Woburn

Woburn is most widely known for its twin attractions of Woburn Abbey and Woburn Safari Park, but the village itself deserves some attention. There are over 200 listed buildings in the village, most of the Georgian period.

The village has made a concerted effort to maintain an atmosphere of Georgian elegance, which is evident in the collection of shops selling gifts and antiques. Old St. Mary's church houses a small heritage centre which tells the story of the village and its famous landlords, the Dukes of Bedford.

A more modern piece of ecclesiastical architecture is St. Mary the Virgin, built by the 8th Duke of Bedford in 1865-68. The church originally had a tower, but this proved unsafe and was removed in 1890.

St. Mary's takes its inspiration from the French Gothic style, but is blessedly restrained - at least by the standards of Victorian mock-Gothic. Note the gargoyles and other strange creatures peering from the tower.

Woburn Safari Park
The largest drive-through safari park in England, Woburn provides an opportunity to study African wildlife close at hand - through a car window. Lions, and tigers roam through the park, and visitors can also try their hands at feeding nectar to lorikeets in the glass aviary.