Biggleswade

Biggleswade is a market town in Bedfordshire.

• Biggleswade has an attractive market square in the centre of the town, which hosts a lively general market on Saturday,a monthly farmers market and occasional continental markets.
• The River Ivel runs along the West side of the town, and has a mix of industrial, residential and rural views, some attractive, some less so. You can gain access by the Mill, and up by Sainsbury's, at the Northern A1 roundabout.
• St Andrew's Church is an attractive building on Shortmead St, set in a pleasant churchyard.
• The Local History Society has applied 'Green Plaques' to many buildings in the Town Centre with a short description of historical interest. Of particular note is the plaque in Shortmead Street denoting where Dan Albone, the inventor of the world's first practical motorised agricultural tractor ('The Ivel'), lived and had his workshop.

• Saxon Leisure Centre, Saxon Drive, SG18 8SU, +44 1767 313190. A good leisure centre on the Saxon Estate, with a gym and pool (and an active swimming club).

Saxon Leisure Centre, Saxon Drive, SG18 8SU, +44 1767 313190. A good leisure centre on the Saxon Estate, with a gym and pool (and an active swimming club).

• There are several shops (local and chains) in the town centre, as well as the Saturday and farmers' markets.
• Asda, Church Street, SG18, +44 1767 605100. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Supermarket on the old brewery site, in the town centre.
• Sainsbury's, Bells Brook, SG18 0NA, +44 1767 317587. Out near the A1 Northern roundabout, with a petrol station. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
• There is a trading estate on London Road, with a number of national chain shops, including Matalan, Halfords, Homebase, Laura Ashley (Home), Bensons, Argos Extra, Brantano, and Carpets for Less.
• Jordans Cereals, Holme Mills, SG18 9JY, +44 800 587 8901. Jordans are based in Biggleswade, and have a pleasant factory shop at Holme Mills, adjacent to the River Ivel between Biggleswade and Broom (the 200 bus service passes the door).

Asda, Church Street, SG18, +44 1767 605100. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Supermarket on the old brewery site, in the town centre.

Sainsbury's, Bells Brook, SG18 0NA, +44 1767 317587. Out near the A1 Northern roundabout, with a petrol station. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa 7:30AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

Jordans Cereals, Holme Mills, SG18 9JY, +44 800 587 8901. Jordans are based in Biggleswade, and have a pleasant factory shop at Holme Mills, adjacent to the River Ivel between Biggleswade and Broom (the 200 bus service passes the door).

• Raj Bengal, 61 Hitchin Street, +44 1767 318555. Does a great set dinner on Sunday
• The Viceroy, 51 Sun Street, SG18 0BY, +44 1767 312110. Another Indian restaurant, slightly further out of town, on Sun Street.

Raj Bengal, 61 Hitchin Street, +44 1767 318555. Does a great set dinner on Sunday

The Viceroy, 51 Sun Street, SG18 0BY, +44 1767 312110. Another Indian restaurant, slightly further out of town, on Sun Street.

• SurfinCafé, 3-4 Market House, SG18 8AQ, +44 870 760 5019. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 9AM-5PM. A very popular local meeting place, in the middle of the Market Square. Provides free WiFi with heaters and blankets outside in the winter. Great in the summer with over 100 people chilling in the sunshine. £2.40 for reg latte.

SurfinCafé, 3-4 Market House, SG18 8AQ, +44 870 760 5019. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 9AM-5PM. A very popular local meeting place, in the middle of the Market Square. Provides free WiFi with heaters and blankets outside in the winter. Great in the summer with over 100 people chilling in the sunshine. £2.40 for reg latte.

• Beego's Sandwich Bar, 32 High Street, SG18 0JL, +44 1767 314749. For the best sandwiches and baked potatoes in town!

Beego's Sandwich Bar, 32 High Street, SG18 0JL, +44 1767 314749. For the best sandwiches and baked potatoes in town!

• The Hare and Hounds, Old Warden, SG18 9HQ, +44 1767 627225. Just outside of Biggleswade in Old Warden, a wonderful pub-restaurant, serving home-cooked food. Named best dining pub in Bedfordshire in 2006.
• Dan Albone.

The Hare and Hounds, Old Warden, SG18 9HQ, +44 1767 627225. Just outside of Biggleswade in Old Warden, a wonderful pub-restaurant, serving home-cooked food. Named best dining pub in Bedfordshire in 2006.

Dan Albone.

There are several pubs throughout the town, particularly around the High Street and Market Square. Biggleswade used to be a brewing town, with Greene King brewery based where the Asda supermarket now stands. This means that most of the pubs are Greene King with the exception of a few freehouses.

The bar at the Stratton House Hotel is nice but can get a bit busy at weekends and has an over+21 door policy. The Lounge in Church Street is more upmarket and has a large spirits, wine and champagne list. The New Inn on Market Square is frequented by those only just old enough to drink but has a great juke box and a nice landlady. Real ale aficionados head for The Rose or the Golden Pheasant. The Red Lion has live bands at the tail end of the week and is open until late.

• Lounge, Church Street, SG18 0JS (Behind The Crown Hotel, Next door to Asda, +44 870 760 5019, +44 1767 221063 (Reservations). 9AM-11PM. Sophisticated wine and tapas bar in a 300-year-old vaulted malting barn. Very strict door policy so you'll be in good company in the evening with a fine wine and champagne drinking crowd. Gets very busy for lunch and weekend evenings. Plays musicals every Monday evening.

Lounge, Church Street, SG18 0JS (Behind The Crown Hotel, Next door to Asda, +44 870 760 5019, +44 1767 221063 (Reservations). 9AM-11PM. Sophisticated wine and tapas bar in a 300-year-old vaulted malting barn. Very strict door policy so you'll be in good company in the evening with a fine wine and champagne drinking crowd. Gets very busy for lunch and weekend evenings. Plays musicals every Monday evening.

• The Shuttleworth Collection, Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, Nr. Biggleswade, SG18 9EP, +44 1767 627927. Summer 10AM-5PM, Winter 10AM-4PM. An eccentric assortment of an airfield with antique aircraft (including some used in the film 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying machines) and vintage transport, a Swiss Garden, a bird of prey centre and a play area. Just outside Biggleswade, in the delightful village of Old Warden. £10 (£20 for all attractions).
• RSPB Sandy, off Potton Road, Sandy, +44 1767 680551. 9AM to sunset or 9PM. This lodge is the HQ of the RSPB and has a wonderful reserve to visit, even if you're not especially into birds. Sandy is a few miles North of Biggleswade. You can walk, take the train or the bus. £3.
• Moggerhanger House and Park, Park Road, Moggerhanger, Beds, MK44 3RW. A Grade 1 listed Georgian Country House by Sir John Soane with gardens originally laid out by Humphrey Repton, now a Christian Conference Centre. Cafe and Bistro open to the public - guided tours of the house (formerly home of the Governor of the Bank of England)available
• Cambridge is 25 miles away.

The Shuttleworth Collection, Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, Nr. Biggleswade, SG18 9EP, +44 1767 627927. Summer 10AM-5PM, Winter 10AM-4PM. An eccentric assortment of an airfield with antique aircraft (including some used in the film 'Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying machines) and vintage transport, a Swiss Garden, a bird of prey centre and a play area. Just outside Biggleswade, in the delightful village of Old Warden. £10 (£20 for all attractions).

RSPB Sandy, off Potton Road, Sandy, +44 1767 680551. 9AM to sunset or 9PM. This lodge is the HQ of the RSPB and has a wonderful reserve to visit, even if you're not especially into birds. Sandy is a few miles North of Biggleswade. You can walk, take the train or the bus. £3.

Moggerhanger House and Park, Park Road, Moggerhanger, Beds, MK44 3RW. A Grade 1 listed Georgian Country House by Sir John Soane with gardens originally laid out by Humphrey Repton, now a Christian Conference Centre. Cafe and Bistro open to the public - guided tours of the house (formerly home of the Governor of the Bank of England)available