I find that the best way is to go to Heathrow and then walk to the central bus station and catch the bus. This is sign posted in the airport. This way you do not hit London at all and luggage on a train I found there was not the room to store it away. On a coach it is cheaper and also the luggage is in the bottom of the coach and safer. I came from Northampton and visited Bedford a lot as my mum was born there. Anyway your choice. I go to the UK each year and catch the National Express coach which one can book online. Cheers Eunice - Australia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "grant corson" <corson@adelphia.net> To: <BEDFORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 10:23 AM Subject: Re: [BDF] Beds Records Locations > You are wise to have a train pass, it really is the best way to travel. The > trains run frequently and you can get to see the country side in a relaxed > way, especially if you are used to driving on the right side of the road. > The Archives in Bedford are very helpful and the people there are super. > Your search might take you to a village that is not served by a train but > then there is usually a bus going where you need to go. We went twice to > Bedford and to Turvey where my folks are from and had only positive > experiences right down to the two gentlemen in the Three Cranes who found an > old map of Turvey showing house numbers that was a great help. > Have a wonderful time, no worries > Can't help you with the airport question, either one should get you on your > way, although I would guess Heathrow would be the most likely, then into > London and up to Bedford. I don't believe you can get a direct line from > either airport to Bedford but I might be mistaken. > Best, Grant Corson in Vermont, USA > > > On 1/31/06 8:35 AM, "Sandee" <sandee@ionet.net> wrote: > > > i am planning a trip from the USA to Bedford in June, and am inquiring about > > the best way to go about accessing local records. What departments would i > > contact?, will i have any problems looking and searching thru the records > > myself? if so, would there be any fees for looking and transcribing family > > information? i understand there would be fees if i get copies of records, can > > anyone advise what the fee amount would be? are there smaller local offices? > > if so, are they open daily for 8am-5pm, or does one need to go to the larger > > registration office in Bedford? where else may records be kept that i could > > look at first hand? Do local cemeteries have lists of internments? which > > cemeteries would be the most likely where the ancients would be buried? are > > church records accessable to the public? > > > > I will be primarily searching: Bedford, Shefford, Sandy, Hamlet of Ireland, > > Biggleswade, Southill, and Wyboston areas in Beds, as well as Hinxworth and > > Tring in Herts, and Winslow and Aylesbury in Bucks. The time frame i will be > > searching will be ca 1812-1890. > > > > I will be getting a train pass, can anyone advise which airport, Heathrow or > > Gatwick, would have the most direct train to Bedford? britrail.com is not > > exactly clear on this. > > > > any clues, tips, warning, hints, do's and don'ts would be most gratefully > > appreciated. > > > > Thank you for any assistance > > Sandee > > sandee@ionet.net > > > > > > ==== BEDFORD Mailing List ==== > > To do a search of the Bedford Archives go to > > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > > Enter Bedford in the box > > > > > > ==== BEDFORD Mailing List ==== > The Bedfordshire Family History Page is at > http://www.bfhs.org.uk > >