A lot of us Londoners will be all too familiar with the very specific type of panic that you experience upon opening your eyes having accidentally drifted off mid-Tube journey and being met with a station name that you’ve never even heard of. But if you fancy hopping aboard a train on which you can nod off without a single worry of missing your stop, allow us to point you in the quaint and oh-so quirky direction of the Old Railway Station.
The Old Railway Station
This station-turned-hotel can be found in the historic market town of Petworth. A station has stood on this very site since the mid-1800s, but the building in its current form dates back to 1892. Petworth railway station set up shop on a line that would ferry city-folk from London to the middle of the South Downs. The station closed to passengers in 1955 and was left abandoned from the mid-60s. But in the mid-80s, it was rescued, renovated, and lovingly-restored. And – well- the rest is history, really.
The Old Railway Station boasts five fully-restored (and utterly gorgeous) Pullman carriages, each of which is home to two bedrooms, a main Station House, a tearoom and a restaurant. Visitors can stay inside one of the stunning Edwardian carriages or opt for the main Station House itself. Each accommodation option has been adapted to perfectly meet the needs of modern-day visitors – and it’s certainly one of the most unique places you could ever take a snooze.
In fact, the Old Railway Station has actually recently landed itself on a list of the UK’s weirdest hotels. The research came courtesy of Betway who analysed TripAdvisor reviews to find the most unconventional places to stay in the country. The Old Railway Station found itself in the number 7 position on the list – and it’s certainly not particularly tricky to see why.
📍You’ll find The Old Railway Station at Station Road, Petworth, GU18 0JF.
