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Welcome to Railtrail Tours

A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.

Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm

<img src="imperialwarmuseumduxford4©shutterstock.jpeg" alt="Imperial War Museum Duxford"/>

Bygone Times of Bletchley & Beyond

Journey through history and explore aviation legacy on this fascinating tour to Bedford. Visit extraordinary wartime headquarters, uncover the secrets of Bletchley Park, discover the tactics and techniques of military intelligence, and explore the largest collection of historic aircraft in Europe on this captivating journey back in time.

View Dates & Book

5 days from £679

 

DEPARTS

Tuesday 3 June 2025

Tuesday 14 October 2025

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Discover the fascinating Military Intelligence Museum

  • Journey through the development of aviation design at the Shuttleworth Collection

  • Uncover the extraordinary secrets of Bletchley Park on a guided tour

  • Learn of the complex methods and machines used by Codebreakers

  • Tour the remarkable Imperial War Museum Duxford

  • Explore the largest collection of historic aircraft in Europe

 

Also included in your Tour Fare:

  • 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 lunch

  • Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Bedford and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Bedford Centre Hotel, our base for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

D

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to the Military Intelligence Museum* where we learn the story of British military intelligence and discover the tactics, techniques, and equipment used on our guided tour led by a veteran. Afterwards, we continue to Shuttleworth, the location of the private collection of Richard Shuttleworth who rescued and restored old aircraft and vehicles. After lunch, we can explore the six hangars showing the development of aviation design and wander through the delightful Swiss Garden before returning to Bedford in time for our evening meal.

*Photographic ID is required for entry to the Military Intelligence Museum as this is an MOD controlled site.

B, L, D

DAY 3

Today, we travel to the extraordinary Bletchley Park, home of Britain's World War II Codebreakers. We explore this once top-secret operation enjoying immersive films, interactive displays, museum collections, and faithfully recreated WWII rooms including codebreaking huts where Enigma messages we decrypted, translated, and analysed. We learn of the brilliant minds, intricate methods, and complex machines that helped to win the war.

B, D

DAY 4

After breakfast today, our private coach takes us to the Imperial War Museum Duxford where we enjoy a guided tour of this remarkable airfield learning of the history of Duxford, exploring the collection of aircraft and military vehicles, and seeing iconic aircraft take to the skies. On return, if time allows, we make a leisurely stop in Cambridge before continuing back to our hotel for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Bedford and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

B

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

Bedford Centre Hotel, Bedford

Ideally situated in the heart of the market town of Bedford, the Bedford Centre Hotel is within walking distance of the railway station and provides panoramic views over the River Great Ouse at the Riverside Restaurant & Bar. The newly refurbished bedrooms offer a private bathroom with a rainfall shower, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

 

FARES

Fare Region

First*

Standard

London: St Pancras

£719

£709

Greater London

£735

£715

South of England

£799

£745

East Anglia

£805

£759

South West

£919

£835

Heart of England

£819

£755

Midlands

£885

£775

Yorkshire

£945

£819

North East

£979

£839

North West

£899

£775

South Wales

£899

£819

North Wales

£809

£765

Scotland

£1,035

£869

 

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

 

Join & Leave at Hotel £679

June Departure Supplement £30

Single Room Supplement £140

 

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus 1 lunch

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

 

Moderate Tour Suitability Table

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

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Contact Us
Railtrail Tours Limited
21 The Smithfield Centre, Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5JW
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