The old train station in Europe has become the beloved of the luxury hotel scene

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Over the past year I have lost a number of friends who have respected me with the talk of staying at old train stations that have been affectionately converted to hotels and self-sufficient holiday homes.

I was confused at first. My perfect hotel, no matter how innovative the train station transformation in question, certainly did not come with bedding near train tracks or offices or near offices.

But as a fan of both rail travel and luxury hotels, I was forced to dig a little deeper. Luxury sleeper trains often come with price tags that will deflect them in the end, making it seem like the next best, especially on a night at a former station filled with reminders from the past.

And dear reader, I hit the money. So without further ado, here is my number one recommendation for the previous train station hotel. This ranges from a five-star hideaway where guests can sleep in the office of their former (very fashionable) conductor to boutique hotels where you can toast your love for the train. Previous station platform.

The best bit? You can drift through the land of nods without worrying about missing the spectacular views.

Canfranc Estacion of Spain was opened by a former French president

Close to the French border, this Pyrenees hotel is an explosion of lovingly preserved Art Deco against the backdrop of vast spreads of golden leaves and snow-capped mountains.

Canfranc Estacion opened as a railway station in 1928 when former French president Gaston Deumague cut a silk ribbon at the entrance. The railway was built to connect Spain and France, and the buildings that influenced its architecture include the Misses de Orsei of Paris.

The most spectacular hotel area is the spa with carved chandeliers and teal ceramic tiles and the Canfran Express, a Michelin-starred restaurant surrounded by former railway carriages. Try the fragrant Aragonet cheese board and don’t leave!

A hotel in a train station that housed military personnel during World War II

Full disclosure: Clermont London is one of the oldest and still functioning railway hotels in the UK with a history spanning 150 years, but its rich history feels justifies its inclusion.

The hotel’s residence is located in the same building as London’s historic Charing Cross Station. In fact, the bedroom is directly above it.

Its fascinating heritage reminders include several exhibits on the ground floor, allowing visitors to check out handwritten letters from former guests, including US military personnel who stayed here during World War II. Masu.

“The spectacular staircase in the lobby is a very shorter,” says former guest Penny Bloomfield. “I love the way the owners were able to save original features like Gold Leaf from the time the hotel first opened.”

Dining on a non-abated railway platform on the Isle of Wight

A few years ago, Whitwell Station Holiday Homes was a railway station on the Isle of Wight’s Newport, Godsill and St. Lawrence Railroad Line.

Now it’s transformed into two luxurious self-mediated holiday cottages that incorporate former ticket offices, Porters’ offices and ladies’ waiting rooms.

“I loved seeing souvenirs,” says Simon Clark, who recently stayed at Whitwell. “For railway fans like me, the walls have an old station clock, antique lamps hanging at the corners, and railroad track plaques have been added to the look out for.”

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Guests can also enjoy gorgeous views of the island’s Southern Downs.

We recommend choosing a Primrose Cottage. Because you can drink Sundowner on what used to be a platform.

Sleeping in a beautifully restored 19th century carriage in Britain

Stay at an old station and fall asleep at the vintage Pullman Carriage, once the most spectacular station of the Mid-Sussex Railway Company.

Inaugurated in 1859 and closed in the 1950s, this former railway station converted to a stroll just a short walk from Petworth, the beautiful market town of West Sussex. There are a total of 10 rooms, including King Pullman’s horse-drawn carriage rooms filled with faded photographs of the station’s heyday.

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“Our latest addition, Pullman Princess Ena, is my favorite part of the hotel,” says owner Jenny Hudson. “We repaired her for three years. She was one of the last three Pullman carriages that were brought from the US to the UK in 1906.”

French boutique hotel for railway enthusiasts and beach enthusiasts

Another facility within a former country station (in this case dates back to 1870) is Hotel Esterau, located in Sommiere, France. This lemon yellow boutique hotel features 24 rooms surrounded by beautiful Mediterranean gardens.

Despite being in the center of the cute town of Sommieres, France, it is a wonderfully quiet base and perfect for families eager to check out the gorgeous beaches between Montpellier and Nimes.

I would recommend one of the hotel’s “cozy suites”.

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Party at Pullman Carriage near the Jurassic Coast

Greet those that could become one of England’s quaint inns. The Avon Causeway Inn dates back to the 1800s and was once Hahn Station.

Stay here and discover countless reminders of its past, along with a beautiful beer garden. Don’t miss the opportunity to try one of the ales from the award-winning brewery Butcombe! If you are planning an event, you may consider booking a restored Pullman Train Carriage next to the hotel.

“I love the fact that it’s not only very close to the incredible Jurassic Coast, but it still feels like an old train station,” says former guest Neil Whitehead. “The Pullman carriage is beautiful. It goes straight back to the elegance of the 1920s.”

The Alton station in England is packed full of original features

Are you craving a more intimate vacation? Consider this beautiful, four-bedroom self-equipped property, a former station located in Staffordshire’s lush Chanet Valley.

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It has a wealth of original features. My favourite spaces include a beautiful kitchen hidden in what once was a ladies’ waiting room, and a library located in the original station master’s house.

“Our maintenance work involved preserving the original Minton geometric floor tiles,” says Fiona Block, property manager at Landmark Trust. “A team of experts replaced the tiles throughout the waiting room only when investigated, repaired, and only when needed. The replacement tiles could be the same factory that produced the original factory since the 1800s. It was manufactured high up.”

Want to travel further and get a stay vibe on the same train?

It is not surprising that there is no shortage of beautiful hotels on the old railways across Europe, as railways played an important role in connecting the wider world in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Why not float above Kruger National Park in South Africa?

Trust us – all Safari Lodges look rather mediocre after staying at Kruger Shalathi. There, the beautiful train carriages are beautifully decorated with gorgeous rooms perched on a historic railway bridge above Kruger National Park. In the early 1900s, this is where trains stop all night before entering the park. Please soak and squeeze in the hotel pool. This is in the center of the bridge.

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“The floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the train’s carriage room allow you to feel completely immersed in the natural environment while enjoying the comforts of five stars,” said former guest Adele Cutler says. “Staying here gave us a real sense of nostalgia for the heyday of rail travel, despite having an incredibly modern take on the charm of the 1920s.”

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

St. Louis Union Station in Missouri first opened its doors in 1894, but is now home to the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Its most spectacular architectural features include a grand hall designed inspired by a medieval French castle, with a vast expanse of gold leaves, stained glass and Indiana limestone.

By the 1960s, the station was in ruins, but when Salvation was born in 1985, design company HOK spent 143 million euros to make this site one of America’s most luxurious hotels. I changed it to one.

“One of my personal highlights is the enchanting 3D light show that takes place in a grand hall designed to blend the station’s epic past and future,” says general manager Tim Cooper. . “I also love the stained glass next to the main stairs. It’s a truly spectacular sight.”

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Do you fantasize about a hotel at a high-rise station? Heading to Colorado, USA

Crawford Hotel Denver is located at the city’s old View Arts Union Station. The arrival of the transcontinental railway in the 1800s called for a larger, more beautiful railway hub than was announced in 1914.

A hundred years later, the station became a public space that includes Denver’s most luxurious hotels, and sat on top of the building. A major renovation last year has still retained reminders of the building’s past. The vintage trunk has become tickets for coffee tables and framed trains from the early 1900s, but my favorite perk is the free tipples that can be enjoyed at the terminal bar at the station ticket booth.

Lock out at the old baggage compartment in Nova Scotia, Canada

Is it flashy to sleep in a restored boxcar carriage outside a 19th century country station? Head to a hotel at a quaint train station in Nova Scotia. This is an incredible base for ramblers who want to walk along the old rail route, a popular Trans Canada Trail hiking and cycling route.

In terms of which carriage to choose, we recommend Jimmie, which sleeps three people and has a cozy loft space that is perfect for teenagers. Don’t forget to check out the inn cafe at the main station and the luggage compartment bar for live music.

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Another fun fact: This accommodation not only looks like a former train station, but also smells like that.

“It really feels like you’re in the railroad garden. You use a Creosote sleeper, so when you walk along the platform, you smell that railroad,” says general manager Ryan Duggan. Masu.

Respect the Roman God of Travelers of Luxury Train Hotels in Tennessee, USA

Nashville Yard at Union Station was once the main railroad hub in Tennessee, but is now one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. It is packed with original features, including a magnificent 65-foot barrel-shaped stained glass ceiling, marble floors and a limestone fireplace.

Try bagging the conductor’s suite while taking in the view of what was the original ornate pillar and what was once the station’s grand hall.

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For general manager Esther White, Piace de Recistans is a feature in the hotel’s exterior. “I love the 17-foot Mercury statue that crowns our clocktower,” she says. “Mercury is the Roman god of travelers and nods both to the rich history of this old train station and to the heritage of those who once passed through it.”