Main UK railway stations: a visitor’s guide

Wide, level concourse at Manchester Piccadilly station with departure boards and travellersPhoto: Tyw7, CC BY-SA 3.0

Passengers with luggage waiting at the transit train platform in Heathrow Terminal 5CPhoto: Richard Cooke, CC BY-SA 2.0

Glass entrance to the Underground station at Heathrow Terminal 5 with the red and blue roundel above the doorsPhoto: Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0

From National Rail, 1 Nov 2026. Each station heading links its National Rail page, which has live departures, maps and lift status. Facilities change: check on the day.¹

Hubs outside London

Birmingham New Street on National Rail (opens in new tab) (BHM)

Managed by Network Rail · B2 4QA

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed: Mon to Sat 07:00 to 23:00; Sun 08:00 to 23:00
Airport link: Regular train service to Birmingham International. 10 - 15 minute journey
Metro or tram: For details of the Midland Metro (tram network) visit: https://westmidlandsmetro.com/
Taxis: Taxi Pick Up Point; Taxi Rank; Station Street/Dudley Street Taxi Rank; Smallbrook Queensway

Bristol Temple Meads on National Rail (opens in new tab) (BRI)

Managed by Network Rail · BS1 6QF

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Airport link: A dedicated Airport Flyer bus service connects Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Airport, with the journey taking approximately 25 minutes. Buses operate 24 hours a day and at peak times, leaves up to every 8 minutes. The Airport Flyer can be found on the…
Taxis: Taxi rank, Station Approach

Cardiff Central on National Rail (opens in new tab) (CDF)

Managed by Transport for Wales · CF10 1EP

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Taxis: Taxi rank, Saunders Road

Carlisle on National Rail (opens in new tab) (CAR)

Managed by Avanti West Coast · CA1 1QZ

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Taxis: Taxi rank

Crewe on National Rail (opens in new tab) (CRE)

Managed by Avanti West Coast · CW2 6HR

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Taxis: Taxi rank, Nantwich Road entrance

Edinburgh on National Rail (opens in new tab) (EDB)

Managed by Network Rail · EH1 1BB

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
Airport link: Daily, frequent 'Airlink 100' express shuttle bus, operated by Lothian Buses. For details: www.lothianbuses.com Through-tickets from National Rail stations to Edinburgh Airport are available via Edinburgh Waverley - ask for a "EDINBURGH AIRPORT" ticket (ticket…
Taxis: Taxi rank, Waverley Bridge; Taxi rank, East Market Street

Exeter St Davids on National Rail (opens in new tab) (EXD)

Managed by Great Western Railway · EX4 4NT

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Airport link: Find out more about links from GWR stations to airports.
Taxis: Taxi rank

Glasgow Central on National Rail (opens in new tab) (GLC)

Managed by Network Rail · G1 3SL

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
Airport link: GLASGOW AIRPORT: First operate the Glasgow Shuttle 500 bus, running every ten minutes direct to the airport. There are stops just outside Glasgow Central station on Bothwell Street and Waterloo Street. For times: www.firstglasgow.com
Taxis: Taxi Rank, Hope Street; Taxi Rank (Gordon Street); Taxi Rank (Union Street)

Inverness on National Rail (opens in new tab) (INV)

Managed by ScotRail · IV2 3PY

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed. Opening hours Monday to Friday: 0640-2000 Saturday: 0730-2000 Sunday: 1040-2000
Airport link: An bus service links Inverness with Inverness Airport. For details, visit www.travelinescotland.com or call 0871 200 22 33 (24 hours)
Taxis: Taxi rank, (west entrance) via Acedemy Street (by entrance); Taxi rank, (west entrance) via Acedemy Street (right of entrance); Taxi rank, (west entrance) via Acedemy Street (right of entrance)

The Scottish Highlands guide

Leeds on National Rail (opens in new tab) (LDS)

Managed by Network Rail · LS1 4DY

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed: Mon to Sat 07:00 to 23:00; Sun 08:00 to 23:00
Taxis: Area under construction; Area under construction

Liverpool Lime Street on National Rail (opens in new tab) (LIV)

Managed by Network Rail · L1 1JD

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Left Luggage storage at Liverpool Lime Street is unavailable until further notice.
Airport link: Liverpool Lime Street Station is just a short hop on the 10A and City Centre Circular (C4 and C5) buses to Liverpool ONE bus station. From there you can get the 500 Airport Flyer bus direct to LJLA. In the reverse direction Liverpool ONE bus station is just a…
Taxis: City taxi rank Skelhorne St; Skelhorne taxi rank; Lord Nelson taxi rank

Manchester Piccadilly on National Rail (opens in new tab) (MAN)

Managed by Network Rail · M60 7RA

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Listed: Mon to Sat 07:00 to 23:00; Sun 08:00 to 23:00
Airport link: Nearest Airport is Manchester International Airport approximately 9 - 10 miles away. Currently there are 5 trains an hour during the course of the day, services are limited throughout the night.
Metro or tram: Live tram departure board - Piccadilly Tram Station Metrolink trams from Piccadilly station serve: Bury Rochdale Ashton-under-Lyne Manchester Airport Media City UK Altrincham Disbury Eccles Further…
Taxis: Taxi Rank, Fairfield Street

Newcastle on National Rail (opens in new tab) (NCL)

Managed by LNER · NE1 5DL

Step-free access: Step-free category B2: there is some step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Airport link: Tyne & Wear 'Metro' provides a daily, frequent direct train service to the Newcastle airport terminal. For details: www.nexus.org.uk
Metro or tram: Tyne & Wear 'Metro' runs from platforms adjacent to station concourse. For details: www.nexus.org.uk
Taxis: Taxi rank in front of Metro on Neville St; Taxi rank in front of station between Berwick St and Neville St

Reading on National Rail (opens in new tab) (RDG)

Managed by Network Rail · RG1 1LZ

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Airport link: For Heathrow Airport, change at Reading onto the frequent 'RailAir' luxury coach service. Runs every 20 minutes Monday to Friday daytimes; every 30 minutes Saturday & Sunday. For timetables and fares visit: www.railair.com/ or Tele: 0118 957 9498 A regular…
Taxis: Taxi rank, Station forecourt; Taxi rank, Station Hill; Taxi rank, near Northern Entrance

Sheffield on National Rail (opens in new tab) (SHF)

Managed by East Midlands Railway · S1 2BP

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Airport link: Trans Pennine Express operate a daily, frequent train service, direct to Manchester Airport.
Metro or tram: The Sheffield 'Supertram' serves the railway station - exit the rail station via overbridge. For tram routes and times: www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/supertram/home
Taxis: Taxi rank, (entrance) via Sheaf Square (north entrance, mid); Taxi rank, (entrance) via Sheaf Square (north entrance, west); Taxi rank, (entrance) via Sheaf Square (north entrance, east); Taxi rank, (entrance) via Sheaf Square (far right of entrance)

The Peak District guide

York on National Rail (opens in new tab) (YRK)

Managed by LNER · YO24 1AB

Step-free access: Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms
Left luggage: Not listed
Taxis: Taxi Rank front of station

London termini

London termini: step-free category and left luggage, from National Rail
Station	Step-free access	Left luggage
London Kings Cross on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
London St Pancras International on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed
London Euston on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
London Paddington on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category B1: there is step-free access to all platforms which may be accessed via long or steep ramps or via streets	Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
London Victoria on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
London Waterloo on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed: Mon to Fri 07:00 to 23:00 (other days not listed)
London Liverpool Street on National Rail (opens in new tab)	Step-free category A: there is step-free access to all platforms	Listed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, bank holidays 07:00 to 23:00. Located on the internal station roadway.

Which London terminus serves which destination is on each train route page. Getting between termini and the airports: airport transfers and London journey planner.

Rail gateway stations