Pictures of Old Warden

a Picturesque Village in the county of Bedfordshire

Old Warden Pictures Old Warden Hotels Nearby Towns Nearby Attractions Old Warden Facts Old Warden Forum Old Warden Map Sponsor Registration Add Pictures Add town to favourites

About Old Warden

Old Warden is a sleepy Bedfordshire village with pretty honey-coloured thatched cottages and a wealth of other interesting buildings. The village is situated on the Shuttleworth Estate, where Old Warden Park, a superb historic mansion, formerly the home of the Shuttleworth family, acts as a grandiose centre piece. The house, surrounded by 500 acres of parkland is now an elegant country hotel.

The village offers plenty to do. It has the most delightful mixture of properties, some are highly decorative after the style of a "picture postcard" Swiss chalet, whilst others have attractive gables or thatch.

High summer is an important time in the village, many events take place and the estate offers falconry displays, Swiss gardens, classic car shows, craft fairs and an air show, held on the old Warden airfield. The airfield is part of the Shuttleworth Trust, and here you will find a living museum with glorious aviation relics from the earliest days of flying, right through the golden age of flight, war time aviation, and later aircraft. The museum is a tribute to Pioneer pilots and everything to do with the birth of aviation, it has wonderful machines and exhibits that make you marvel and wonder as to how the fragile early aeroplanes flew, and at the daring, skill and courage of men and women who flew them.

The church of St. Leonard is late 12th century, with an older tower of brown cobbles. It has an interesting interior showing fine woodwork. Some of the interior was restored and renewed by the generosity of Lord Ongley in 1841. The church has a large font from the 14th century and stained glass from Warden Abbey. Of the several fine monuments to see the most interesting is to Sir Samuel Ongley, dated 1726 and signed by Scheemakers, and Delvaux.

One mile west-south-west of the village on the site of Warden Abbey, originally founded by Walter Epec in 1135, there now stands a flourishing vineyard, the home of award winning Warden Wines. The vineyard was started in 1986 by Jane Whitbread on the site of an earlier vineyard worked by medieval monks. The abbey was once famous for Warden pears, a variety of fruit mentioned by William Shakespeare.

North of the church are the earthwork's of Quint's Hill, probably dating from the early Iron Age.

The village has the usual village amenities including the Hare and Hounds, a picturesque, traditional country pub at the heart of the Shuttleworth estate.

Set within easy driving distance to Bedford, Old Warden makes the perfect destination for a pleasant day out or to use as a base for exploring one of England's most interesting counties.

Planning a visit to Old Warden?
Please support the Pictures of England website by booking your Old Warden hotels & accommodation through this site.

Add town to favourites

History of Old Warden

Recommended towns & villages near Old Warden

	Bedford (6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction NW) 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... Information | Pictures (72) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Ampthill (7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction SW) The lovely town of Ampthill lies sheltered by hills in the sandstone belt of Bedfordshire... Information | Pictures (13) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Ashwell (8.3 miles, 13.3 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... Information | Pictures (35) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Baldock (8.9 miles, 14.3 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... Information | Pictures (5) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages
	Hitchin (9.2 miles, 14.9 km, direction S) .. Information | Pictures (51) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages

Recommended attractions near Old Warden

	The Swiss Garden (0.7 miles, 1.1 km) These glorious gardens, laid out in the early part of the 19th century, fully embrace the romanticism of the era. The fashion at..... Information | Pictures (29) | Hotels
	The Shuttleworth Collection (1.1 miles, 1.7 km) The Shuttleworth Collection - a unique flying collection showcasing the first one hundred years of flight. This unique collection..... Information | Pictures (48) | Hotels
	Shuttleworth House (1.1 miles, 1.7 km) coming soon email: collection@shuttleworth.org http://www.shuttleworthcollection.co.uk/.. Information | Pictures (3) | Hotels
	Rowney Warren (2.4 miles, 3.9 km, direction SW) Rowney Warren is a lively woodland managed jointly by the Southill Estate and the Forestry Commission. The wood is predominantly..... Information | Pictures (1) | Hotels
	Maulden Wood (3.9 miles, 6.2 km, direction SW) Maulden Wood is an attractive mix of semi-natural broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland and conifer plantations. A waymarked walk..... Information | Hotels

Hotels & Accommodation in Old Warden

Old Warden Hotels  Old Warden Cottages  Old Warden Bed & Breakfast

	Beadlow Manor Hotel Shefford, Bedfordshire, England (2.8 miles, 4.4 km, direction S) Set in the Bedfordshire countryside, Beadlow Manor Hotel offers refurbished en suite rooms and two 18-hole golf courses. There is a bar and free private parking on site. Rooms are serviced from the G... More info and book online..  Price from £29.00
	Holiday Inn Garden Court Sandy Sandy, Bedfordshire, England (3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction NE) Holiday Inn Garden Court Sandy is located on the A1, 1 mile from Sandy Town Centre. It offers free parking and modern rooms with cable TV.... More info and book online..  Price from £44.00
	The Airman Hotel Shefford, Bedfordshire, England (3.8 miles, 6.2 km, direction S) Set in the Bedfordshire countryside, the Airman Hotel is 15 minutes’ drive from Hitchin and the A1(M) motorway. The restaurant and bar feature fresh-cooked food, beamed ceilings and a log fire.... More info and book online..  Price from £45.00
	Champneys Henlow Henlow, Bedfordshire, England (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction SE) Nestled in 150 acres of parkland, this exclusive spa hotel offers over 80 indulgent treatments by world-class therapists. Champneys Henlow has a secluded location in rural Bedfordshire, just outside L... More info and book online..  Price from £89.00
	The Barns Hotel Bedford, Bedfordshire, England (5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction NW) The Barns Hotel is situated in a beautiful riverside location, within 3.5 acres of landscaped gardens, yet just 10 miles (16 km) from the M1 and 8 miles (13 km) from A1.... More info and book online..  Price from £54.00

Nearby travel help