Woburn: Safari, history and seasonal experiences

Woburn combines wildlife experiences with local history and seasonal activities. When planning your trip, it is worth deciding first what you want to focus on: the Road Safari at Woburn Safari Park takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes; historic buildings and walks offer a different focus. The lido and village events also depend on the season or a specific date.

Safari and wildlife

Woburn Safari Park is a safari wildlife park with a drive-through route and more than 75 species of exotic and endangered animals. Visits are possible only in your own vehicle. Allow approximately 60 to 90 minutes for the Road Safari. The Foot Safari features keeper talks and demonstrations, offering a different experience from the drive-through route. Check the park’s current access information before your visit.

The Deer Park behind Woburn Abbey is home to nine species of deer. One route from the Woburn Heritage Museum also leads into this park: Walk 5 includes a short path through it. When choosing a walk, you can therefore take into account whether you prefer a short passage through the park or a longer route.

Woburn Abbey and historic buildings

Woburn Abbey is a country house listed as a Grade I building. The site was granted to Lord John Russell in 1547, who later became the 1st Earl of Bedford. The park and pleasure gardens at Woburn Abbey include work by George London, Charles Bridgeman and Humphry Repton. Woburn Abbey and the gardens have been closed since 2019 for extensive restoration work; the timing of a reopening depends on updates from the estate.

The Church of Saint Mary in Woburn is also listed as a historic building and designated Grade II*. Henry Clutton built it between 1865 and 1868 for William, the 8th Duke of Bedford. The Woburn Heritage Museum is housed in the Old St Mary's Church and presents local history. The architectural history and museum thus offer different ways to explore the history of the area.

Walks around the village

The Woburn Heritage Museum sells eight leaflets for circular walks. The routes start and finish at the free car park in the village. Walk 5 includes the short path into Woburn Deer Park; at nine miles, Walk 8 is the longer route. This comparison helps you choose between a walk with a short passage through the park and a route that is specifically longer. The route information also makes clear that the leaflets cover different time commitments.

Seasonal activities and dates

During the summer season, Woburn Lido offers lane swimming, general swimming and Aqua FUN; cold-water swimming is available in winter. The pool is 23 metres long and 9 metres wide. Its shallow area is 1 metre deep, and its deeper area is 1.65 metres. If you plan to include the lido in your trip, check the current seasonal programme and booking information.

The annual Woburn Open Garden Weekend usually takes place over a weekend in June. One ticket gives access to a range of private and public gardens in the village; the gardens taking part vary from year to year. So check the dates and participating gardens for the relevant weekend.

Woburn Market is held on the third Sunday of each month in the village centre at “the Pitchings”. It offers local and international food, as well as products sold directly by farmers and producers. As the product mix, dates and arrangements may change, it is worth checking the latest market information in advance.

Choose the focus that suits your planned stay, and check the latest dates and information for seasonal activities.

Discover more destinations: Caddington, Elstow, Aspley Guise, Lower Stondon, Kensworth, Biggleswade, Milton Ernest, Henlow.

For the broader travel overview: Bedfordshire.