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Things to do
Whether rain or shine, (but hey, we're confident for your trip the sun will shine!) there's a huge amount to do and explore in Bideford and across the area. The town centre is packed with history and heritage and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and there's a hidden surprise at every turn. Once the third largest port in Britain, the area has a long history of shipbuilding with many exports to the new world leaving from the port. And there are plenty of stories to go with that side of our history as well!
- Want something more adventurous? The Ultimate Adventure Cenre provides the total wipeout experience. Or why not head out on a bike down the trails or into the countryside or see whether you can go extreme with Skern Lodge!
- Fun day out with all the family? Try the Big Sheep or Milky Way, northern Devon's premier adventure parks. Watch the time disappear and the smiles beam!
- Sun, sea and sand? The nearby village of Westward Ho! offers the only Blue Flag status beach in northern Devon. And obviously while you're there you'll need an ice cream or 3!
There truly is something for everyone, just check our directory for more destinations to visit while in the town of Bideford and ideas for things to do!
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Active Torridge - Torridge Leisure Centre
Our friendly and welcoming centre offers an inclusive wellness facility for the local community of Bideford and the surrounding area. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool and learner pool perfect for swimming lessons and aqua classes plus a fitness studio and a modern dance studio. With great
Atlantic Racquet Centre
ARC is a community racquet & fitness centre in Bideford where everyone can exercise, socialise and learn together. Our facilities include: Indoor & Outdoor Tennis Courts, Badminton Courts Squash Courts Table Tennis Tables Gym & Fitness Studios. We offer court & equipment hire, memberships packages
Bideford Pottery
Bideford Pottery is a small family business which was established in 1983. Specialising in traditional North Devon slipware, they are particularly well-known for their highly decorated harvest jugs which are mainly commissioned pieces that commemorate special occasions and events.
Waves Soft Play Bideford
Our deep sea adventure-themed soft play for children from 0-14yrs. Large areas to run, spacious obstacles ideal for older children and for grown ups to follow and assist their littlies. Great for all you big kids! Grab a snack, cold beverage or barista coffee at our Coral Cove Café
Bideford Baptist Church
We're a warm, friendly church right in the heart of Bideford, a beautiful little town in North Devon. Everyone's welcome, no matter who you are, what age you are, whatever background you happen to be born into ... welcome, welcome, welcome. We meet every Sunday morning, starting at 10.30am. We
Ultimate Adventure
Ultimate Adventure Centre offers the most comprehensive range of outdoor activities available in North Devon, with an Ultimate twist.
Make Waves Swim School
Our experienced and passionate team offer parent & baby swimming lessons from 8 weeks’ old; one to one classes; additional needs classes; adult classes; stroke corrective classes; ability based group classes; safety focus week; holiday swimming lessons; mini water polo; mini synchronised swimming
The Tarka Trail
180 miles of discovery The Tarka Trail is a 180 mile, figure-eight loop inspired by the route travelled by Tarka the Otter. Unspoiled countryside, dramatic sea cliffs and the longest, continuous cycle path in the UK are waiting to be discovered. Walking or cycling, The Tarka Trail offers the best
Bideford Bowling Club
Bideford Bowling Club is a lawn bowls club located in Bideford, Devon and was established in 1889. New members, families and guests welcome.
Tidal & Trail (Bideford Bike Hire)
Explore the beautiful 34-mile Tarka Trail cycle route with our Tidal & Trail bicycle hire.
Lavington United Reformed Church
Lavington URC is part of the South Western Synod of the United Reformed Church. We are a very friendly group of about 40 people who like fairly traditional worship but are always open to new ideas. We meet for worship every Sunday morning at 11am. Our services usually consist of hymns, prayers
Affinity Devon Outlet Shopping Centre
Shop, Eat and Play at Affinity Devon - North Devon’s unique outlet shopping village.
The Big Sheep
The best day of your holiday! The Big Sheep is North Devon’s best all-weather family attraction providing a whole day of rides, shows, animals and entertainment, suitable for all ages!
Bideford BMX Club
Established all the way back in 1983 and still going strong today. We're all about grass roots
Bideford Cinema at Kingsley School - every Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Bideford Cinema presents a varied and entertaining programme of current films, shown on some of the biggest screens to be found anywhere in North Devon.
Bideford Old Town Bridge
One of the longest medieval bridges in England, being 677 feet (222 yards) long with 24 arches.
Bideford and District Riding Club
Bideford Riding Club is a very friendly club with approximately 80 members. Age and experiences vary greatly but the common passion is shared.
Art Upstairs Gallery
Artmakers.UK was first created as an online gallery in response to Covid to provide support to little known rural and coastal artists by providing them with a platform to promote and sell their exceptional artwork at a difficult time. Art Upstairs Gallery, is our first physical gallery space we
The Milky Way
This multi award winning day out near Bideford really is a great option for some family fun ... but don’t just take our word for it, check out TripAdvisor to see what people are saying. There are currently very limited tickets available for selected sessions due to reduced capacity and ALL visits
Magpie and Hook
Magpie & Hook is a modern craft shop and teaching studio on Mill Street Bideford. Providing haberdashery, and yarn and lots of sewing, knitting and crochet workshops
World of Wonder
Discover World of Wonder, an indoor soft play centre.
Jiggy Wrigglers
Award Winning Music & Movement Classes Ages 0-5 Years Childrens Birthday Party Entertainment
FIT-AS
Group exercises and personal training. Fit-As is a community based fitness classes and Personal trainer based in North Devon (Barnstaple/Bideford). We specialize in having fun while working out to achieve your health and fitness goals.
Glass Workshop
Stained Glass and fused glass courses and workshops. Enjoy learning the fascinating art of working with stained and fused glass with award-winning glass artist, Gigha Klinkenborg. One-day, two-day, and half day stained and fused glass workshops for small groups, individuals, and families. Join our
Steamship Freshspring
We are restoring a historic steamship and we host public tours and engage with young people to inspire them to think about maritime careers.
NAKED salon & studio
Here at NAKED we are Award - Winning stylists with a wealth of experience. Contemporary coffee shop & dedicated art studio onsite. When we’re not styling your hair in our beautiful salon, you might find us at an editorial shoot or maybe backstage at London Fashion Week! As a salon we use Clean
Walk the Wharves
Way of the Wharves is a volunteer lead community project researching and communicating the history of the the wharves at East the Water. Connected to Bideford by the long bridge East the Water has a long industrial history including: shipbuilding, lime kilns and horticulture, potteries and tobacco
David Dare Art
Commissions, Portraits, Figurative Art. David offers private tutoring in Drawing. For Beginners or the more Advanced in your home. Associate of Society of Graphic Fine Art- The Drawing Society. David says "I focus on the human form in charcoal and graphite; a subject that first inspired my artistic
Bideford Town Band
A brass band situated in Bideford, north Devon. Musical Director Mark Durham. Registered charity number 1183817.
RootNotes
RootNotes is a Bideford-based community music organisation, run by local musician Becki Driscoll. RootNotes offers music workshops for all ages and all abilities in a variety of different settings. Becki is an established community musician with over 15 years of experience working with people from a
The North Devon Display Gymnastics Club
North Devon Display Gymnastics Club is a British Gymnastics affiliated and Sports England GymMark accredited club. Situated on Caddsdown, just on the outskirts of Bideford town centre
Way of the Wharves
Way of the Wharves is a Bideford based Maritime Heritage Charity. They created this stunning piece of informative art on the quayside wall, next to the Tarka the Otter sculpture. The 2-metre long, stainless steel interpretation panel tells the tale of East-the-Water’s historic wharves. Spanning
G4 Gym
State of the art fitness centre in Bideford North Devon
Bideford Victoria Park
Opened in 1912 to celebrate Queen Victoria's reign, Victoria Park is one of the jewels in Bideford's crown; any Bidefordian will tell you how lucky we are to have a park of this calibre in the heart of the town.
Westward Ho! and Bideford Art Society
This widely known and respected Art Society has historic links to the Burton Art Gallery & Museum in Bideford, North Devon. Members of the Society include painters, printmakers, sculptors, wood-carvers, potters and textile artists.
Hadoken - Arcade
Hadoken is a Free Play Arcade with modern elements while still capturing the nostalgia of the 80`s offering an immersive gaming experience
St Marys Parish Church
St Marys Parish Church is tucked behind the Town Council Building, close to the Old Bridge in Bideford. The church tower dates back to 1259. We offer a ‘mixed diet of Services and Events which we feel are relevant, interesting and uplifting. Hopefully when you scroll down these pages you will find
Hannah Lenton Yoga
Yoga teacher based in North Devon offering public and private classes and corporate wellbing days.
Bideford Amateur Football Club
Football Club & Robins Nest Venue Hire
Bideford Railway Heritage Centre
We are now open daily throughout the summer (weather permitting). Visit our Signal Box, Museum featuring a model railway of the station, restored 1950s carriage operated by Toon station refreshments for drinks, pasties etc. We also have our book shop selling railway books and paperback fiction. Open
Bideford Amateur Athletic Club - BAAC
Welcome to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club, locally known as Bideford Blues.
Bideford Keyboard and Organ Club
We started back in 1968 and, in common with many other Organ Clubs, began life as Bideford 'Hammond' Organ Society. Please contact us for details. Email [email protected] or 07710 454 230 We have moved to a new venue and are pleased to inform everyone that our concerts will now start at 7pm at
Royal North Devon Golf Club
The Oldest Golf Course in England
Chatty cafe
The Chatty Cafe is a national charity which is running a local chat and natter table at Costa Bideford high street, come along meet new people and know that there will always be someone there to chat to. The table is run by a volunteer who is trained and there every week to facilitate Come along and
Five Sunnyside Holiday Cottage
Five Sunnyside is a characterful and quirky 2 bedroom terraced Victorian cottage providing convenient and comfortable accommodation particularly suited to cyclists and walkers and anyone wishing to explore the historic harbour town of Bideford and its surrounds.
Chudleigh Fort
Historical landmark in Bideford, England Chudleigh Fort is an ornamental fort in East-the-Water, a suburb of Bideford in Devon in the UK. The site was originally an actual 17th-century earthwork gun platform that was built during the English Civil War. In the 19th century, the site was reconstructed
Tapeley Park Gardens
Tapeley Park sits high on a hill overlooking the River Torridge and the North Devon coastline commanding spectacular views, and has been home to the Christie family since the 1700's.
London House Studio & Gallery
London House Studio & Gallery can be found in the Market Place, Bideford.Ceramics, Art, Craft & Photography by passionate designers & artists. Pottery classes
Born to Skate
Roller skating club! Learn to skate, get fit, or just skate for fun - open to all ages and abilities
Up Close Theatre
Up close theatre are a Bideford based amateur theatre company performing plays in the North Devon area
Bideford Skatepark
Bideford Courts Plaza Skatepark is an outside concrete skatepark situated near the Football Ground on Kingsley Road Bideford
Make Time Skate Collective
The Bideford Skateboarders Working with Bideford Town Council, the Bideford Skateboarders made their home in Bideford Pannier Market during the winter of 2023. The Pannier Market providing a good opportunity for the Collective as an alternative venue with better winter accessibility, especially as
Rosie and Red Art and Leather
Arts organisation in Bideford. Original Made in Devon Art and leather goods - original prints, painting, drawing and related merchandise, sustainably sourced hand-made leather goods, including bags, sheepskins, bespoke leather goods and sheepskins - for sale and to commission.
Lundy Island
Visit the beautiful island of Lundy from the port of Bideford. Enjoy a day trip to the island of Lundy on board the MS Oldenburg - regular departures from March to October. At three miles long and a half a mile long, its an unspoilt part of northern Devon, home to seals and the iconic puffin.
Appledore Sails
Appledore Sails - Sailing the Estuary, Bristol Channel and beyond. Whether you have sailed before or not, come and enjoy a sail at sea on ‘Patron’, a 31 foot ocean yacht for 4 hours, all day, a weekend or longer, or a child friendly estuary sail or sightsee on ‘Jez-y-Belle’ a traditional Appledore
Bideford Youth Amateur Football Club
Bideford Association Football Club Youth Section.
Skern Lodge
Our main provision for Bideford is daily kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the River Torridge. We operate daily between Little America (LA) and Kingsley Steps / Bank End on the Quay.
Louisa Hockin School of Performing Arts
Our aim here, at Louisa Hockin School of Performing Arts, is to provide students with a safe and friendly environment to explore the wonderful world of dance and performing arts. We have ballet, tap and modern exam classes set by the ISTD , which is one of the worlds leading dance exam boards. We
Really Wild Learning Planet
Come and join Kim (from Really Wild Learning) and a whole host of never seen before animals at Really Wild Planet CIC at Affinity Devon, Bideford
North Devon Yacht Club
Founded in 1905 at Instow, at the confluence of the Taw and Torridge rivers in North Devon, the Club celebrated its centenary in 2005. Whether you sail dinghies, catamarans, cruisers or prefer motors, we'll float your boat.
North Devon Wake Park
Watersports - Wakeboarding - Kneeboarding - Aqua Park - SUP - Open Water Swimming - Cafe - Bar - Pro Shop. Devon's first cable wake park and Aquapark with x 5 tower cable and 2 straight line cables
The Pocket
The pocket is a climbing gym & cafe in the centre of Bideford. Adult session £12 Junior session (u14) £10 Monthly memberships, classes & tuition will also be available. The cafe will serve a selection of sumptuous food as well as cake & coffee. You can call us 01237 439900
Serenity Escapes Yoga
FIRST YOGA CLASS FREE Yoga in Bideford at Lavington hall
The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum
The Burton Art Gallery and Museum is over 65 years old. With its friendly team of staff and volunteers, it has been celebrating, exhibiting and nurturing all kinds of artists since being established on 31 October, 1951 by Thomas Burton and Hubert Coop.
Bideford Rugby Club
Bideford RFC is a traditional family club with great values. We run a wide variety of teams, ranging from primary school, to secondary school, and upwards.
Quay Drawing
Quay Drawing is a small, family run, friendly business specialising in expert personal art tuition and classes.
Bideford Blues & Appledore Junior Football Club
Bideford Blues and Appledore Junior Football Club are committed to providing football for all youth players regardless of their age, gender, mental or physical ability.
Tarka the Otter statue
Who would of thought, a meeting on a cold miserable February day, could turn out so well, with just one random idea? Tonia Quance of Businesses of Bideford (B.O.B) thought how wonderful it would be to have our very own bronze Tarka in Bideford. After much fund raising, and with the help of many
Elska Yoga & Meditation
Working within the youth justice and social care system for over 20 years, I learnt the importance of working on physical, emotional and mental health. I want to share the skills I have learn with you through the wonderful breath and movement of yoga.
Bideford Pannier Market
The covered Bideford Market Facility Bideford’s Pannier Market is sited in the Old Town Area: follow the High Street, take a left turn along Grenville Street and there it stands, a formidable Victorian Building.
Bideford Boxing Club
The Bideford Boxing Club has had a significant impact on the community of Bideford, Devon. The club has been providing a safe and supportive environment for young people to learn and practice boxing skills since it was founded in 1969. The club's commitment to helping young people develop discipline
Bideford Victoria Park Bowls Club
Originally established in 1950 the Men’s and Ladies clubs merged in 2005 to form the mixed Bideford Victoria Park Bowling Club now in place. Our clubhouse has excellent facilities and our green is always maintained to a high standard. Members are mainly drawn from the Bideford and wider Torridge