Beer Gardens Overlooking Railway Lines

[Tetchytyke]

The Crystal Palace at Berkhamsted

The Fishery Inn in Hemel Hempstead

The Three Horse Shoes at Winkwell, halfway between Boxmoor and Berkhamsted, is also very good.

 

[AndrewE]

Double Locks in Exeter - about a 10 or 15 walk from Marsh Barton and an outstanding beer garden with views across the canal to trains whizzing past on Exminster Marshes

Closer to St David's station, but unfortunately only open Thursday and Friday evenings, the Exeter Brewery tap is next to and has a drinking terrace which overlooks the N approach to the station...

 

[airantraigh]

Anyone have any recs that are within an hour or two of Edinburgh?

 

[Tetchytyke]

Anyone have any recs that are within an hour or two of Edinburgh?

If you include being overlooked by the railway, the Hawes Inn at South Queensferry?

 

[Titfield]

The Bankes Arms Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

We (wife and I ) went to the Continental in Preston last night (25/04/2026) - beer garden was packed - but not a bad view of the WCML about 200 metres south of Preston Station. Good beer and food too!

 

[X-City-WM]

This topic is very relevant to my interests. So much so, that I’ve recently created a map based on recommendations that I’ve found online.

Some are meant to have views of passing rail traffic, some are station pubs, and some are railway themed pubs.

I’ve only visited a small number on the list so can’t vouch for accuracy, but I do understand some of the views could be partially (or wholly) obstructed by vegetation, depending on the time of year.

If anyone’s interested, here’s the map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LFK26Usa4am41bjS7?g_st=i

*edited to fix link

 

[Taunton]

Inside rather than outside (so usable all year!), but the several window seats in the historic Hawes Inn at South Queensferry give a fine waterside view of trains crossing the Forth Bridge. There's a Down line signal on the bridge, quite visible, which gives notice of anything northbound. I've gone there on odd occasions for many years when visiting Edinburgh, it's about 15 minutes walk down the huge steps from Dalmeny station.

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[Spamcan81]

Tite and Locke on Lancaster station has an outside seating area from where rail traffic can be observed. Good range of Lancaster Brewery ales too.

 

[Spamcan81]

The King and Castle at Kidderminster (SVR) station has an outside seating area with a good view of SVR rail traffic.

 

[B00j1b0y]

The Stroud Brewery in er, Stroud has excellent views of the trains heading to and from Paddington on the Golden Valley line. Plus the canal as well.

 

[Haywain]

Outside seating areas are also available on their respective platforms at the Draughtsman (Doncaster), the Waiting Room (Durham) and the Whistle Stop (Grantham).

 

[Bald Rick]

Great Western in Wolverhampton, but you’ll get a stiff neck.

The Mill at Little Bridgeford (near Norton Bridge) is right next to the WCML.

 

[JGurney]

The front garden of the Cricketers in Addiscombe Road, Croydon has trams passing within a few metres.

 

[D6130]

The Post Gate at Egton Bridget

The Salmon Leap at Sleights

and the Bridge Inn at Ruswarp

.....should you happen to be a fan of class 156 units four times a day in each direction!

 

[Grecian 1998]

The Marine Tavern at Dawlish. Currently closed but being renovated. If you sit upstairs on the terrace you can also see the sea.

The Turf Locks near Exminster.

The Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres.

I'm sure it was possible to see trains at the Seven Stars at Wool when I was last there, although it looks a bit overgrown these days. I suspect you'd still be able to make out a passing 444 though.

 

[d70g]

The beer garden at Weavers (in the old Paisley Canal station building) has a good view (if you look east) of Paisley Canal station. Although not that exciting watching a class 320 creep towards the buffers every 30 mins.

 

[4COR]

The Bankes Arms Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway.

I came here to add the Scott Arms in Kingston, overlooking the Swanage railway and Corfe Castle - beautiful views down from the garden there.

 

[yorksrob]

The Post Gate at Egton Bridget

The Salmon Leap at Sleights

and the Bridge Inn at Ruswarp

.....should you happen to be a fan of class 156 units four times a day in each direction!

If we ever get a decent timetable on the line, I might try some of them !

 

[zwk500]

The Trevor Arms is next to Glynde, but sadly the trees and plants grew a bit too much during it's eight year closure to really see the trains now.

I'm delighted to hear it's back open, that must be fairly recent?

 

[JGurney]

I came here to add the Scott Arms in Kingston, overlooking the Swanage railway

Albeit the railway passes a mile away from the pub at it's closest point, but you can see the trains and their smoke in the distance.

 

[Jan Mayen]

I'm delighted to hear it's back open, that must be fairly recent?

July 2025.

 

[cjw714]

The Marine Tavern at Dawlish. Currently closed but being renovated. If you sit upstairs on the terrace you can also see the sea.

The Turf Locks near Exminster.

The Beer Engine at Newton St Cyres.

I'm sure it was possible to see trains at the Seven Stars at Wool when I was last there, although it looks a bit overgrown these days. I suspect you'd still be able to make out a passing 444 though.

The Turf is currently closed after storm damage but they hope to re-open on the 8th of May. It makes for a perfect stopping-off point if you want to walk or cycle between Marsh Barton and Starcross.