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...
1. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire
50 Gems of Bedfordshire: The History & Heritage of the Most Iconic Places by John Jackson & Jenny Jackson is available via http://www.amberley-books.com/ Photo: Philip Dean
2. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: De Gray Mausoleum, Flitton
The De Gray Mausoleum, Flitton, is among the largest sepulchral chapels attached to any English church. The cruciform mausoleum houses a remarkable sequence of 17 sculpted and effigied monuments, spanning nearly two and a half centuries (1614-1859), to the De Grey family of Wrest Park. Photo: P Abrams
3. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: Former estate workers’ thatched cottages, Ampthill
The thatched cottages in Ampthill, constructed between 1812 and 1816, are a testament to the town's historical significance and architectural heritage. The cottages were built by the Duke of Bedford to house estate workers and are now part of the Ampthill Conservation Area. Photo: P Abrams
4. 50 Gems of Bedfordshire: Old Town Hall, Woburn
The Old Town Hall in Woburn is a Grade II listed building , built by the Duke of Bedford in 1830. Originally designed by Edward Blore, the majestic Jacobethan style building has been modified and was partly converted to offices. It is now used as a retail space. Photo: P Abrams