Pictures of Elstow

a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire

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About Elstow

This pleasant village, with many thatched cottages and houses, was the birthplace of the writer of Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan was born here and was baptised in the Church of St. Helena and St.Mary in the year 1628, his family are buried in the churchyard.

Elstow's fine Moot Hall is a building of 1500, this is a medieval market hall which is open to the public, it houses a collection illustrating John Bunyan's life and times. The Moot Hall has beautiful timbers and an overhanging upper floor which contains the main room. This, together with the parish church, overlooks the village green.

A nunnery was founded here by the sister of William the Conqueror, this is believed to have had its own gallows, pillory and ducking pond. Nothing now remains of the original nunnery buildings, save for what is used for the present day church which has parts dating back to the 11th century. Despite being much restored there remains fine Norman work to be seen, including vaulting. The church with it's detached bell-tower of the 15th century has much to interest the visitor, there is a large Perpendicular font, this is octagonal, decorated with quatrefoils on the bowl and figures to the base. The wooden pulpit is of the same period, this has intricate carved panels, and there are interesting monuments from many periods.

Elstow lies surrounded by rich agricultural lands, it has a good mix of old and new properties, is within easy reach of many other delightful Bedfordshire villages, with the town of Bedford and its interesting museum lying a few miles north of this attractive village.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Elstow

Houghton House	(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction S)	Pictures
Maulden Wood	(4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Stevington Country Park	(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Rowney Warren	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
The Swiss Garden	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction E)	Pictures
Shuttleworth House	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction E)	Pictures
The Shuttleworth Collection	(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction E)	Pictures
Cainhoe Castle	(6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Wrest Park House and Gardens	(6.9 miles, 11.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Harrold-Odell Country Park	(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Woburn Safari Park	(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Chicheley Hall	(9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Woburn Abbey	(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Sharpenhoe Clappers	(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Barton Hills Nature Reserve	(10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction S)	Pictures

All attractions in Elstow
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Recommended towns near Elstow

Bedford, a Historic Market Town in the county of Bedfordshire (2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction N)
Bedford is the historic County town of Bedfordshire with a beautiful riverside setting on the great River Ouse. John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's has strong associations with this town.
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Willington, a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire (4.3 miles, 6.9 km, direction NE)
Willington lies on the south east outskirts of Bedford, it is most notable for its Dovecote, an oblong structure with nesting...
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Ampthill, a Historic Market Town in the county of Bedfordshire (5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction S)
The lovely town of Ampthill lies sheltered by hills in the sandstone belt of Bedfordshire.
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Old Warden, a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire (5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction E)
Old Warden is a sleepy Bedfordshire village with pretty honey-coloured thatched cottages and a wealth of other interesting buildings.
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Clophill, in the county of Bedfordshire (5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction S)
A village surrounded by woodlands and famous for the art of straw plaiting used to make straw boater hats. Legend has it that...
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Silsoe, a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire (6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction S)
Silsoe is mostly noted for Wrest Park, a mansion in French Chateaux style which was the home of the de Grey family.
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Barton Le Clay, a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire (9.2 miles, 14.9 km, direction S)
The attractive village of Barton-le-Clay nestles at the foot of the beautiful Barton Hills, it is ringed by beautiful...
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Woburn, in the county of Bedfordshire (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction SW)
The picturesque village of Woburn has an mixture of delightful old cottages and the magnificent Woburn Abbey.
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Olney, a Historic Market Town in the county of Buckinghamshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction W)
Amongst other things the small town of Olney in Buckinghamshire is famous for its hymns - Amazing Grace was one of the so-called Olney Hymns written by the rector John Newton, and William Cowper, the poet.
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Newport Pagnell, a Historic Market Town in the county of Buckinghamshire (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction W)
Visitors here can find plenty to interest them, the town has the worlds oldest iron-bridge still in use for motorised traffic.
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Hitchin, a Historic Market Town in the county of Hertfordshire (13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction SE)
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Milton Keynes, in the county of Buckinghamshire (13.4 miles, 21.5 km, direction W)
Of interest to visitors to the town is Milton Keynes Museum, this preserves the history of the town and its area from the early 19th century through to the present day.
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Ashwell, in the county of Hertfordshire (13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction E)
Ashwell embodies some of the finest domestic architecture in England, here in this well preserved village, at a glance you get a pleasurable insight as to what England was like in the 16th and 17th-centuries.
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Baldock, in the county of Hertfordshire (14.0 miles, 22.5 km, direction SE)
The town lies close to the River Beane, in a spot where the river flows through some lovely water meadows and tranquil English countryside.
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Bletchley, in the county of Buckinghamshire (14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction SW)
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All towns in Bedfordshire
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Nearby travel help

Bedford St. Johns Station	(1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction N)
Kempston Hardwick Station	(1.8 miles, 2.9 km, direction SW)
M1 Junction 13	(8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction SW)
M1 Junction 12	(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction S)
London Luton Airport	(16.2 miles, 26.1 km, direction S)
Cambridge Airport	(28.0 miles, 45.0 km, direction E)
Elstow to London	(43.5 miles, 70.0 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Elstow

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Elstow center
The Barns Hotel (Form. Corus Hotel Bedford)	(2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction NE)
Embankment Hotel	(2.2 miles, 3.6 km, direction N)
De Pary's Hotel	(2.8 miles, 4.5 km, direction N)
Shakespeare Hotel	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction N)
Queens Head Hotel	(6.7 miles, 10.7 km, direction N)
Holiday Inn Garden Court Sandy	(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction E)
Menzies Flitwick Manor	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction S)
The Carriage House	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction SE)
Best Western Moore Place Hotel	(9.4 miles, 15.2 km, direction SW)
St Neots (Eaton Socon) Premier Travel Inn	(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Elstow