Trivia: Your most desirable station to wait at

[CaptainHaddock]

Inspired by the "Your least desirable station to wait at" thread....
Let’s say you’ve just missed your train, it’s a nice warm summer's evening and the next one isn’t due for 60 minutes.

Which station would you most like to wait at and why?

My vote would go to Lancaster. It's got a great real ale pub on the platform that opens all day all week (unlike some station micropubs), there's plentiful benches, decent toilet facilities, it's close to the city centre and there's a fair variety of trains from different TOCs and FOCs passing through.

 

[stadler]

Lewes gets my vote. It is a lovely station. It has multiple warm heated waiting rooms spread around the station that are open from first train to last train. Two separate cafes. Really well kept with nice displays of flowers and plants. It is a very pleasant place to wait.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Stretching the definiition a bit, but I used to spend many a summer evening in the beer garden of The Trevor Arms which is next to Glynde Station.

These days, it would probably be somewhere like Horsted Keynes during an evening gala (although then I'd be choosing which train I was going to get, rather than missing one).

Is there a nice rural station, pub on platform, benches outside, a few trains going past until you get the next stopper an hour later?

 

[The exile]

Take a lot to beat Exton (provided you’ve bought your own supplies!)

 

[Amaranthe]

Inspired by the "Your least desirable station to wait at" thread....
Let’s say you’ve just missed your train, it’s a nice warm summer's evening and the next one isn’t due for 60 minutes.

Which station would you most like to wait at and why?

My vote would go to Lancaster. It's got a great real ale pub on the platform that opens all day all week (unlike some station micropubs), there's plentiful benches, decent toilet facilities, it's close to the city centre and there's a fair variety of trains from different TOCs and FOCs passing through.

It's Lancaster for me too just for pub. I love the "First Class Waiting Room" at the back

 

[Skiddaw]

For me, it would have to be somewhere with a lovely view of fells/mountains. Maybe not Scotland in view of it being summer (and therefore prone to midgies). Dent possibly? Somewhere like that anyway.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Windermere isn't bad because the Booths next door to the station gives it what is in my view one of the best set of station facilities in the country.

 

[yorksrob]

Lancaster and Lewes are good shouts.

York for me is somewhere I can idle away the hours in the Tap, watching the trains and admiring the architecture.

 

[mm333]

For me, it would have to be somewhere with a lovely view of fells/mountains. Maybe not Scotland in view of it being summer (and therefore prone to midgies). Dent possibly? Somewhere like that anyway.

In my hill-walking days, spending 2 hours sat in the sunshine at Dent - waiting for the next southbound service - in silence (except for the sound of the wind and fighter jets practicing their low-flying in the valleys) is my idea of bliss.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Big station - York. Lots going on, decent facilities for food, a good pub with a wide selection of well-kept interesting beer

Small station - Hebden Bridge during cafe opening hours

 

[mangyiscute]

I remember finishing a walk at Edale and I'd just missed the train before, but I settled in on a bench on the platform with sun shining on me and a view of the hills and it was wonderful!

 

[Bevan Price]

Somewhere with plenty of rail activity. Lancaster is OK, but somewhere a bit busier may be preferred - so, perhaps Doncaster, Stafford. York is OK, but you have to keep moving if you want to see all the action.

 

[nr758123]

I've spent far too long waiting for delayed trains at Stalybridge. However, there are compensations.

Anywhere with a bookshop, cafe and pub on the station and award winning haggis across the road has to have something going for it. So an honourable mention for Wemyss Bay, too.

 

[cjw714]

For me, it would have to be somewhere with a lovely view of fells/mountains. Maybe not Scotland in view of it being summer (and therefore prone to midgies). Dent possibly? Somewhere like that anyway.

The view of the Malvern and Cotswold hills from the top platform at Worcestershire Parkway is surprisingly good given the rest of the station is pretty uninspiring.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

For me, it would have to be somewhere with a lovely view of fells/mountains. Maybe not Scotland in view of it being summer (and therefore prone to midgies). Dent possibly? Somewhere like that anyway.

Yes, although I was thinking more of facilities and rail-related things to see, a platform with a fine view would be an excellent place to wait for a train so long as it's a warm and dry evening. Many of the stations on the Cumbrian Coast would be good for this, my personal favourite being Grange Over Sands. Ravenglass must score highly too for the combination of seeing the La'al Ratty and the Ratty Arms pub (which I'm alaremed to see listed as "temporarily closed" on Google Maps).

 

[ChrisC]

Yes, although I was thinking more of facilities and rail-related things to see, a platform with a fine view would be an excellent place to wait for a train so long as it's a warm and dry evening. Many of the stations on the Cumbrian Coast would be good for this, my personal favourite being Grange Over Sands. Ravenglass must score highly too for the combination of seeing the La'al Ratty and the Ratty Arms pub (which I'm alaremed to see listed as "temporarily closed" on Google Maps).

On a warm sunny day one of my favourites would be Kirkby in Furness. I‘ve stopped off there for an hour or so on a couple of occasions. There‘s no facilities but wonderful views across the Dudden Estuary. You can walk straight off the northbound platform onto the marshes. Once the train has left it’s silent except for the sound of the birds around the estuary.

 

[satisnek]

Stretching the definiition a bit, but I used to spend many a summer evening in the beer garden of The Trevor Arms which is next to Glynde Station.

Never knew that one was there, that's because, when I was familiar with the area in the 2000s, I never got off at Glynde. It had no signal box, no level crossing, nothing of interest. But I have fond memories of the Berwick Inn at the next station. The beer garden butted right up to the railway line and you could sit literally feet from 3x4 slammer formations powering through, enhanced by a conductor rail end producing a 'splash' from the trailing shoe of each unit as it passed! And before sunset it also had an impressive view of the South Downs.

More local to me, Codsall would be my choice - a station pub with outdoor seating in summer and a real fire in winter - and a few non-stopping trains thrown in to maintain (a bit of) interest.

 

[Skiddaw]

On a warm sunny day one of my favourites would be Kirkby in Furness. I‘ve stopped off there for an hour or so on a couple of occasions. There‘s no facilities but wonderful views across the Dudden Estuary. You can walk straight off the northbound platform onto the marshes. Once the train has left it’s silent except for the sound of the birds around the estuary.

Oh yes... I'm definitely with you on that one. Lovely to do a bit of birding whilst you're waiting for the train.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

On a warm sunny day one of my favourites would be Kirkby in Furness. I‘ve stopped off there for an hour or so on a couple of occasions. There‘s no facilities but wonderful views across the Dudden Estuary.

Great location. Agree there's very little at the station itself, apart from the scenery, but it can't be more than 75 yds to the 'Ship Inn ' on Askew Gate if needs be, assuming it's a day that they're open.

 

[Topological]

In the old days when I drank there were so many. I note that drinking is a recurring theme in the answers here.

These days my asks are simple. Just somewhere warm and dry. That actually does not give many options, especially later in the day when cafes are closed. I think therefore Ribblehead would be my choice as it has a pub, there are nice walks around and the scenery is good. Covered for most weathers.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

To add another station pub to the story, I'd suggest Dewsbury.

I have spent quite a few hours in the West Riding Refreshment Rooms sampling their large range of ale. I haven't actually missed a train because if this, but it wouldn't be too much of a hardship if I did!

 

[Royston Vasey]

Crewe, for the atmosphere and the sheer variety, something is always happening and it's unrivalled as a place to spot. Even the Line and Whistle is a vast improvement over the Crewe Hero. It's also very enthusiast friendly and you can wander around for hours without being hassled.

It will be a sad day when they redevelop Crewe into some sterile airport-cum-bus station like Reading.

Lancaster is excellent and I've spent a few evenings on the beer platform.

Peterborough is also a cracking place to watch a variety of passing traffic.

 

[yorksrob]

Crewe, for the atmosphere and the sheer variety, something is always happening and it's unrivalled as a place to spot. Even the Line and Whistle is a vast improvement over the Crewe Hero. It's also very enthusiast friendly and you can wander around for hours without being hassled.

It will be a sad day when they redevelop Crewe into some sterile airport-cum-bus station like Reading.

Lancaster is excellent and I've spent a few evenings on the beer platform.

Peterborough is also a cracking place to watch a variety of passing traffic.

Yes, I think Crewe is a cracking station and could be much better with a bit of tidying up.

 

[Llandudno]

Crewe, for the atmosphere and the sheer variety, something is always happening and it's unrivalled as a place to spot. Even the Line and Whistle is a vast improvement over the Crewe Hero. It's also very enthusiast friendly and you can wander around for hours without being hassled.

It will be a sad day when they redevelop Crewe into some sterile airport-cum-bus station like Reading.

Lancaster is excellent and I've spent a few evenings on the beer platform.

Peterborough is also a cracking place to watch a variety of passing traffic.

I suspect it may be many years before Crewe station is redeveloped!

 

[Llandudno]

To add another station pub to the story, I'd suggest Dewsbury.

I have spent quite a few hours in the West Riding Refreshment Rooms sampling their large range of ale. I haven't actually missed a train because if this, but it wouldn't be too much of a hardship if I did!

The station pub at Dewsbury is fantastic, but I wouldn’t bother suggesting setting foot outside the station…!

 

[D6130]

The station pub at Dewsbury is fantastic, but I wouldn’t bother suggesting setting foot outside the station.

Only onto the platform....not into the town.

 

[birchesgreen]

I like quiet stations in the (well feels anyway) middle of nowhere, such as Bearley, Wootton Wawen and Lapworth.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The station pub at Dewsbury is fantastic, but I wouldn’t bother suggesting setting foot outside the station…!

Only onto the platform....not into the town.

Yes, I do visit there quite often, and it's not the best, sadly.

 

[Cymroglan]

I had an hour or so to wait in Brockenhurst station last month and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the time went. I had a better than expected coffee made for me by a cheerful and friendly young lady. The waiting room nearby was nice and warm and a member of station staff was chatty.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Although I wasn't there for a particularly long time, Hellifield seemed a lovely place to wait for a train, quaint architecture, plenty of interest at the station and a small cafe and museum on the platform.