The Visitor Economy

As a place to visit, Central Bedfordshire offers a variety of attractions including Woburn Safari Park, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo (the UK’s largest zoo), The Shuttleworth Collection of vintage aircraft and vehicles, and Center Parcs Woburn Forest. It also offers beautiful, historic market towns, villages and over 3,300 hectares of public access and protected countryside, woodlands and parks.

650 businesses employ more than 9,000 people in this sector, allowing investors in the area to access expert service providers, potential partners, and an established sector workforce.

With Experience Bedfordshire, the tourism organisation for Central Bedfordshire, we enhance the area’s reputation, building on the skills of those employed and the standard of attractions and facilities within the sector.

To see more of the area’s unique landscape, geology and resulting rich natural and cultural heritage, watch the Greensand Country video.  

Download our brochure to discover more about Central Bedfordshire’s prosperous visitor economy sector.

Visitor Economy

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Woburn Enterprises

Incorporating Woburn Abbey, Woburn Golf Club, and Woburn Safari Park. Woburn Safari Park is one of the UK’s oldest wild animal parks.

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Just Go

Just go motorhomes has the largest, self-drive motorhome hire fleet in the UK.

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ZSL Whipsnade Zoo

Located on the picturesque Chiltern Hills, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is home to over 2,500animals.

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Whitbread

Whitbread is the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant operator, the home of brands such as Premier Inn, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and more. They employ 30,000 people nationwide and their Support Centre is based in Dunstable.

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Center Parcs

Center Parcs revolutionised the holiday market in the UK when it opened its first Village in July 1987, providing short break holidays in the forest on a year-round basis

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Go Ape

Since their launched at Thetford Forest in 2002, Go Ape have established 35 UK and 15 USA sites all offering tree top and zip wire challenges to over 10 million customers.

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Marston Vale Trust

The Marston Vale Trust own and operate the Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park as a social enterprise, with all profits generated ploughed back into creating the Forest of Marston Vale

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Shuttleworth

The Shuttleworth Trust exists to promote training and discovery in the knowledge and skills of agriculture, aviation and automotive technology. It is home to The Collection of antique airworthy aeroplanes, vintage cars, motorbikes, buses and more.