Bedford River Festival 2026 10/07/2026
Grant Palmer, Bedfordshire’s award winning bus company, is set to help thousands of visitors travel to this year's Bedford River Festival with its dedicated 744 Park & Ride service operating on Saturday 18 July and Sunday 19 July 2026.
Running every 15 minutes from Elstow Park & Ride, the service offers a quick and convenient way to reach the festival while avoiding congestion and the challenge of finding parking in the town centre.
Passengers can take advantage of great-value fares, with £2.40 single, £4.40 return, or a £7 Park & Ride ticket for a car carrying up to five people, making it one of the most economical ways for families and groups to attend the festival.
Thomas Manship, Commercial Manager at Grant Palmer, said: "The Bedford River Festival is one of the highlights of the town's calendar, and we're delighted to once again provide the dedicated 744 Park & Ride service. It's the easiest way to get to the festival, allowing people to leave the car at Elstow and enjoy the day without worrying about parking or traffic. We're proud to operate Bedford's only Park & Ride service and look forward to welcoming both regular and new passengers on board."
The news of service 744 follows the Grant Palmer taking over operation of service 53 between Bedford and Wootton following a series of service reductions from other bus operators in the town. As Bedford's largest bus operator, Grant Palmer provides local bus services linking Bedford with communities including Kempston, Wootton, Bromham, Oakley and Harrold, carrying tens of thousands of passengers every week.
During the River Festival on Saturday 18th July we will be unable to serve bus stops at St Paul's Square or Horne Lane. Services 42, 44, 53, 68, 72, 73, 74 will all start and finish at Bedford College. Services 25 and 41 will operate as normal from Bedford Bus Station.