In fact, alongside the urban areas of Bedford and Luton, the county offers plenty of green spaces and historical places of interest - considered some of Bedfordshire’s best kept secrets.
The county has connections with John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, Catherine of Aragon and the Whitbread family, dating back 250 years when the brewing pioneer was MP for Bedford.
In a new book local John and Jenny Jackson reveal the vital role a Bedfordshire barn played during World War, exactly why Luton Town Football Club are appropriately nicknamed ‘The Hatters’, the churchyard that inspired JM Barrie’s character, Wendy, in Peter Pan, and much more.
50 Gems of Bedfordshire explores the many places and their history that make this part of the country so special, including natural features, towns and villages, buildings and places of historical and architectural interest. Alongside justly famous attractions, others will be relatively unknown but all have an interesting story to tell.
John Jackson, a lifelong transport enthusiast, opted for early retirement at the turn of the Millennium – swapping the rat race for the rail tracks. Since then, he has travelled extensively on the British rail network with his camera as a constant companion. And he continues to compile a photographic collection reflecting the UK rail industry that already extends to tens of thousands of images.
He also has an interest in the history of his home county of Bedfordshire and together with his wife Jenny, have spent hundreds of hours meandering around its towns and villages visiting every parish in the county, recording the churches.
The couple visited places of interest including the churches for their previous book, Churches of Bedfordshire, and to promote their ‘50 Gems of Bedfordshire’.
For further details and to purchase the book visit the publisher's website.
Scroll down to see 10 of the places featured...
5. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: The Cock Inn, Broom
The Cock Inn is a beautiful historic 18th Century country pub, restaurant and hotel. Built in the mid-19th century, it is on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Described as a rare and unusually complete rural pub interior of its time it features pine fittings include dado panelled skittles room with original leather and wood skittles set in the form of a chair. Photo: Philip Dean
6. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: Olde Watermill, Barton-le-Clay
The Olde Watermill, Barton-le-Clay, Shopping Village is set in and around an historic Watermill. There has been a watermill on the site since 1086 as the Watermill is mentioned in the Domesday book and it is one of the oldest overshot Watermills in the country. Over the last few years, it has been lovingly restored and is now home to over 20 unique and individual shops as well as the Mill House Restaurant, Tea Room & Cafe, an antique centre, Miller’s Shopping Arcade and a soft play area for the children. Photo: P Abrams
7. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: R101 Airship memorial, Cardington
The R101 memorial site is located in the cemetery of St Mary's Church, Cardington, and is Grade II listed. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in the great airship R101 disaster of October 5, 1930. It features a large stone tomb chest and serves as a reminder of the tragic loss of life and impact of the disaster on the aviation community at the time, Photo: P Abrams
8. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: Dan Albone information board, Biggleswade
The Dan Albone information board was erected as a nod to Biggleswade’s most famous son, a true hero of the town born in 1860 at the Ongley Arms inn in Biggleswade. Dan Albone is best known internationally as the inventor and manufacturer of the world’s first practical and successful farm tractor the Ivel, and Father of the British Tractor Industry. He was also inventor of safety cycle, motorcycles and motorcars named Ivel. Photo: P Abrams