What sort of day trips from Leeds by train are there?

No matter what you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered. Our day trips from Leeds could take you on a walk down a peaceful canal, on a journey down memory lane or enjoying some great food and drink. Let’s take a look at what we’ve discovered.

Knaresborough

You’ve probably heard of its neighbour, Harrogate, but have you considered day trips from Leeds to Knaresborough? It’s a little more tranquil and peaceful, but you won’t be short of things to see and do.

Why not start with a stroll down to the River Nidd? It’s a great place to admire the railway viaduct that you’ll have just passed over, if you’ve come from Leeds:

You could also pop into Knaresborough Castle & Museum. It’s just a short walk (and a climb) along the river. It’s a Norman Castle, and the climb is worth it for the views down the river valley.

If you head down the river and under the railway viaduct, you’ll find Mother Shipton’s Cave. It’s England’s oldest tourist attraction, and it was the home of Mother Shipton, a Tudor prophetess. Legend has it that she foretold the fates of various rulers both during and after her lifetime. She even predicted the Great Fire of London.

Fancy a trip? Two trains per hour run from Leeds to Knaresborough, and they take roughly 45 minutes to complete the drip. Day Return tickets start at £10.60.

Marsden and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

It’s time to head right to the edge of West Yorkshire. If you want to embrace the great outdoors, then this is one of the perfect day trips from Leeds for you. Marsden is situated on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. At its summit, this is actually the highest canal in Great Britain:

It’s also the point where both trains (and boats) need to cross the Pennines to reach Manchester. So, you can get up close and personal with the railway, and learn more about the Standedge Tunnels, where the trains rush in and out of, and the boats, hopefully don’t rush in and out of:

If you head in the other direction, it’s a pleasant hour-so-walk back towards Slaithwaite along the canal. Alternatively, you could head inland towards the Butterley Reservoir.

Looking to get exploring? You can reach Marsden in as little as 35 minutes with a change at Huddersfield, once every hour. 

Saltaire

Our next stop is Saltaire. The area was built by Sir Titus Salt in 1851, so that his workers in Salts Mill could live in better conditions than the slums of neighbouring Bradford. The name ‘Saltaire’ is simply his surname, and the name of the passing river – the River Aire!

Nowadays, the main attraction continues to be Salts Mill. In the modern day, it serves as an art gallery and a place to learn about the history of Saltaire and the impact that it had as a prominent textile-making hub. You’ll find a shop selling local goods, too:

If you’re after something a little more tranquil, just pop a little further down the road. You’ll soon find yourself at the Leeds & Liverpool Canal:

From here, it’s possible to walk all the way to Skipton or Leeds. Or, you might just prefer to take in your surroundings and have a walk over towards Robert’s Park…

Is Saltaire worth its salt? You can find out with just a 15-minute train ride from Leeds. A Day Return starts at £6.30.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

How do you like the sound of day trips from Leeds by train…that take you to another train? This one looks just a little bit different, though:

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway links Keighley, Oakworth, Haworth and Oxenhope with a variety of heritage trains. You could have a steam train, a diesel one (like we did) or a more familiar-looking Pacer train.

Along the way, you can learn about the history of the railway, and get up close and personal with the trains that run along the route. Don’t forget to stop off at Ingrow West to visit the Museum of Rail Travel, or pop into the Exhibition Shed at Oxenhope:

Meanwhile, Oakworth Station is famous for starring in The Railway Children, which was released in 1970. The entire railway is a true time capsule, and operates just as it did back before it closed in 1962. By 1968, an army of volunteers had it operating again! Keep an eye out for Damems Station, too. It’s got the shortest railway platform in the UK:

Trains link Leeds to Keighley at least twice every hour. The journey typically takes 25 minutes, and Day Return fares start at £8.20. You can find out more about the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, including their operating days and times, on their website. You can also reach our next destination by taking the hourly B3 bus from the line’s terminus at Oxenhope…

Hebden Bridge

Hebden Bridge has it all. Beautiful scenery, some great places to walk and a plethora of independent shops and cafes to fill your boots in. It was even rated as the Greatest Town in Europe! With friendly touches like this, it’s easy to see why:

If you do choose to have a wander along the canal, much like other places on this list, you can go rather far! This is the Rochdale Canal, after all. You could walk it all the way through the Pennines and into Manchester City Centre, if you were so inclined.

A little closer to Hebden Bridge, you could also go exploring around Hardcastle Crags. It’s around a 35-minute walk from the station to the beginning of the area. It has 15 miles of paths to explore though, so it might take you a little longer than 35 minutes to cover it all!

You can’t have day trips from Leeds without some decent grub and a good drink to wash it down. Hebden Bridge is home to Vocation Brewery, which serves its own craft beer, loaded fries and burgers:

You can take the train from Leeds to Hebden Bridge four times every hour and the trains take 40 to 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next adventure. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All information on this page is issued in good faith and was correct at 31/08/2023. All fares quoted for were for ONE adult and were the Off-Peak Day Return fare. Information is subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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How do we work out the best train from Leeds to Manchester?

There are a few factors that we need to look at when we’re deciding on the best train from Leeds to Manchester:

• The cost – is it good value for money?
• Speed – will it get us there quickly?
• Comfort – what are the trains like?
• Reliability – will the train actually turn up?

We have two operators to choose from: TransPennine Express and Northern. TransPennine Express are usually the most popular option. After all, their trains tend to be faster. Meanwhile, Northern are the ‘cheap’ option. Let’s see what both companies are like.

TransPennine Express

On a typical weekday, when there aren’t any engineering works, you’ll usually find three trains per hour between Leeds and Manchester:

• One per hour goes to Manchester Victoria, stopping at Dewsbury, Huddersfield and Stalybridge
• One per hour goes to Manchester Piccadilly, stopping at all stations to Huddersfield, then non-stop to Manchester
• One per hour serves Manchester Victoria, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly, stopping at Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

The fastest trains take around 50 minutes to reach Manchester Victoria, while the peak trains to Manchester take up to 70 minutes. More services run during peak hours. 

The cost

Let’s take a look at how much you can typically expect to pay for a one-way journey a week in advance. For this, we’ll look at the cost of trains to Manchester Piccadilly:

So, you can expect to pay between 16 and 18 pounds. That’s a little steep, but these are fairly popular trains. A day return (valid after 09:29 weekdays) is £27.20, while one that’s valid at any time (and to return within a month) is £41.00.

The trains

Two different types of train run on the route from Leeds to Manchester. The first one is the Class 185:

These trains have three carriages and will often run in a six-car formation. You can expect to see them on the Hull to Manchester and Saltburn to Manchester Airport routes.

On the Newcastle to Liverpool services, you’ll find the Nova 1:

They’re relatively new trains and have five carriages. Certainly, they’re very modern-looking and pretty striking and are probably the best train from Leeds to Manchester if you’re basing it on looks.

The seat experience

On the Class 185, you’ll find a fair few seats around tables, and the seat comfort is fairly good:

You’ll find a power socket at every window, including a USB port. All of the seats are in a 2+2 layout, while it’s a 2+1 layout in First.

The Nova 1 interior is a little more densely packed, but Standard Class seats are still in a 2+2 formation:

Under each pair of seats, you’ll find two power sockets and a USB port. In First Class, all of the seats are in a 2+1 formation.

Storing your luggage

As you can see in the photos above, both types of train have reasonably-sized overhead luggage racks. You’ll easily store a cabin-sized bag in them. As for larger cases, each carriage on the Class 185 has at least one bigger rack, while there’s at least two per carriage in the Nova 1.

Put simply, it shouldn’t be a problem! TransPennine Express is probably the best train from Leeds to Manchester if you have a lot of luggage.

Upgrading to First Class

If you upgrade to First Class on TransPennine Express, you’ll get a bigger seat that reclines. On most trains, you’ll also get complimentary catering on part of the trip. You can take a look at the First Class menu here.

Here’s what the Class 185 trains look like in First Class:

In terms of power outlets, provision is pretty much the same as in Standard Class. You’ll still want a window seat if you need a power socket on the Class 185 trains.

Northern

Next, let’s take a look at Northern. You’ll usually find three trains per hour on a weekday between Leeds and Manchester Victoria:

• Two per hour stopping at Bramley, New Pudsey, Bradford Interchange, Low Moor (one per hour), Halifax, Sowerby Bridge (one per hour), Mytholmroyd (one per hour) Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale
• One per hour stopping at Morley, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Walsden, Littleborough, Smithy Bridge and Rochdale.

On Sundays, there are two trains per hour, and they both go via Bradford Interchange.

The fastest trains take around 75 minutes, while the slowest train via Dewsbury and Brighouse takes around 90.

The cost

This is what sets the Northern service apart and what arguably makes it the best train from Leeds to Manchester. It’s actually quite cheap! Let’s take a look at one-way fares a week in advance to Manchester Victoria:

A single fare of £6.80 is less than half the cost of the TransPennine Express fare.

The trains

The fastest Northern services on this route are operated by Class 195 trains. They have either two or three carriages, but can run in formations of up to six carriages:

They’re relatively new trains, though they’re very much designed for commuters and they’re fairly ‘lightweight’, so expect a couple of bumps in the track along the way.

The seat experience

All of the seats on these trains are in a 2+2 formation. They’re pretty thin and firm, but this means that legroom in the ‘airline’ style seats is fairly generous:

There are quite a few tables as well, and every pair of seats has access to a power socket under the seat. They’re not quite as luxurious as TransPennine Express trains, but they’re fine for a journey of an hour and a half.

Storing your luggage

The overhead racks on these trains are reasonable and will store a cabin-sized bag. You won’t find any bigger luggage stacks, but there are areas with tip-up seats and the areas around the doors have a fair amount of space.

That said, we wouldn’t recommend travelling on these trains with everything but the kitchen sink. They’re commuter trains, after all.

Upgrading to First Class

You won’t find First Class on any Northern service. You’ll need to travel with TransPennine Express if you want a little more luxury!

Verdict: What’s the best train from Leeds to Manchester?

All things considered, the best train from Leeds to Manchester at the moment has to be Northern on the basis that it’s a lot more predictable! It’s cheaper, too. Unless you want to go First Class or you have a lot of luggage, it’s simply the smarter option.

There are a couple of things that you can do to make your journey even smarter:

• At busier times, such as in the rush hour, aim for the trains that start at Manchester Victoria if you’re travelling east. They leave at around 57 minutes past the hour (54 on Sundays) and have around 20 minutes turnaround time in Manchester. This gives you a good chance to turn up and get a seat
• The trains via Bradford will swap direction there, so you’ll need to switch seats if you don’t want to travel backwards. Alternatively, take the train that goes via Brighouse and Dewsbury
• All trains start and terminate at Leeds. Just make sure you get there around 10 minutes before departure to guarantee a seat on busier trains

Is there anything else I should know?

The final thing we’d recommend is using the SmartSplit website to book your next journey. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t.

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too!

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 15:00 11/09/24. Advance fares quoted are from March 2023. Timetable info is correct to December 2024. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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Journey 1 – Newcastle to Carlisle

Now, I’d tried to cover as many of the “key” train types of possible that have the widest coverage. For example, this first train, a Class 158 “Express Sprinter”, runs on many short and medium-distance Northern services. However, you’ll also find them on East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales, ScotRail and South Western Railway.

I ended up getting on at the wrong end of the train to the big luggage stacks, of which Northern has one per carriage. So, it was time to give the overhead racks a go. I managed to get it up there, but it was looking a little precarious:

However, I decided to have faith that it wouldn’t jump out and give a fellow passenger concussion. And, to be fair, it stayed put the entire way. It wasn’t the best train for luggage, but it did the job. Just don’t try and put anything bigger above your head.

And so, my day had started as it meant to go on: looking like a right weirdo taking photos of a suitcase in a luggage rack.

Journey 2 – Carlisle to Crewe

For my first long-distance trip, I was taking a famous “Pendolino” train, operated by Avanti West Coast. They’ve always been known for feeling a bit cramped (and having tiny windows) so I didn’t have a great deal of hope for this one.

You can imagine my surprise when I jumped on and my case fitted perfectly above the seat. It didn’t even stick out and look like it was about to injure someone, which was a bonus.

On board, there’s also quite a few luggage stacks if you’re bringing a big case or something else that won’t quite fit above your head. Some are even in the centre of the carriage, so you can keep an eye on your things without needing to trek down to the ends.

It should be noted though, that it does depend on where you’re sitting in some carriages. For example, most of Coach C has equipment on the roof, so the overhead racks are tiny. Only seats 1 to 22 have the full-size rack.

Journey 3 – Crewe to Nottingham

It was back to the wee regional trains for the next one, and I was taking a Class 170 “Turbostar” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find these trains on CrossCountry, ScotRail and Northern, though they all have slightly different layouts. Most importantly though, the overhead racks are broadly the same size.

My case just about fit in the overhead rack, much like the first train. There was a luggage stack towards the centre of the carriage as well, but I decided to trust that gravity would stay on my side. This was a tricky one to illustrate as everyone seemed very aware of the strange man photographing his luggage:

The lack of decent (or at least obvious) luggage storage became rather apparent when we rolled into Stoke. Four different people with positively huge suitcases got and looked a bit dumbfounded as to where to go. Where did they go? Nowhere. They all stood by the doors with their precious cargo. Not ideal on a two-car train, but there’s no way all four would have fitted in the rack. The main issue was that it wasn’t totally obvious as you boarded.

Thankfully there were a fair amount of people jumping on and off at different points so the little train didn’t completely descend into chaos. My main issue was that these trains also make mammoth journeys across England (such as Stansted Airport to Birmingham and Nottingham to Cardiff) – hopefully nobody turns up with anything heavier or bigger than a Tesco carrier bag! (other supermarkets are available)

Journey 4 – Nottingham to Derby

Spoilers: It was exactly the same train as the last one.

The only difference was that I turned up struggling to breathe after it chose to leave from the furthest platform possible from the entrance. Cue me legging it with a suitcase in tow while being screamed at by the dispatcher to go faster. It wasn’t entirely my fault I was so late, as the self-service till at the supermarket in the station had had a bit of a meltdown on me.

The train wasn’t quite so busy this time, so I found a table seat and the case went under it.

When I got into Derby, I had a second attempt at getting something to eat and was served by the friendly lasses in the Pumpkin cafe. They even warmed up my pasty (us Geordies love a pasty – even if it wasn’t quite Greggs) which was welcome on a bit of a blustery day.

Journey 5 – Derby to Sheffield

For this next train, I’d be jumping on board a “Meridian” operated by East Midlands Railway. You’ll also find similar trains on CrossCountry or Avanti West Coast, where they’re known as a “Voyager” or “Super Voyager”. While the seating layouts are a bit different (and Meridians can be a bit longer), the trains themselves are mostly the same.

I found myself a free table, lifted my case up into the rack and…it was nowhere near fitting. Safe to say, this wasn’t the best train for luggage – it was pretty much the worst. The trade-off was that some cases would fit between the seat-backs (I had a go, mine squeezed in) but the train was empty enough to just stick it under the table next to me.

There were some luggage stacks at the carriage ends, so you aren’t left totally high and dry if your luggage is big, but I can imagine it being a challenge on busier trains. As you can see, someone’s managed to squeeze a tote bag in, but there’s already enough space under the seats for that!

Journey 6 – Sheffield to Doncaster

It was now time to head for home after a brief stop in Sheffield. Rush hour was looming too, so this would be a good test of luggage space with plenty of exhausted commuters around me. Namely making sure I didn’t block any seats or accidentally hit them in the head, as I’m sure lots of disgruntled tutting would ensue.

Northern had gifted me a Class 150 ‘Sprinter’ for the short journey to Doncaster. You’ll find these trains on much of the Northern network as well as across pretty much all of Wales. They operate everything from local hops to long-distance trains taking you from Manchester to Cardiff. In a nutshell, they have a pretty tough gig trying to meet all sorts of demands.

I’ll be honest, my expectations were rather low. So I was quite surprised when I lobbed my case it’s the overhead rack without any problems! Sure, this particular train had next-to-no legroom, but at least my suitcase was comfortable.

Journey 7 – Doncaster to Newcastle

I was now on the home stretch. One more train where I’d have to look a bit strange taking photos. I already knew what to expect from the LNER Azuma trains, as I can remember them being a bit of a revolution when they started running on the Edinburgh to London route.

While the seats were a bit harder than on the trains they replaced, I was at least able to comfortably chuck my case into the rack above my head. A welcome thing for a student going home with dirty washing to beat the costs of student accommodation washing machines.

You’ll also find some bigger luggage stacks dotted around the train, but where they are varies massively depending on who runs the train. After all, these Hitachi trains are operated by Great Western Railway, LNER, Lumo and TransPennine Express.

Great Western Railway trains have two per carriage, no matter their length. This is the standard number, and LNER Azuma trains which have five carriages are the same. TransPennine Express “Nova 1” trains have two as well. LNER Azuma trains which have nine carriages are quite generous, with some coaches having up to four luggage stacks. This is because some seats were removed to make way for extra space.

So surely, you’d think that these Hitachi trains were the best trains for luggage? Well, yes, unless you’re getting on a Lumo train. The number of stacks in the carriage ranges from one to none! If you’re in part of Coach E, you won’t even get an overhead rack. This is because they’ve tried to squeeze in as many seats as possible. They even have a restriction on the amount of luggage you can bring that’s a lot stricter than other companies.

The verdict – what’s the best train for luggage?

Out of the trains I’d travelled on today, the Pendolino felt like the best one. This was mostly because you could rely on every Pendolino having the same number of luggage stacks, and the overhead racks fit a cabin-size case comfortably. Some coaches have a smaller overhead rack in places, but this is compensated for with more stacks.

The LNER Azuma is a close second. The nine-car version is arguably the best train for luggage seeing as it’s had seats taken out for more luggage stacks. So, you’re in luck if you’re travelling between Edinburgh and London, in 99% of cases. By contrast, Lumo’s version of the Hitachi trains is probably one of the worst.

The worst I travelled on today had to be the Meridian operated by East Midlands Railway. The overhead racks are barely good for any luggage of any size! You’ll have to hope you can squeeze your case between the seats or find a luggage stack. There is some good news, as they’re being replaced by Hitachi trains similar to those on LNER in the coming years.

It had been a long day on the trains, but I was quite impressed by most operators. In my view, you’re well-covered for taking a cabin-size case on the vast majority of services! When you’re ready to take your next trip, you can book without fees (even if your plans change!) at SmartSplit.

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We’ve already written about plenty of pubs on SmartSplit. I mean, you’ll even find a map with the cheapest pint in (most) station pubs around Great Britain. So, I originally went with the intention of trying the beer, taking some photos, recording the typical price of a pint and being on my way. But, this isn’t your typical station boozer, and it’d be criminal not to share a little more about it.

Getting to the Hartlepool Station Pub

You’ll find The Rat Race on the small station concourse at Hartlepool Station. So, you’re likely to be getting there by train.

Northern runs an hourly train from Newcastle to Middlesbrough which serves Hartlepool, and the trains on this route will usually extend in either direction to serve Hexham/Carlisle in the west, and Nunthorpe/Whitby to the south and east. On a Sunday, two trains each way will also take you to Darlington. Grand Central services to/from London also stop at Hartlepool.

For me, I was coming from Newcastle. I’d reached the station a little early, so figured it’d be more pleasant to pop over the road and bide my time in the Newcastle Tap, which I’ve featured before when I wrote about what to do on a day trip to Newcastle. As it happens, the bartender was from Hartlepool, and she was quick to interrogate about what on earth I could be doing down there.

“There’s a Hartlepool station pub??” she replied to my explanation. Her friend was sat at the other side of the bar with me, and she quickly whipped out her phone to locate this mysterious pub.

“It’s next to the caf.”

“Bloody hell, I can’t believe we’ve missed that.”

So, two Hartlepool natives who commuted by train had no idea of the existence of a Hartlepool station pub. We were off to a good start.

I bid my farewells and headed for the 14:40 train down to Hartlepool, which would give me a little time to get some photos of other attractions (in particular, for our Day Trips from Newcastle guide) before I could see what this pub was all about.

The Pub Itself

I sauntered up to the door at around 5 past 4. Apparently, I’d already been beaten inside by two thirsty and very keen patrons. Peter, the owner, was already taking their order. I squeezed myself past and took a seat, as I realised that this wasn’t quite the same as other station pubs I’d visited. I mean, the ‘NO LAGER’ sign on the door should have been a good indicator.

First Impressions

I mean, it’s small. It isn’t a place you can cram into either, as it’s table service only. So, only 22 people at a time can avail of the beer at the Rat Race. You won’t find any music, any shouting, any swearing and you certainly won’t find any lager. Are we clear? Don’t ask for lager.

The decor is rather beer mat-centric:

That said, it does a great job of demonstrating how this place is simply all about the beer. The rest of the walls are adorned with articles about the pub, ‘Dad’ humour and all sorts of other bits and bobs. It felt like you’d just entered someone’s living room, which I suppose is how this place functions. You come in, flop down in a seat, have a pint and a chat. A sign on the wall also proudly stated how many beers had been served since opening in 2009. It was 1,967 when I visited, but it’s since gone up to 1,970.

I picked myself a pint, and Peter disappeared into the little room which houses the bar. You can pay by cash or card, and I was sipping a beer within a minute. So, what is there to do in a place like this? The art of conversation, I suppose. I got talking to the couple who’d come in before me, and it turned out that they were Aussie expats. They had family in Horden (just one stop up the line) and had come back for a visit.

The beer

The selection of beer at the Hartlepool Station pub is pretty simple. You have four choices:

The beers are numbered 1 to 4, and they change ‘whenever they run out’. In fact, since I visited last week, I can see on the website that everything has changed already! From what I understood, 1 is an easy-drinker, 2 is normally a bit of a ‘wild card’, 3 is a stronger IPA-type beer, and 4 is a dark beer. On top of that, you’ll find two cask ciders (not fizzy), wine and snacks.

Price-wise, it’s all very palatable for a Northerner (and perhaps slightly unbelievable for a Londoner) with pints coming in at £3.50 to £4.00. You can take them away with you, as well.

I went for Consett’s Red Dust, which was a wonderfully malty and fruity red ale. Meanwhile, Lord’s New Wave IPA was a lot more complex (and less ‘smack-you-in-the-face citrus’) than your typical IPA. They were both great pints, I can’t say more than that! My Aussie companions were equally impressed, particularly with the IPA.

The Man behind the Magic

I wouldn’t usually end up talking to the owner of a pub, as they might have better things to do (or not be there at all). But, Peter was happy to chat and explain the method behind his own brand of madness.

Put simply, he serves good beer at a price that he’d be comfortable paying. Nothing wacky or expensive, just drinkable beer that locals can afford. After all, this isn’t some trendy part of London. People don’t want pomp or the latest ‘trendy’ drink at a daft price. Costs have gone up, but he’s absorbed much of them.

He certainly has plenty of tales of turning folk away. Usually they’re the ones that demand a lager, ‘the cheapest drink’, spirits or something else. In his words, Spoons exists for people like that. All of the signs about ‘no lager’ and the like might come across as a bit hostile to an outsider, but I didn’t get that impression at all. I felt welcomed and like Peter really cared about what he was doing. He has his regulars, after all. Like clockwork, as I finished my pint, two of them came in and were greeted.

I can’t forget that the Rat Race is also raising money for a local donkey sanctuary. Peter even has a stuffed donkey that joins him on all of his adventures!

My thoughts on the Hartlepool Station Pub

In a nutshell, the Rat Race is a man doing great beer the way that he wants to do it. Face it, if we had the time and the energy (and a few bob spare), I’m sure many of us would love to do the same.

It’s a window into a small community, too. You can hear everything and you can see everything that goes on. There isn’t any music, shouting or swearing, and the table service means that everybody gets the same level of service and attention.

Is the Hartlepool Station Pub for everyone? No. But, that’s not what it’s trying to be, and I’m not telling everyone under the sun to come running to it. It’s about relaxing with a reasonably-priced pint of good beer. I’d love to come back here, as sometimes I just want a beer. I don’t want to have to struggle to hear myself think over the UK Top 40 and someone’s relationship drama getting bellowed down the phone. I love a more ‘bustling’ bar, too, and that’s the beauty of station pubs (and pubs in general) these days. You have choices. More choices than ever, really.

So, if you want to enter Peter’s little world (and enjoy a couple of fantastic pints), then you can pay a visit on a Tuesday to Friday between 12:02 and 14:15, and 16:02 and 20:15, and on a Saturday from 12:02 to 21:00. If there’s football on, it might not be open, depending on who’s playing! You can also take a look at the website to find out more.

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