Bedford Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Bedford is the kind of town people drive through on Route 101 without realizing how much is tucked behind the stone walls. It sits on the west bank of the Merrimack River next to Manchester, it has a farmhouse inn with roots in the 1700s, a working farm open to the public, and conservation land with real hiking. This guide covers the things to do in Bedford NH that work in any season, with places to eat, stay and unwind from our directory.

Bedford at a glance

Bedford is a town in Hillsborough County. The 2020 census counted 23,322 residents, a 10 percent increase from 2010, which made it the 11th largest municipality in the state. It is a suburb of Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is one town away.

The town's growth has been fast and recent. In 1950 Bedford had 2,176 people. By 2000 it had 18,274, more than eight times as many. That history explains what you see on the ground: old farmhouses and town buildings in Bedford Center, and newer neighborhoods and shopping strips along the main roads.

Getting around is simple. The Everett Turnpike runs north and south through town, Route 101 runs east and west, and US 3 also passes through. The interchange where the two highways meet is part of Interstate 293. In practice that means you can reach Bedford quickly from Nashua, Concord or the Seacoast, and you will want a car once you arrive.

A little history

Bedford's story starts earlier than most of its buildings suggest. In 1733 the Province of Massachusetts Bay set the area aside as "Narragansett No. 5" for soldiers who had fought in the Narragansett campaign in Rhode Island. The area was also called "Souhegan East." The settlement was incorporated as Bedford in 1750 and named for John Russell, the 4th Duke of Bedford, a friend of Governor Benning Wentworth.

The first English settlers were Robert and James Walker. A monument dated 1737 marks the site of that first settlement, on what is now Station Road. In 1874 the town was served by the Concord Railroad. None of this requires a museum visit to appreciate: drive the older roads around Bedford Center and you will see the farm-town bones that the suburbs grew around.

Where to stay: a farmhouse with a long past

The best-known place to stay in town is the Bedford Village Inn, and its history is a good introduction to Bedford itself. According to the inn, the land was part of a parcel originally granted to John McLaughlin, Bedford's first town clerk. A fifty-acre corner was sold to Samuel Gordon, and his younger brother John Gordon cleared the land in 1774. John's oldest son, Josiah, built the present Federal-style farmhouse in 1810.

The farm passed between the Gordon and Woodbury families until 1940. Later owners raised Shetland ponies there. By 1980 the old estate had been reduced to about five and a half acres, and in 1981 it was bought with the plan of turning the house into a restaurant and the old livestock barn into an inn. The restaurant opened in August 1985 and the inn followed in October 1986. The barn, with its original post-and-beam frame, now holds the guest rooms, and semi-private dining rooms in the main house keep the original working fireplaces.

Even if you are not staying overnight, the inn is worth knowing about as a dinner or special-occasion stop. It is close to the Route 101 corridor, which makes it an easy base for exploring both Bedford and Manchester.

Get outside: Joppa Hill and Pulpit Rock

Bedford has more open land than its traffic suggests. The easiest place to start is Joppa Hill Educational Farm, a nonprofit working farm on Joppa Hill Road. The farm says it is open to visitors from dawn until dusk every day of the year, with a suggested donation per family. It keeps more than 60 animals, and while it describes itself as "not a petting farm," the animals are used to visitors. There is also a farm stand.

The farm is part of a 190-acre parcel owned by the Town of Bedford and protected by a conservation easement held by the Piscataquog Land Conservancy. A loop trail starts at the farm and runs through fields and forest to a beaver pond, and the trail system connects to the Pulpit Rock Trail for a longer walk. Dogs are welcome on leash, which the farm asks for because its chickens range freely. There is no plumbing on site, just a portable toilet, and visitors are asked to carry out their trash.

Pulpit Rock itself, originally called the Devil's Pulpit, is a rock formation in the northwestern part of town and the centerpiece of the town-owned Pulpit Rock Conservation Area. If you want a high point, Holbrook Hill in the far northwestern corner is the highest ground in Bedford at 845 feet.

For families, the farm's programs are a good reason to return. The farm lists summer camps for children ages 5 to 12, field trips, an animal story time and a farm-and-forest preschool. Check the farm's own calendar for what is running when you visit.

Where to eat

Bedford's dining runs along South River Road and Route 101, and it leans toward comfortable, sit-down places that work for families and groups.

Bedford T-Bones is the Bedford location of T-BONES Great American Eatery, a New Hampshire group with restaurants in Bedford, Concord, Derry, Hudson, Laconia and Salem. The Bedford restaurant is on South River Road. It is a dependable choice for steak, burgers and a broad American menu, and the group also sells retail butcher cuts and homemade sweets.

For something more special, the Bedford Village Inn's restaurant is the obvious pick, given its farmhouse setting and fireplaces. Our directory lists more options in Bedford and neighboring Manchester, where the restaurant choice widens considerably.

Unwind: salons and spa days

Bedford has a good selection of salons and day spas, which makes it a sensible stop if you are building a relaxed weekend rather than a packed one. Alchemy Salon & Spa on South River Road describes itself as a salon and day spa covering hair, nails and skin. Its listed treatments include hair shaping, coloring and styling, deep-cleansing facials, full-body salt glow exfoliations, manicures, pedicures and waxing.

Pair an appointment with lunch nearby and an hour on the Joppa Hill trails and you have a low-key day that does not involve the highway.

Planning around the seasons

Because Bedford is a suburban town rather than a resort area, it does not shut down in the off-season. A few seasonal notes help:

• Fall: The fields and forest at Joppa Hill and the Pulpit Rock area are at their best when the leaves turn.
• Holiday season: Beloin Tree Farm is a family business that has grown Christmas trees on its farm in Colebrook since 1948. Its website lists a retail lot in Bedford during November and December, with trees including balsam fir, Fraser fir and blue spruce. Check the farm's site before you go, since lot locations can change from year to year.
• Winter: The Joppa Hill trails are open for snowshoeing, according to the farm.
• Spring and summer: Farm programs and camps fill the calendar, and the Merrimack River corridor is close by for paddling and riverside walks in Manchester.

A simple Bedford day

If you have one day, here is a plan that works without rushing:

1. Start with a morning walk on the Joppa Hill loop to the beaver pond, and stop at the farm stand.

2. If you have more energy, continue on to the Pulpit Rock Trail.

3. Book an afternoon appointment at a salon or day spa on South River Road.

4. Finish with dinner at the Bedford Village Inn or at Bedford T-Bones.

If you have a weekend, add a day in Manchester for the Millyard and the Currier Museum of Art, both a short drive away. Our Manchester town guide covers that side of the river.

Getting there

Bedford is in the Merrimack Valley, roughly between Manchester and the towns of Amherst and New Boston. From the south, the Everett Turnpike brings you straight into town. From the Seacoast or Concord, Route 101 and I-293 connect easily. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is in the neighboring city, which makes Bedford a practical first or last night for travelers flying in or out.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bedford, NH worth visiting?

Yes, as a quieter base next to Manchester. It has a historic inn, a working educational farm with trails, and conservation land, and it is minutes from the city's museums and restaurants.

What is there to do outdoors in Bedford?

Walk the trails at Joppa Hill Educational Farm, which connect to the Pulpit Rock Trail, and visit the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area in the northwest of town.

How old is the Bedford Village Inn?

The farmhouse at its core was built in 1810 on land first cleared in 1774. It opened as a restaurant in 1985 and an inn in 1986.

How far is Bedford from Manchester?

They are neighbors. Bedford borders Manchester on the west side of the Merrimack River.

Sources

• Bedford, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, history, geography, transportation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedford,_New_Hampshire
• Bedford Village Inn, About: https://bedfordvillageinn.com/about-us/
• Joppa Hill Educational Farm, Visit the Farm and Programs: https://jhef.org/about-the-farm/visit/ and https://jhef.org/programs/
• T-BONES Great American Eatery, locations: https://www.t-bones.com/
• Alchemy Salon & Day Spa: https://www.alchemysalonspa.com/
• Beloin Christmas Tree Farm: https://beloinchristmastrees.com/