Originally built by the North Staffordshire Railway to run services from Stoke-on-Trent, Alton Station was lovingly restored by the Landmark Trust and is now a rental property. It can sleep up to eight people, with one bedroom in what was once the ticket office and all others in the Stationmaster’s House, as well as old waiting rooms that have since been transformed into kitchen and dining spaces. Families with young rail buffs may want to visit nearby theme park Alton Towers during their stay in the Churnet Valley which, among its many attractions, includes a ‘Runaway Mine Train’ ride.
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The Bellevue des Alpes is one of the last-surviving grand hotels of the 19th century, open during the summer and winter seasons and only accessible via the Wengernalpbahn due to its alpine location. Guests can take the train from either Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Grindelwald to the station at Kleine Scheidegg to reach the hotel. Don't miss the train ride from here further up the Eiger Mountain to Eigergletscher station, where it’s possible to then transfer to the famous Jungfrau Railway and end at Jungfraujoch; the highest railway station on the continent.
As its name suggests, the Ammunition Wagon was used during the Second World War to carry cargo such as explosives and military ammunition behind a working steam engine. Now, it has been given renewed purpose as a modern holiday home, designed to sleep two adults and two children within its cosy carriage. It lies next to the Northiam heritage station on the Kent and East Sussex Railway line, providing great train-spotting opportunities from its small leafy patio. From Northiam station, passengers can board services to the towns of Bodiam, Rolvenden and Tenterden.
Made up of several Canadian-built cabooses and boxcars, rooms at Tatamagouche Train Station Inn mostly hold up to four people, with some double-occupancy options and a shiny new caboose which can accommodate five. The station itself was constructed around 1887 and nowadays, in addition to the hotel, comprises a gift shop, dining-car restaurant, café and the Baggage Room bar, with live music sometimes performed on the old platform. The disused rail-bed now belongs to the Trans Canada Trail, a long-distance hiking route running through the country, and visitors can follow it over Campbell’s railway bridge into Nelson Park.
Sitting beside the West Somerset steam railway, The Railway Carriage is a purpose-built authentic replica train carriage sleeping four across two bedrooms. It offers self-catering facilities, a hot tub and glorious views over rolling English countryside. Trains pass by the property regularly most days and can be heard chugging along from a distance, often pumping out a hearty “choo-choo” on their way through. The West Somerset Railway line stretches for 20 miles from Minehead to Bishop's Lydeard, stopping off at several stations en route in an immensely scenic journey which takes around an hour and 20 minutes from end to end.
Boutique bungalow Nine Skies is perfectly located for rail enthusiasts looking to see the renowned Nine Arch Bridge, also known as 'The Bridge in the Sky'. The viaduct dates back to Sri Lanka’s colonial era and is still used by trains today. A short walk from the accommodation through the jungle will take you to the bridge, which towers over an emerald valley of tea plantations. For a different perspective, Demodara train station is just down the road from Nine Skies, where travellers can pick up a service to Haputale (among other destinations) which crosses over the iconic bridge.
The two-bed Station Flat rests above the ticket office at Benny Halt station in St Newlyn East and is a great base for exploring the Lappa Valley railway network. The holiday apartment, ideal for young families, sits next to the tracks of one of Cornwall’s first railway lines and visitors wishing to ride a narrow-gauge steam engine can board frequent services from Benny Halt to East Wheal Rose, from where it's easy to access two further train routes. Entry to all of the Lappa Valley facilities is included for guests at the Station Flat, with train-driving upgrades available for adults too.
Suspended over the Namsen River on a disused railway bridge deep in the Norwegian countryside, the Namsen Salmon and Train Experience involves sleeping over in a converted 1960s train carriage. Active locomotives stopped crossing the bridge in 2005 and thereafter it fell into disrepair. Now, it plays host to 10 two-bed compartments, each with their own washing facilities and river views, and separate carriages which are reserved for dining and toilet/shower cubicles. Accommodation is booked on a bed-and-breakfast basis, with lunches and dinners utilising local produce also available to pre-order at an additional cost.
Having been in the same family for multiple generations, Three Hares Carriage is a Victorian third-class carriage formerly used in the 1880s by the London and South Western Railway given new life as a beautiful rural bolthole for up to two people. It has kept some original features and been sympathetically restored, while incorporating a touch of contemporary luxury. The cathedral city of Exeter is just three miles (5km) from the property, where real rail aficionados can hop on the newly-restored historic Dartmoor Line, which operates trains to Okehampton: the gateway to Dartmoor National Park.
Guests will feel as if they’ve arrived in the early 1900s at Carska. Now an opulent hotel and restaurant concept, it was once a railway station, built in 1903 for Russian Tsar Nicholas II to ensure his diplomatic visits to Poland were easy and comfortable. Rooms range from luxury railroad wagons-turned-saloon cars, apartments in the station’s water tower and the Railway Man’s Lodge, sleeping eight. Interiors are authentic to the Imperial period, with lots of dark wood, rich tones and sumptuous vintage fabrics. There is also a fully-functioning steam engine and a Russian sauna on-site.
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Set within Snowdonia National Park, Coed y Bleiddiau is another heritage property managed by the Landmark Trust. This compact cottage sleeps up to four and lies alongside the Ffestiniog Railway, which was used to transport slate from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During the Second World War, the railway was all but forgotten about, before being restored by a team of dedicated volunteers and rail enthusiasts. With its own private platform, guests can arrive at Coed y Bleiddiau by steam train if they coordinate their timings with the daily service.
Ideally positioned for a train-hopping adventure along the Ligurian Riviera, Villa Edera even has its own direct lift down to Moneglia railway station, from where inexpensive connections to various destinations across the region can be made. The hotel is family-run and comes complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant, manicured gardens and a fabulous pool; Moneglia itself providing laidback vibes and sandy beaches. If it takes your fancy, Inntravel currently hosts a self-guided walking holiday based out of Villa Edera, which encourages use of the local rail network to reach the pretty coastal villages that lie between Cinque Terre and Portofino.
The Old Railway Station in Petworth was reincarnated from a serving train station which closed down in 1966, after many decades being part of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway network. Following the building’s renovation, it opened as a bed-and-breakfast in 1995 with two guest rooms located in the Station House. Since then, the owners have purchased and refurbished four Pullman carriages, bringing the total number of rooms to 10, with plans to acquire a fifth carriage in the near future. Modern travellers can explore by train from nearby Pulborough station, which connects to the likes of Arundel, Amberley and Bognor Regis.
Built in 1888 as the USA’s first union station, the building now houses the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station. Shadows of the hotel’s former past are seen throughout, particularly in the foyer of the Grand Hall which used to be the station’s main concourse during a time when up to 200 daily steam services were passing through. Accommodation is located within the historic train shed, where guests can choose between conventional rooms or converted Pullman cars, each named after a famous 20th-century figure.
An eco-aparthotel formed out of stacked shipping containers, Stow-Away overlooks London Waterloo station and is built on land formerly owned by National Rail. It’s a great stay in the capital for train-spotters and keen rail travellers, with sleek studio-style apartments combining efficiency, functionality and sustainability-minded design. Each has a kitchenette, blackout blinds, a marble-tiled shower and Molton Brown toiletries. In 2021, for the first time in 17 years, Waterloo lost the title of ‘Britain’s busiest station’ due to a decrease in commuters during the pandemic. Yet it remains a major transport hub, whisking passengers across the city and southeast by National Rail and London Underground services.
Located just a five-minute stroll from the Kyoto Railway Museum (the biggest of its kind in Japan), The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji is brilliantly suited to rail buffs. Its designated ‘Railway Room’ features photographs of high-speed Shinkansen, often referred to as bullet trains, as well as train-themed bedding, model trains and a simulation game that will make you feel like the driver of your very own train. Kids can also enjoy breakfast served on a Shinkansen-shaped plate. Kyoto Station can easily be reached from the hotel on-foot or by metro, where the Shinkansen connects to other places of interest such as Tokyo, Hiroshima and Mount Fuji.
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Brockford Railway Siding is a collection of rail-themed accommodation in rural East Anglia. Carriage One once belonged to the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway fleet and sleeps four people, Carriage Two sleeps six and the Italian Carriage – which earned its name from wartime exploits when it was used by Italian prisoners of war working the local land – sleeps four. There is also the Guard’s Van, Station House and Wilby Halt for guests to stay in; the latter comprising a replica of Wilby train station, a carriage and original box wagon. The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum is a short walk from here and Bressingham Steam Museum is half an hour’s drive.
Created from redundant rolling stock from the Pennsylvania railroad, the Red Caboose Motel was the brainchild of Donald M. Denlinger who opened it in 1970 after bidding on the 19 original surplus cabooses that house part of this quirky accommodation and its restaurant. There are now 38 carriages plus a baggage car and a post car that make up the Red Caboose, all decorated thematically to evoke nostalgia for America’s railways. Pick up a souvenir from the on-site gift shop and jump on the Red Caboose Express, a small trackless train that tours the property.
Sitting on the now-mothballed ‘Primrose Line’ branch of the Great Western Railway, The Signal Box is adjacent to Loddiswell Station, where the owners of the holiday rental reside. The station building dates back to 1893 and was designed by Victorian architect William Clarke, whose handiwork also extends to the stations at Kingsbridge, Avonwick and Gara Bridge. Operations ceased entirely at Loddiswell by 1963, its 70-year history seeing refugee monks from France transporting materials for a monastery and the journeys of military servicemen preparing for D-Day. The Signal Box is a replica, but the original neighbouring station remains.
Standing strong since 1893, the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac dominates the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Québec’s old town and is one of Canada’s nine remaining grand hotels positioned along the Pacific Railway, intended at the time to attract affluent travellers traversing the country by train. Rail enthusiasts can still experience the Pacific Railway for themselves, which stretches cross-country from east to west and was vital to Canada’s economic development back in the day. The hotel has retained a classic quality, reminiscent of the golden age of train travel, with elegant interiors and dramatic architecture.
Nestled in the belly of the Derwent Valley, Platform 1 – Castle Howard Station offers accommodation for four people within the Grade II-listed old railway station. Castle Howard Station once served the synonymous regal North Yorkshire estate nearby and was visited by Queen Victoria well over a century ago on her way to meet the Earl of Carlisle. Modern passenger trains running between York and Scarborough still sweep past the property today, which also gives its guests a wonderful vantage point to spot the specialist steam services that occasionally chug by.
Sitting across the street from Amsterdam Centraal Station, the A-Train Hotel embraces all the character of train-themed accommodation without compromising on comfort, relaxation or tastefulness. The 3-star property is well appointed for getting around; whether you use the metro and tram network to explore locally, or take the train to places of interest slightly further afield, like Zaandam or Utrecht. Die-hard train lovers will swoon over the hotel’s Pullman Lounge, where breakfast is served amid archive photos of Dutch railways and memorabilia. Be sure to book a ‘First Class’ room for views out to Amsterdam Centraal.
Regular viewers of Channel 4’s Four in a Bed TV series, where B&B owners go head-to-head for the chance to be crowned one of the UK’s best, may recognise Dent Station from a 2013 episode. The highest mainline station in England, it sits alongside the tracks of the active Settle-Carlisle line and can accommodate up to six guests. The lounge and kitchen areas began life as the station’s waiting rooms, whereas the current bathroom was the gentlemen’s washroom and the toilet was formerly the coal store. Rail buffs will be enthralled by the site’s 145-year history.
Railway Crossing Cottage provides a quiet, cosy and unplugged getaway for two adults just six miles (10km) from Donegal town, where you’ll find the Donegal Railway Heritage Centre. The cottage, or gatehouse as it would have been known in its prime, sat on the Killybegs branch before becoming abandoned in the 1970s and was later restored by a couple with familial ties to the railway. Six daily trains would once have passed by the cottage, but now its large garden follows the old line of the track bed.
Rustic lakeside retreat Settle peddles nature-conscious accommodation in canvas tents, log cabins and rescued railway goods carriages. There are three of these vintage carriages for guests to stay in, each sleeping two with access to a decked terrace and fire pit. Carriage No.1 was in pretty good nick when the owners took it on, allowing them to incorporate the original floor and most of its walls into the finished design, whereas Carriages No.2 and No.3 were fully renovated using salvaged materials. Less than 20 minutes away by car from here is the Mid-Norfolk Railway; a great day out for those wanting to continue their train-themed break.
Overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur Temple, Amanjiwo is a high-end resort with wellbeing, natural beauty and tranquillity at its core. Guests are currently being offered the exclusive opportunity to travel through Java by train with the hotel, where a two-night stay begins in style with a seven-hour trip on the Kereta Api Wisata train from Jakarta. You’ll have access to the VIP lounge at Gambir Station as you await departure in Amanjiwo’s private carriage, where a resident anthropologist will then join you for the journey to explain the culture and sights of central Java unfolding outside your window.
Recently renovated, Station Cottage can welcome up to four people in its accommodation which was once the ticket office and waiting room for a Victorian railway station. Guests can arrive by train into Bucknell’s modern-day station on the Heart of Wales line, running from Swansea to Shrewsbury, and step through the front door just 33 feet (10m) from the alighting platform. Anyone with even the slightest affinity for railways will be in their element staying here, where eight trains drift in and out of the station every day.
Opened at the end of 2020, Kruger Shalati provides lavish accommodation on a stationary train perpetually poised above the Sabie River on the historic Selati Bridge. Its positioning gives a nostalgic nod to the 1920s, when visitors started coming to Kruger National Park for the first time on a train which would park overnight on this very bridge. There are 31 rooms, 24 of which are carriage rooms with glass walls with stunning vistas of the river and beyond. Two swimming pools suspended above the Sabie allow for a wildlife-watching experience like no other.
Occupying the ornate red-brick building first commissioned by the Midland Railway Company, the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel has also been known by an earlier moniker, the Midland Grand Hotel. Between its relaunch as the Renaissance in 2011 and its initial incarnation, it was used for railway offices. These days, the property is the most luxurious way to kick off a journey from St. Pancras Station: London’s gateway to international rail travel. The Eurostar operates fuss-free train services from here to cities like Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. It also facilitates short and long-distance journeys to destinations around the UK, along with nearby King’s Cross and Euston stations.
Previously, Train Spot Guesthouse served as Marvão-Beirã Station, a 19th century terminal and a stop along the now-deactivated Cáceres branch of the Portuguese rail network. Guests can choose from a range of rooms offering both en suite and shared facilities, with breakfast included in the reservation. The guesthouse is located within the Natural Park of Serra de São Mamede, making it a sought-after destination for nature lovers and rail buffs alike. To satisfy both of those interests, you could hire a railbike; a fun activity that involves pedalling along the disused train tracks which are surrounded by oak trees and castle views.