East Midlands Station code NNG
Newark Northgate
Newark-on-Trent by train: riverside castle ruins, the National Civil War Centre, a towering parish church and an air museum, 75 minutes from London.
- Around 1 hour 15 minutes from London
- 9 LNER routes
- 4 things to do
Newark Castle above the River Trent, slighted after the Civil WarPhoto: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0
About Newark
Newark-on-Trent grew up where the Great North Road met the River Trent, and for centuries it was an important inland port. The town still has a handsome market square ringed by historic buildings, and the ruined walls of a twelfth-century castle.
Newark's role in the seventeenth-century Civil Wars was dramatic: the castle was slighted after the conflict, and the story of the period is told in the National Civil War Centre on Appletongate. Nearby, the spire of St Mary Magdalene rises 232 feet, making it the tallest church in Nottinghamshire.
Newark Northgate is the East Coast Main Line station; the town's other station, Newark Castle, is on the Nottingham–Lincoln line and sits closer to the centre.
Journey
NNG- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 1 hour 15 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 9
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 5 of 18 | Grantham | Retford |
| London – Leeds stop 5 of 9 | Grantham | Retford |
| London – Bradford Forster Square stop 3 of 8 | Stevenage | Doncaster |
| London – Harrogate stop 4 of 9 | Grantham | Doncaster |
| London – Skipton stop 4 of 11 | Grantham | Retford |
| London – Lincoln stop 4 of 5 | Grantham | Lincoln |
| London – Hull stop 4 of 9 | Grantham | Retford |
| London – Aberdeen stop 5 of 26 | Grantham | Retford |
| London – Inverness stop 3 of 24 | Peterborough | Doncaster |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
The fastest LNER trains in the May–December 2026 timetable take about 1 hour 15 minutes from King's Cross.
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
- 15 July 1852 (Great Northern Railway)
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed
- Platforms
- 3
- Managed by
- LNER
- Passengers a year
- 1.1 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Newark Northgate was named Medium Station of the Year at the National Rail Awards in September 2026.
- Just north of the station the East Coast Main Line crosses the Nottingham–Lincoln line on the level at the Newark flat crossing, one of the few left in Britain; expresses that do not stop here slow from 125 to 100 mph to cross it.
- Historic England singles out the southern platform range, where iron posts rise above the roof and hold up the canopy on suspension rods.
Photos of Newark
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Newark Castle above the River Trent, slighted after the Civil War Photo: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 -
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Platform 1's Victorian canopy and bracket clock at the Grade II listed station Photo: Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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Early morning at Newark Northgate, named Medium Station of the Year in 2026 Photo: Andrewrabbott, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arriving at Newark Northgate
Platform 1 is level with the main entrance on Appletongate; the island platform (2 and 3) is reached by lift or stairs. From the entrance the Market Place is roughly 12 minutes' walk, with the National Civil War Centre and St Mary Magdalene a little closer. For Nottingham trains, walk through the centre to Newark Castle station on the far side of town. The taxi rank is at the entrance.
From Newark Northgate the Market Place is roughly 12 minutes' walk away, with the National Civil War Centre and St Mary Magdalene a little closer.
Getting around
Most of the historic centre is walkable from Northgate. For Nottingham or Lincoln trains on the other line, use Newark Castle station on the far side of the centre. Newark Air Museum at Winthorpe is best reached by taxi or car.
Other train services and connections
- East Midlands Railway (a few trains a day to Lincoln)
- Newark Castle station nearby: East Midlands Railway on the Nottingham–Lincoln line
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (category A)
- LiftsOn platform 1 and on the island platform (2 and 3)
- Ticket officeIn the booking hall: Mon–Fri 05:30–16:00, Sat 08:00–16:00, Sun 08:45–16:00
- Ticket machinesBy the entrance and on the north access route
- ToiletsOn the entrance concourse (platform 1, north end) and on platforms 2 and 3
- Accessible toiletsOn the north concourse and on platforms 2 and 3 (RADAR key from the Customer Information Point or staff)
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomsHeated waiting rooms on the concourses, platform 1 and platforms 2 and 3
- Wi-FiNo station Wi-Fi listed
- Food and drinkCoffee shop and café
- Cash machineAvailable
- Left luggageNot available
- Car parkNorth Car Park, 294 spaces, run by LNER and open 24 hours; 15 accessible spaces
- Cycle storage35 sheltered stands for 70 bikes with CCTV, at the south end of platform 1
- Taxi rankAt the entrance, off Appletongate
- HelpCustomer Information Point on platform 1; the assistance meeting point is the ticket office
- StaffingMon–Fri 05:45–01:15, Sat 05:45–22:30, Sun 09:00–00:30
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
The station opened without ceremony on 15 July 1852, when the Great Northern Railway's Towns Line from Peterborough to Doncaster was completed; the first train from the north arrived at 06:38. The original buildings included a booking office, separate waiting rooms for first and second class ladies and a large refreshment room. In 1879 Newark became a junction, with a branch to Bottesford linking into a joint line that carried trains to Leicester, Northampton and Nottingham; passenger trains on it were withdrawn by 1922, although the Newark to Bottesford section lasted until 1988.
In 1965 British Rail built a short connection from the station to the Nottingham–Lincoln line so that main-line trains could still reach Lincoln after the branch from Grantham closed, and trains to Lincoln still use it. The station's Victorian buildings were Grade II listed in 1988, and in 2026 Newark Northgate was named Medium Station of the Year at the National Rail Awards.
A day in Newark
Civil War history, a great parish church, a medieval pub and an art deco theatre.
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Morning
The Civil Wars
Start at the National Civil War Centre on Appletongate, about 10 minutes from the station.
-
Late morning
St Mary Magdalene
Look up at the 232-foot spire, then step inside one of the largest parish churches in England.
-
Lunch
A 15th-century pub
Lunch at The Prince Rupert on Stodman Street, in a building that dates back to 1452.
-
Afternoon
Aircraft at Winthorpe
Take a taxi out to Newark Air Museum on the former RAF airfield, about 3 miles from the station.
-
Evening
A show at the Palace
Round off the day with music, comedy or drama at the 1920 art deco Palace Theatre.
Things to do near Newark Northgate
National Civil War Centre
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.
St Mary Magdalene Church
One of the largest and finest parish churches in England, with parts dating from the twelfth century and a spire that is the tallest structure in the town. It remains an active parish church with a coffee house.
Palace Theatre
An art deco theatre that opened in 1920 and still hosts music, comedy and drama. The same team also stages events and outdoor theatre at Newark Castle.
Newark Air Museum
A large collection of aircraft on part of a former RAF airfield at Winthorpe, open most days of the year, with regular open-cockpit events.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Pub
The Prince Rupert
A timber-framed pub in a building dating back to 1452, open daily from noon, with food served from 12pm to 8pm.
Day trips from Newark
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Lincoln
The cathedral, the castle with its Magna Carta, and Steep Hill.
Seven direct LNER trains on weekdays take about 25 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
-
York
The minster, the city walls and the National Railway Museum.
LNER trains take about 45 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
Where to stay in Newark
Newark has hotels and inns in the town centre and near the A1. Use the search link to compare options.
Tips for your visit
- Newark Northgate and Newark Castle are separate stations on different lines; allow time to walk between them if connecting.
- The flat crossing just north of the station, where the East Coast Main Line crosses the Nottingham–Lincoln line on the level, is the last of its kind on Network Rail.
Questions about Newark Northgate station
Is Newark Northgate step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms (category A), with lifts on platform 1 and on the island platform.
How far is Newark town centre from Newark Northgate?
The Market Place is roughly 12 minutes' walk from the station, and the National Civil War Centre and St Mary Magdalene about 10 minutes.
What is the difference between Newark Northgate and Newark Castle?
They are separate stations on different lines. LNER uses Newark Northgate on the East Coast Main Line; Newark Castle, on the other side of the town centre, is on the Nottingham–Lincoln line.
Is there parking at Newark Northgate?
Yes. The North Car Park has 294 spaces, is run by LNER and is open 24 hours, with 15 accessible spaces.
When is the ticket office open?
National Rail lists Monday to Friday 05:30–16:00, Saturday 08:00–16:00 and Sunday 08:45–16:00. Ticket machines are by the entrance and on the north access route.
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.
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Northgate_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark-on-Trent
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Castle,_Nottinghamshire
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_Magdalene_Church,_Newark-on-Trent
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Air_Museum
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_flat_crossing
- nationalcivilwarcentre.com/visit/
- stmnewark.org/
- palacenewark.com/
- newarkairmuseum.org/
- routing.openstreetmap.de/
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nng/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1196065
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
- news.lner.co.uk/news/lner-celebrates-wins-at-national-rail-awards
- theprincerupert.com/
Travelling to Newark?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.