The Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford

Did you know there's a pyramid in Bedford?

I didn't until fairly recently! Crazy really as we lived in Bedfordshire for many years, and visited Bedford quite often.

A look at the Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford.

The Oasis Beach Pool in Bedford opened in 1991. The site is currently up for sale with Bedford Borough Council offering a long leasehold basis for leisure use, with all activities at the venue ceasing from the 3rd November 2025.

Not one but two pyramids there.

There are actually two pyramids on the site, with a smaller second pyramid home to Camrider Motorcycle Training Bedford.

If you look a little further between the two pyramids you can see the Tesco Extra store is also topped with a pyramid!

More lesser-known UK pyramids.

Check out this thread on Twitter/X from the Twentieth Century Society for more examples of lesser-known pyramids in the UK.

Pyramid hunting.

I enjoy seeing and discovering different and interesting examples of architecture. And living in Stockport we have a myriad of intriguing buildings. Most notable of which is possibly the Stockport Pyramid! It's a striking sight and clearly seen by thousands of people passing by on the M60 and railway lines each day. The Stockport Pyramid is 37m tall. And, by some reckonings, is the 16th tallest pyramid in the world!

How tall is the Bedford Pyramid?

I'd be interested in finding out how tall the Oasis Beach Pool Pyramid in Bedford is, and how it compares in size to the Stockport Pyramid.

Links:

• Bedford Borough Council
• Oasis Beach Pool at Better Leisure
• Camrider Motorcycle Training Bedford

Related blog posts:

• Pyramid
• Pyramids
• Bedford
• Architecture

The Royal Nawaab Stockport Pyramid

The Stockport Pyramid has reopened as a restaurant.

One of the first landmarks - among many fine buildings - we saw when we moved to Stockport in 2016 was the Stockport Pyramid.

Not many towns in the UK can lay claim to being home to a pyramid!

The Stockport Pyramid was home to the Co-operative Bank until 2018 and the building had been empty until it was purchased by Royal Nawaab with plans to turn the structure into a restaurant and banqueting venue. The venture has cost £15 million!

The building was originally planned to be the first of five pyramids in Stockport's own Valley of the Kings. That plan didn't come to fruition and the Stockport Pyramid sits on in the Kings Valley industrial and trading estate next to the M60.

Having seen videos of the inside of the Royal Nawaab it looks very impressive and we're looking forward to going inside for a look around the intriguing building one day.

A view of a side and the entrance

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

A view of the pyramid from the other side of the M60

The rear side of the pyramid viewed from the roundabout at Junction 1 of the M50

The view of the pyramid from the bottom of Hollywood Park

Views of the Stockport Pyramid as it was in August 2020

Visit the Royal Nawaab website for more information.

The Pyramid-like Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour

A look at the Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour Hotel.

We visited Southampton back in May 2021 and spotted this pyramid hotel.

Check out the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour website for more information.

The Point - a pyramid in Milton Keynes

A look at The Point in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

The Point in February 2022

The Point in Milton Keynes was completed in 1985 and opened as a cinema.

During its life the Milton Keynes pyramid has also been home to a bingo hall, charity shop, record shop, a bar and a pizza restaurant.

The Point in February 2022

The Point currently stands empty and there is an ongoing campaign to save the landmark building.

Check out The Point website for more information.

The Point in October 2023

The Stockport Pyramid in 2020

A look at the Stockport Pyramid back in August 2020.

The Stockport Pyramid was home to the Co-operative Bank until 2018 and the building had been empty until it was purchased by Royal Nawaab with plans to turn the structure into a restaurant and banqueting venue. The venture has cost £15 million and is now open!

The building was originally planned to be the first of five pyramids in Stockport's own Valley of the Kings. That plan didn't come to fruition and the Stockport Pyramid sits on in the Kings Valley industrial and trading estate next to the M60.

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

Lost cinemas - The ODEON in Canterbury, Kent

A look at a lost cinema in Canterbury.

The 'Now showing' / 'Coming soon' poster boards outside had posters for Covid-19 vaccines!

Back in 2022 we visited Canterbury and had a look at the ODEON cinema there.

It'd closed in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and in 2021 became a Covid-19 vaccination centre. It never re-opened as a cinema.

The inside of the cinema showed the foyer had been most recently used as a Covid-19 vaccination centre

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic

A look at Stopfordian Pubs during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Five years ago today we photographed The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. It became the first of 265 pubs, bars and clubs we visited in the borough between April and the 4th of July 2020 when the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown ended.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown. It's since undergone a change of ownership and is now called The Watchmakers Bar & Grill

We visited each of the pubs while on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

It gave us something to do during the lockdowns and it was interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we'd never been to. I documented the pubs on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July!

Stockport Pyramid in the Snow

A look at a snowy Stockport Pyramid.

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

The Stockport Pyramid viewed from Hollywood Park

A look at the Stockport Pyramid from Hollywood Park just outside the town centre.

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

The Stockport Pyramid

The Stockport Pyramid is reopening in 2025.

One of the first landmarks - among many fine buildings - we noticed when we moved to Stockport in 2016 was the Stockport Pyramid.

The Stockport Pyramid

Not many towns in the UK can lay claim to being home to a pyramid!

A view of the pyramid across the M60 

The Stockport Pyramid was home to the Co-operative Bank until 2018 and the building has been empty since then.

Views of the Stockport Pyramid in August 2020

It was originally planned to be the first of five pyramids in Stockport's own Valley of the Kings. That plan didn't come to fruition and the Stockport Pyramid sits on in the Kings Valley industrial and trading estate next to the M60.

A view of the pyramid from a train into Manchester on the viaduct

Plans have now been approved for Royal Nawaab to create an Indian dining destination including a restaurant and banqueting hall in the building.

It'll be interesting to make a booking and get to go inside for a look around the intriguing building.

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

Visit the Royal Nawaab website for more information.

Pyramid Plaza in Blackpool

There's a pyramid in Blackpool - the Pyramid Plaza shopping centre on the promenade.

Do you know of any other pyramids in the UK?

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic

A look at Stopfordian Pubs during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Four years ago today we photographed The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. It became the first of 265 pubs, bars and clubs we visited in the borough between April and the 4th of July when the first coronavirus pandemic lockdown ended.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown

We visited each of the pubs while on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

It gave us something to do during the lockdowns and it was interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we'd never been to. I documented the pubs on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July

Stockport Pyramid and the River Mersey

A view of the Stockport Pyramid and the River Mersey from just outside the town centre.

The Stockport Pyramid was completed in 1992 after five years work. Standing 36.6 metres (120 feet) in height, the Stockport Pyramid is somewhat smaller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 147 metres (481 feet) high. However, the striking structure has become a familiar sight to people in the town, those passing on the M60, or passengers on trains on the lines across the viaduct.

Stockport is also the source of the River Mersey. It begins at the confluence of the River Tame and the River Goyt in the town centre next to the M60.

Pubs of Stockport during the coronavirus pandemic

A look at Stopfordian Pubs.

Three years ago today we photographed The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. It became the first of 265 pubs, bars and clubs we visited in the borough between April and the 4th of July when the first lockdown ended.

Pub number 1 - The Kings Tap on Station Road in Cheadle Hulme. A lovely Art Deco building. We'd never seen it shuttered before the lockdown

We visited each of the pubs while on our daily outdoor exercise between Wednesday 1st April and before pubs were allowed to reopen with social distancing measures on Saturday 4th July.

It gave us something to do during the lockdowns and it was interesting to see the variety of architecture, different signage, parts of the town we haven't been to for a long time and other parts of the area we've never been to. I documented the pubs on Instagram using the #StopfordianPubs tag.

At the 265th pub on our lockdown 'pub crawl'. Not a drop was drunk on our daily walks in April, May, June and July

Art Deco in Doncaster

We're big fans of Art Deco style, design and architecture and we've been remembering our trip to Doncaster last year and our stay at the superb Earl of Doncaster Hotel in Bennetthorpe.

Roaring twenties in the 2020s.

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We couldn't have asked for a better spot - Art Deco magnificence and the hotel was right next door to a park with a Crazy Golf course in it.

The Crazy Golf course at Elmfield Park

Danum House was another nice Art Deco building in the town centre.

We're looking forward to getting back out on our travels, exploring new places and revisiting our favourite spots when it's safe to do so in the future.