Mahalia Fordham

This place is called Mahalia. It’s in Fordham, a village in Cambridgeshire. The key thing is it’s an old railway goods wagon from 1917, converted into a place to stay. It used to transport bananas. Now it sleeps two.

It’s detached, so it’s just you and the wagon. It’s got one bedroom, which is the wagon itself, with a double bed. The bathroom is en-suite with a good sized shower. The rating is 4 Star, which fits because it’s comfortable and the fixtures are nice, but it's still an old wagon.

The kitchen is separate, in a little 1950s-style building just outside. You can eat in there or outside at the table. It looks out over a wildflower meadow. We see muntjac deer there quite often. There are buzzards and marsh harriers around too. We leave some binoculars for you.

You’re welcome to walk around the meadow paths. The village amenities are a short walk up the drive. There’s a supermarket with a bakery, a couple of Indian restaurants, a Chinese takeaway, fish and chips, a pub, and the British Legion. There are two garden centres with decent cafes. Everything you need is close by.

For days out, Wicken Fen is very close. It’s a National Trust site. Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, and Cambridge are all within about a thirty minute drive. Cambridge has the Fitzwilliam Museum and the colleges, obviously. Ely has the cathedral.

In terms of what’s here: all the utilities are included, there’s a patio and garden area, parking right by the wagon, TV, and bedding and towels are provided. The furnishings are vintage style, and the crockery is old bone china. No pets, I’m afraid.

If you’re planning visits, these sites are useful: National Trust Wicken Fen and Visit Cambridge.