Nottingham Railway Station

Why go

The station combines a working transport interchange with a substantial early twentieth-century entrance building. Its red brick, glazed ceramic surfaces and ironwork show the care given to railway arrival halls. It makes a useful architectural stop when travel already brings you here, rather than requiring access to the platforms for sightseeing.

What to look for

• Red brick and terracotta give the station its warm-coloured exterior.
• Glazed faience adds another surface to the Edwardian building.
• Art Nouveau ironwork marks the carriage entrances.

The full story

The station opened in 1904 with an Edwardian Baroque Revival design that made arrival in Nottingham a substantial architectural occasion. Its materials helped achieve that effect. Terracotta supplied moulded detail in place of carved building stone, while faience added glazed ceramic surfaces to the red-brick structure. Slate and glazed roofs completed the main buildings. The carriage entrances introduced a different decorative note through Art Nouveau wrought iron. Comparing those gates with the heavier brick and terracotta forms makes the mixture of styles easier to notice. These are details of a working railway building, shaped to move people as well as represent the city. Later transport connections have added to its role, but the old entrance remains useful evidence of how much attention railway companies once gave to the public face of a station.

Useful to know

• Look at the Carrington Street frontage while using the public-facing parts of the station.
• Use current journey information for train, tram and bus connections; allow for the interchange you need.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.