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Someone’s built an amazing apartment inside an old railway tunnel

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 8th July 2022

An old abandoned railway tunnel has been converted into an apartment that guests can spend the night in.

The Portal in West Yorkshire sleeps up to four guests and is built straight into the mouth of the Butternab Tunnel.

One of its most impressive features is a 30-foot natural waterfall which crashes into a pond outside the front door, reports The Hoot.

The owners have also built a winding decked footpath up to the two-storey studio apartment on the outskirts of Huddersfield.

The Portal is an Airbnb built in an old railway tunnel.
The outside space at The Portal. Credit: Airbnb

Visitors are then greeted by a huge arched double-height window filling the entrance to the old stone tunnel.

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The studio itself is bright and modern, with space for up to four guests between the bedroom and a sofa bed. It’s also pet-friendly.

Outside is a south-facing seating area on the terrace next to the waterfall.

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Butternab Tunnel was closed in 1969, but before that it had been part of the Huddersfield to Meltham line.

Inside The Portal apartment in Huddersfield. Credit: Airbnb

The owner of The Portal, Stephen Attmere, told the Huddersfield Examiner: “An eccentric millionaire decided to make the blocked southern end of the tunnel into an art studio for his wife and a home cinema was put there in the 90s.

“Fast forward to December 2020 we bought the property and decided to make it more sympathetic to its history, so we got rid of the rainbow arch and tacky art pictures. We have now decided to share it on Airbnb as a self-contained studio.

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“When we saw it we fell in love. At first we were going to turn it into a dance studio but our joiner suggested putting it on Airbnb and we thought it made sense.

“We are surrounded by ancient woodland. There’s a 30-foot waterfall cascading into a pond. It’s like a little bit of heaven. It’s so private and peaceful.”

You can see The Portal on Airbnb here.

Featured image: Airbnb

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Major immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough to open at Chester Zoo

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Major immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough to open at Chester Zoo

A major immersive experience narrated by Sir David Attenborough is heading north for the first time, with Our Story with David Attenborough set to open at Chester Zoo this autumn.

The acclaimed production will arrive at the zoo on 17 October 2026, making Chester Zoo the first venue outside London to host the full original experience following its hugely successful run at the Natural History Museum.

More than 245,000 people have already experienced Our Story during its London run, which originally opened in June 2025 before being extended following a string of sell-out performances.

Created in collaboration with Sir David Attenborough and award-winning Open Planet Studios, the 50-minute immersive experience takes audiences on a spectacular journey through the four-billion-year story of Earth, alongside the much more recent story of humankind.

Rather than simply watching a film or walking through an exhibition, visitors are surrounded by the story, with extraordinary natural history footage, scientifically accurate animation and 360-degree projections filling walls and floors around them.

The production explores the interconnected stories of people and planet, looking at humanity’s profound impact on Earth while also considering how we can work with nature rather than against it.

Narrated by Sir David, whose lifetime of exploring and documenting the natural world has helped shape the experience, Our Story ends on a message of hope, leaving audiences with the sense that they can play a part in deciding what comes next.

The full original-scale version of the experience will take over Chester Zoo’s former Ape House, marking the first time audiences outside London will be able to experience it in its entirety.

Bringing Our Story to Chester also closely aligns with the zoo’s mission to prevent extinction, as well as its work as a conservation and education charity.

Our Story with David Attenborough is coming to Chester Zoo. Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Our Story with David Attenborough is coming to Chester Zoo. Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum

Dom Strange, Chief Operating Officer, at Chester Zoo, said: “Our Story is about the biggest story there is – the story of our planet and our place within it.

“That makes Chester Zoo a natural home for this extraordinary experience. We’re hugely excited to bring it to Chester, and particularly proud that we’re the first place outside London where people can experience the full exhibition.

“We want people to leave feeling inspired by the incredible world we’re part of – but also empowered to play their own role in protecting it. That’s at the heart of everything we do at Chester Zoo.”

Open Planet Studios developed Our Story with David Attenborough to immerse audiences in what its creators describe as “the biggest story of all time” – the interconnected story of people and planet.

Our Story with David Attenborough is coming to Chester Zoo. Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum
Our Story with David Attenborough is coming to Chester Zoo. Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum

The original experience at the Natural History Museum featured 17 projectors and 50 speakers, combining natural history cinematography, animation, storytelling and an original score by Tony Award- and Olivier Award-nominated composer Nick Powell.

Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: “Our Story with David Attenborough has been one of the museum’s most successful experiences, immersing audiences in a wonderous exploration into our relationship with planet Earth.

“The museum’s mission is to create advocates for our planet and we and Open Planet Studios are keen to take the experience to as many people as possible. We are delighted that Chester Zoo is joining us on that journey to share this cinematic story with their visitors.”

Our Story with David Attenborough will open at Chester Zoo on 17 October 2026. Tickets are £15 but you’ll need to have a zoo ticket already too – you can find out more HERE.

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Featured image: Gavin Thurston

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Chester Zoo’s spectacular light trail returns this winter with a new route and new animals for 2026

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Chester Zoo’s popular winter light trail is set to return with a redesigned route and some magical new animals for 2026.

Produced by Chester Zoo in partnership with Sony Music and Culture Creative, Lanterns & Light has become a popular fixture in the region’s festive calendar over the years, and it’s back this winter – transforming the zoo after dark with thousands of festive lights, colour, and wildlife-themed displays.

The 2026 trail has been redesigned with some exciting new installations, including the dazzling Suspended Jellyfish underwater display, a mirrored disco tunnel, a glittering pea-lit canopy, and Floating Feathers.

New for this year too, visitors will also get to encounter parrots, dolphins, and a giant polar bear among an expanded cast of life-sized animal puppets, all brought to life by specialist performers.

Chester Zoo’s spectacular light trail returns this winter / Credit: Chester Zoo

More than 140,000 people visited the trail last year, but for the first time ever in 2026, the event will also host two adults-only evenings, one on 19 November and another 8 December – giving grown-ups the chance to enjoy the trail without children.

Alongside the new additions, plenty of much-loved features will return too, including the walk-through Cathedral of Light and atmospheric Fire Garden, as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas in a snowy setting.

Visitors can also enjoy marshmallow fire pits, festive food, and warming drinks, alongside a funfair at the entrance.

But Lanterns & Light isn’t just about Christmas, as every ticket purchased helps fund Chester Zoo’s vital conservation work, supporting projects protecting threatened wildlife and restoring habitats in more than 20 countries around the world.

“Lanterns & Light is a chance to have a brilliant night out, but it also helps us do something much bigger,” explained Gemma Wright, who is the Head of Guest Experience at Chester Zoo.

“Every ticket helps support Chester Zoo’s work to prevent extinction, from protecting threatened wildlife in the places where it lives to caring for and breeding endangered species here at the zoo.

“So, while our visitors are enjoying the lights, puppets and festive atmosphere, they’re helping to give wildlife a brighter future too.”

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Lanterns & Light returns to Chester Zoo from 13 November 2026 through to 3 January 2027.

Tickets are on sale and available now from £19.50 for children and £27.50 for adults, while babies under 12 months go free. You can book yours here.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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