Woburn lies in the west of mid Bedfordshire and is surrounded by wooded countryside and parkland with the Greensand Ridge running through it. The town takes its name from its Saxon settlers – ‘wo’ meaning twisted – ‘burn’ meaning stream. The Normans had a great impact when in 1145, Hugh de Bolebec founded the Abbey which has remained a major influence ever since. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, the land passed in to the hands of the Russell family, who later became the Dukes of Bedford.
The Abbey today is an 18th-century palatial mansion and incorporates, among others, the Flying Duchess Room, Queen Victoria’s Bedroom and the State Dining Room. The treasures that can be seen are acknowledged as one of the finest private collections in England.
Also part of the estate is the award winning Woburn Safari Park with its game reserve drive and new Sea Lion Cove, a golf course and antiques centre.
The quality and variety of the buildings in Woburn that give it its character range from the 17th century to the present with more than 200 of these being listed. The Woburn Heritage Centre and Museum holds a wealth of local information and charts the colourful history of the area.