Europe’s former railway stations have become the darling of the luxury hotel scene

In the past year, I’ve lost count of the number of friends who’ve regaled me with stories about stays in former train stations that have been lovingly converted into hotels or self-catering holiday homes.

I was initially confused – my perfect hotel certainly didn’t involve bedding down near rusting train tracks or in offices once used by train conductors, no matter how innovative the transformation of the railway station in question might be.

But as a fan of both railway travel and gorgeous hotels, I couldn’t help but delve a little deeper. Jaunts on luxurious sleeper trains often come with eye-watering price tags after all, so a night in a former train station, especially one filled with reminders of its past, seemed like the potential next best thing.

And, dear reader, I struck gold. So, without further ado, here are my top recommendations for hotels in former railway stations, ranging from five-star retreats that allow guests to sleep in former (very swanky) conductors’ offices to boutique hotels where you can toast your love of trains on former station platforms.

The best bit? You can drift off to the land of nod without worrying about missing a spectacular view – or, much worse, your stop.

Spain’s Canfranc Estación was opened by a former French president

This Pyrenees hotel, close to the French border, is a lovingly preserved explosion of art deco fabulousness, with vast expanses of gold leaf and a backdrop of snowcapped mountains.

Canfranc Estación opened as a train station in 1928 when Gaston Doumergue, the former president of France, cut the silk ribbon at its entrance. The railway was built to connect Spain with France, and the buildings that inspired its architecture include Paris’s Musée d'Orsay.

The most spectacular hotel areas are the spa, with its sculpture-like chandeliers and teal-hued ceramic tiles, and the Canfranc Express, a Michelin-starred restaurant tucked inside a former railway carriage. Don’t leave without trying the fragrant Aragonese cheese board!

A station hotel that housed servicemen during the Second World War

Full disclosure: The Clermont London is one of the UK’s oldest still-functioning railway hotels, with a history spanning 150 years – but I feel its rich history justifies its inclusion.

The hotel residence is housed in the same building as London’s historic Charing Cross train station. In fact, the bedrooms are located directly above it.

Reminders of its fascinating heritage include some exhibits on the first floor, where visitors can check out handwritten letters from former guests, including US servicemen who stayed here during the Second World War.

“The grand staircase in the lobby is such a showstopper,” says former guest Penny Broomfield. “I love how the owners have managed to preserve the original features, such as the gold leaf, from when the hotel first opened.”

Dine on a disused railway platform in the Isle of Wight

Years ago, Whitwell Station Holiday Homes was a railway station on the Isle of Wight’s Newport, Godshill & St Lawrence Railway line.

Now, it’s been transformed into two gorgeous self-catering holiday cottages that incorporate the former ticket office, porter’s office, and the ladies’ waiting room.

“I loved seeing the memorabilia,” says Simon Clark, who stayed at Whitwell recently. “For a railway fan like me, seeing the old station clock on the wall, the antique lamp hanging in the corner, and the railway truck plaques added to the fun.”

Guests are also free to enjoy gorgeous views over the island’s southern downs.

I suggest opting for Primrose Cottage, as you’ll be able to sip sundowners on what was once the platform – all in the shadow of Whitwell’s original station sign.

Slumber in Britain’s beautifully restored nineteenth-century carriages

Stay at The Old Station, and you’ll get to doze off in a vintage Pullman carriage outside what was once the grandest station on the Mid Sussex Railway Company.

Inaugurated in 1859 and closed in the 1950s, this former train station-turned-cosy hotel is just a short walk from the beautiful market town of Petworth in West Sussex. There are 10 rooms in total, including the sought-after King Pullman Carriage rooms, filled with faded photos from the station’s heyday.

“Our latest addition, Pullman Princess Ena, is my favourite part of the hotel,” says owner Jennie Hudson, referring to the vintage carriage that is now the restaurant. “We spent three years restoring her, and she’s one of the last three Pullman carriages transported to the UK from America in 1906.”

A French boutique hotel for railway buffs and beach lovers alike

Another property inside a former rural train station (in this case dating back to 1870) is Hotel Estelou in Sommières, France. This lemon-yellow boutique hotel has 24 rooms surrounded by a beautiful Mediterranean garden.

Despite being in the centre of the pretty town of Sommières in France, it’s a wonderfully tranquil base and perfect for families keen to check out the gorgeous beaches between Montpellier and Nîmes.

I recommend one of the hotel’s ‘cosy suites’, which overlook the property’s gardens.

Party in a Pullman carriage near the Jurassic Coast

Say hello to what might just be one of England’s quaintest inns. The Avon Causeway Inn is a Dorset gem that dates back to the 1800s and was once the Hurn railway station.

Stay here, and you’ll discover countless reminders of its past, along with a beautiful beer garden. Don’t pass up the chance to try one of the ales from the award-winning brewery Butcombe! And if you’re planning an event, you can consider booking the restored Pullman train carriage next to the hotel.

“I love the fact that it’s so close to the amazing Jurassic Coast but also that it still feels very much like an old railway station,” says former guest Neil Whitehead. “The Pullman carriage is beautiful – it will transport you straight back to the elegance of the 1920s.”

England’s Alton Station is packed to the brim with original features

Craving a more intimate getaway? Consider this beautiful four-bedroom self-catering property, a former train station in a leafy Churnet Valley, Staffordshire.

There’s an abundance of original features. My favourite spaces include the beautiful kitchen that’s tucked inside what was once the ladies’ waiting room, and the library, which is located in the former station master’s house.

“Our conservation work included preservation of the original Minton geometric floor tiles,” says Fiona Bullock, property manager at the Landmark Trust. “A team of specialists surveyed, repaired and – only as necessary – replaced tiles throughout the waiting room. The replacement tiles were manufactured in what’s likely to be the same factory that produced the original ones from the 1800s.”

Wish to travel further afield and get the same train stay vibes?

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, railways played a crucial role in connecting the wider world, so it’s hardly surprising that there’s no shortage of beautiful hotels in former railways beyond Europe, too.

Why not hover over Kruger National Park in South Africa?

Trust us – all safari lodges will seem rather plain after a stay at Kruger Shalati, where the luxurious rooms are beautifully restored train carriages perched on a historic railway bridge high above Kruger National Park. In the early 1900s, this is where trains would pause overnight before entering the park. Make sure you squeeze in a dip in the hotel’s pool, which you’ll find in the centre of the bridge.

“The floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the train carriage rooms allow you to feel completely immersed in the natural environment while still enjoying five-star comfort,” says former guest Adele Cutler. “Staying here gave me a real feeling of nostalgia for the heyday of rail travel - albeit with a wonderfully contemporary take on 1920s glamour.”

Meet me in St. Louis – in one of the USA’s national historic landmarks

St. Louis’s Union Station in Missouri first flung open its doors in 1894, but it’s now the home of St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Its most spectacular architectural features include the Grand Hall, with a design inspired by France’s medieval castles, and comes with vast expanses of gold leafing, stained glass, and Indiana limestone.

By the 1960s, the station had fallen into disrepair, although salvation came in 1985 when design firm HOK spent €143 million transforming the site into one of America’s most luxurious hotels.

“One of my personal highlights is the mesmerising 3D lights show, which takes place in the Grand Hall, designed to blend the station's magnificent past with the future,” says general manager Tim Cooper. “I also love the stained glass next to the main staircase – it’s truly a sight to behold.”

Fancy a high-altitude station hotel? Head to Colorado, USA

Crawford Hotel Denver lies in the city’s old Beaux-Arts Union Station. The arrival of the Transcontinental Railway in the 1800s called for a bigger, more beautiful railway hub, which was unveiled in 1914.

One hundred years later, the station became a public space that included Denver’s most luxurious hotel, perched atop the building. An extensive renovation last year has still retained reminders of the building’s past. You’ll find vintage trunks turned into coffee tables and framed train tickets from the early 1900s, although my favourite perk is the complimentary tipple you can enjoy at the Terminal Bar, once the station’s ticket booth.

Rock out in a former baggage room in Nova Scotia, Canada

Fancy sleeping in restored boxcar carriages outside a rural 19th-century train station? Head on over to the quaint Train Station Inn in Nova Scotia, which is a great base for ramblers wishing to walk along the former railway route, now the popular Trans Canada Trail hiking and cycling route.

In terms of which carriage to choose, I recommend Jimmie, which sleeps three people and has a cosy loft space perfect for teenagers. Don’t forget to check out the inn’s café in the main train station, and the Baggage Room Bar for live music.

Another fun fact: this inn doesn’t just look like the former train station but also smells like it, too.

“It truly feels like you’re in a railway yard – we’ve used creosote sleepers, so as you’re walking down the platform, you get a whiff of that railway smell,” says general manager Ryan Duggan.

Look up to the Roman god of travellers in Tennessee’s luxury train hotel, USA

The Union Station Nashville Yards was once Tennessee’s main railway hub – but is now one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. It’s packed with original features, including a spectacular 65-foot barrel-vaulted stained-glass ceiling, marble floors and limestone fireplaces.

Try to bag the Conductor’s Suite, with its original ornate pillars and views of what was once the station’s grand hall.

For general manager Esther White, the pièce de résistance is the feature found on the hotel’s exterior. “I love the 17-foot statue of Mercury which crowns our clocktower,” she says. “Mercury is the Roman God of travellers, and it’s a nod to both the rich history of this former train station and the legacy of those who once passed through this station.”