Countryside sites - Houghton Hall Park

Name

Houghton Hall Park

Overview

Located in the heart of Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire, Houghton Hall Park is a hidden gem - unlocking 42 acres of parkland, woodland and so much more to visitors and the local community while retaining its valuable history.

The park is jointly managed by Central Bedfordshire Council and Houghton Regis Town Council. Central Bedfordshire Council was awarded a grant of £2.2 million to transform the park as part of the 'Renaissance and Renewal Project' from Heritage and Big Lottery Funds ‘Parks for People’ grant scheme. The completion of this transformation was in October 2017 when the new visitor centre was open to the public. This project has provided an opportunity for the park and its heritage to be protected while delivering multiple community benefits, making Houghton Regis a better place to live, work and visit.

Gardens in Houghton Hall Park

Houghton Hall Park includes the former Kitchen Garden and Formal Gardens of Houghton Hall, these have been transformed in recent years by our Community Gardener and a team of volunteers. Take a stroll to the gardens and you will find an oasis of calm, throughout the year you will have the opportunity to sample the array of produce grown (for a small donation).

Activities and events

We aim to deliver events for a wide range of audiences to enjoy and engage with, the park hosts Parkrun and Junior Parkrun every Saturday and Sunday and has numerous activities and events planned throughout the year including a Dog Festival, Children’s trails, Christmas markets, Forest Bathing, Buggy Exercise and much more!

Café and Visitors Centre

The Café and Visitors Centre is open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm, these times may vary seasonally.

With plenty to offer on the menu in the cafe, our dog-friendly café makes for the perfect stop after a refreshing walk in the park…and a perfect setting to catch up with some friends over a coffee and slice of homemade cake. Indoor and outdoor seating is available - providing exceptional views of the park while you relax in your surroundings.

Green Flag Award

Green Flag Award logo

The excellent attributes of the park were further recognised in 2019 when the site received a Green Flag award. This scheme acknowledges well-managed parks and green spaces, measuring against benchmarked standards for the management of recreational outdoor spaces in the UK and beyond.

How to find us

The visitor centre is located at the Park Road North entrance to the park. If you are using a Sat Nav, we strongly recommend searching for Park Road North rather than using the postcode (LU5 5FU). From here you can follow the brown tourism road sign to Houghton Hall Park - there is a purple welcome sign on Park Road North outside the entrance to the visitor centre car park.

Visiting on foot

Great! We always encourage visitors to walk to the park if possible, as this is a fantastic way to act sustainably while making sure not to miss out on any of what the park has to offer.

Visiting by public transport

We recommend using Traveline to plan your journey in advance from your starting location and navigating to Park Road North, Houghton Regis.

Visiting by car

There are 39 car parking spaces adjacent to the visitor centre – these are free to use, however, please ensure that you display a free parking ticket from the machine if parking Monday - Friday from 7am to 6pm as the car park is subject to a 3-hour parking limit within these hours and enforcement patrols are in place. Access is via a 2.1m height barrier, restricting vehicular access in excess of this height.

Keep track of progress on the project or sign up for regular news on the Houghton Hall Park website and Facebook page or contact Houghton Hall Park:

Telephone: 0300 300 8586
Emailhhp@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Map

Website