Odd question, but here's the scenario: We are picking up a car at Heathrow on Saturday May 13th, and then the plan was to do the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour and then continue on to Cambridge with a stop over to see friends in Bedford. (Yes, I realize it's a bit of driving.)
Unfortunately, the studio tour is sold out. I thought 2 months out would be plenty of time to purchase tickets, but I was wrong. Oh well.
But now we have some time to kill before we need to be in Bedford. Any suggestions? We don't mind driving, and we'll have our 17 and 22 year olds with us.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
496 posts
Have you been to Bletchley Park? https://bletchleypark.org.uk. It was one of our favorite day trips from London and appears more or less on the way to Bedford. If you have a chance in advance read the book Enigma by Robert Harris or see the film Enigma or the Imitation Game.
Posted by
Lake District, England
8136 posts
Woburn Abbey (stately home) and Woburn Safari Park
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7206 posts
Not top destinations by any means, but if you’re Knights Templar enthusiasts, then Royston Cave would occupy a little time. Near Bedford is the Glenn Miller museum. It’s small and at what used to be the airfield that musician Glen Miller took off from when he disappeared during WW-II. Stretching things a bit, if you ever saw the U.K. tv series Pie in the Sky, the building used for the restaurant in the series is at 64 High St, Hemel Hempstead.
Posted by
OP
Nashville TN
36 posts
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into each of these.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
even if the studio website is sold out, you might check Golden Tours. They gobble up bunches of tickets and then charge a bonus to bus you from central London and put you on the tour.
They may well be able to meet the Potteritis of the family.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
just north of Bedford (watch out for speed cameras in Bedfordshire, especially on the A6 and on the road to Turvey) is a free flying facility. It is a tall tower with a huge fan at the bottom, put on a flying suit and jump off at the top and free fall and float and acrobatics to your heart's content. Indoor skydiving. https://www.indoorskydiving.world/tunnels/bodyflight-bedford/