Bedford

Bedford district sits in Bedfordshire in the East of England, with Bedford town as the administrative centre and county town. The River Great Ouse runs through the town and shapes the riverside known as the Embankment, a long public open space with riverside paths, a bandstand and rowing clubs. The borough covers the town and surrounding villages including Kempston, Elstow and the growing settlement of Wixams, combining older streets with more recent residential development and agricultural land at the edges.

Rail services run on the Midland Main Line with Thameslink trains to London St Pancras and destinations to the north. The University of Bedfordshire has a campus in the town and the local economy includes small manufacturers, service firms and a town-centre indoor market. The Embankment becomes a focal point during the Bedford River Festival, when boats, floating displays and riverside performances concentrate activity along the Great Ouse.