All Aboard: Railway-themed Hotels

“Harking back to a golden era of rail travel and sleeper trains, the hotels on this list include old station-master’s cottages, converted carriages and memorabilia-packed public spaces. Nostalgic, romantic and fun, they take you on a journey without leaving the station. And if they sound quintessentially British, think again – only two of our five are in Britain, and one is on the sunny South African coast.

– – – – – –

The Sidings, York, UK
————————–

The railway enthusiast who founded The Sidings in 1985 has imbued his passion into every detail of this unique hotel. En-suite bedrooms and public areas occupy five lovingly restored Pullman carriages, and each bedroom has a railway-inspired name such as the Orient Express and Flying Scotsman. The latter – an iconic steam engine – once paid the hotel a visit, which sounds impossible until you learn that The Sidings is literally in a railway siding. When it promises a ‘live view of the action’ from your bedroom it means trains whizzing past.

Have a look at our hotels in York page for more options.

– – – – – –

Railway House, Norfolk, UK
——————————-

The Railway House presents you with a choice: you can stay in the former Station Master’s cottage overlooking original West Norfolk Junction Railway tracks, or in a gorgeous converted railway carriage. Either way, you can expect comfy rooms with a subtle scattering of railway memorabilia. You also get to use the restaurant, bar, cinema and spa at Railway House’s award-winning parent hotel, The Hoste, which is just a short walk away through the pretty village of Burnham Market.

Have a look at our hotels in King’s Lynn page for more options.

– – – – – –

Train Lodge Amsterdam, Netherlands
—————————————

Until recently, the Train Lodge‘s carriages took passengers overnight from Zurich to Rome, but they now offer fun and funky hostel lodgings. Sling your bag into an overhead luggage rack and sleep in an original bunk in a compartment that has remained largely unchanged since the luxury sleeper train was decommissioned. Like most hostels, it offers a choice of private or shared accommodation. Unlike most hostels, that accommodation is in train carriages with excellent transport links quite literally on the doorstep.

Have a look at our hotels in Amsterdam page for more options.

– – – – – –

Train Hostel, Brussels, Belgium
————————————

Whether you’re a railway enthusiast or simply appreciate a quirky hotel, the Belgian capital’s Train Hostel is an absolute gem. The story goes that the owners were inspired by the Train World museum next door, and hired François Schuiten, the artist behind it, to help them come up with an accommodation concept to match it. They’ve peppered Train Hostel with old railway memorabilia picked up at flea markets, and used old train carriages to create parts of the building, including the romantic Train Suite on the top floor.

Have a look at our hotels in Brussels page for more options.

– – – – – –

Santos Express Train Lodge, Mossel Bay, South Africa
———————————————————

While many railway-themed hotels are in urban settings, Santos Express Train Lodge overlooks beautiful, pristine white sands and turquoise sea. On board ‘The Train’, as it is known locally, you can book a compartment in one of four carriages, a bed in the dormitory carriage, or a Royal Suite in a lovingly-restored 1920s English-built wooden carriage – complete with panelled walls, a claw-footed bathtub and a private deck looking out over the gorgeous Mossel Bay. There’s excellent fresh seafood in the restaurant too.

Have a look at our hotels in Mossel Bay page for more options.”