Queen Holden

Queen Holden

Christmas Gift Shopping in Bedford with added Entertainment

Bedford is a town which embraces Christmas like a small child would, with great anticipation. There are so many Christmas themed events going on you would think you were in Lapland! Why not start with the switching on of the Christmas Lights which takes place at The Embankment from 7pm on the 24th November. Don't be put off by the cold, wrap yourselves and the kids up warm and come along. Prepare to be amazed at the dazzling celebration of fire and light set to festive music, a great start to the Christmas Festivities.

Christmas shopping can be a logistical nightmare. Especially if you are one of thousands who decide to shop, at the same time, on the same day and in the same town.  So, you need to plan your day. Check the opening hours for the main shopping areas below (updates to follow). Also listed are the locations of the parking areas which are all chargeable. But, last year the Council announced a week of free parking for Christmas shoppers, watch this space and see if economic doom and gloom kills the councils Christmas spirit. And also, plan your "rest from shopping" sessions. There is plenty to see and do in Bedford this Christmas with street entertainment, the Victorian Fair, Ice Skating and much, much, more. See below for street by street details.

The Harpur Centre is the focal point for shoppers but many other wonderful stores surround the Harpur Centre. Bedford also has a fabulous market tradition and a street by street guide is available below.  There is a wide variety of stalls and some of the traders have been working Bedford Market for nearly 50 years.

Little Luxuries Personalised Shopping will be running the Christmas Fair in the Harpur Suite on the 20th November. They will be marketing a unique collection of Bedfordshire's best fashion and lifestyle products from fashionable clothing, footwear and accessories to beautiful handmade pieces for your home, yourself and your loved ones. There will be fabulous items at very affordable prices for all making it the perfect place to come and buy something special and unique from local retailers.  The Entry Fee is £2.

No matter how experienced a shopper you are there comes a point when your feet say "Coffee and Sit Down NOW!!". Thankfully, Bedford has a wonderful selection of coffee shops some of which are listed below.

All in all Bedford is a fun place to do your Christmas Shopping. Most of the major retailers are here and there are lots of interesting diversions which will make your day more enjoyable.

Useful Information:

Opening Hours:

Harpur Centre - Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm Sunday 10am to 4pm (Christmas Hours TBA)

The markets will generally start a bit earlier and finish a bit earlier but most of the other large stores in Bedford will follow the Harpur Centre lead.

Car Parks in Bedford

Harpur Centre – Multi Storey
Lurke Street – Multi Storey
Queen Street – Multi Storey
River Street – Multi Storey
Allhallows – Multi Storey
Riverside Square – Surface Car Park
Melbourne Street - Surface Car Park
St. Peters - Surface Car Park

Christmas in Bedford – Street by Street

High Street – Christmas Market and Street Entertainment
Silver Street – Street Entertainment and Ice Rink (10th, 11th and 12th December)
Harpur Square – Victorian Fair and Street Entertainment
St. Paul's Square – Charter Market, School's Market (Fri 10th Dec) and Charity Market (Sun 12th Dec) Midland Road - Street Entertainment and Markets

Coffee Shops in Bedford

Harpur Centre - The Harpur Coffee Company
St. Paul's Square – Coffee House Bedford
Mill Street – Mill Yard Cafe
Newnham Street – Baia de Cascais
Lime Street – Elevenses and the Luscious Juice Bar

About the Author

For more information about visiting Bedford or shopping in Bedford go to http://www.activbedford.com your online guide to Bedford

May I have your opinion please?

She sat there bow legged ...
Just pickin her nose ...

I could see she was nasty ...
Yet sweet as a rose ...

Her slumped over shoulders ...
The warts on her ears ...

Her teeth were bright yellow, but one it was green ...
I knew that I loved her, fer she was my Queen ...

She was strong as a Bull ...
And could spit chew for a mile ...
A real woman of class, a real woman with style ...

Her moustache it tickled everytime that we kissed ...
But she was holden & rubbin my tool which was bliss ...

Through 9 years of marriage, 16 affairs ...
I still know that she loves & will always be there ...

yeeeeee haaaaaaaaa good people of P/S's ... a wee bit of humor!!

lmfaooo..awesome...

A few missing teeth
and no marbles too
She sounds like the perfect
Lady for you

Kit de Queen Holden. Whitman 1952