Biggleswade

Biggleswade is a market town of 22,000 people (2019) in Bedfordshire.

By train

 * There is a staffed ticket office with limited opening hours. There is also a 24-hour ticket machine next to the footbridge.
 * All platforms are accessed via the footbridge with steps only - there is no level access to any platform.
 * The journey to King's Cross takes approximately
 * Standard service pattern (M-Sa) is one fast and one semi-fast train per hour.
 * There is an ATM/cashpoint outside of the ticket office
 * A small café is available to the right of the main station building (limited opening hours)
 * Paid for car parking is available outside the station main building, and also in the former goods yard (adjacent to the concrete block distribution depot). Tickets are obtained from machines. There is also a smaller free car park further along the same access road in the former goods yard.
 * Paid for car parking is available outside the station main building, and also in the former goods yard (adjacent to the concrete block distribution depot). Tickets are obtained from machines. There is also a smaller free car park further along the same access road in the former goods yard.

By bus
There is a small bus station on the Market Square.


 * Regular services operated by Stagecoach :
 * 73 Biggleswade - Sandy - Moggerhanger - Bedford (half-hourly)
 * M4 Biggleswade - Ickwell - Cople - Cardington - Bedford (hourly)
 * Regular services operated by Centrebus:
 * 171 Biggleswade - Henlow - Hitchin (hourly)
 * Regular services operated by Chiltern Travel:
 * E1 Biggleswade - Potton - Gamlingay (every 2 hours)
 * E2 Biggleswade - Potton - Everton - Sandy (every 2 hours)
 * E4 Biggleswade - Eyeworth - Wrestlingworth (hourly)
 * E6 Biggleswade - Upper Caldicote - Old Warden (loop, every 2 hours)
 * Regular services operated by Grant Palmer:
 * 200 Biggleswade - Shefford - Clophill - Maulden or Ampthill (every 2 hours)

By car

 * Biggleswade is on the A1, about north of the end of the Southern Section of the A1(M).  It is therefore well connected to London, the M25, Hertfordshire, Peterborough and the North.  The A14 passes North of Biggleswade, linking the A1 to East Anglia and the East Midlands.
 * Smaller roads link the town to Bedford and Cambridge.

By bike

 * The A1 is not a very cycle-friendly road; other, smaller roads in the area are far more so.
 * There are several bridle paths linking Biggleswade to surrounding towns, which are passable for mountain and hybrid bikes.
 * The National Cycle Network Route 51 is due to be extended from Biggleswade to Sandy and Hitchin, using some of these bridle paths and minor roads.
 * The old Sandy—Bedford railway line nearby is now a dedicated cycle route (National Cycle Network Route 51).

Get around
Biggleswade is a small town, and many places can be reached on foot. There are, however, some outlying trading estates and superstores.

By bus
Two hourly, daytime, local bus services, operated by Herberts Travel:
 * 185 Town Centre to Holme Court Avenue.
 * 187 Town Centre to Stratton Way.

By bike
A cycle route runs north–south through the town, mostly off-road, following the railway line.

The town centre has plenty of bike racks.

See



 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Buy

 * There are several shops (local and chains) in the town centre, as well as the Saturday and farmers' markets.
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Drink
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.



Sleep
There's only a couple of hotels in the town itself: there are, however, more motel-style places out by the A1, and some country B&Bs in the area.



Park
The town centre can get congested, but there are large car parks at Asda (in Church Street), and in Rose Lane. Smaller car parks are located in St Andrew's Street, opposite the Library/Fire Station in Chestnut Avenue, and for Aldi customers, in Bonds Lane. There is also time-restricted parking on the Market Square (except Saturdays when the Market is in town) and in the area around Station Road and Back Street.

Go next

 * Cambridge is 25 miles away.
 * Cambridge is 25 miles away.
 * Cambridge is 25 miles away.
 * Cambridge is 25 miles away.