Best Stations on the Northern network?

[t52192]

What are your favourite stations in the North or the ones you view as the best on the Northern network? I am looking to make some good use of the WY Metro ticket and visit a few stations across the Northern network and outside of the Metro map too.

What would be your top or favourite 5 stations on the Northern network?
https://d2cf7kiw5xizhy.cloudfront.net/images/maps/2017-12/Network-map-DR-update-24317.pdf

Here are mine:

Knaresborough, Newcastle, York, Hebden Bridge and Grange over Sands

 

[Killingworth]

Depends on how you define best. Edale on the Hope Valley line only has bus shelters on the platforms, but there's the Penny Pot Cafe on the south side and immediately below the station, and the Rambler Inn immediately next door to the north. Lots of fresh air and exercise to be had from there.

Have your back pack well filled to walk the 268 miles along the Pennine Way to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, crossing a few Northern lines on the way. Maybe do it in stages stopping at Marsden for a train to Huddersfield, a very different and contrasting station and well worth a visit (although managed by TPE).

 

[Howardh]

I like Preston but many don't. However - large = Huddersfield, and Piccadilly's not bad these days....can sit in the pub overlooking what's going on > at £6.50 a pint and I've a soft spot for Oxford Road.
Smaller stations with lack of facilities largely depend on the view; Oxenholme's OK but doesn't have much of a view though. Passed through - Silverside looks nice.

 

[Paygo Gift]

Hellifield is really nice

 

[Esker-pades]

My "favourite" has to be a toss up between Chathill and Nethertown.

 

[t52192]

Hellifield is really nice

I don't live far from Hellifield. The structure is lovely, but unfortunately for me, parts of the station are a total mess with weeds and stuff growing everywhere. I don't see why a bit of effort isn't put in by the heritage staff to make it pretty all around.

 

[Matt_pool]

Stalybridge, mainly because of the Buffet Bar.

 

[Altfish]

I like Carlisle, especially now the 301 miles bar has opened.

 

[Geeves]

Skipton is a really nice set up.

 

[Iskra]

Grange Over Sands, Huddersfield, Carnforth, Dewsbury (West Riding pub), Lancaster, Settle.

Primarily chosen for some of or a mixture of: interesting architecture, views, pubs or railway interest.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Kinda have to split it into categories:
Best Favourite station managed by Northern: Hebden Bridge.
Best Favourite station served by Northern but managed by a different TOC: Huddersfield.

 

[xc170]

Knaresborough and Garsdale...

 

[AndyHudds]

Kinda have to split it into categories:
Best Favourite station managed by Northern: Hebden Bridge.
Best Favourite station served by Northern but managed by a different TOC: Huddersfield.

As much as love Huddersfield station it's only the outside, the facade, that has anything going for it, inside it's functional and pretty dull.

 

[Killingworth]

My "favourite" has to be a toss up between Chathill and Nethertown.

Chathill is very peaceful, apart from the trains rushing through. Only half a dozen houses within a mile but on a nice day a pleasant walk across fields to Seahouses on the coast. Visited it on as grey day back in February.

The residents in the old station look after it well. You're unlikely to see many other passengers, apart from any wanting to visit obscure stations.

 

[Gathursty]

My favourites would be:
Gathurst - best out of the Wigan area for me although Hindley has some dedicated volunteers.
Carnforth - Best in the North West for the heritage aspect and proximity to WCML action.
Meadowhall - Best in South East of the Northern network. Clean, staffed, great onward connections and facilities.
Seascale - hard to pick between several but for scenery from the platform, Seascale wins.
Best station that isn't predominantly Northern but is Northern served goes to Manchester Piccadilly for it being the nearest in comparison to a grand London terminal Northern use.

 

[urbophile]

Keighley and Bingley both have that confident turn-of-the (last) century urban feel about them. Huddersfield has an amazing frontage to the street even though the platform side looks a bit dreary.

 

[Greetlander]

Always liked Hebden Bridge and Accrington has a majestic(ish) sweep to it. I’ve also got to agree with a number of other people on here - Huddersfield has a quality to it, although the older I’ve got the less impressive it feels. I think I’m remembering back to being a child and getting on the loco-hauled Scarborough-Bangor trains.

Honourable mention to Halifax for being the best smelling station when Nestle is in full swing.

 

[t1mj1m]

St Bees nice station complete with signal box and level crossing.

 

[Iskra]

Ulverston is another good one.

 

[DarloRich]

Darlington. Close thread.

 

[Karl]

Nethertown and Braystones on the Cumbrian coast are two great stations for walking between along the pebbled beach. I also enjoy the walk along the beach from Drigg to Seascale. The £10 Northern newspaper offer makes these places easily affordable during the offer.

 

[Killingworth]

Poynton is a little gem. You'd think you were on a heritage line, but it's Northern right enough. Tribute I gather to the man who mans the ticket office and maybe one or two volunteers to tend the flower beds.

 

[sheff1]

Irlam is well worth a visit. Make sure you go when the cafe bar is open.

 

[STANDISH]

Hindley for its gardens.

 

[pieguyrob]

Layton. Purely because it means I am nearly home.

 

[gordonthemoron]

My favourites would be:
Gathurst - best out of the Wigan area for me although Hindley has some dedicated volunteers.
Carnforth - Best in the North West for the heritage aspect and proximity to WCML action.
Meadowhall - Best in South East of the Northern network. Clean, staffed, great onward connections and facilities.
Seascale - hard to pick between several but for scenery from the platform, Seascale wins.
Best station that isn't predominantly Northern but is Northern served goes to Manchester Piccadilly for it being the nearest in comparison to a grand London terminal Northern use.

The best thing about Seascale station is leaving the place, I used to live there

 

[Aictos]

Accrington because despite being a shadow of its former glory as a major junction with direct trains to Manchester, Leeds, Preston, Colne etc, the 2011 rebuild presented what a sustainable station should look like.

Only issue is they removed the old barrow crossing which gave up to the early 90s* step free access between platforms as a alternative to the footbridge which was operated by the station staff on duty.

*I say early 90s as I didn’t use Accrington between early 90s and early 00s so not 100% sure when it was removed.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

As much as love Huddersfield station it's only the outside, the facade, that has anything going for it, inside it's functional and pretty dull.

I'll have to disagree with you there. The concourse is a little cluttered, granted. But the waiting room/cafe on the island is a lovely place to wait for a train.

 

[yorksrob]

Top 5

York - wonderful train shed and a seat outside the York Tap with a beer to watch the trains.

Ribblehead - great to enjoy the peace and quiet of a winters night, and if you're lucky, the stars.

Lancaster - great connections, good architecture and good pubs and the Giant Axe nearby.

Hull Paragon - beautiful gateway to a fascinating city - and one of the few places on a Saturday evening where one can catch a train with ease and comfort. The Hotel's also good to wait for a train.

Battersby Junction. Never got off there, but a beautiful setting in the rolling hills in the middle of nowhere.

Six (sorry - couldn't resist and extra) Huddersfield. Two great pubs and an excellent buffet that does fry-ups. The train shed and wooden buildings on the island platform have a real feel of "old railway" about them as well.

 

[jonesy3001]

arnside - go up the road from the station and there's a couple of pubs that look out to the bay and the viaduct,
windermere - walk down to the village or jump onto the open top to the lake,
blackpool before the remodel,holiday destination
Manchester pic or vic, my home city,
Lancaster - because i lived there before moving to malta