Bedfordshire, Ceremonial county in East England
Bedfordshire sits between Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, with the chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills rising in its southern part. The landscape lifts gently from flat central plains to the wooded slopes of this ridge, while the rivers Ouse and Ivel wind through meadows and farmland.
The name first appears in written records in 1011 as Bedanfordscir, derived from the river crossing of a man called Beda. For centuries administration remained divided into nine hundreds until reforms in the 20th century created the current structure.
At markets and village fairs across the area you encounter a traditional pastry that combines meat filling with sweet fruit preserve in a single roll. This preparation traces back to the habits of farmworkers who needed a main course and dessert in one portable meal during long hours in the fields.
The area operates under three separate unitary authorities – Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton – which each provide their own services and handle local matters. For orientation it helps to know that each authority has different information points and service locations.
On the edge of Luton stands the fifth busiest airport in the country by passenger numbers, connecting directly to many European destinations. Its proximity to London makes it a popular alternative to the capital's larger airports.
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