See The Most Beautiful Train Stations In The UK

Train stations can be extremely charming. Perhaps it’s the excitement of travel, the ‘goodbyes’ and ‘hellos’, or, if you’re lucky, it’s because of some truly spectacular, inventive, or historic architecture. Don’t get us wrong: there are a lot of run-down train stations out there. But there are also some that are breathtakingly lovely.

Believe it or not, there are almost 2,500 train stations in this small country, stretching from the northern Scottish shoreline to Devon’s dazzling beaches. It should come as no surprise that several of these stations are stunning in their own right, and we believe they are well worth visiting to experience their beauty.

1. Huddersfield Station, West Yorkshire

Although it is already on our list of the most beautiful train stations in the world, Huddersfield’s grand-standing station deserves a second mention. Its towering design was built in the neoclassical style and comes complete with corinthian columns and an imposing façade. In addition to the remarkable decorations, Huddersfield Station is home to Felix, a cat that patrols the six platforms.

2. Cardiff Central, Cardiff

Ah, good old Cardiff. This station is the largest and busiest in Wales, located in the heart of the Welsh capital. Although Cardiff Central opened in 1850, it was rebuilt and redesigned in Art Deco style in the early 1930s to become the beautiful, characterful structure we know today. The entrance was created out of Portland stone, giving it its off-white color—which, along with its symmetry, clock tower, and light green accents, makes the whole thing feel like Wes Anderson.

3. Kings Cross, London

Although Kings Cross opened in 1852, the modern interior, finished in 2012, helped to enhance the station’s appearance to a new level. The station is one of the busiest in the UK, having 11 platforms and a Harry Potter-themed fake platform (9¾). The web-like interior ceiling structure of the main concourse is one of the building’s more recent modifications, offering a nice contrast to some of its older foundations.

4. Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh

Waverley Station’s facade, like most Edinburgh architecture, exudes elegance – but what truly draws attention to this building is its magnificent interior ceiling. With a large glass dome in the center and exquisite embellishments surrounding it, the entire structure offers a whimsical style contrast to the heavy mediaeval architecture nearby. The actual station has a rather large 20 platforms, making it a major transportation hub.

5. Corfe Castle Railway Station, Dorset

This cheerfully colored station, clad in brilliant yellow and green panels, is located on Corfe Castle, a town on the Isle of Purbeck, and overlooks the castle ruins of the same name. The sole rail in service here is a historical railway, although the station also includes the Swanage Railway Museum, which is open on most operating days.

6. Wemyss Bay Station, Inverclyde

This Scottish railway may not have as attractive a façade as other UK train stations, but once inside, you will likely be astonished. Even though there are just two platforms, it has a truly amazing circular glass dome that creates a sense of openness and serenity. Wemyss Bay also serves as the port for the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry that connects the mainland to the Isle of Bute, so this beautiful station has it all – and looks especially stunning on days with rare Scottish blue sky.

7. Berwyn Station, Denbighshire

This magical Welsh railway seems more like a lovely Tudor mansion than an operational station. Nonetheless, Berwyn has been in operation since 1865, with a 22-year pause following flood damage in 1964. The property faces down on the River Dee and boasts stunning views of the surrounding verdant landscape. It is run by the heritage Llangollen Railway, and the single platform leads immediately across the chain bridge that spans the Langollen Canal – talk about views atop vistas.

8. St Pancras International, London

We know, London offers a wide range of stations, each with their own specialization. St Pancras may not be the oldest or busiest, but we believe it is the most beautiful: its red-brick gothic building and complex design will leave you astonished time and again. It has 15 platforms, including the Eurostar, as one of its managing rails.

9. Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol

Bristol Temple Meads, which opened in 1840, is one of the oldest railway stations in the UK. This Grade I listed property was built in the Tudor style, giving it an almost castle-like atmosphere that distinguishes it from the surrounding town greatly.

Temple Meads was designed by a group of architects, the most notable of whom being Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who also oversaw the development of London Paddington. However, it was Brunel’s younger colleague Matthew Digby Wyatt who introduced the Gothic style to Meads in the 1870s, so consider it a collaborative effort.

10. Cromford Station, Derbyshire

Oasis appears to have made a wise decision in selecting Cromford station as the setting for the cover of their 1995 single, ‘Some Might Say’ – with its tiny houses, lone platform, and adjoining woodland, the entire scene appears to blend in very well with a Sylvanian Families village. East Midlands Railway operates this interesting station on the Derwent Valley Line.

11. Dawlish Station, Devon

This station is almost like a part of the beach on which it sits, thus it gets sea showers in the winter and beer splatters in the summer. The railway, which is part of the Exeter to Plymouth line, has only two platforms, and because it is so close to the sea wall, weather damage is becoming a problem. Having said that, how many times can you say you’ve walked off a stuffy train and right onto the beach? Lush.

12. Norwich Station, Norfolk

Although this station originally began in 1844, the magnificent edifice we see today dates from decades later, when Norwich was rebuilt in 1886. The clock tower was built to be the focal point of the space, with a magnificent front portico capped with curved arches and a two-story imposing structure that adds to the overall grandeur.