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Merseyside railway station named best in Britain

Merseyrail Members of staff and volunteers celebrate the win, standing outside the station entrance and in front of a floral display in a green planter. A sign saying 'World Cup of Stations 2024 Winner' is on top of the planter. Everyone is smiling. Some people are raising their arms in the air.Merseyrail
Maghull beat off competition from stations across the UK

A railway station in Merseyside has been named the best in Britain in the 'World Cup of Stations' competition.

Maghull station, which is in Sefton, beat rivals including King's Lynn in Norfolk and Dorridge in the West Midlands to win the title.

Maghull’s success was largely attributed to both "its fantastic station team and to its popular cafe, The Coffee Carriage, which opened in 2024", a Merseyrail spokesperson said.

Rory McLellan, co-owner of The Coffee Carriage, said: "This victory means so much to us, and it’s incredible to see our station recognised on a national level."

Ian Haslam / BBC A woman wearing jeans, a dark jumper and glasses is standing at the counter of the coffee shop. A man can be seen preparing an order. There are cakes behind glass on the counter, along with a hot food cabinet, with signs for bacon sandwiches. There is also a board with photos of some of the dog visitors to the cafe.Ian Haslam / BBC
The Coffee Carriage cafe was one of the reasons for Maghull scooping the award of Britain's best railway station, Merseyrail said

“We’re proud to be a small part of what makes Maghull such a special place," he added.

The cafe had become a community hub, with both commuters and residents visiting, a Merseyrail spokesperson said.

The contest celebrated the diverse businesses found in train stations across the UK, highlighting facilities such as delis, florists and cafes "that enrich local communities and economies", the spokesperson added.

They said the competition, organised by Rail Delivery Group, celebrated stations which went "above and beyond in serving their communities".

'Incredible community spirit'

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said he was "absolutely delighted that Maghull station has been recognised nationally and I know how much it means to all the people involved".

“This fantastic achievement is a testament to the incredible spirit of our local community, as well as the hard work of the station team and volunteers," he added.

Rotheram said Maghull was "a proper community hub where people feel welcome and connected".

Ian Haslam / BBC The entrance to Maghull railway station, with a sign for The Coffee Carriage coffee shop outside and hanging baskets with flowers on the wall. A planter with flowers can also be seen to the side of the ramped entrance.Ian Haslam / BBC
The station has beaten off competition from rival stations including King's Lynn in Norfolk and Dorridge in the West Midlands

Merseyrail's deputy managing director, Suzanne Grant said the win was "a fantastic achievement and a testament to the amazing support we have seen from the local community during the competition".

“Maghull station is a special place, combining a dedicated station team, a wonderful local business in the form of The Coffee Carriage and not forgetting our station volunteers, who keep it looking at it’s best," she added.

She said she wanted to thank everyone who voted and supported Maghull throughout the campaign.

The competition had seen more than 72,000 votes cast in previous years, with Maghull joining the ranks of past winners, including Wemyss Bay (2023), Stourbridge Junction (2021), and Huddersfield (2019), a Merseyrail spokesperson said.

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