Where can I go for a weekend away by train?

Looking for a great night out, a chance to sample some local delicacies or to just to see the sights? There’s something for everyone, here. We’ve visited all of these places ourselves, too. Just click the link at the bottom of entry to find out more.

Newcastle

Newcastle might have an atmosphere as a party city, but it’s so much more. By day, you can work your way around its free museums and art galleries, such as the Discovery Museum and the Baltic. Have a stroll around the Quayside and admire the many bridges, too:

Looking for a drink? Newcastle is filled with hip craft beer spots, cute cocktail bars and plenty of classic pubs for a pint. Best of all, Geordies have a reputation for just being pure friendly. Want to see what we got up to? Click here.

York

York is a perfect weekend away by train for history buffs and train geeks alike. You could walk the walls, visit the National Railway Museum and admire the facade of York Minster without spending a penny.

Don’t forget to explore the many independent shops on the Shambles, either:

Or, perhaps you just want to go out of your way to find the brilliantly-named Whip-ma-Whop-ma-Gate. We paid a visit to see the sights, too.

Sheffield

So, what’s going on in the City of Seven Hills? Quite a lot, in fact, and definitely enough for a great weekend away by train! It’s filled with free museums, such as Kelham Island Museum and the Millenium Gallery. You can learn more about the rich history of Sheffield, as well as the people that make it great.

Why not shop till you drop in the Vintage stores of Division Street? Don’t forget the fried chicken at Lucky Fox, either. Or, you could take it easy and have a stroll around the Botanical Gardens:

One of us lived and studied in Sheffield for four years, so we’ve got plenty of tips! Find out more here.

Glasgow

There’s something in Glasgow for everyone. Fancy admiring a wall covered in cars? You can do that at the Riverside Museum, for free:

It’s home to the People’s Palace and Kelvingrove Museum, too. They don’t cost a penny, either. Fancy getting closer to nature? You can go say hello to the coos in Pollok Country Park, or admire the plants in the Botanic Gardens.

Peckish? Don’t pass on the fluffy soufflé pancakes at KoKo House. Find out more about what we saw and did here.

Liverpool

Liverpool is a perfect weekend away by train for music-lovers. It’s the home of so many class acts, after all. You can learn more about them in the Museum of Liverpool. No prizes for guessing which is the most famous act:

As well as soaking up some art in Tate Liverpool, you could pop out of the city and enjoy a bracing coastal walk in New Brighton or West Kirby.

Of course, you could spend an entire weekend trying to spot all of the Superlambananas. Take a look at what we chose to do…

Is there anything else I should know?

Feeling inspired? Looking to book a ticket and have a weekend away by train? No problem. You can do it all with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any extra fees either, even if you just change your mind about your trip.

The post 5 buzzing cities for a weekend away by train appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

How we found the best value railway station pints

Well, we had to do our research! We worked together to compile a list of all of the station pubs that we knew about. We’re based in different parts of the country, so everyone could chip in and add some local knowledge to the mix. Then, we reached out to them for their help.

Of course, we had to do some in-person research as well. We’ve had the pleasure of going into a wide selection of these pubs and sampling some railway station pints for ourselves.

We found some great beers, superb pubs and brilliant community spirit along the way. All that’s left to do is to show you what we found!

What was the cheapest of the railway station pints?

That honour goes to Aberystwyth. If Ruddle’s Best is your thing, you can get a pint of it on the station for just £1.71. Whether or not you’re a fan, that’s undeniably brilliant value in 2023.

We’ve put all of this information into an easy-to-read map. So the next time that you’re wondering if there’s railway station pints to be had nearby, you’ll know what awaits you, and how much it might cost:

You can download and view the entire map here. We’ve included dedicated maps for London and Greater Manchester, as they’re just so full to the brim with places to enjoy a drink before your train.

What were the pubs like?

We can’t deny that we came across some real gems when we were checking out the prices of railway station pints. A station pub isn’t just a place to drink, but it’s somewhere that locals cross paths with travellers from across the country (and even the globe), and it serves as a meeting place for the community, too.

Track & Sleeper on Knaresborough station is a fairly ‘young’ station pub. The brewery behind it, the Gorilla Brewing Co, was only founded in 2019! Yet, it’s already a firm favourite with the community and with rail travellers alike:

It serves a variety of its own beers, as well as other guest beers on tap and cask. If beer isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of gin on offer.

Meanwhile, in Newcastle, you’ll find the Centurion. It has a selection of local cask beers as well as your usual lagers on tap, but the main thing that sets it apart is, well, the pub itself. It was the former First Class lounge back in the day, and nothing beats sitting back in surroundings like this:

Is there anything else I should know?

We hope that you’ve found our map of the best value railway station pints useful. All that’s left for you to do is to hop on a train and pay some of the pubs a visit! Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, the North East and even a quick round-up of the cheapest pints. We’ve also taken a trip to find some of the best beer in East London.

It’s just as well that we specialise in great-value rail tickets, as well as beer. You can get all of your train tickets with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

The post What are the cheapest railway station pints? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

What are the best eateries near stations?

Howst (Sheffield)

Kicking off our best eateries near stations list is HowSt in Sheffield. Located at the top of Howard Street, next to Sheffield Hallam University, it’s a short five minute walk or so up (or down!) the hill to/from the station.

They specialise in a selection of breakfast and brunch foods, as well as your standard hot drinks and even cocktails. You can find the menu here.

It’s quite popular too, and we were lucky to get a table when we visited around midday. It’s really cosy and welcoming though, and the staff give you some true friendly Sheffield hospitality.

For food, we picked the ‘Sroom’, which is poached eggs on toast with mushrooms and a Bloody Mary sauce. It came to £9.50:

We’d definitely recommend paying a visit. Just try to avoid the rush around 12 to 1pm, as it can get very busy! The food here is delicious and the service is brilliant.

Meat:Stack (Leeds)

Okay, so Meat:Stack don’t actually have their origins in Leeds. They’re a Geordie-born business, but their Leeds branch is just around the corner from the station. Just pop out of the main entrance, turn left, then take a sharp right back along Bishopsgate Street.

It’s a pretty basic fast food-esque restaurant, but you wouldn’t come here to kill a lot of time. It’s all about filling yourself up with delicious food!

Think Five Guys burgers, but with some friendly northern service and way more flavour and creativity. If you want to see what’s on offer, click here.

We went for the New Mexico burger and some loaded spicy fries. A meal deal for a burger, fries and a drink starts at around £14:

When you order, you’re given a little buzzer that’ll go off when your food is ready. However, the staff just brought ours straight away as it was fairly quiet.

If you really want a good burger, then Meat:Stack is one of the best eateries near stations that you’ll find.

Partisan (York)

This is the most walking you’ll need to do for one of our best eateries near stations. Partisan is around a 10-minute walk from York Station, located on Micklegate. If you’re after an ‘elevated’ brunch, we’d recommend paying a visit.

It’s really popular, and even when we visited at 2pm on a Wednesday, it was pretty full. Thankfully, there’s a heated and covered outdoor terrace, so we sat there.

You’ll find the menu here. We went for the chorizo on toast (front) and vegan breakfast (rear) which were £14.50 each:

It’s a little expensive for just one dish, but it’s filling and tasty food. The chorizo on toast is very generous with the amount of meat you get, and the caramelised onions are absolutely delicious.

Partisan is one of the best eateries near stations for brunch. If you’re visiting York too, we’d recommend making it part of your itinerary!

The Sitting Room (Saltburn)

The Sitting Room is definitely one of the best eateries near stations if you’re all about location. Simply step off your train and turn left. Take a few steps forward and it’s on your right.

We just popped in for a cup of tea, so don’t have any food pictures to share. But as you can see, it has a cosy little bar and plenty of places to sit and relax with a book or the paper:

They specialise in sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks for the most part. It’s classic café food with friendly service. Once it gets a little later though, you’ll find cocktails and beers to choose from as well.

It seems to have two different ‘vibes’, with it being a cosy little cafe during the day, but it has a more intimate restaurant feel in the evening. We loved it as a spot to come in and enjoy a hot drink, especially on a cold windy day.

Zapatista (Newcastle)

Zapatista is a Mexican taco and burrito restaurant, which started out on Newcastle’s Ridley Place. Nowadays, you’ll find a branch on Grainger Street (just two minutes from the station) as well as one in Durham.

Each restaurant is full of quirky decor and has loads of places to sit and relax. The one by the station isn’t too busy if you want to sit down either, as it’s more popular with delivery apps and takeaway orders.

The menu is available here. You’ll find tacos, burritos and fajitas as well as items like nachos and chilli. As it happens, we went for the chilli and rice, which cost £7.20:

It’s customisable (like most dishes on the menu) so you can put your own twist on it, and it was a really filling bowl of chilli as well. It’s a great lunch spot and one that we’ve visited for a number of years.

Feeling hungry yet? Don’t worry. You can book a trip to all of these eateries with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees, including if you change your mind. All of our tickets are either refundable or changeable with no extra charges.

The post Best Eateries near Stations (in the North) appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Getting There

York is a true hub of the railways. You’ll find lines coming from every direction, so most of the country is easily connected to this historic city. Here’s how to get to it from some key destinations:

• Newcastle has trains operated by CrossCountry, LNER and TransPennine Express. You’ll usually find cheaper fares on TransPennine Express, but their reliability hasn’t been the best in recent months. LNER is likely to be your best bet if you can find a good fare, as they have the longest trains and the most generous amount of luggage space

• Coming from Leeds or Manchester? You have a choice of Northern or TransPennine Express. If you’d like to have seats reserved, you might prefer TPE. However, Northern have the cheapest fares and you’ll often find some bargains right up to departure. If you’re travelling from Manchester on Northern, you’ll need to change trains. Leeds has the greatest choice, but Hebden Bridge is a same-platform change if the times line up right

• London folk can choose from LNER or Grand Central. If you choose LNER, you’ll certainly have more choice. You’ll find up to three trains per hour on this route, ranging from stopping services to ones that go non-stop to and from the capital. If you’re after a cheaper fare, especially last-minute, Grand Central are best. Just know that they only leave a small number of seats unreserved in Coach B, so book at least the day before if you can.

Seeing the Sights

If you want to get started with some of the essentials in York, then it’s time to have a wander. The City Centre isn’t far away from the station. In fact, just turning left out of the station and popping under the walls will put the historic city within view. Here are some of the main bits that you won’t want to miss:

York Minster

If you mention York to someone, the first thing they’ll probably think of is the Minster. Depending on which direction you approach from on the train, it might well be the first thing you see, too. Founded in 627 AD, the current building was completed in 1472. It’s the largest cathedral of it’s kind in Northern Europe and is truly a sight to behold.

If you’d like to pray, attend a service or light a candle, then there’s no entrance charge. Otherwise, it’s £16.00 entry or £22.00 if you’d like to climb up the tower, too. Your ticket is valid for a year, so you can visit as many times as you’d like.

Opening times can vary, though it’s open every day. You can find out more on the Minster’s website.

The Shambles

These adorable streets are filled with shops full of trinkets, sweets and drinks to sample. Far from being a shambles, it’s one of the highlights of York and you could spend quite a while marvelling at every little store!

It’s one of the best-preserved Medieval shopping streets in Europe, with some reminders of that era still lingering. The small shelves you’ll see outside the shops (the ones you’ll be told not to use as a seat!) date from when cuts of meat were served on them. Thankfully the street is more likely to be awash with the smells of sweet shops and coffee than the stench of raw meat, these days.

Just know that things can get a little bit cosy on weekends and during the school holidays. After all, the Shambles wasn’t built with 21st Century crowds in mind! So, don’t plan to rush through it.

The River Ouse

The Ouse is maybe the second thing you’ll see when you enter York (other than the top of the Minster). You’ll need to walk over it to reach the City Centre, and it gives a more serene place to walk and chill out compared to the bustling city streets.

Whether you want to watch the sunrise or sunset (like we did in the picture below) or take a boat trip, it can give something to everyone. Did you know that it’s also the longest river in the UK to flow entirely within one county?

Walking the Walls

We can’t ignore the historical walls of York. The current wall dates from the 13th to 14th century, but there’s been a protective wall around the city since Roman times. They almost form a complete loop around the City Centre, with a number of historic gatehouses (known as ‘Bars’ – though you can’t grab a beer in them!) at different points.

They’re a great way to see the city from a height and a fantastic way to get your steps in, too. The nearest place to start your tour from the station is at Barker Tower, if you’d like to do an anti-clockwise tour. If you’d like to see a bit of the city first, then you can go clockwise from Bootham Bar, near the Art Gallery.

Find out more about the walls on the York City Council website.

York and the Railways

York is a true railway city. When the current station was opened in 1877, it was the largest in the world. It was also the home of train building from 1884 to 1996, with many trains operating on the network today having been built here. It’s truly possible that you might arrive in York on a train built there!

Nowadays, the main rail centrepiece of York is the National Railway Museum. Opened in 1975, it’s a place for rail enthusiasts, families and anyone even vaguely interested in trains. It houses a variety of relics (old and not-so-old!) from the National Collection, meaning that there’s something for everyone to marvel at.

The museum is currently undergoing an exciting period of change. Their Vision 2025 plans will see a number of new exhibits and a reimagining of existing ones to make it a museum fit for the future. It’s still possible to pop in and look at much of its collection while this work is going on, though.

Entry is free and the museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday. You’ll need to book a free admission ticket on the museum site before visiting.

Popping to the Museums

For a city full of history, it’s only fitting that there’d be plenty of museums to pop into! There are too many to list on one page, but here are a few highlights that you might like to visit:

Yorkshire Museum

If you’re wanting to know about the history of York and beyond going back through the past two millennia, then you won’t want to miss the Yorkshire Museum. It’ll probably be the first museum you encounter after jumping off the train, being just a stone’s throw from the River Ouse and Lendal Bridge.

At the time of writing, you can learn about York in the Roman era, as well as the mystery of the Ryedale Bust – an 1,800 year old bust of the emperor Marcus Aurelius discovered in May 2020. After all, who would bury such a fascinating object in rural North Yorkshire?

Don’t forget to visit the Medieval York exhibition, too. It’ll take you on a fascinating tale through time, exploring how York rose to become the second city of England.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and entry is £8 online or £8.75 on the day. You can find out more on the museum’s site.

York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum tells us more about the recent history of the city. It’s home to Kirkgate, one of the oldest indoor recreations of a street in the world, and the oldest in Britain. It was opened in 1938 and named after the museum’s founder, Dr John Lamplugh Kirk.

Perhaps you’d like to relive your childhood? If you’re old enough, their Sixties exhibition might bring back some fond memories. To younger visitors, naturally such times might feel like centuries in the past!

Of course, we can’t forget York Castle Prison. After all, the entire museum is housed in a former prison! You’ll come face-to-face with some of its most infamous prisoners and learn about nearly one thousand years of justice being delivered at York Castle. Did you know that York Crown Court is on the site today, so the history continues to this day?

The museum is open every day of the week, with entry being £13 online or £14 on the day.

Clifford’s Tower

Spin your head 180 degrees (and maybe the rest of your body with it) if you’re facing the York Castle Museum and you can’t miss Clifford’s Tower. Even if you aren’t visiting it inside, it’s definitely worth popping over to take a look.

The Tower has certainly had quite the history. It was originally built to subdue the rebellious North by William the Conqueror (we’ve never been one to follow the rules, have we?) and has been a royal mint, medieval stronghold and Civil War garrison.

Clifford’s Tower has seen it all, and you too can experience its history by paying a visit. You can ‘see it all’ as well by taking in the views of the city from the very top!

Tickets start at £8.10. More information is available on its website.

York Art Gallery

Taking in more than 600 years of art history, the York Art Gallery is a true melting pot of creations from all eras and backgrounds. Located next to Bootham Bar at the start of the York Walls, it’s just a stone’s throw from the Minster, too.

There’s been some sort of art exhibition here since 1879, when the building hosted the second Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition. It became the city’s art gallery in 1892.

The best part is that it’s free to go in! It’s open Wednesday to Saturday, and it’s advised to book a free ticket here to guarantee entry.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list! If none of these take your fancy, take a look at the Visit York website for more inspiration.

Taking a Breather

After all that exploring, you’ll probably want somewhere to stop and take it all in. Maybe you’ll have a picnic or maybe you’ll just want to give your poor legs a rest. Either way, York has some sweet green spots to chill in.

York Museum Gardens

Whether or not you’ve visited the Yorkshire Museum, everyone’s free to explore the York Museum Gardens. They’re right next to the Ouse, and a great place to kick back and relax.

It isn’t just a haven for wildlife (having been a Gold award winner of Yorkshire in Bloom for three years in a row), but a treasure trove of historical buildings. You’ll find the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, which date from between 1271 and 1294:

The gardens are open all year round and it’s free to wander around. You can find more information on the Yorkshire Museums Trust website.

Rowntree Park

If you’re a fan of Fruit Pastilles, then the name will sound rather familiar! The park was gifted to the city of York in 1921 by the Rowntree Company and serves as a memorial for staff who were lost during World War I. Today, the Rowntree factory in York continues to be one of the largest confectionary factories in the world.

The park is just to the south of the City Centre, making it a peaceful getaway from the busy streets. It’s also home to tennis courts, a skate park, basketball court and a reading café among other amenities. As you can see below, it’s home to plenty of geese, as well!

Don’t be too intimidated by the geese, they’re part of the York experience. It isn’t unusual to see them crossing the road in the City Centre when they want to get somewhere!

When you’re Peckish

York is home to a plethora of restaurants and cafes, so it’s impossible to list them all. Whatever you’re after, you’re sure to find something to suit your tastes.

When we visited, we were feeling hungry earlier in the morning so went in search of somewhere for brunch. Our place of choice was ‘rise.‘ which is located on Fossgate, not far from the Shambles. It’s got a nice chilled atmosphere and ordering is nice and easy at the counter. Our Eggs Benedict was £8.50 and is probably the prettiest take on the dish that we’ve seen. Of course, it was delicious, too:

Drinks range from £2.50 to £4.00 and you’re offered a stamp card to earn yourself a free drink if you plan on making yourself a regular.

If you’re returning and fancy a drink (or pork pie) in the station, you can always visit the York Tap. Find out more in our guide to our favourite station pubs!

Heading Further Afield

If you want to explore a little beyond York, then there are a variety of options to try:

• Whitby and Pickering are reachable on the Coastliner 840 bus. It leaves from just outside the station, too
• Want to shop til you drop? You can take bus 7 to Designer Outlet from the station, as well
• If you want to explore further by train, there’s regular trains to Knaresborough and Harrogate. If you’ve booked an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket from Leeds, then your ticket is valid to stop off here on the outward or return trip.

However you choose to experience York, you can travel smarter with SmartSplit. Book tickets with us and you won’t pay any fees if you need to change your plans.

The post Day Trip to York appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

This page was originally written in March 2023 and was updated with new data in August 2023.

How do we work out how reliable trains are?

A great question! We measure reliability by what’s known as ‘PPM’ or ‘Public Performance Measure’. Every time a train runs (or doesn’t!) it’s separated into one of three categories:

• On-time – If it arrives less than five minutes late (10 for long-distance trains)
• Late – If it arrives between five (or 10) and 30 minutes late at its destination
• Very late/cancelled – If the train arrives more than 30 minutes late or is cancelled.

If your train is cancelled part-way through the trip or skips stops to make up time, it’ll also ‘fail’ PPM.

So what’s the least reliable train operator?

For June and July, the least-reliable train operator award goes to Grand Central. But why? Let’s go through some of the reasons:

• They’re a small company that only runs a few services each day. If even one service is cancelled, that has a big impact on their statistics
• Services run on a busy section of railway. The East Coast Mainline is prone to issues and their services interact with lots of others
• Their trains aren’t reliable. The fleet of Adelante trains are prone to breaking down, put simply! They’re remedying this though. Extra trains are being introduced so that there are more spares to fall back on.

Can we trust these statistics?

For some companies, you might be wondering how the statistics look quite reasonable, despite the fact that their trains seem to be so unreliable. For example, at the time of writing (16th August 2023), Northern’s JourneyCheck page looks disastrous:

Okay, so 103 of those cancellations are actually for the following day, but that seems like a lot more than 6% of trains being cancelled, which is what the official stats say. So, what actually happens here?

Put simply, if it’s cancelled before 10pm the previous day, it doesn’t count as a cancellation. This is known as ‘P-coding’ and means that it won’t be reflected in the performance statistics. Most frustratingly for passengers, the reason given is ‘a short notice change to the timetable’. This reason doesn’t tell you anything!

The latest report by the Office of Rail and Road from January to March 2023 shows just how this works. At the time that it was written, TransPennine Express were using P-coding extensively. Since then though, they’ve managed to improve industrial relations, and the statistics below are a far better reflection of reality.

So, is Grand Central the least reliable train operator? Officially, yes. Unofficially, perhaps not.

Who’s the most reliable train operator?

Now we’ve covered who the least reliable train operator is, it’s only right to cover who the most reliable one is.

If we focus purely on trains that are on-time, that’d be Caledonian Sleeper. They managed to run 96.8% of their trains on time.

The operator with the lowest rate of cancellations was c2c, with just 1.1%. Chiltern Railways isn’t far behind with 1.3%.

What do these operators all have in common? For one, a relatively common fleet of trains. Chiltern has three types of train and c2c is running just one type of train. Meanwhile, Caledonian Sleeper has just one fleet of carriages, and a few types of locomotive. Their trains run overnight, and have large allowances in the timetable in case of engineering works.

c2c and Merseyrail are also fairly self-contained networks. It’s unlikely that another company’s trains will cause them to be delayed, and they’re pretty small networks, as well.

What are the full statistics?

Want to know how your local operator did? Here’s the full statistics for June and July. We weren’t able to get monthly statistics for Hull Trains.

_{*Includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.}

What can we take from this data? As you’d expect, companies that have smaller networks and don’t have to interact with too many operators tend to fare better. Those that travel over longer distances and interact with each other more are more vulnerable to delays.

Operators like Grand Central are also more vulnerable to poorer statistics, as they only run a handful of trains per day. If even just one train is delayed, that’ll cause a much bigger knock than on LNER or Avanti, for example.

What can I do when there’s a delay?

When you book with SmartSplit, we’ll let you know if there’s any planned changes to your train, if we’re given enough notice. If you choose to change your plans, we’ve got you covered, too.

You’re also entitled to claim compensation in the event of a delay. You can find out more with our guide on what to do when there’s disruption.

_{All punctuality data on this page is courtesy of trains.im. You can visit their site, check how your operator is doing and can also make a donation to help with upkeep.}

_{The data is also issued without liability, and is correct at the time of writing (16th August 2023).}

The post What’s the Least Reliable Train Operator? appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

Calton Hill, Edinburgh

If you’re not quite up for the slightly brutal hike up Arthur’s Seat, but still want some breathtaking views of Edinburgh and beyond, then Calton Hill is probably for you. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a number of different historical monuments.

We’ll be honest, there’s still some legwork involved! After all, it does still have ‘hill’ in the name. But, if you exit Edinburgh Waverley onto Princes Street and turn left, a short five-minute walk will bring you to the bottom of the steps. A short workout up some steps and a bank later, and this will be your reward:

You can see right across the city and towards the Forth River, with a plethora of green spaces to kick back and relax in. If you’re looking for something more exciting, it also hosts the Beltane Fire Festival every April!

Linlithgow Park & Peel (Palace), Linlithgow

This is one of those green spaces where you truly feel like you’ve got away from it all. Despite backing onto the town of Linlithgow itself, there’s quite a ‘wild’ and isolated atmosphere. Perfect for some peace and quiet!

You have several options here. If you just want to sit back and take it in, there’s plenty of places to sit near the palace:

For the more adventurous, you can walk around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). That said, it’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

Of course, we can’t ignore the imposing and rather beautiful Linlithgow Palace:

This palace once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I). As of June 10th 2023, it’s open to the public again, too.

The current building was planned and built starting in 1424, but was largely abandoned when James VI became James I of England and moved the royal court to London in 1603. Despite efforts to rebuild the collapsed Northern Quarter of the palace in 1620, a fire in 1746 spelled the end of Linlithgow Palace as a royal residence.

As green spaces go, the area around Linlithgow Palace certainly has it all. If you’re coming from Edinburgh, you can get there by train in as little as 17 minutes.

Museum Gardens, York

Situated near the banks of the River Ouse, the Museum Gardens are just a short walk from the station. The main attraction (as the name suggests!) is the Yorkshire Museum, which tells the story of York and beyond from as far back as the Roman era.

If you want somewhere to wander or just relax though, then you’re still spoilt for choice. It can be quite the oasis of calm compared to the bustling nature of York itself. It’s the ideal place to start or finish a riverside walk, too.

As well as the green spaces, you’ll find a number of historical buildings to explore. One of these is the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, which date from between 1271 and 1294:

The park is open between 9am and 6pm all year. You can find out more about its history on the Yorkshire Museums Trust website.

Valley Gardens, Harrogate

This is one of the green spaces that forms part of Harrogate’s rich history as a spa town. Valley Gardens have more mineral springs in them than any other known place, with there being 36 wells alone in an area of the gardens known as ‘Bogs Field’. The gardens are English Heritage Grade II listed, too.

In the winter months, you can expect plenty of places to walk and explore. The gardens also give way to the Pinewood Woodlands, so you can extend your adventure even further.

The gardens truly come to life in the warmer months, though. There’s a number of cafes selling light refreshments, as well as outdoor activities to keep everyone of all ages amused. You can choose from mini golf, a paddling pool, tennis courts and more.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more sheltered, why not relax in the pavillions?

On Summer Sundays, you’ll even find outdoor concerts taking place.

Vimto Park & Sackville Gardens, Manchester

Finally, how about two green spaces for the price of one? The first one, Vimto Park, may be one that you’ve seen from the train. Who could miss the giant Vimto bottle looking up at us from the street below? The drink was born in Manchester in 1908, so this seems like a pretty fitting way to pay homage to it:

It’s located on the Science Campus of the University of Manchester, around a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station. To get to it, you’re best using the Fairfield Street exit (follow signs for the Metrolink and the taxi rank). While it’s only a small space, it’s a little oasis of calm in the city centre. It’s perfect for watching the trains go by, as well!

A short walk away down Sackville Street, you’ll also find Sackville Gardens. The land was originally purchased by the Manchester Corporation in 1882 so there’d be an interrupted view of the Manchester School of Technology (now the Sackville Street Building).

Nowadays, it’s a great place to relax and reflect, as it’s home to various LGBT+ memorials. One of these is the Alan Turing memorial:

Sackville Gardens is also around five minutes from Piccadilly Station and it backs onto the popular Canal Street.

No matter which of these green spaces you might choose to visit, you can book your rail tickets with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you want to change your plans, either.

The post Green Spaces near Stations: Our Top 5 appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.

The York Tap – York Station

If you’re making your way from Platform 3 to Platform 4 (or vice-versa) at York, you’ll spot the York Tap. Owned by the Tapped Brew Co, it forms part of a small chain of pubs on stations (or very near them!) around the North of England.

Aside from the impressive Grade A listed Edwardian building, the one thing that we were struck by was the sheer choice of beers and other drinks. You can’t deny that the York Tap has something for everyone, even if you’re not a beer fan.

The York Tap is a station pub that prides itself on rotating its beers regularly. This makes it perfect for regulars, as there’ll always be something new to try.

The atmosphere on a Wednesday night was nice and relaxed. You had people of all ages and backgrounds dropping in for a drink, whether they were families, locals or just like us popping up for a drink between trains.

If you prefer to watch the trains go by, there’s plenty of seats outside too. However, on a cold January evening, you’d probably want to keep warm inside!

As we just had a short wait between trains, we went for a half pint of Abyss by Wishbone Brewery. It was an oatmeal stout on cask and a nice, light and sessionable drink for a weeknight.

The verdict

Put simply, plenty of us use York station. So rather than going off in search of a pub in the city, why not try the one that’s right under your nose? It’s perfect for all ages, and those who might prefer a cider, a glass of wine or something else!

The Centurion – Newcastle Station

As station pubs go, there’s no denying that the Centurion is the most striking. Yet, tucked away next to the Metro station entrance, many wouldn’t know it was even there!

You can find one entrance to the pub next to the taxi rank (at the top of the stairs down to the Metro). The other entrance is on the station concourse itself, with some outdoor seating next to the escalator up from the Metro concourse.

But let’s get down to the most important part, which is the architecture…

Designed in 1893, the pub was originally built as a First Class lounge. It hasn’t had an entirely glamorous past though! The British Transport Police used it as holding cells during the 1960s, and it’d be the last place you’d want to end up.

In 2000, it was painstakingly restored back to its former glory. And we must say, nothing can beat the feeling you get when you walk through the door. It’s a true sight to behold and you need to take a minute to take it all in.

As for the drinks selection, it’s more like your classic bar. You’re not going to find a huge selection of craft beers and ales, but there are still some local ales to choose from. We went for a pint of Stella Spark, a golden ale made by the Golden Brick Brewery. They’re situated just down the road (or track!) in Blaydon, so it’s almost as local as you can get.

The atmosphere was bustling (it was a Friday evening) and we were lucky to get the last free table inside. That said, it’s visited by a mix of locals and people heading for trains, so you won’t have to wait long for someone to finish their drink and head out.

The verdict

What do we think of the Centurion? It’s a true classic station pub and it’s worth it purely to soak up the beautiful architecture. The beer selection isn’t the most exciting, but you’ll still find a couple of local ales to try.

Rather than sitting out in the cold waiting for your train, why not pop in and see it for yourself?

The Track & Sleeper – Knaresborough

This was a bit of a wildcard for us, as we spotted it online while we were exploring the region. We had no idea what to expect! Having taken in all the sights that Knaresborough had to give, it was time to retire to this cosy little pub.

Described as a ‘real ale and gin bar’, the Track and Sleeper is owned by Gorilla Brewing. You’ll find it on Platform 2, which is where the trains towards York stop.

For such a small pub, there was an impressive selection of beers, ales and stouts. There was a mixture of in-house beer from Gorilla Brewing, as well as some local favourites like Thornbridge.

The pint of Vanilla Gorilla Porter that we had was not only delicious, but it was the best value pint we’ve had on a station. It was £3.90, which is a price you’d struggle to beat in most high-street pubs, never mind those on a station. The friendly lad behind the bar told us that they’d always keep costs down with their in-house brews, which was great to hear at a time when everything else is getting evermore expensive!

You could also choose from cocktails on tap, as well as an array of gins. Just like the York Tap, it felt like a pub for everyone. No matter your taste, there’s something at the Track and Sleeper for you.

When we visited, it was a Tuesday afternoon shortly after opening. While it wasn’t heaving, there was a steady trickle of friendly faces coming in. It felt like not only a railway station pub, but a true part of the community.

The verdict

Having opened in the midst of a pandemic, the Track and Sleeper is a station pub that hasn’t had it easy. But with events like pub quizzes and a constantly changing selection of affordable local beer, it’s the sort of place we can’t fail to fall in love with.

You’re guaranteed friendly service and a laid-back, friendly atmosphere here. Just know that it isn’t the biggest pub on the planet, so it might get cosy during busier times!

What next?

Looking for more about pubs? You can take a look at our favourite pubs in Yorkshire and the East Midlands, the cheapest pints, and where to find them. We’ve also taken a trip to find some of the best beer in East London.

We’re ready to help you travel smarter, from start to finish. Why not start by booking your tickets with us? We’ll never charge booking fees or amendment fees.

The post Our Top 3 Station Pub Picks – North Yorkshire & North East appeared first on SmartSplit.co.uk.