railway

ARE you a big train fan? Well, there is one UK spot where you can even get your meal delivered by a miniature train.

Found in Newenden in Kent is the Nibbles Railway Cafe – known for its miniature model trains that deliver meals and drinks to guests at their tables.

The family-ran spot serves up homemade dishes, which are then carefully placed on a model train which chugs around the cafe to deliver the meal to the customer.

And if you don’t want to leave your furry friend out, then you don’t have to as there are four bookable ski gondolas outside, which are dog friendly.

From 8am to 11:30am each day, the cafe serves breakfast which includes The Nibbles Breakfast with one fried egg, two rashers of bacon, a Cumberland sausage, baked beans and a tomato for £11.90.

Lunch is then served from 12pm to 1:30pm each day and options include jacket potatoes from £6 and paninis from £7.

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You could also grab a flame grilled burger from £5.95.

Lattes cost from £2.95, but you could also opt for a smoothie or milkshake.

One recent visitor said: “It was certainly a novel experience to have our drinks delivered by a model train.

“We came for breakfast and an excellent breakfast it was.

“Amply sized, served by very friendly welcoming staff and very good value for money.

“Even though the food was great, it was the trains that stole the show.

“Can certainly recommend and we will be back.”

Another added: “Our grandchildren had a lovely time and ate all their dinner which is always result!

“Definitely worth a visit if you want something a little different.”

Lots of visitors have documented their visits on social media, with some TikTok videos nearing 200,000 views.

The cafe is open Thursday to Monday, 8am to 3pm and booking is essential.

In the area you can also head off on a walk along the River Rother to Bodium Castle, which is around three and half miles away.

The path follows the river, allowing walkers to see the countryside and you will also pass the Castle Toll earthworks.

Bodium Castle dates back to the 14th-century and is surrounded by a moat.

It costs £12 to enter and visitors can explore its towers and exhibitions.

Also nearby in Northiam is Great Dixter House & Gardens – a 15th-century manor house surrounded by pretty gardens.

It costs £17 per adult and £5.50 per child to visit.

If you fancy staying in the area, head to The White Hart, which costs from £85 per night.

One recent guest said: “My wife and I recently stayed for three nights at this pub.

“We had a wonderful and very relaxing time. The room was very nice, with a very comfortable bed.

“We will definitely be back again, and will 100% recommend it to friends and family.”

If you are looking for more quirky spots to grab a bite to eat, here’s the UK’s weirdest pub that’s ‘built in a shoe’ with Egyptian coffin, secret bar… and a Minotaur.

Plus, inside incredible time-warp café transporting customers back to 1940s Britain – and it even has an outdoor toilet.

A UK city has been hailed as home to ‘one of the world’s most scenic winter train journeys’

A city in the UK has been hailed as the backdrop for “one of the world’s most scenic winter train journeys“. National Geographic experts have lauded the route as “breathtaking,” promising travellers an eyeful of unforgettable vistas. In their roundup of Europe’s top 10, they said: “The holiday season may be the best time to ride the rails on these iconic routes through Germany’s enchanted Black Forest, and Norway’s frozen waterfalls.”

But it’s Scotland that truly steals the show with its mist-shrouded hills, serpentine lochs, and stark winter landscapes. For those hunting for a festive or winter escape, this rail journey delivers an unrivalled experience.

So, where in Scotland can you find this picturesque railway journey?

Stretching around 180 miles from Glasgow to Mallaig via Fort William, the West Highland Line is your ticket to awe-inspiring scenery.

As the National Geographic expert elaborated: “Route: Glasgow to Mallaig. Often cited as one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys, the West Highland Line serves up raw, haunting beauty.

“It slices through Rannoch Moor, a sprawling peat bog, skirts Loch Lomond, and soars over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, (a spectacle long before the Hogwarts Express catapulted it to Hollywood fame).”

They added: ” Edinburgh and Glasgow both boast unique Christmas festivities worth checking out. Edinburgh’s markets spill across Princes Street Gardens under the watchful eye of the castle, while Glasgow is set to light up with a Christmas lights trail this year.”

Glasgow’s Christmas market

The Winter Wonderland Christmas market at St Enoch Square is set to run from 6 November to 24 December, boasting family rides, an ice rink, local vendors, and live music. As reported by Secret Glasgow, the event will feature the world’s first solar-powered observation wheel and a fully licensed festive bar.

Glasgow is also set to host its largest beer hall yet, accommodating up to 700 guests with pub quizzes, live music, and festive beverages on offer. The venue will be adorned with fairy lights and fire pits, serving mulled wine and winter cocktails in both indoor and outdoor spaces.

In lieu of the traditional Christmas Lights Switch-On, which has been cancelled due to redevelopment works at George Square, the city will instead showcase a festive light trail.

Key attractions include dazzling art installations along Sauchiehall, Buchanan, and Argyle Streets, as well as a grand Christmas tree and crib at the Cathedral Precinct, providing a perfect backdrop for festive photos.

Top 10 scenic train routes in Europe, according to National Geographic

1. The Glacier Express (Switzerland)
2. Romantic Rhine Route (Germany)
3. Harz Narrow Gauge Railways (Germany)
4. The Bernina Express (Switzerland to Italy)
5. The West Highland Line (Scotland)
6. The Rauma Line (Norway)
7. The Semmering Railway (Austria)
8. The Schwarzwaldbahn (Germany)
9. The Arlberg Line (Switzerland–Austria)
10. Munich to Salzburg (Germany to Austria)

AN ‘international’ railway station has revealed its £1million refurbishment.

Harwich International train station in north-east Essex is technically international despite having no trains actually go to Europe from the station.

That’s because it is located near Harwich International Port, a major cruise and ferry terminal with a number of daily sailings to the Netherlands.

Through September, Greater Anglia carried out work on the roof of the station, as well as improving lighting, the staircases and station entrance areas.

The entire train station was also repainted.

Andrew Goodrum, from Greater Anglia, said: “These improvements make a significant difference to the overall passenger experience.

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“The station is now brighter, more modern and more welcoming, while our new energy-efficient lighting reduces our carbon footprint.”

Each year, over 100,000 journeys start or end at the station.

The station serves some local destinations such as Harwich Town and also travels to London Liverpool Street, where passengers can change and travel on to a number of other destinations including Norwich, Ipswich, Heathrow Airport and Stansted Airport.

A number of other ‘international’ stations in the UK are set to undergo upgrades.

For example, Stratford International Station may see services to Europe in the future for the first time ever.

Virgin Trains is looking to launch high-speed services through the Channel Tunnel in around 2030, competing with Eurostar.

As part of the operators’ plans, it is exploring the potential to use Stratford International to carry out these services.

Virgin Trains was given permission by the UK’s rail regulator (ORR) to use the Temple Mills depot in London – a crucial part of operating international services through the Channel Tunnel.

And they plan to connect London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International used to have international services until Eurostar suspended them in 2020.

Virgin Trains is also looking at how these stations could be used for international rail services.

Major improvements are planned for London St. Pancras as well, which is currently the only major station in the UK used for rail services to Europe.

By 2028, Eurostar wishes to double its capacity at the station, as well as improve security, border control and the main concourse in the station.

If these changes were carried out, then the hourly passenger throughput would rise from 2,000 to around 5,000.

The station is also looking to potentially move the arrivals flow to the upstairs parts of the station.

In other rail news, a world-famous English city is getting a new train station in huge £6.7billion plans.

Plus, the super modern train station in the UK that people say looks like it’s from Alien.

A NEW tourist attraction tucked under railway arches, is coming to the UK.

The Weir Mill development in Stockport, near Manchester, will be located under the town’s iconic railway viaduct.

The Grade-II listed mill will be transformed to feature street food pop-ups, parties, al fresco dining areas and host live music and entertainment.

In the new attraction, there will be a number of different food and drink venues including 10 new bars, restaurants and cafes.

In total, there will be 6,000sqm of outdoor space with planted areas, a riverside terrace and a courtyard at the heart of the destination.

The attraction will be split into six distinct areas: Weir Mill East, The Courtyard, Weavers Square, West Shed, The Waterfront and Wheelhouse, and finally, Chestergate and King Street West.

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At Weir Mill East there will be a rooftop terrace and cafe.

Then at The Courtyard, there will be a number of planted areas with seating as well.

Weavers Square will be the focal point of the development, sat underneath the viaduct and where the markets and pop-ups will take place.

West Shed will be an indoor space with red brick and vaulted ceilings, where people can sit with their laptop and a coffee.

The Waterfront and Wheelhouse will then be an area great for viewing the viaduct itself, with the Wheelhouse converted into a resident gym, lounge and working space.

And finally, at Chestergate and King Street West is where visitors will find most of the stores as well as the trans-pennine way cycle path running alongside this part of the site.

Many of the buildings at the development will feature the same red colour as the machinery found at the mill.

The new destination, which is set to be completed next spring, will also feature 253 homes.

Councillor Micheala Meikle, Stockport Council cabinet member for economy, skills and regeneration, said: “Our town centre regeneration is about more than building new homes, it’s about creating vibrant neighbourhoods and breathing new life into Stockport’s heritage, giving our historic buildings a future.

“While the Grade-II listed former mill is being carefully restored for residents, the new public square will create opportunities for independent businesses to thrive and for people from across the borough to come and enjoy our buzzing town centre.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see how our riverside will soon be opened up into an inviting outdoor space where communities can come together over great food, live music, and creative events from day to night.”

The first food and drink venues at the destination are set to be announced soon.

Weir Mill on the River Mersey in Stockport, dates back to 1790 when it was used as a cotton works.

During the 19th century, the importance of the mill grew as it became a key part of Stockport’s industrialisation.

In 1840, the Stockport Viaduct was then built over the mill and has since become a historic landmark.

In other tourist attraction news, the exciting new hotels, attractions and festivals coming to the UK’s seaside towns and cities next year.

Plus, the top 15 UK attractions for 2025 revealed.