Click on a city, town or village on the map to view holiday accommodation in that place and the surrounding area. Or to view all listed places in this area, click here.
	County Town: Bedford County Population: 600,000 (estimate)
	Bedfordshire has been described as England's "hidden county" because of its low-lying position. Acting as a gateway to East Anglia and the Midlands, Bedfordshire is a rich rural county prospering from its agricultural and market gardening industries. It is drained by the Great Ouse river that is now navigable to the sea. The southern border of the county lies just 80 km (50 miles) north of London.
	Stone Age settlers are believed to have arrived in the region 500,000 years ago and the county is crossed by the Icknield Way, a prehistoric track which runs from East Anglia to Stonehenge in Wiltshire. The Anglo-Saxons later settled in the region, closely followed by the Danes. During the English Civil War Bedfordshire became a centre of opposition to Charles I. During the last century the county has become increasingly industrialised. However, off the major routes, there are still many attractive villages with thatched roofed, timbered cottages.
	By clicking on an icon below, you can return to the home page, request help or move to the top of this page respectively.