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A red and white LNER Azuma train crossing a bridge over the lower-level Sheffield line at Retford

East Midlands Station code RET

Retford

Retford by train: a Nottinghamshire market town on the Chesterfield Canal, with a free local museum and Clumber Park a short drive away.

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An LNER Azuma crosses the bridge that replaced the flat crossing with the Sheffield line in 1965Photo: Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0

About Retford

Retford is a market town on the River Idle in the Bassetlaw district of north Nottinghamshire. The Chesterfield Canal, completed in 1777 and one of the last canals designed by James Brindley, runs through the town and offers level towpath walking in both directions.

The town's own story, and that of north Nottinghamshire, is told in the free Bassetlaw Museum on Grove Street. A few miles west lies Clumber Park, the former ducal estate now looked after by the National Trust, known for its two-mile avenue of lime trees.

Retford station itself is worth a look: its 1890s buildings were Grade II listed in 2020, partly for the rare surviving decoration in the old dining and refreshment rooms, and it is unusual in having low-level platforms at right angles beneath the main line.

Journey

RET
Fastest from London King's Cross
Around 1 hour 25 minutes
LNER routes calling
6
Previous and next calling points on each LNER route serving Retford
RoutePrevious stopNext stop
London – Edinburgh stop 6 of 18
London – Leeds stop 6 of 9
London – Skipton stop 5 of 11
London – Hull stop 5 of 9
London – Middlesbrough stop 3 of 7
London – Aberdeen stop 6 of 26

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 25 minutes; LNER calls roughly every two hours, and Hull Trains also runs direct London services.

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
1852 (Great Northern Railway station; present buildings 1891–92)
Architect
Goddard, for the Great Northern Railway (1891–92 buildings)
Heritage status
Grade II listed
Platforms
4
Managed by
LNER
Passengers a year
603,000 (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Did you know?

  • Historic England listed the station in 2020 partly for the very rare survival of the ornate original finishes in its dining and refreshment rooms; the old buffet and first-class dining room are now clubrooms for the Bassetlaw (North Notts) Railway Society.
  • The low-level platforms, at right angles beneath the main line, were added in 1965 when a flat crossing of the two lines was replaced by a bridge.
  • A plaque on platform 1 records that the Women's Voluntary Services served 2,284,000 meals to British and Allied forces in the station canteen between March 1940 and March 1946.

Photos of Retford

Arriving at Retford

LNER trains use the high-level platforms 1 and 2; platform 1, on the east side, adjoins the main building with the ticket office, toilets and coffee shop. Northern trains to Sheffield and Lincoln use low-level platforms 3 and 4, reached by lifts and a subway. Leave by the main entrance on Station Road: the Market Square is roughly 15 to 20 minutes' walk.

From the station, the Market Square is roughly 15 to 20 minutes' walk away.

Getting around

The town centre and canal are walkable. Clumber Park is several miles away and is best reached by taxi or car.

Other train services and connections

  • Hull Trains (London King's Cross and Hull)
  • Northern from the low-level platforms (Sheffield, and Lincoln via Gainsborough)

Station facilities

  • Step-free accessStep-free to all four platforms, including the low-level ones (category A)
  • LiftsTwo lifts at high level and one each to low-level platforms 3 and 4
  • Ticket officeIn the booking hall: Mon–Sat 06:00–13:00, Sun 08:20–13:35
  • Ticket machineAvailable for buying and collecting tickets
  • ToiletsOn platforms 1 and 2
  • Accessible toiletsUnisex accessible toilets on platforms 1 and 2 (RADAR key from the station office on platform 1)
  • Baby changingIn the accessible toilets on platforms 1 and 2
  • Waiting roomsHeated waiting rooms on all four platforms
  • Wi-FiNo station Wi-Fi listed
  • Food and drinkCoffee shop on platform 1
  • Left luggageNot available
  • Car park84 spaces, run by LNER and open 24 hours; 4 accessible spaces
  • Cycle storage38 sheltered spaces with CCTV at the north end of platform 1
  • Taxi rankAt the station, off Station Road
  • HelpCustomer Information Point; the assistance meeting point is the ticket office
  • StaffingMon–Fri 05:30–23:30, Sat 05:30–21:30, Sun 09:30–23:30

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

Two railways reached Retford in 1849. The Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway arrived first, in July, with a station at Thrumpton, and in September the Great Northern Railway's line from Doncaster crossed it on the level. The Great Northern shared the Thrumpton station until its own opened in 1852, and new streets such as Queen Street, Victoria Road and Station Road were laid out to link it with the town. From 1859 the Sheffield company's trains used the Great Northern station too.

The long Italianate building you see today was built in 1891–92 to designs by Goddard. In 1965 the flat crossing was replaced by a bridge, with the Sheffield–Lincoln tracks lowered beneath the main line and given their own low-level platforms. Those platforms were made fully step-free in December 2021, with a covered walkway to the main line, and the station was Grade II listed in 2020.

Half a day in Retford

A free local museum, a pub lunch and a level canal-side stroll.

  1. Morning

    Bassetlaw Museum

    Start with the history of north Nottinghamshire at the free museum on Grove Street (closed on Sundays, and on Wednesdays in term time).

    Bassetlaw Museum in Things to do

  2. Lunch

    Lunch on Grove Street

    The Dominie Cross, a Wetherspoon pub on the same street, serves food all day.

  3. Afternoon

    Along the canal

    Walk a stretch of the Chesterfield Canal towpath, which runs right through the town.

    Chesterfield Canal in Things to do

  4. Afternoon

    Back at the station

    Before your train, take in the long Italianate station building, Grade II listed in 2020.

Things to do near Retford

Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.

Eat & drink near the station

Day trips from Retford

  • York

    The minster, the city walls and the National Railway Museum.

    LNER trains, roughly every two hours, take about 40 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).

  • Lincoln

    The hilltop cathedral and castle, with its 1215 Magna Carta.

    Northern trains from the low-level platforms take about 36 minutes, hourly (checked on National Rail for October 2026).

  • Sheffield

    The South Yorkshire city.

    Northern trains from the low-level platforms take about 43 minutes, hourly (checked on National Rail for October 2026).

Where to stay in Retford

Retford has a small selection of hotels and guesthouses. Use the search link to see what is available.

Tips for your visit

  • Change at Retford for Northern trains to Sheffield and Lincoln; they use the low-level platforms, reached step-free via lifts and a subway.
  • LNER trains are roughly every two hours, so it can pay to check whether a Hull Trains service fits better.

Questions about Retford station

Is Retford station step-free?

Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all four platforms (category A). The low-level platforms are reached by lifts and a subway, and were made fully accessible in December 2021.

How far is Retford town centre from the station?

The Market Square is roughly 15 to 20 minutes' walk (about 1.3 km).

How do I change for Sheffield or Lincoln?

Northern trains to Sheffield and to Lincoln use low-level platforms 3 and 4, each roughly hourly, reached by lifts and a subway from the main-line platforms.

Is there parking at Retford station?

Yes. The station car park has 84 spaces, including 4 accessible spaces; it is run by LNER and open 24 hours.

When is the ticket office open?

National Rail lists Monday to Saturday 06:00–13:00 and Sunday 08:20–13:35. At other times use the ticket machine.

Can I leave luggage at Retford station?

No. National Rail does not list a left-luggage service at Retford.

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/Retford_railway_station
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retford
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_Canal
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clumber_Park
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassetlaw_Museum
  • bassetlawmuseum.org.uk/
  • canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/chesterfield-canal
  • nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/clumber-park
  • routing.openstreetmap.de/
  • nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ret/
  • historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1470324
  • dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
  • jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/the-dominie-cross-retford/
  • nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/

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