Great Central Railway

Let down by limited catering facilities on the platform. If you want to dine on the train you need to book.
May 3rd, 2023

Visited on Weekend Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Not sure More
May 3rd, 2023

What a lovely day we had ...a Virgin Experience Day was a present for our Anniversary ...hopping on and off at the four stations... loved the 1940 and 1910 themes.... and rooms to look in.... steam train was great. Ellis Tea room at Rothley was lovely too... clean... friendly staff... and Gluten Free victoria sandwich yummy!.... the scones were yummy! Sandwiches...gluten free bread.... not great.... but nothing to do with tearoom.... gluten free bread is not great anyway! All in all had a lovely day and the sun shone too... totally recommend.
May 1st, 2023

Lovely Sunday lunch on board beautiful train. Staff are delightful and very efficient.
Apr 30th, 2023

We visited on a weekday when there were no trains running, but we knew this so not a disappointment. From the outside the building is quite imposing and nicely maintained. The entrance/ticket hall is very atmospheric and the floorboards tell a good story. There's a lift to give access to the platform if the stairs are too much. The wooden handrail on the stairs is beautiful and the grain is raised showing years of wear as travellers have steadied themselves on the way down. The luggage slide on the side of the steps is something that should be considered for modern rail stations. The platform is 'dressed' with hand trolleys, luggage and goods and looks as it would have when it was in use. The waiting rooms and powder rooms are just as they were when the station closed. I'd forgotten how good a chain flush toilet sounds! Everything is well maintained and clean. The cafe wasn't open during our visit, it looks just as good as everything around it and I'm confident it would provide a good cup of tea. At the ticket office end of the platform there is a small museum that holds a lot of the background detail of a working station and a successful railway. From sick notes to silver wear and truncheons, the artifacts give an insight into the human aspect of travelling by rail or working on the railway. The posters advertising 'specials' to take people to the races or the seaside are lovely and again illustrate the social importance of the services provided. The maps and tickets on display document the extent of the rail network before Beeching wreaked havoc. A lot of rural England suddenly became more remote and lost some of its life as a result The museum and station is not huge, but it's easy to pass an hour or so on a quiet day and, if trains are running (weekends and bank holidays) the whole experience will be very different. If coming here with children I would definitely pick a day when trains are running, if a rail enthusiast or someone into more general social history, there is plenty to see at any other time.
May 1st, 2023