The Higgins

The Higgins is an art museum and collection space in Bedford that displays archaeological finds, social history objects, drawings, paintings, prints, and decorative arts across several gallery spaces. The collection includes British and local works from different periods and offers a broad overview of art and cultural history.

The museum was created by merging Bedford's separate art gallery and museum collections, which reopened to the public in 2015 after major renovations. This consolidation brought the town's art holdings together under one roof and established a new venue for presenting Bedford's cultural heritage.

The museum features works by British printmaker Edward Bawden, whose illustrations, watercolors, and designs left their mark on British visual arts. His creations occupy a place of honor in the collection and offer visitors a window into his creative range.

The museum is located on Castle Lane and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00 and Sundays from 14:00 to 17:00. Visitors should know that the buildings connect at several points, making for an interesting route through the space, though it means moving between different areas to see everything.

The building combines three structures from different time periods: a Victorian house, a modern extension, and a former brewery building. This unusual combination creates distinctive architecture where each section maintains its own character while forming part of a unified museum.

Location: Bedford

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11:00-17:00; Sunday 14:00-17:00

Phone: +441234718618

Website: https://thehigginsbedford.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.13618,-0.46379

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:47