giraffes, tigers, lynxes, penguins and snakes, to name but a few, you can also book a special experience: VIP Tour with a Ranger, walk with elephants or breakfast with the carnivores, and there is also the Great Woburn Railway, Swan Boats and the Mammoth Play Ark to keep you and your family occupied.

• The Bell Hotel

  address: 21 Bedford Street
  Restored Georgian townhouse, 25 rooms, smart restaurant, free Wi-Fi.

• Longs Inn

  address: 18 Bedford Street
  Formerly Magpies Hotel, 17th century hotel with characterful bar. 15 rooms, free Wi-Fi.

• The Inn at Woburn

  address: George Street
  17th-century building, 48 rooms, smart restaurant.

Nearby Milton Keynes offers budget accommodation.