Former British Home Stores mural

The old BHS building in Colchester has become something of a talking point - not for what's inside, but for the mural that covers its facade. It's a proper statement piece, the kind of street art that stops you mid-walk through town, and it represents the shift in how we've started treating defunct high street spaces as canvases rather than eyesores.

What you're looking at is a large-scale mural that transformed a blank wall left behind when British Home Stores closed. It's free to view - you just walk past it - and there's no set visiting hours because it's essentially public art on the side of a building. You can photograph it, admire it, and be on your way. It takes about five minutes unless you're the type to stand and really examine the brushwork and meaning behind it.

This works best if you're already in Colchester town centre. It's not worth a special trip on its own, but it's a nice reminder of how towns are adapting when the old retail anchors disappear. If you're staying at Colchester Country Park just under two miles away, or any of the caravan sites scattered nearby - Ardleigh or Rushbanks Farm are both within easy reach - you could easily incorporate it into a wander round town before heading back to base. It pairs well with proper exploring of Colchester's Roman heritage and actual independent shops. The mural's a decent five-minute detour that says something about 2020s high streets.