What is your favourite station in the UK?

[Lewlew]

Reading, nice big footbridge with access to both ends of the platform to help spread passenger load and help exit the platform quickly. Lots of info screens and ticket barriers, exits on both sides.

Just needs some more shops on the footbridge.

 

[McRhu]

For me it was Helensburgh Upper: gas lights, roaring fire in the ticket office, rising steam from the Mk 1s at the platform(s), paraffin lamps and the clatter of 29s and 27s on their purposeful way toward moor and mountain.

 

[RichT54]

Reading, nice big footbridge with access to both ends of the platform to help spread passenger load and help exit the platform quickly. Lots of info screens and ticket barriers, exits on both sides.

Just needs some more shops on the footbridge.

I also like Reading, but I was reading recently that the full length windows on the western side off the overbridge as far as Platform 12-13 have been obscured by "frosting" from the floor almost to the ceiling, which would be very disappointing.

 

[sw1ller]

I think deganwy has to be my favourite, just for the views. I don’t see as much of the country as a lot of you guys though, so my knowledge is limited to where I work.

 

[daccer]

it is nice to see some of the smaller stations that have retained some authenticity and are now being valued. a few that spring to mind are Great Malvern, Hale, Knaresborough, Hebden Bridge, Heslby, Abergavenny, multiple stations in Scotland outside of the major conurbations. Kettering is my local station and is going to look much better once electrification is done as that has prompted work on the canopies including replacing the dirty plastic with new glazing. DItto for Wellingborough I believe.

 

[Southsider]

it is nice to see some of the smaller stations that have retained some authenticity and are now being valued. a few that spring to mind are Great Malvern, Hale, Knaresborough, Hebden Bridge, Heslby, Abergavenny, multiple stations in Scotland outside of the major conurbations. Kettering is my local station and is going to look much better once electrification is done as that has prompted work on the canopies including replacing the dirty plastic with new glazing. DItto for Wellingborough I believe.

Scotland also has nice ones inside the conurbations, Maxwell Park springs to mind in addition to the fore mentioned Glasgow Central.

 

[wyddfa]

Corrour. https://www.corrour.co.uk

No road access either. Good (seasonal) cafe.

 

[paul1609]

Favourite station for its setting is probably Ribblehead. Great to wait on alone at night while looking at the stars. And seeing the small dot of light appear from the Blea Moor direction to confirm the train is on its way.

Shame they've ruined the pub opposite used to love the atmosphere of the wet walkers drying out in front of the fire. Now its some not very good Northern impression of a 1990s gastropub.

 

[paul1609]

Still has an NSE feel to it.

I think Charing Cross is the best London terminal. Small compact can walk outside in to Trafalgar Square reasonable selection of shops.
Good pubs nearby. Surprisingly friendly staff. The views from the train going down the SEML are the best in London.

 

[yorksrob]

Shame they've ruined the pub opposite used to love the atmosphere of the wet walkers drying out in front of the fire. Now its some not very good Northern impression of a 1990s gastropub.

I agree, the old walkers pub with the jukebox had a lovely feel about it and I wish they'd kept it like that.

That said, its been through a few iterations in recent years, and the most recent owners have got it quite cosy again.

 

[Deepgreen]

Reading, nice big footbridge with access to both ends of the platform to help spread passenger load and help exit the platform quickly. Lots of info screens and ticket barriers, exits on both sides.

Just needs some more shops on the footbridge.

No, that's exactly what it doesn't need - keep the wider spaces for the free flow of passengers. Far too many railway spaces are filled by shops when free circulation of passengers should the key concern.

 

[32475]

In no particular order and for different reasons:
Wemyss Bay, Kyle, Waverley, St Pancras, Marylebone, Lewes

 

[Mike99]

I can't narrow it down to one, but, Penge East, looking down the tunnel as a schoolboy to try to spot the train on its way from Sydenham Hill, just manageable from the tunnel end of the southbound platform. Bristol Temple Meads, for the approach up to the station buildings. Crystal Palace, in the 70's had those platforms with eerily quite trains stored between the peaks and the tunnel that EPB's towards Norwood Junction/Beckenham Junction would creep out of across the point work and great building architecture. Thurso, for the train shed and its at the top of the country with all before it and Dent, it just so peaceful

 

[Lewlew]

No, that's exactly what it doesn't need - keep the wider spaces for the free flow of passengers. Far too many railway spaces are filled by shops when free circulation of passengers should the key concern.

There's plenty of space by the north exit for one or two more shops

 

[iainbhx]

I am very fond of my old home station of Stourbridge Junction.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I know the OP means open stations but for closed stations it has to be Ashley Hill for obvious reasons.
Avoncliff is very pleasant with the Cross Guns nearby. In my spotting days Euston held many attractions.Roarers,pneumatic points,Collectors Corner and what was the Head of Steam. However, Salisbury probably tops them all for the many wonderful family holidays. The fine buildings and subway only lack a Crompton or thumper rumbling away in the background. I still enjoy returning there today.

 

[Deepgreen]

There's plenty of space by the north exit for one or two more shops

I wonder, then, why the current obsession with plonking shops everywhere hasn't already put them here?

 

[Rob F]

St Erth

 

[Photohunter71]

Favourite station had to be my old hometown of Kilwinning,(ok so I'm going back a bit to the 70's and early 80's) The station had character. There was always something happening,be it the coal yard loose shunting mineral trucks full of coal for the domestic market,and being unloaded by a mechanical grab. Trains of chemicals to ICI in Ardeer,plenty of coal trains, the sea-link special on a Saturday morning and I occasionally saw the one at night, the mix of 20's 25's 26's,27's 37's and 47's, not forgetting the 08's. The semaphore signals, the wee path from the platform to Ayr going up to byres road,the signal box. There was a wee John Menzies shop by the ticket office and waiting room. One of the other nice features of it was the stationmaster's house, and the garden. I've seen recent photo's of it, and I prefer to remember it the way I knew it.

 

[Requeststop]

Totally agree with St Erth, even with the recent changes it still has great charm. Also because it's my mainline home station, to change to get to my old village.

Wyemss Bay is a lovely station too.

 

[mm333]

Dent, on a sunny afternoon, is a lovely place to wait for a train.

 

[trolleyman]

Pilning

 

[trainmananthon]

I agree, the old walkers pub with the jukebox had a lovely feel about it and I wish they'd kept it like that.

That said, its been through a few iterations in recent years, and the most recent owners have got it quite cosy again.

It has been taken over again this year by a couple from down south - and what a fantastic job they've done of it. Very cosy and has a good atmosphere about it again.

Agree about the previous owners running it into the ground - take a look at 'the station Inn Ribblehead' on trip advisor and just look at some of those replies to complaints from the previous owners. Have to admit it's a quality read!

 

[yorksrob]

It has been taken over again this year by a couple from down south - and what a fantastic job they've done of it. Very cosy and has a good atmosphere about it again.

Agree about the previous owners running it into the ground - take a look at 'the station Inn Ribblehead' on trip advisor and just look at some of those replies to complaints from the previous owners. Have to admit it's a quality read!

To be fair, I got chatting to the previous owners and they were nice people who were very helpful on occasions, and it was always a decent pub where you could get a good beer. But I agree with you that the current owners seem to have got it about right at the moment.

 

[trainmananthon]

To be fair, I got chatting to the previous owners and they were nice people who were very helpful on occasions, and it was always a decent pub where you could get a good beer. But I agree with you that the current owners seem to have got it about right at the moment.

I know there's been quite a few owners in recent years so I don't know if the ones were talking about are the same ones. Certainly the last owners before the current ones there's as a very 'tense' feel at the pub.

Dent Station is and always will be my favourite, but that's mainly for sentimental reasons. In terms of my favourite station by design my vote would definitely be St Pancras!

 

[HOOVER29]

Absolutely love St Pancras. Well apart from the international box. The arched roof is breathtaking.
Also fond of Bodmin Parkway. On a beautiful summer’s day I find sitting on the benches by the over bridge very relaxing & peaceful.
Also fond of Birmingham Moor Street.
New street & Snow Hill can fall down as far as unconcerned

 

[SteveM70]

Big station - Glasgow Central. History, architecture, the best train station coffee in the UK

Medium station - Hebden Bridge. Almost a living museum. And it’s home

Small station - Morar. Great location and lots of happy memories

 

[D5645]

Alfreton as it is my local station now.

Other than that I've always liked York, Carlisle and Norwich.

 

[Revaulx]

If I pretend 13 & 14 don’t exist (and fortunately I rarely have to use them) I’m really fond of Manchester Piccadilly.

If I’m entering or exiting it, I think the refurbished New Street is actually rather nice. The platforms are still grotty, and will be as long as Cross Country remains unelectrified, but at least they seem to be able to handle large crowds better than before. As an interchange, I think it’s a lot worse than it was before. The layout is incredibly confusing and you can’t access the nice new bits of the station.

 

[trivran]

With this reminder that the thread title does say "in the UK," I'll add a mention of Antrim station, which is a really pleasant place, marred somewhat by its bad pedestrian links to the town centre.

Both Antrim and Portrush of course, in the UK.