Best Railway Station

[Whistler40145]

What would you say is the best Railway station in the UK?

Whether it be for cleanliness, best design etc.

 

[Greenback]

For what? Shops? Train spotting? Or just architecture?

St Pancras is pretty impressive imho!

 

[Ivo]

Blasted Greenback, stealing my answer before I could get it in...!

I'm going to send you a PM

 

[Greenback]

I was unusually quick there! Sorry, it's not like me!

 

[yorksrob]

Manchester Victoria. Good architecture and full of character.

 

[ainsworth74]

As Greenback says for what? Personally as a passenger I would have to say St Pancras, it's a beautiful station and has plenty of shops and is quite easy to navigate around as well as having good links to the underground and is just a nice place to kill a bit of time.

If you mean for spotting then I would answer by saying "how long is a piece of string" as it depends what you want to see!

 

[LE Greys]

Personally, I love York for variety of stock and services, ease of access, wonderful architecture, usually friendly staff and proximity to the NRM.

 

[Greenback]

York is very nice, but I must admit I have never been inside Manchester Victoria, I've only seen it from the outside!

I also have a soft spot for Bristol Temple Meads - being a through station with an overall roof and curving platforms seems to give it a bit of a grand feel! And I have happy ememories of changing trains there on my way to see a girlfriend in the 1980's!

 

[junglejames]

I was unusually quick there! Sorry, it's not like me!

Thats what she said!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
York, Newcastle and Bristol Temple Meads for large stations. Oxford and Inverness for medium stations. Dovey Jnc, Penychain, or any up the West Highland line for small stations. Esp Crianlarich

 

[WestCoast]

York is very nice, but I must admit I have never been inside Manchester Victoria, I've only seen it from the outside!

Manchester Victoria is a lovely building filled with fascinating anecdotes from the past.

It's just a shame that it is in such a run-down and depressing state, it's desperate for investment to take place. I wouldn't venture anywhere near the toilets either, the vagrants that hang around begging is not a pleasant sight or experience.

I do indeed love St. Pancras, it's far superior to the other Eurostar terminals of Gare du Nord and Brussels-Midl, and even the French themselves have admitted this!

York is lovely as well, and I am also quite fond of Manchester Piccadilly's fusion of old and new, which works extremely well (apart from platforms 13/14)

For a small(er) station I quite like Lancaster, it doesn't have an abundance of facilities but it's quaint and has character.

 

[junglejames]

Manchester Victoria is a lovely building filled with fascinating anecdotes from the past.

It's just a shame that it is in such a run-down and depressing state, it's desperate for investment to take place. I wouldn't venture anywhere near the toilets either, the vagrants that hang around begging is not a pleasant sight or experience.

I do indeed love St. Pancras, it's far superior to the other Eurostar terminals of Gare du Nord and Brussels-Midl, and even the French themselves have admitted this!

York is lovely as well, and I am also quite fond of Manchester Piccadilly's fusion of old and new, which works extremely well (apart from platforms 13/14)

For a small(er) station I quite like Lancaster, it doesn't have an abundance of facilities but it's quaint and has character.

Good point, i forgot Lancaster. Fantastic station. Probably my favourite medium sized station. Also i like Norwich for some reason.

 

[Mysterium]

Definitely Wakefield Kirkgate for me. It's got everything.

 

[WestCoast]

Definitely Wakefield Kirkgate for me. It's got everything.

If you want to be assaulted/stabbed/raped/robbed, it's the station for you!

 

[connor7777]

Bache

 

[BrummyBoy]

Birmingham Moor Street - chiltern have done a lovely job with it

Smethwick Galton Bridge - lovely modern design (particually the bridge)

 

[brillopad]

I like Bodmin Parkway, at dusk the Deer come down the Bodmin & Wenford line to graze quite near the platform - also there's a beautiful walk up to Lanhydrock House.

 

[Blindtraveler]

for happy memories of all kinds and for all sorts of other reasons, carlisle for me any time. As for large termini birmingham new street, simply because even in winter, the main concourse is always warm. Least favourite would be leeds

 

[LE Greys]

I quite like Bath Spa, viewed from some angles. It always reminds me of going home from school, plus being a nicely-set place. That's my medium station. Small stations, probably Berney Arms for the wildlife and sheer quirkiness.

 

[Liam]

Manchester Piccadilly.

I also agree that the worst (that I have visited) is Leeds.

 

[b0b]

St Pancras ..... before the International era

Just flat out loved walking through this station - it felt very run down, but a tremendous feeling of history, throughout. Also got to leave and depart on the best trains, Valenta engined HSTs.

I haven't been to the station, post International era. I'm sure it looks tremendous but I'm sure it has lost something too.

Also was a big fan of Kings Cross Thameslink, when heading to south London from Scotland, being able to stretch my legs on a 10 min walk from Euston to KCM and not face a nasty tube journey - fantastic. But I guess how you define "best"

 

[SS4]

Birmingham Moor Street, the improvements are astounding (and there's a subway across the road for pre-journey snacks!)

For a travel point of view New St is good due to a large number of direct trains and connections

 

[prod_pep]

York - same reasons as above. Great city as well.
Glasgow Central - great architecture and concourse.

 

[Whistler40145]

West Coast, I remember getting off a Spitfire Tour @ Wakefield Kirkgate & thinking I'd just arrived in bandit country!

 

[Mysterium]

I also agree that the worst (that I have visited) is Leeds.

Why??

 

[Whistler40145]

Mysterium, what do you mean by why? ?

 

[Blindtraveler]

think 'why' is in relation to our dislike of leeds. Wel, for me, simple. Big, drafty, unwelcoming and bad memories. The wetherspoon pubs good though!

 

[Whistler40145]

Preston is just the same, except for it's age!

Try standing on Platforms 3/4 a windy day & you'll soon know about it!

 

[caliwag]

St Pancras ..... before the International era

Just flat out loved walking through this station - it felt very run down, but a tremendous feeling of history, throughout. Also got to leave and depart on the best trains, Valenta engined HSTs.

I haven't been to the station, post International era. I'm sure it looks tremendous but I'm sure it has lost something too.

Also was a big fan of Kings Cross Thameslink, when heading to south London from Scotland, being able to stretch my legs on a 10 min walk from Euston to KCM and not face a nasty tube journey - fantastic. But I guess how you define "best"

Indeed, when working on St P rebuild in the 90, I used to pop along to the Ridings Bar...decent pint of Bass, and watch "the departures" at around 5pm.
Incredibly...no trains in platform and about 40 commuters, some in the bar, and probably half railwaymen!...most odd, knowing we were at the coalface of redevelopment...sorry boys.

 

[Mysterium]

Mysterium, what do you mean by why? ?

I just wondered why Leeds was so unpopular as I happen to think it's quite impressive in terms of the structure and facilities.

 

[ACE1888]

Best?
Bere Alston in Devon for me, just love the place!