LNER route
A single daily LNER through train links London King's Cross with Skipton, the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, via Leeds and Keighley.
The gatehouse of Skipton Castle, at the top of the High StreetPhoto: Jonathan Billinger, CC BY-SA 2.0
Skipton is the furthest point LNER reaches in West Yorkshire and the Dales fringe. The service is an extension of a London–Leeds train, continuing up Airedale through Shipley and Keighley.
Because there is only one through train each way on most days, it is best treated as a handy direct option rather than a frequent service. At other times you can change at Leeds on to local trains along the Airedale line.
Frequency: One train a day in each direction on Mondays to Saturdays, plus a northbound train on Sundays (May–December 2026 timetable).
Calling pattern: The Skipton train calls at Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield Westgate, Leeds and Keighley, with Grantham, Newark Northgate, Retford and Shipley served on some days. At Keighley and Shipley it may only set down (northbound) or pick up (southbound).
Based on LNER's May–December 2026 timetable. Timetables change — check your train with LNER timetables or National Rail.
Beyond Leeds the train follows the Airedale line, historically part of the Midland Railway, up the valley of the River Aire towards Skipton.
At Keighley, platforms 3 and 4 are the northern terminus of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, a volunteer-run heritage line that runs to Oxenhope.
Coloured dots are calling points on this route; grey stations are served by other LNER routes.
One idea from each calling point. Open a station guide for more.
One of the finest surviving twelfth-century buildings in England, with a dramatic Early English West Front and the tomb of Henry VIII's first wife, Katharine of Aragon. Guided tours, including the upper levels and tower, can be booked.
A Grade I listed parish church whose spire is the second tallest in Lincolnshire. It is still an active church, so check service times before visiting.
A museum devoted to the seventeenth-century Civil Wars and Newark's part in them, with family days, walking tours and talks through the year. Admission is free for local residents and under-25s.
A free museum on Grove Street covering the history of north Nottinghamshire from the earliest times to today. It is closed on Wednesdays in term time and on Sundays.
A free cultural hub on Waterdale combining the city museum, art gallery, library, the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry museum and a Rail Heritage Centre. Open Monday to Saturday.
A free riverside gallery named after Barbara Hepworth, holding the city's art collection alongside major exhibitions. It is closed on Mondays, except bank holidays and Wakefield school holidays.
Home of the National Collection of Arms and Armour, in a purpose-built museum at Leeds Dock that opened in 1996. General entry is free.
Titus Salt's vast 1853 mill, now a mix of galleries, shops and restaurants, with the 1853 Gallery showing many works by David Hockney. Usually open Wednesday to Sunday.
A volunteer-run heritage railway climbing the Worth Valley to Oxenhope, with stations including Oakworth and Haworth. Trains run on a timetable of coloured running days through the year.
More than 900 years old, the castle lets you explore everything from the dungeon to the top of the Watch Tower, including the banqueting hall and kitchen. It withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War.
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.