A Unique Stay in the Old Railway Station, petworth
Gorgeous rolling green countryside, endless walking opportunities, luxurious and beautifully restored Pullman railway carriages, delicious afternoon tea, silver-service breakfast and stunning peaceful gardens. Read our review on the Old Railway Station, Petworth; one of the most unique hotels in the South Downs National Park.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the South Downs National Park, travel back in time to the exquisitely revived Old Railway Station, Petworth.
Built in 1892, The Old Railway Station is a historic Station House which served as Petworth Railway Station 3 kilometres from the picturesque market-town Petworth in West Sussex. The station was closed to passengers in February 1955 and to freight traffic in May 1966.
Today, The Old Railway Station has been converted into a guest house where you can stay in either the main Station House or one of the lovingly restored Pullman railway carriages.
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The guest house grounds are incredibly peaceful with benches dotted around the gardens; perfect for relaxing in colonial grandeur.
So, if you’re looking for one of the most unique hotels in the South Downs National Park to base yourself, The Old Railway Station, Petworth, is an experience you’ll never forget.
The Old Petworth Railway Station is great for a special occasion. I (Helen) visited over the May bank holiday with my sister as a 30th birthday present and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
You can order champagne, flowers and chocolates direct to the room for your arrival. They also have a delicious afternoon cream tea served on the old platform overlooking the beautifully kept garden. For more of a sparkle, you can add prosecco.
Every room has a silver-service breakfast included. Continental breakfast or a full English is served in the Waiting Room or on the platform, weather permitting. You can also choose to have the Continental breakfast delivered to your room as a picnic.
Things to do around the Old Railway Station, Petworth
Nestled in the beautiful scenery of the South Downs National Park, there are many things to do around The Old Railway Station, Petworth.
For me, the main draw to Petworth is the walking. The South Downs National Park is characterised by green rolling countryside, dramatic coastline, ancient woodlands, river valleys and wide-open spaces offering over 3,300 kilometres of footpaths.
About half an hour from The Old Railway Station, Petworth is Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punch Bowl where you’ll find numerous walks at varying lengths and difficulties.
You’ll be rewarded with spectacular views across the Punch Bowl, shaded woodland, grazing ponies and cattle and on a really clear day, you can even see the London skyline!
The Levin Down Walk is another scenic walk about 20 minutes from The Old Railway Station, Petworth. It’s a 5-kilometre loop rated as moderate as there’s a bit of a climb to the top of a hill but nothing too strenuous.
Starting in the quaint village of Singleton, you’ll climb to the top of a hill with sweeping views across the village and surrounding countryside. An ideal short walk to start your day.
About an hour and a half from The Old Railway Station, Petworth, are the magnificent Seven Sisters white chalk cliffs. These cliffs are some of England’s most striking landscapes and, if time allows, I’d definitely recommend visiting them.
Renowned for being one of the UK’s prettiest coastal walks, the walk from Seaford to Eastbourne is absolutely breathtaking! It’s a 22-kilometre trail, however, there are shorter walks and viewpoints you can drive to and you’ll still get to see these incredible cliffs.
For our full guide to the Seven Sisters Walk and for everything you need to know, head to the post below.
As well as hiking in the South Downs National Park, the market town of Petworth is only 3 kilometres away. In addition to being an arts and culture centre, you can also explore Petworth House and browse the many antique shops Petworth is home to.
Just 11 kilometres from The Old Railway Station, Petworth is Goodward Racecourse while slightly further afield is the city of Chichester. Another historic market town, Midhurst, is also worth a visit at the heart of the South Downs National Park.
Things to Note About Your Stay at the Old Railway Station, Petworth
The Old Railway Station, Petworth is one of the most beautiful hotels in the South Downs National Park. Here’s everything else you need to know about your stay.
We’d recommend having a car when visiting the hotel to really make the most of your time in the South Downs National Park with complete freedom and flexibility.
The closest train station is Pulborough and from here it’s advisable to take a taxi, although there aren’t many taxi services in the area. Buses are also very limited.
There are two rooms in the main Station House at the old Petworth Railway Station and eight Pullman Carriages. All are ensuite with free WiFi, TVs, tea and coffee, a seating area and clothes storage.
Toiletries are provided in biodegradable packets and fresh water in a glass bottle as all single-use plastic is removed from the rooms.
No under 10’s can be accommodated overnight.
The Old Railway Station doesn’t serve dinner, however, the lively Badgers Inn next door serves delicious food made from fresh local produce.
After our afternoon tea, we weren’t too hungry, but we did manage to share a baked camembert, garlic bread and chicken satay skewers which were all delicious!
The hotel cannot accommodate dogs.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this review on The Old Railway Station, Petworth, one of the best unique hotels in the South Downs National Park. If you have any questions or want to get in contact, please leave a comment below.
