The Old Station Station Road, Petworth, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Quirky, upscale bed-and-breakfast set in 19th-century railway station
Peaceful location within the South Downs National
Park
Unique accommodation in restored railway carriages
Excellent free breakfast served in lovely old waiting room with fireplace
Breakfast served outside overlooking garden in summer
Afternoon tea available (often with prior booking)
Free parking and Wi-Fi
throughout
Neighboring pub serves drinks and food
Narrow carriage
rooms can feel cramped
Difficult to
access on public transport
No restaurant
on-site
The Old Railway
Station is an upscale bed-and-breakfast set in a converted 19th-century
train station within the South Downs National Park. Accommodation includes 10 rooms split between
the station and converted Pullman carriages, which are superbly decorated in
the style of the period -- though can feel a little cramped. The lack of a proper
restaurant is also a shame, though breakfast is included and a local pub serves
food. Overall, it offers wonderfully quirky and polished lodging that will certainly
appeal to more than just train-spotters and railway enthusiasts.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Quirky railway-themed hotel set in converted 19th-century train station
Built in 1892 for
the then Prince of Wales, this colonial-style property was once the Petworth
Railway Station. The old ticket office forms the lobby with tiled floors and
framed vintage railway posters around the original ticket window, which now
acts as a reception desk. At the back of this is an elegant terrace with tables, chairs, and large sunshades on what would have been the platform. A
manicured lawn grows where the rails would have lain is now lined with rhododendrons
and other mature shrubbery. The bright and airy waiting room with 20-foot vaulted
ceiling was converted into a dining and lounge area with wooden floors,
colonial-themed decor, leather sofas, and an open fire. Old maps and an eclectic
mix of railway-related art adorn the walls, while slatted window shutters add
to the period feel. Next to the ticket office a metal spiral staircase is found
in a small library area and leads up to a loft bedroom, however the
immaculately restored old Pullman railway carriages in the grounds make up the
majority of the guest rooms. Clientele tends towards the more mature traveler,
as well as railway enthusiasts and those looking to stay somewhere a little
different.
Location
Peaceful countryside setting within the South Downs National Park
The hotel is
located off the main road on a quiet country lane with gardens backing onto
woodland, making it a very tranquil location, albeit difficult to reach by
public transport. Located within the South Downs National Park, the property offers an ideal setting for keen walkers. Petworth itself is a picturesque and historic market
town, and only a few minutes' drive from the hotel. The nearby city of Chichester
is a 25-minute drive and Goodwood House, home to the Festival of Speed, is around 20 minutes' drive. The nearest airport is Gatwick, around 45 minutes to an hour away by car.
Rooms
Most rooms set within railway carriages with free Wi-Fi
Two of the 10 rooms are in the station building itself -- one upstairs and one downstairs.
The lower-level room has a more colonial feel with shuttered windows, gray
wooden walls, and crisp white bed linens; the loft room has exposed beams and
skylights, and generally a more modern vibe, tempered by framed vintage travel posters on one wall. Both rooms have immaculate, contemporary
bathrooms with walk-in showers and floor-to-ceiling tiling in pale gray. The other eight
rooms are in beautifully restored Pullman railway carriages to the side of the station.
The carriages are reminiscent of a bygone era and make for narrow (there's very little
space around the bed) but attractive rooms with original dark-wood paneled
walls, simple antique furniture, and wooden-slatted shutters on the windows.
Bathrooms are modern and functional with tubs and (in some cases separate) showers.
Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and Cole and Lewis bath
products; some rooms have hairdryers and/or kettles and French presses.
Features
Full English breakfast served in attractive old waiting room
An excellent
breakfast (included in the rate) offers fresh fruit and freshly baked rolls along with a full English option
served in the lovely old waiting room or on the garden terrace in warmer weather. There's no restaurant as such, but afternoon
cream teas are available -- though these often have to be booked in advance. A local
pub serving evening meals is a two-minute walk from the hotel. Free parking is
available outside the hotel.
