Harrold-Odell Country Park
Harrold-Odell Country Park
Harrold-Odell Country Park
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
463 reviews
Excellent
215
Very good
173
Average
39
Poor
10
Terrible
26
Thecatsmum4
Kettering, UK2,727 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Nice park for a wander around the lake, adequate parking and entrance free, although they request a £1 donation which is very reasonable.
Suitable for families and reasonably flat walkway around the lake for disabled people.
Plenty of viewpoints and the option to wander through the fields with cows if you wish.
Cafe on site by the entrnace and decent clean loos.
Suitable for families and reasonably flat walkway around the lake for disabled people.
Plenty of viewpoints and the option to wander through the fields with cows if you wish.
Cafe on site by the entrnace and decent clean loos.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally W
Bedford, UK9 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
Excellent blustery walk with my Labrador who enjoyed an amazing off lead run and swim. Then an amazing café experience at The Dragonfly Cafe. Open every day. Fantastic home made carrot and coriander soup and large bread roll and 2 butter portions. Just what I needed to warm me back up. Cafe is dog friendly inside and has a doggie menu too. All the staff were so polite, attention to detail was wonderful. Menu us extensive with breakfast until 11:30am, lunch menu from 11:30 to 3pm. Loads of drinks options, hot and cold, seriously good coffee (a must for me) and home made cakes to feast upon. I also feel the prices are actually very reasonable. Soup was £4.25. Children’s menu, including half size portions of adult menu, great for anyone with a smaller appetite. Fully accessible to wheelchair users, no door step lips. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with tables. Eat in with proper china and cutlery, takeaway cups as usual. Highly recommend the park fir adults, children and family pets. There are trails fir youngsters and adults. Sone of the nature areas are NI DOGS for the protection of the wildlife but on my whole walk I only saw 2 areas and these were clearly marked. Free car park with a suggested donation of £1 in an honesty box or pay in the cafe. Cafe ooen 9am to 4pm. Full waitress service after ordering and paying at the till. Cards and cash accepted
Written January 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stevebintley
Bedford, UK9,238 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This is one of the nicest country parks I know in the area and provides a lovely day out. There’s free car parking for starters and a large cafe at the entrance, which has loads of seating and is open daily. The whole site is well kept and while walking round the lake there’s loads of benches to sit and admire the view. For those with a particular interest in wildlife there’s plenty of signage explaining what you’re able to spot, and a number of covered shelters for proper bird watching.
Each of the viewing spots has sweet wooden carved names and there’s a few sculptures along the way to admire too. There’s a couple of walking routes you can take, as well as a nature reserve in the centre, although they request dogs are kept out of there.
Once you’re finished with the park there’s the village next door, plus a handful of different pubs easily accessible and pointed out on the maps. A great place and I’ll certainly be returning for a summers day out.
Each of the viewing spots has sweet wooden carved names and there’s a few sculptures along the way to admire too. There’s a couple of walking routes you can take, as well as a nature reserve in the centre, although they request dogs are kept out of there.
Once you’re finished with the park there’s the village next door, plus a handful of different pubs easily accessible and pointed out on the maps. A great place and I’ll certainly be returning for a summers day out.
Written July 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Q7465TOdavidc
Plettenberg Bay, South Africa29 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Socking, £2.90 for a small bottle of coke I pay less than that in a pub. How on earth can they justify this ? Does this cafe get public funding or reduced rates or costs at the expense of Bedfordshire tax payers ?
Written October 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becky B
5 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
A group of us - my partner and his mum, and me and my parents - went to Harrold Country Park this afternoon. My parents were visiting us so thought it would be nice to show them the sights. The park is lovely, and somewhere my partner and I had been numerous times. Beautiful scenery, wildlife, fresh air...lovely! With the weather being colder we opted to eat in the cafe this time, where previously we have taken a picnic. Never again! While the food was satisfactory, the staff we very abrupt with us. We had turned up at 3.20 (it closes at 4) simply wanting a small lunch and drink each. Sadly the rude and abrupt manner of the staff serving us spoilt our enjoyment of the afternoon. We felt as if we were an inconvenience to the staff and were rushed in making our decisions as to food without a full explanation as to what was available...as if we should know exactly what we wanted before even seeing the choices and knowing where we wanted to sit when they take orders on entry. While we will happily return to the park, we will not be going to the cafe again as we did not feel welcome at all. Our advice would be to do the same.
Written February 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John R
Hockliffe, UK180 contributions
Sep 2020 • Family
The park is really beautiful; two lakes surrounded by woodland with a nature reserve thrown in. It also has two playgrounds, which our little one really loved. There are lots of interesting wood carvings of animals and birds dotted around the main walking route.
The main reason for writing this review is to counter some of the others that are a bit down on the Dragonfly Cafe. The two ladies working in there were very friendly and helpful and explained all the COVID precautions they were taking. I ordered a toastie which was very tasty, my dad had a ready-made sandwich which looked packed with fillings, and my little one had a kid’s lunch box which was good value. Good selection of crisps, drinks, chocolate etc. too. It seems most people’s gripe is with hot drinks, which we didn’t order, but the cafe exceeded my expectations having read some of these reviews beforehand. Do give it a try as I’m confident you won’t be disappointed if you’re after some lunch!
The main reason for writing this review is to counter some of the others that are a bit down on the Dragonfly Cafe. The two ladies working in there were very friendly and helpful and explained all the COVID precautions they were taking. I ordered a toastie which was very tasty, my dad had a ready-made sandwich which looked packed with fillings, and my little one had a kid’s lunch box which was good value. Good selection of crisps, drinks, chocolate etc. too. It seems most people’s gripe is with hot drinks, which we didn’t order, but the cafe exceeded my expectations having read some of these reviews beforehand. Do give it a try as I’m confident you won’t be disappointed if you’re after some lunch!
Written October 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveAfricaLincoln
Lincoln, UK250 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Decided on this location for a family reunion over a birthday celebration. Having never been before, we were thrilled with the open area with tables to enjoy picnics and the like. The young children loved the explore packs from the cafe, which kept them enthralled all afternoon, and the walks around the lakes were beautiful. Certainly a hidden gem and a great meeting-up location.
Written August 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CDH65
Stevington15 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Living locally we visit Harrold Country Park regularly and over the past couple of years given the Dragonfly Cafe another chance and another chance and each time can't beleive we have wasted our money. Food quality and portions size is poor for London prices! Today I decided to only buy a small bottle of water and Pepsi as the kids were giving me greif because they were thursty. I was shocked at having to pay £4.20 for 2 small bottles. I will not be visiting this cafe again unless you are happy to be ripped off. Last time for me.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
Felmersham, UK2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
I don’t normally write reviews from my visits but I feel so annoyed about this I feel that I have to. Today I visited the cafe and ordered a latte, brownie and two ice creams for my children. This came to a total of £9.35, I asked for a couple of tap waters for the children and was refused.
While I would completely understand them not serving water for free if I was not spending anything ,I really found this response quite unbelievable. It was a warm day and tap water is not much to ask for when I had spent nearly £10.
I will not be visiting again.
While I would completely understand them not serving water for free if I was not spending anything ,I really found this response quite unbelievable. It was a warm day and tap water is not much to ask for when I had spent nearly £10.
I will not be visiting again.
Written July 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo Holding
4 contributions
Feb 2020
A lovely place to walk and explore - however turned up at the Cafe for some food at 2:45pm and was rudely told that the kitchen is shut for hot food even though the sign clearly said hot food served until 3pm, the lady was so rude; ''We have cleaned down the kitchen now so you can't have anything hot''. My Son asked whether they had a chocolate milkshake and the lady huffed and puffed rudely pointing at the fridge, my wife politely asked whether there was any chocolate milkshake as the fridge was nearly bare, the lady snapped back and said; ''No, that's it then''. I was so taken a back and disappointed as the children and myself had a really nice time walking and exploring and talking to the volunteers in the park, what a shame it had to be spoiled by someone who clearly does not like their job and has no people skills - don't put a sign out for hot food until 3pm if you are not going to do food after 2:30pm - very disappointing. There was plenty of walkers and families willing to eat and drink queued up behind us (School Half Term Holiday and good weather) so I would imagine if someone was willing to serve food later, with better customer service, they could make a killing.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lesley o
Bedford, United Kingdom
I'm really interested in seeing a Kingfisher - did you seem them on both lakes or primarily one of them? if so which one, any advice on time of day, weather etc?
Many Thanks
Lesley
Written August 9, 2017
I've not seen any Kingfishers there but I have seen one at Mill Meadow in Bedford - that's the bit of the Great Ouse behind Cardington Road east of The Park Hotel.
Written September 24, 2017
skybluebellender
Coventry, United Kingdom
Are you allowed to stay overnight in your motorhome at this attraction?? Thanks
Written June 2, 2017
Simple answer, no, AFAIK they lock the barrier at the road entrance to stop "travellers" setting up camp.
Written September 24, 2017
Hi, is the park mobility scooter friendly, or are the paths not suitable, thank you
Written September 18, 2016
I have seen powered scooters regularly in the park. The paths around the lake are not laid to cement, but paths are there. There may be a bit of vibration . It i a lovely place to go .
Written June 1, 2017
Hi,is the park mobility scooter friendly, or are the paths not suitable .
Written September 18, 2016
I would say NO. It was hard to push a wheelchair
Written October 10, 2016
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