THE UK’s busiest train station was recently named one of the best in Europe – and it has huge new renovation plans.
London Liverpool Street first opened in 1874, replacing Bishopsgate Station.
Now, it is the most used train station in the UK – with as many as 80million passengers a year.
And a recent study ranked it as one of the best in all of Europe.
Conducted by luggage storage company Bounce, the investigation analysed Google review data to find which ones had the highest ratings.
And London Liverpool Street was the highest ranked in the UK, coming in fourth alongside Victoria and Waterloo.
Read more on train stations
It was beaten by Amsterdam Centraal, which took first place, and Brits can travel to via Eurostar, as well as Zurich Hauptbahnhof in Switzerland and Utrect Centraal in the Netherlands.
But the study found that Liverpool Street was also the most popular on social media, with hundreds of thousands of Instagram tags.
Dating back 150 years, the train station played a vital role during World War II, which saw thousands of children travel as part of the Kindertransport rescue efforts.
It now has underground services on the Central line, Hammersmith & City line, Circle line and Metropolitan line.
Most read in Travel
Beating London Waterloo and London Victoria, London Liverpool Street connects the city to destinations such as Cambridge, Norwich and Essex.
Direct airport services connect passengers to Stansted Airport and Southend Airport.
The most recent update is the Elizabeth Line which opened at the station in 2022.
Film buffs will have spotted the station being used in a number of movies, including Mission Impossible, Stormbreaker and St Trinian’s 2.
And the station is set to undergo a £1.5billion renovation.
This includes a new 20-story tower with office and hotel spaces above a Grade-II listed building which used to be the Great Eastern Hotel.
A heated rooftop swimming pool, cafe and garden would also be part of the plans, as well as £450million repairs across the station.
However, the plans have received more than 2,000 objections, with some saying the plans are “ugly” and not fitting with the nearby area.
Famous celebrities who have opposed the designs also include Stephen Fry and Tracy Emin.
And last year, it was placed in the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered buildings list 2023.
Despite this, Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and Network Rail, who are behind the new plans, said the renovation is needed as the station has not been redeveloped since the 1980s.
They also said that the station is “well over capacity” and hopes to “protect and enhance the historic elements”.
The largest train station in the world is found in New York.
Grand Central Terminal, which opened more than 100 years ago, has 80 stores, 67million passengers a year and even a tennis court inside.
The busiest train station in Europe is Gard du Nord in Paris, which has direct trains to four different countries.
And the world’s most beautiful train station is also in Europe.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Three scenic train journeys you can take in the UK
The UK is full of great train journeys, including some with scenic views.
- The West Highland Line in Scotland has previously been dubbed the best rail journey in the world, thanks to its breathtaking views overlooking mountain landscapes, serene lochs and wistful moors. Tickets start from £19.50.
- The East Coast Main Line from Durham to Edinburgh is another popular railway route. Passengers on this train will be treated to views of Durham Cathedral, the Angel of the North, and the King Edward VII Railway Bridge. Tickets start from £24.50.
- The train from St Erth to St Ives only has one stop on its route, which is complete with sea views. Tickets start from £3.
Antwerp Central Railway Station in Belgium is often said to feel like stepping back in time, with huge glass windows a large dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
And Brits can get there in an hour by flight, or take the Eurostar to Brussels before jumping on a connecting train.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/feed/
Kara Godfrey
