Rail station lounge access in the UK

[DJ737]

Hi there

Recently discovered lounge access to Virgin Trains lounge at Birmingham New St can be had for a paltry UKL 3.50.

Doesn't matter if you are travelling Standard class or even on another train operator.

Just buy a 1st class single to Birmingham International for 3.50 and you get access to the first class lounge, If you have time to kill at the station, you can grab a coffee, use the free wireless and generally relax away from the crowds.

Also doable at Manchester Piccadilly, buy a 1st ticket to Stockport.
and Liverpool Lime St, buy a 1st ticket to Runcorn.

No good at London Euston as no services stop to set down close enough to London to make this worthwhile, which is a shame because the Euston Lounge has showers.

Info on the Virgin Trains Lounges: First Class Lounges at major Virgin Trains Stations | Virgin Trains

Cheers
DJ737

 

[Mal]

Neat 'trick'. Will have to try this when I am around those places.

 

[straitman]

There is a wealth of info on FT under the UK Rail and Eurostar FAQs thread.

It covers nearly every situation that you may think of so definitely worth a look.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

The Manchester to Stockport 1st single is £2.65.
I'm on the 1155 Manchester to Euston service on 6th March, but the lounge doesn't open until 1200 on Sundays.

Addition to the Original post
1st class Euston to Harrow & Wealdstone is £6.80 so Euston is available if you need a shower.
Cheers
DJ737

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi there

The Manchester to Stockport 1st single is £2.65.
I'm on the 1155 Manchester to Euston service on 6th March, but the lounge doesn't open until 1200 on Sundays.

Yes I had the same problem last July.

The first class lounges are basically open to suit the needs of M-F business. Outside of that you need to check their hours.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi there

Recently discovered lounge access to Virgin Trains lounge at Birmingham New St can be had for a paltry UKL 3.50.

Doesn't matter if you are travelling Standard class or even on another train operator.

Just buy a 1st class single to Birmingham International for 3.50 and you get access to the first class lounge, If you have time to kill at the station, you can grab a coffee, use the free wireless and generally relax away from the crowds.

Also doable at Manchester Piccadilly, buy a 1st ticket to Stockport.
and Liverpool Lime St, buy a 1st ticket to Runcorn.

No good at London Euston as no services stop to set down close enough to London to make this worthwhile, which is a shame because the Euston Lounge has showers.

Info on the Virgin Trains Lounges: First Class Lounges at major Virgin Trains Stations | Virgin Trains

Cheers
DJ737

I seriously wouldn't bother, was there in September. Traveling New Street to Glasgow Central, lift out of service and had to lug suitcase up 2 flights of stairs past pub, cheap and nasty bags of chips and shortbread, machine coffee, room the size of a shoebox, no alcohol. Would have been better off stopping in pub .

 

[wyvern]

UK rail first lounges can be a bit variable. And it is a shame there is not a national lounge access/frequent rail traveller scheme.

 

[DJ737]

Hi there as a follow up access to the relevant lounges is available by purchasing the following tickets, where "No suitable ticket available" is stated, that means nothing under about £10 for 1st class from that station. (I made an exception with Crewe)

1st class lounge access

ECML
London Kings Cross No suitable ticket available
Wakefield Westgate 1st single to Leeds £3.30
Leeds 1st single to Wakefield Westgate £3.30
Doncaster No suitable ticket available
Darlington 1st single to Northallerton £8.70
Newcastle 1st single to Durham £7.60
Berwick No suitable ticket available
Edinburgh 1st single to Haymarket £2.50

Virgin West Coast
London Euston No suitable ticket available, the £6.80 to Harrow may not be valid, the jury is still out on this one
Coventry 1st single to Birmingham International £2.20
Birmingham International 1st single to Coventry £2.20
Birmingham New Street 1st single to Birmingham International £3.50
Wolverhampton 1st single to Birmingham New Street £4.30
Crewe 1st single to Runcorn £10.60
Runcorn 1st Single to Liverpool Lime Street £4.10
Liverpool Lime Street 1st single to Runcorn £4.10
Stoke on Trent 1st single to Stafford £5.80
Manchester Piccadilly 1st single to Stockport £2.65

First Great Western
London Paddington 1st single to Acton Mainline £5.10
Cardiff Central 1st single to Newport £8.70

Please feel free to add anymore.

Cheers
DJ737

 

[anat0l]

I have a trip with a colleague coming up where we will be taking the Night Riviera on First Great Western from Paddington to Truro (and then connecting to Falmouth).

If I read the website correctly, as we are reserving a Sleeper Berth, we both get access to the lounge beforehand in Paddington. Additionally, since we are also taking the Night Riviera on our return, we also get access to showers at Paddington upon arrival. (Hopefully the showers are decent and not dingy).

 

[DJ737]

Hi there

You read correctly, all booked sleeper passengers have lounge access at Paddington on both departure & arrival.

FGW website :

Night Riviera Sleeper station facilities

Waiting facilities



First Class Lounge - London Paddington
All Sleeper berth customers travelling to or from London Paddington can make use of the First Class Lounge.

The lounge can be found on Platform 1 and is open 0500 to 2355 Monday to Friday and 1600 to 2355 on Sunday.

The First Class Lounge offers the choice of a comfortable, modern business facility or a traditional Victorian lounge.

Shower facilities
On arrival at London Paddington, you can make use of the shower facility in the customer toilets at the station. There is no charge for berth customers.

Customer Lounge - Plymouth
All Sleeper berth customers can make use of the Customer Lounge on Platform 7.

Waiting room - Penzance
There are limited waiting facilities at Penzance. Steamers café is open 0700 - 1630 Monday to Saturday.

 

[DJ737]

UK rail first lounges can be a bit variable. And it is a shame there is not a national lounge access/frequent rail traveller scheme.

Maybe something Priority Pass should look at? Also access at Virgin Rail lounges for VS, DJ Gold's etc?