North East England Station code MPT
Morpeth
Morpeth by train: a historic Northumberland market town on the River Wansbeck, with a bagpipe museum and Wallington nearby. Few LNER trains stop.
- Around 3 hours 15 minutes from London
- 2 LNER routes
- 2 things to do
The 1847 station building, restored in 2018–20 with its tall chimneys reinstated.Photo: Dreamy Jazz, CC BY-SA 4.0
About Morpeth
Morpeth is a handsome market town on the River Wansbeck, first recorded in 1080 when the de Merlay family were granted the barony. It received its market charter in 1200 and by the mid-1700s had become one of the main markets in England.
Today it is a relaxed place for a stroll along the river and through the town's historic streets. The medieval Chantry houses a museum devoted to bagpipes – particularly the Northumbrian smallpipes – and the National Trust's Wallington estate lies in open countryside to the west.
Only a handful of LNER trains call each day, but Morpeth is well connected to Newcastle by local services, so it also makes an easy excursion from the city.
Journey
MPT- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 3 hours 15 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 2
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 13 of 18 | Newcastle | Alnmouth |
| London – Aberdeen stop 13 of 26 | Newcastle | Alnmouth |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Only a few LNER trains call in each direction in the May–December 2026 timetable (fastest about 3 hours 14 minutes). Lumo and CrossCountry also call, or change at Newcastle for Northern's hourly local trains.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1 March 1847
- Architect
- John and Benjamin Green (the listing credits John Green)
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed
- Platforms
- 2
- Managed by
- Northern
- Passengers a year
- 623,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Just south of the station the main line swings through a sharp curve of almost 90 degrees, the scene of four serious accidents over the years, two of them fatal.
- A £2.3 million restoration led by the Greater Morpeth Development Trust reinstated the building's tall chimneys and turned empty rooms into space for local businesses; it was officially reopened in September 2020.
- Morpeth once had a second station, a Blyth and Tyne Railway terminus that opened in 1858 and closed in 1880.
Photos of Morpeth
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(view larger)
The 1847 station building, restored in 2018–20 with its tall chimneys reinstated. Photo: Dreamy Jazz, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
(view larger)
The Telford Bridge over the River Wansbeck in Morpeth, completed in 1831. Photo: Jim Barton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Morpeth
The main building, with the ticket office and toilets, is on the eastern (southbound) side on Coopies Lane, and a subway with lifts links it to the northbound platform, which has a waiting shelter. Buses turn by platform 1. The town centre and the Chantry Bagpipe Museum are a short walk away, roughly half a mile as the crow flies.
The station is roughly half a mile from the town centre as the crow flies. The main building, on the eastern side of the line, has the ticket office, toilets and a taxi office; the platforms are linked by a subway with lifts.
Getting around
The town centre and the Chantry Bagpipe Museum are a short walk from the station. Wallington is about 11 miles away near Cambo, so plan on a car or taxi.
Other train services and connections
- Northern (hourly to Newcastle; some trains to Chathill)
- CrossCountry
- TransPennine Express
- Lumo (London King's Cross and Edinburgh)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to both platforms by lift (National Rail category A)
- LiftsLifts to both platforms
- StaffMon–Fri 06:30–17:30, Sat 06:30–13:00; unstaffed on Sundays
- Ticket officeOn platform 1 (card payments only); Mon–Fri 06:30–17:30, Sat 06:30–13:00
- Ticket machinesOn platform 1 and in the ticket hall
- ToiletsIn the station building, unlocked when staff are on duty
- Accessible toiletUnisex accessible toilet on platform 1
- Waiting roomIn the ticket hall while the station is staffed; shelters on both platforms
- Left luggageNone
- Car park72 spaces (3 accessible), operated by Northern; pay by RingGo
- Cycle storage8 stands in the car park
- BusesBus turning point by platform 1
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Morpeth station opened on 1 March 1847 on the Newcastle and Berwick Railway, part of George Hudson's route to Scotland, and it still has its original buildings: a Tudor-style stone range by the architects John and Benjamin Green, with ornate iron platform canopies added around 1890. For a time the town had a second station, the Blyth and Tyne Railway's terminus of 1858, which North British Railway trains from Scotsgap also used; it closed in 1880.
Branch trains to Rothbury and Reedsmouth over the old North British route ended in 1952, leaving Morpeth as a main-line stop served by East Coast and local trains. The Grade II listed building was restored between 2018 and 2020 in a £2.3 million project led by the Greater Morpeth Development Trust with Northumberland County Council, the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail and the train operator, which renewed the ticket office and toilets and created space for small businesses.
A half-day in Morpeth
A gentle riverside wander through a historic market town.
-
Morning
Market day
If it's a Wednesday, browse the weekly market on the Market Place; on the first Saturday of the month there's a farmers' market instead.
-
Late morning
The Chantry Bagpipe Museum
Walk down to the medieval Chantry by the Wansbeck for the collection of Northumbrian smallpipes and Border pipes (free; closed on Sundays).
-
Afternoon
Along the Wansbeck
Cross the Telford Bridge of 1831 and stroll the riverside before heading back to the station.
Things to do near Morpeth
Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum
Billed as the first bagpipe museum in the UK, it holds a large collection of historic pipes, especially Northumbrian smallpipes and Border pipes. Free entry; closed on Sundays.
Wallington
A country house with a walled garden, woodland and rolling estate, given to the National Trust in 1942. The house, garden and grounds keep separate hours.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Market
Morpeth Market
A weekly market of local produce, handmade goods and gifts on the Market Place every Wednesday, with a farmers' market on the first Saturday of each month.
Day trips from Morpeth
-
Newcastle
The Quayside, the castle keep and free museums and galleries.
Direct trains take 15–22 minutes, two or three times an hour.
-
Alnmouth for Alnwick
The station for Alnwick Castle, the Alnwick Garden and a pretty estuary village.
Direct trains take about 13 minutes, roughly every two hours.
Where to stay in Morpeth
Morpeth has a small selection of hotels and inns; Newcastle is less than half an hour away by train for a wider choice.
Tips for your visit
- LNER stops are infrequent, so check the timetable – splitting the journey at Newcastle can give many more options.
- The Chantry Bagpipe Museum opens Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays.
Questions about Morpeth station
Is Morpeth station step-free?
Yes. Lifts serve both platforms, and National Rail rates the station step-free category A.
When is the ticket office open?
Monday to Friday 06:30–17:30 and Saturday 06:30–13:00; it takes card payments only and is closed on Sundays. Ticket machines are on platform 1 and in the ticket hall.
Are there toilets at Morpeth station?
Yes, in the station building, but they are only unlocked while staff are on duty.
Is there parking at Morpeth station?
Yes, a 72-space car park run by Northern and paid through RingGo. The daily charge was £4.40 when checked in September 2026.
How far is Morpeth town centre?
Roughly half a mile as the crow flies; the Chantry Bagpipe Museum is about 0.3 miles from the station.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
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.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpeth_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpeth,_Northumberland
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- northeastmuseums.org.uk/morpethbagpipemuseum
- nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/wallington
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpeth_Chantry_Bagpipe_Museum
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallington_Hall
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/mpt/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1042760
- gmdt.net/about-us/historic-projects/morpeth-railway-station
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- northumberland.gov.uk/business/northumberland-markets/morpeth-market
- sandersonarcade.co.uk/markets
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telford_Bridge
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Morpeth?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.