There’s lots to see at The Higgins Bedford this bank holiday weekend, with displays telling the story of the local area, alongside collections of art and design.

It’s also a great chance to see our current exhibitions: Airship Dreams: Escaping Gravity and Going to Town – 200 Years of Bedford’s Art.

We are open Saturday 11am – 5pm and Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday 2pm – 5pm.

Plan your visit to The Higgins Bedford and book your FREE online ticket here. If you are unable to book online, please telephone the Box Office on 01234 718044 – line available Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm. 

Take Flight with Little Science Lab

Thursday 2nd September

£5 per ticket, Booking Essential

Join Little Science Lab for exciting outdoor workshops and make your own explosive paint rocket artwork, soaring cup fliers and paper rockets.

Workshops will be taking place outdoors at The Higgins Bedford and are suitable for children aged 5+.

Find out more about the workshops and book your tickets here.

The HSHAZ project together with Bedford Borough Council, The Higgins Bedford and Albion Archaeology have launched an exciting competition for the best built paper model of the iconic Goldings building.

Goldings was in business on the High Street for 150 years and holds many fond memories for local residents. Now you can create your own scale model at home and discover more of its history.

Bedford BID have kindly donated three Love Bedford vouchers as prizes for residents who build the best Goldings model across three age categories: under 13 years (£25), 13-17 years (£25) and over 18 years (£50). The three winning models will also be displayed at The Higgins Bedford for a limited time.

Construction sheets are available to download here. A limited number of printed copies can be picked up from The Higgins Bedford. The competition closes 30th September. 

Find out more here. 

You can also join in online workshops for helpful hints on making the models and to discover more about the history of Goldings.

Workshop 1: Saturday 4th September, 11am to 1pm, Booking Essential

Workshop 2: Wednesday 8th September, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Booking Essential

To book your place, or for more information please email clare.rogers@bedford.gov.uk

Join in with fun physical activities at The Higgins Bedford to meet new people and help improve wellbeing.

Mindful Table Tennis

Every Monday (except Bank Holiday Monday – next session 6th September)

12:30pm – 1:30pm, £3

Social games with free play and coaching. Maximum 2 players per table. Ages 18+

Mindful Walks

Every Friday

11am – 12:30pm, Free

Social walking group  down the river with a drinks stop afterwards. Maximum 30 people. Ages 18+. Meet at The Higgins Bedford.

Email vicki.blair@bedford.gov.uk for more information.

Remember When?… – Reminiscence Mornings at The Higgins Bedford

Free Entry, Refreshments £1

Booking Essential

We’re re-starting our friendly reminiscence coffee mornings at The Higgins Bedford. A great way to meet new people and be inspired by memories and stories of the past.

Airship Dreams – Community Stories Explored

Thursday 16th September, 11am 

Going to Town – Part 1 Off to the Shops

Thursday 14th October, 11am

Going to Town – Part 2 The Embankment

Thursday 18th November, 11am 

More sessions available here.

To book your place, please telephone 01234 718618 and ask to speak to Lydia Saul. Limited places are available.

We’re joining in with The Great Big Green Week, the largest national event celebrating action against climate change and encouraging communities to explore and protect green spaces.

Plant Stall

Saturday 18th September

11am – 4pm

The Higgins Bedford Garden volunteers will be selling plants, seeds, gardening books and other gardening goods at this plant stall. All of the proceeds will go towards maintaining the gardens at Castle Close.

Garden Tours

Saturday 18th September

11:30am and 2:30pm

Free Event. No need to book.

Get to know the hidden secrets of the gardens at Castle Close and behind the walls of The Panacea Museum – Bedford’s own Garden of Eden on these garden tours. Each tour should last about 40 minutes. Meet at the entrance of The Higgins Bedford 5 minutes before each tour.

Find more local events here.

The Friends of The Higgins Bedford play an important part in the life of the art gallery and museum. Joining the Friends will put you at the heart of The Higgins Bedford and will help to support your local art gallery and museum.

The Friends of The Higgins Bedford are re-starting their programme of online lectures, starting with The Landmark Trust by Alastair Dick-Cleland on Tuesday 7th September at 7pm. You can see the full programme here.

Find out more about joining The Friends of the Higgins Bedford here.