Summary
Surrounded by the initial foothills of the Chiltern Hills, Dunstable is a market town located in the southernmost part of Bedfordshire.
The modern urban center post-World War II serves as a regional shopping hub; however, historical treasures await exploration at Dunstable Priory, showcasing significant Norman stonework, in addition to the Priory House Heritage Centre, which features the vaults of the priory’s Medieval guesthouse.
Exceptional attractions such as Whipsnade Zoo are conveniently located near the town center, alongside the expansive chalk hill landscapes of Dunstable Downs and Blow’s Downs, offering panoramic views for miles.
The surrounding countryside outside Dunstable comprises ecologically significant grasslands teeming with wildflowers and butterflies.
1. Whipsnade Zoo
Whipsnade Zoo, the largest and perhaps finest zoo in the country, is situated in the parish of Dunstable, a mere ten minutes from the town center.
This establishment, part of the conservation charity Zoological Society of London, integrates a zoo and safari park experience.
Occupying an extensive 600 acres, it is home to nearly 3,900 animals within continually updated habitats.
In 2017, for example, Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the £2 million indoor Centre for Elephant Care, designed for a herd of nine Asian elephants.
The newly established butterfly house showcases hundreds of vibrant butterflies from 30 distinct species. Attendees can also participate in various educational talks and demonstrations highlighting giraffes, tigers, lemurs, hippos, sea lions, and more by consulting the daily schedule.
Navigation throughout the park is facilitated by a bus service and the Jumbo Express, a miniature steam railway that winds through the park, passing by enclosures housing yaks, rhinos, camels, and elephants.
2. Dunstable Priory
Dunstable Priory, established by King Henry I in 1132 and known as the Parish Church of St Peter since 1392, retains much of its original architecture, standing as one of the most intact Norman Romanesque structures in the UK. It is important to note that what is visible today constitutes only the nave of the initial priory church.
The notable Norman round arches adorning the entrance and extending along the church’s central aisle date back to the 12th century. These features harmoniously blend with Gothic elements from the Early English style of the 12th and 13th centuries and the Perpendicular style observed in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Significant interior highlights include a splendid open rood screen crafted in the 1300s, along with brasses from 1516 and 1640, in addition to various elaborate funerary monuments carved in the early 18th century.
3. Dunstable Downs
Situated within Dunstable Downs, the highest elevation in the East of England, reaches an impressive height of 243 meters at its northeastern edge of the Chiltern Hills.
This altitude often brings boisterous winds, attracting gliders, hang-gliders, paragliders, and kites to the sky.
Given Dunstable Downs’ strategic position, it served as a signaling site during the Napoleonic Wars, forming part of the shutter telegraph chain connecting London to Great Yarmouth.
The area is crossed by the historic Icknield Way, a path believed to have Celtic origins that stretches from Norfolk to Wiltshire, which transitions into the Ridgeway National Trail at Ivinghoe Beacon.
Furthermore, there are ample historical points of interest, such as the Five Knolls Bronze Age Burial Mounds and a rabbit warren established during Norman times.
4. Chilterns Gateway Centre
Engage in enjoyable activities at the Chilterns Gateway Centre, which features a selection of kites available for purchase.
A café is also available for those wishing to take a respite from the winter chill.
The Centre, designed as a modern glass building, is located at the highest point of Dunstable Downs, offering breathtaking views that invite visitors to relax and enjoy the scenery.
If time is limited, access to the visitor center is possible via the B4541; however, the scenic walk from Whipsnade is delightful for those willing to tackle the climb, as it follows the Icknield Way (also recognized as the Chiltern Way at this juncture).
5. Priory House Heritage Centre
Located on the High Street, the Priory House exhibits a history that predates its stuccoed Georgian facade.
Originally established as a guesthouse for visitors to the priory, it retains its groin-vaulted undercroft, which dates back to the 13th century.
The building underwent expansion from the 17th century onward and has served as Dunstable’s heritage center since 2003, showcasing exhibitions related to the town’s history.
Visitors can admire the vaulted ceiling and a Tudor fireplace while using the center as a launching point for trails around Dunstable, highlighting its historic straw hat-making industry and coaching inns.
Furthermore, many individuals travel considerable distances to enjoy the center’s tea rooms, recognized as the only establishment in Bedfordshire with membership to the UK’s esteemed Tea Guild.
6. Grove Theatre
Situated in the town center, Dunstable’s premier performing arts venue opened its doors in April 2007, delightfully located at the edge of Grove House Gardens.
This 780-seat regional theatre hosts a variety of touring musicians, plays, musicals, dance troupes, ballet, opera, and children’s theatre, as well as live screenings of RSC performances and talks by notable historians, political figures, and authors.
The annual pantomime in December has become a tradition for families, while the Grove Theatre functions as a cinema, screening both blockbuster and independent films.
During school break periods, the theatre consistently offers activities to keep children engaged, including workshops for dance and musical theatre.
7. Houghton Hall Park
These 42 acres of restorative parkland and woodland situated north of Dunstable were opened to the public following a £2.2 million lottery grant.
The project concluded in October 2017 with the inauguration of a visitor center.
Facilities include a formal garden, a cedar lawn, several woodland walks, a splendid yew avenue, and four children’s play areas, including a designated natural play area.
Visitors can enjoy a coffee at the visitor center, which also serves as a hub for activities such as pilates, yoga, fitsteps, and weekly park runs held on Saturdays at 09:00 for adults and at the same time on Sundays for children.
8. Whipsnade Tree Cathedral
Nestled near the zoo in the village of Whipsnade, the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral is a remarkable garden maintained by the National Trust, with a poignant history behind its establishment.
As the name indicates, the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral is comprised of various tree species arranged along the contours of a chancel, transept, nave, aisles, and cloisters.
The park, which originated in the 1930s, was conceived as a memorial project by Edmund K. Blyth, a veteran of the First World War who had lost many comrades during the conflict.
Progress was interrupted by World War II when Blyth was required to rejoin his regiment; however, work resumed following the war.
The first religious service took place here in 1953, and various remembrance ceremonies continue to be held annually.
9. Blow’s Downs
Rising to the east of Dunstable, Blow’s Downs is characterized by a series of steep chalk hills adorned with unimproved grassland that remains untouched by modern agricultural practices. These hills reveal the faint outlines of Medieval terraces, while ponies and cattle graze the grass to maintain this rare habitat, now increasingly scarce within England.
During spring, the hillsides come alive with vibrant orchids, and Blow’s Downs may boast the largest concentration of pignuts found in a single location nationwide.
Furthermore, during their spring and autumn migrations, various bird species such as ring ouzels, wheatears, whinchats, and stonechats rest at Blow’s Downs.
While some slopes are steep, opportunities to pause and enjoy the scenic views of Dunstable await along the path.
10. Totternhoe Knolls
Maintained by the National Trust, Totternhoe Knolls, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is situated just a short distance from Dunstable.
This area features undulating chalk terrain, part of which was historically a quarry used to obtain a specific type of hard chalk employed in the interiors of Westminster Abbey and Woburn Abbey.
Moreover, noticeable earthworks remain from the Norman Totternhoe Castle, a motte-and-bailey stronghold dating back to the mid-12th century, distinguished by its two baileys rather than the common single baileys.
During the summer months, a variety of orchids bloom, while the grassland serves as a habitat for butterflies, including the chalkhill blue, common blue, and the rare Duke of Burgundy and small blue species.
11. Ashridge Estate
The Ashridge Estate, encompassing a substantial section of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, spans an impressive 5,000 acres, now managed by the National Trust.
Historically, the land was associated with Ashridge Priory during Medieval times and was transferred to the Crown following the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
By the 17th century, it had become a noble estate for the Egertons, with their striking early-19th Gothic Revival residence now serving as the Hult International Business School. Visitors can easily spend an entire day traversing the hilly woodlands of Ashridge without retracing their steps.
Although some climbs can be physically demanding, the breathtaking scenery compensates, and it is common to spot filming crews on location.
Notable scenes from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and “Sleepy Hollow” were filmed here.
Additionally, look for the Bridgewater Monument (1832), a climbable 33-meter Doric Column erected in honor of Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, who pioneered canal construction in the UK.
12. Ivinghoe Beacon
Located five miles from Dunstable is Ivinghoe Beacon, one of the highest peaks in the Chilterns, reaching a height of 233 meters.
This hill lies at the northern extremity of the Ashridge Estate and is characterized by the faint remnants of an Iron Age hillfort, while the landscape is dotted with the mounds of older Bronze Age burial sites.
The summit offers breathtaking views extending across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and even as far as Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Ivinghoe Beacon serves as the eastern trailhead for the Ridgeway National Trail, which traverses the Chilterns and North Wessex downs along an ancient route from Overton Hill in Wiltshire.
This 87-mile trail allows walkers to explore a segment on a 10-mile circular path through Ashridge, incorporating a portion of the Chiltern Way.
13. The Little Theatre
For a taste of Dunstable’s more intimate cultural offerings, the Dunstable Rep, a respected amateur theatre group, presents a range of performances.
Established in 1945, it operates within The Little Theatre, a transformed former library dating back to the 1880s.
The Little Theatre accommodates 99 seats, complemented by a bar, coffee room, and a green room for performers.
During the theatre’s operating season, six plays are staged, catering to various audiences.
At the time of writing, August Strindberg’s “Miss Julie” and Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” were among the scheduled performances.
14. Lancot Meadow
Positioned on Dunstable’s western border is a five-acre nature reserve that exhibits what the countryside would have looked like prior to the town’s expansion.
Lancot Meadow features chalk grassland that is unique for its flat terrain, not typically found on the slopes of the downs, and is bordered by hedgerows filled with winter berries.
The best time to visit for walks is in spring and early summer when wildflowers such as bird’s-foot trefoil, yellow rattle, spotted orchids, and ox-eye daisies bloom vibrantly.
15. Golf
The gently undulating grassy downs at the upper end of the Chilterns create an ideal setting for a round of golf, with two courses in close proximity.
Caddington Golf Club features an 18-hole par-71 course and a 9-hole academy course, both situated on the slopes of a shallow valley.
Green fees for the academy course are competitively priced at £8, while a single round on the 18-hole course costs £20 during weekdays and £25 on weekends.
Dunstable Downs Golf Club, which welcomes visitors, features another 18-hole course located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Golfers will encounter as some challenging slopes and dense tree cover when venturing off the fairways.
Notably, the 8th hole, a doglegged par 4, is known for its ability to challenge even the most seasoned professionals.
