
English city that was once the country's ‘oldest town' is home to unique Barbie house and Harry Potter style train ride
Despite this, it was actually given city status just two years ago as part of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
8
8
Colchester has a history stretched back thousands of years and was one of the very first Roman cities.
The Essex city is also home to a train station that is barely used, and looks like something from Harry Potter.
Chappel & Wakes Colne railway station in Colchester is around an hour from London, travelling to Liverpool Street station.
Compared to some other regional train stations around the country, this one doesn't have many passengers.
Just 28,000 people use it a year, working out to around 77 passengers a day.
The train station is right next to the Chappel Viaduct, with the huge brick structure built in the 1840s and measuring 1,066ft.
It looks very similar to the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, which was used in Harry Potter for the Hogwarts Express.
Nearby is The Swan Inn pub right on the river, and their beer garden is found underneath the viaduct.
And there is more history to Colchester too with it also being the place where the oldest hot cross bun in the world was baked.
It was baked on Wyre Street in Colchester, on Good Friday 1807 - confirmed by the note on the bag it came in, and the bun is now rock hard.
'World's FASTEST bullet train' that can reach 280mph is unveiled - and it even has a dining car and plush business-class
8
Owned by a couple in Wormingford, the bun is older than the one kept in the British Museum, baked in 1869.
While you won't be able to see the bun, something in Colchester you can't miss is the pink house.
The six-bedroom mansion in Tiptree called the 'Eaton House Studio' is a dream to any fan of Barbie.
The house boasts dozens of stylish rooms, each designed completely differently. There is a saloon and space-inspired kitchen, floral staircases, and unicorns in the garden.
8
8
8
It's attracted celebrity guests and was featured in Little Mix's Bounce Back music video.
It was created by its artist owner Amy Griffith, who said she built it to "share my artistic vision with others".
It can sleep 16 people and can be hired you even hire it out from £2,400 as it details on Host Unusual.
Plus, the Victorian English park in Colchester with plans for huge new playground with castle attractions, zip lines and sand pits.
And the UK garden named as one of the best places to see cherry blossoms, bluebells and tulips in the world.
8
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
11 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Triumphant Lionesses squad to be honoured at Downing Street
England's triumphant women's football team will be honoured with a reception at 10 Downing Street on Monday afternoon, in celebration of the successful defence of their European title. The Lionesses became the first senior England football team to win a major trophy on foreign soil and the first to win back-to-back titles when they defeated Spain on penalties in Basel on Sunday. The team then returned to their hotel base in Zurich on Sunday night to celebrate with their families and friends. They fly back from Switzerland on Monday and their reception at No 10 will be hosted by the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, and the sports minister, Stephanie Peacock, with players, coaches and representatives from the Football Association invited. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: 'The Lionesses have once again captured the hearts of the nation. Their victory is not only a remarkable sporting achievement but an inspiration for young people across the country. It stands as a testament to the determination, resilience and unity that define this outstanding team. 'I'm delighted that the squad will be welcomed into Downing Street as the whole country marks this historic win and the lasting impact they are creating for the future of the game.' Rayner said: 'Our Lionesses are absolute champions and they proved that again last night. Not only are they bringing it home for England again, but they're inspiring the next generation of champions too. It'll be a privilege to celebrate this amazing win with them in Downing Street.' The squad, who had been contesting their third consecutive major final in three years, will then have a free, public celebration with fans along the Mall on Tuesday, which will be broadcast live on the BBC, ITV and Sky. The captain, Leah Williamson, became the first England captain to lift a major trophy twice, and the right-back Lucy Bronze set a record for the most appearances for the Lionesses at major tournaments. Bronze revealed after the game that she had played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion The striker Alessia Russo scored England's equaliser against Spain in a match that finished 1-1 after extra time, and Hannah Hampton was England's heroine in the penalty shootout, saving two penalties before Chloe Kelly's winning spot-kick clinched the victory.


The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Eagle-eyed fans spot what Chloe Kelly was doing in hilarious Lionesses celebration photo after Euro 2025 win
PENALTY hero Chloe Kelly was the heart and soul of England's celebrations following the Lionesses dramatic Euro 2025 final victory over Spain. Kelly, 27, kept her cool to slot home the decisive penalty as England retained their title as European champions via a shootout on a historic night in Basel. 4 4 The Arsenal winger had cropped up off the bench when needed throughout the tournament, making her influence known and adding yet another decisive Euros goal to her growing list of career highlights. Kelly understandably had plenty to celebrate as she sang, danced and skipped her way across the pitch in the aftermath to the full-time whistle. However some England fans joked that she was getting a little carried away when a hilarious team photo surfaced seemingly showing her taking a nibble at a teammate's arm. A celebratory selfie snapped by veteran star Lucy Bronze, and uploaded to the Lionesses X account, looked to show Kelly munching on the elbow of substitute goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse. Noticing that the Orlando Pride stopper appeared to have Kelly biting down on her arm, one England fan online joked: "Whose arm is Chloe Kelly munching on?" While another added: " Chloe Kelly looks like she's trying to eat someone's elbow". And a fourth teased: "Chloe Kelly is getting hungry". 4 In reality it seemed to just be an unfortunate angle, with Kelly actually celebrating with another teammate behind Moorhouse. The former Man City forward was the definition of a supersub, coming on for an injured Lauren James at the end of the first half and going on to set up Alessia Russo 's equalising goal and netting the deciding spot kick. Kelly had similar influences from the bench in the Lionesses' dramatic semi-final and quarter-final victories over Italy and Sweden. Speaking after her confidently dispatched penalty, Kelly had no doubt she was going to score having had to rely on a rebounded miss for her winner against Italy earlier in the week. She told the BBC: "I was cool. I was composed. "And I knew I was going to hit the back of the net. I don't miss penalties twice". She added: "The celebrations are going to be crazy. I hope the whole of England comes out to support us and shows the love to all these girls, because they deserve it." The Lionesses made history by becoming the first England side across both the men's and women's game to win a major tournament on foreign soil. While boss Sarina Wiegman added a third consecutive Euros title to her trophy cabinet, her second with the Lionesses after initially tasting success as Holland boss in 2017.


BBC News
41 minutes ago
- BBC News
Here We Go creator says Bedford representative of the whole UK
A comedy writer has said he set his sitcom in the town of Bedford as it is representative of the whole Basden created and writes the BBC One show Here We Go, which he also appears in alongside Alison Steadman, Katherine Parkinson and Jim former vice president of Cambridge Footlights said: "I thought Bedford was a really good location for a show that speaks to the whole country."I wanted to set the show somewhere that just felt very traditionally English but not really known for being any one particular thing." Describing the show's premise, Basden said: "It's about a family called the Jessop family who live in Bedford and are a very, very normal family who find themselves in a lot of weird and wonderful situations."The full third series of the show is now available on BBC iPlayer, following the premiere of its first episode on BBC One. Basden added: "I didn't want it to feel too regional."I didn't want it to feel like it's a show about London or a show about Manchester or something."While one episode of the new series is set in Malta, the show remains largely based in Bedford, although it is filmed in other parts of the country. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.