Unusual amenities at stations

[Chris M]

I think it's more just a couple of bookshelves than an actual lending library as such

Quite common in stations i think

There are book exchanges at a few tube stations - Oval, Clapham North and Acton Town I think, probably more.
Of course the original Osterley station building is now a bookshop.

 

[Darandio]

Art Gallery at Edge hill station.

Art Gallery at Middlesbrough station too.

 

[hexagon789]

There are book exchanges at a few tube stations - Oval, Clapham North and Acton Town I think, probably more.
Of course the original Osterley station building is now a bookshop.

Do those tube stations have waiting rooms?

 

[507 001]

Birmingham New Street has a whole shopping mall with John Lewis.

Isn’t it the other way round these days? A shopping mall with a railway station...

 

[Jocques]

Prestatyn has a model windmill with a very creepy doll or scarecrow next to it.

 

[transmanche]

Corbridge and Hexham both have curry houses.

 

[John Griffiths]

Hexham now (like many others) has a bar/micropub, which I hope to visit soon.

 

[Chris M]

Do those tube stations have waiting rooms?

Being below-ground stations, there are no waiting rooms at Clapham North or Oval - the book exchange is in the ticket hall in both cases (paid side at Oval, I can't remember about Clapham North). Acton Town might have waiting rooms on the platforms, I'm not sure, but the book exchange is on a window sill in the area between the ticket hall and the top of the stairs.

 

[Chris M]

Hexham now (like many others) has a bar/micropub, which I hope to visit soon.

I think Weston-super-Mare might have a bar too, but its been years since I've been there.

 

[leightonbd]

Just checked - looks like it’s permanently closed now. Used to be called ‘Roos Leap’.

Reopened earlier this year as The Highland Line. Looks quite an attractive environment but not been in yet.
https://www.thehighlandline.com/

 

[BowesRanger]

Bowes Park has a coffee shop (standard), which also runs spanish classes, guitar lessons, and doubles as an early evening wine bar

 

[Iskra]

I don't know if it's still there, but Wakefield Westgate used to have a vintners, which just seemed totally out of place next to a Costa, Greggs, Smiths, Subway and it's not very 'Wakefield' either.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Cullercoats Metro station has a pet food shop

 

[IanD]

Lewisham has a piano - extremely irritating when someone who can't play has a go for half an hour.

 

[Gathursty]

Yeoford has a shelter with a slanted bookcase full of paperbacks and outdated manuals. There's no chairs inside which is a shame.

 

[Esker-pades]

Lewisham has a piano - extremely irritating when someone who can't play has a go for half an hour.

There are pianos at many UK (and indeed European) railway stations. I don't think they coount as "unusual" anymore.

 

[33117]

Not sure if this counts but there was a few weeks when carlisle was decorated up I think for when it was used as a set for a homebase TV ad or something.

 

[Killingworth]

Corbridge and Hexham both have curry houses.

It seems Indian restaurants are almost common in stations. The original Dore and Totley Station building became Delhi Junction but now renamed Rajdhani.

 

[davetheguard]

Is there still a museum type thing at Kyle of Lochalsh ?

There's certainly still one at Glenfinnan on the Mallaig extension.

 

[Matt_pool]

A lot of stations have pubs, usually of the real ale variety (Stalybridge for example) , but Helsby station has a specialist craft beer bar and bottle shop called Beer Heroes, so no Carling, Guinness Strongbow or even Black Sheep here!

There is nothing else at all in Helsby, so you have to make a bit of an effort to visit Beer Heroes by train, and I suppose you must also like craft beer!

 

[AndyNLondon]

I'm not sure that it really counts as an "amenity", but I think that the "Geranium Train" at Alexandra Palace deserves a mention...

 

[gordonthemoron]

Munich Hbf had a cinema in the 1970s and I expect Krakow Glowna does these days as it's a big shopping mall

 

[gordonthemoron]

Jesmond station has both a real ale pub and an Indian restaurant, just no trains anymore

 

[Killingworth]

Jesmond station has both a real ale pub and an Indian restaurant, just no trains anymore

Jesmond Metro station managed to get into Simon Jenkins' best British stations.

 

[tsr]

I'm not sure that it really counts as an "amenity", but I think that the "Geranium Train" at Alexandra Palace deserves a mention... View attachment 68574

There is or was something similar at Arisaig.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Pet shop at Frodsham.

That’s now permanently closed.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Runcorn has books for sale near the ticket machines.

 

[yorksrob]

I noticed a dog grooming salon at Wymondham (they like their pooches in Norfolk !).

 

[Ianigsy]

First one that comes to mind is the barber shop at Inverness.

 

[Trackman]

I'm not sure that it really counts as an "amenity", but I think that the "Geranium Train" at Alexandra Palace deserves a mention... View attachment 68574

Colwyn Bay's train is impressive!