Yorkshire Station code SKI
Skipton
Skipton by train: a remarkably complete medieval castle, free Craven Museum with a Shakespeare First Folio, canal walks and the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep.
- Around 3 hours from London
- 1 LNER route
- 4 things to do
The gatehouse of Skipton Castle, at the top of the High StreetPhoto: Jonathan Billinger, CC BY-SA 2.0
About Skipton
Skipton is a busy market town on the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, sitting just south of the Yorkshire Dales. Its railway station has long been billed as the 'Gateway to the Dales'.
At the top of the High Street stands Skipton Castle, founded in 1090 and one of the most complete medieval castles in England; it held out through a three-year siege in the Civil War. Behind it, Skipton Castle Woods follow the Eller Beck, and the free Craven Museum in the Town Hall displays a Shakespeare First Folio printed in 1623.
LNER runs one direct train a day each way between Skipton and King's Cross, which makes a Dales weekend from London straightforward. Nearby, the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway leads towards the Bolton Abbey estate in Wharfedale.
Journey
SKI- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 3 hours
- LNER routes calling
- 1
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Skipton stop 11 of 11 | Keighley | End of route |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
LNER's single daily direct train from King's Cross takes between 3 hours (Sunday) and about 3 hours 15 minutes (weekdays) in the May–December 2026 timetable. The one direct train to London leaves early in the morning, Monday to Saturday only; at other times change at Leeds.
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
- 30 April 1876 (present station); the first station opened on 7 September 1847
- Architect
- Charles Trubshaw, for the Midland Railway
- Heritage status
- Grade II listed
- Platforms
- 4
- Managed by
- Northern
- Passengers a year
- 1.3 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- The present station opened in 1876 alongside the Settle–Carlisle line, which put Skipton on the Midland Railway's main line from London St Pancras to Glasgow.
- Two more platforms, 5 and 6, were added in 1888 for trains to Ilkley and later also served the Grassington branch; they closed to passengers in 1965, but the line through platform 5 still carries freight to Swinden Quarry.
- The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway has long-term plans to run into Skipton by bringing platform 5 back into use.
Photos of Skipton
-
(view larger)
The gatehouse of Skipton Castle, at the top of the High Street Photo: Jonathan Billinger, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
(view larger)
Charles Trubshaw's 1876 station for the Midland Railway, Grade II listed Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0 -
(view larger)
Narrowboats on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the centre of Skipton Photo: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Skipton
Platforms 1 and 2 are level with the main entrance on Broughton Road; platforms 3 and 4 are reached through a subway with fairly steep ramps. There is a taxi rank immediately outside. The bus station is about 8 minutes' walk, and Skipton Castle, at the top of the High Street, about 15 minutes.
The Grade II listed station is on Broughton Road, a short walk from the town centre: the bus station is about 8 minutes on foot and the castle, at the top of the High Street, about 15 minutes.
Getting around
There is a taxi rank immediately outside the station, with bus links nearby. The castle, museum, woods and canal are all within walking distance; Embsay and Bolton Abbey are further out.
Other train services and connections
- Northern (Airedale line to Leeds and Bradford Forster Square, the Bentham line to Lancaster and Morecambe, and the Settle–Carlisle line)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessLevel access to platforms 1 and 2; fairly steep ramps to platforms 3 and 4 (category B1)
- Ticket officeIn the ticket hall: Mon–Sat 05:50–18:20, Sun 09:00–16:30
- Ticket machinesOn the concourse
- ToiletsOn platform 1, open while the ticket office is open
- Accessible toiletsWithin the female and male toilets on platform 1
- Baby changingAvailable
- Waiting roomsOn all of the platforms
- Wi-FiNo station Wi-Fi listed
- Food and drinkRefreshments available
- Left luggageNot available
- Car park100 spaces, open 24 hours
- Cycle storage20 spaces and 5 secure lockers with CCTV, between platforms 1 and 2
- Taxi rankImmediately outside the station
- StaffingNational Rail lists staff help 24 hours a day
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 Leeds and Bradford Extension Railway reached Skipton on 7 September 1847, and within three years lines ran on to Colne and, by way of the 'little' North Western Railway, to Ingleton, Lancaster and Morecambe. Early travellers heading for the villages of Wharfedale continued from the station by horse-drawn coach. On 30 April 1876 the Midland Railway opened a new station 450 yards to the north-west, designed by its architect Charles Trubshaw, to coincide with the opening of the Settle–Carlisle line.
Platforms for a line to Ilkley were added in 1888, but the Ilkley trains ended in 1965 and the line to Colne closed in 1970. Electrification of the Airedale line in 1994 brought new signalling and a carriage depot in the old goods yard, and the station was renovated in 1998 ahead of direct InterCity services to London King's Cross.
A day in Skipton
A medieval castle, woodland walks, fish and chips by the canal and a Shakespeare First Folio.
-
Morning
Skipton Castle
Walk up the High Street, about 15 minutes, and explore the castle from the dungeon to the Watch Tower.
-
Late morning
Castle Woods
Follow the Eller Beck through Skipton Castle Woods behind the castle; some paths are steep.
-
Lunch
Fish and chips by the water
Bizzie Lizzie's restaurant on Swadford Street looks out over the canal and its narrowboats.
-
Afternoon
Craven Museum
See the 1623 Shakespeare First Folio at the free museum in the Town Hall (closed on Tuesdays).
-
Evening
A Dales inn
End the day at the Woolly Sheep Inn on Sheep Street, a Timothy Taylor's pub about 10 minutes from the station.
Things to do near Skipton
Skipton Castle
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.
Craven Museum
A free museum in Skipton Town Hall whose treasures include a 1623 Shakespeare First Folio, prehistoric and Roman finds and furniture by Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson. Closed on Tuesdays.
Skipton Castle Woods
A 36-acre wood along the Eller Beck behind the castle, leased to the Woodland Trust, with a circular walk from the Old Sawmill entrance. Some paths are steep and there is no step-free access.
Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway
A heritage line running about four miles from Embsay to Bolton Abbey station, from where paths lead on to the ruined priory and the Bolton Abbey estate.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
-
Restaurant
Bizzie Lizzie's
A fish and chip restaurant and takeaway on Swadford Street, overlooking the canal and its narrowboats; open seven days a week.
-
Pub
Woolly Sheep Inn
An award-winning, dog-friendly Timothy Taylor's inn with cask ales, home-cooked food, an enclosed beer garden and twelve en-suite bedrooms.
Day trips from Skipton
-
Settle
A North Yorkshire town on the Settle–Carlisle line, which crosses the Yorkshire Dales.
Direct Northern trains take about 22 minutes, roughly every two hours (checked on National Rail for October 2026).
-
Ribblehead
The 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct, 104 feet high, and a visitor centre at Ribblehead station.
Direct Northern trains on the Settle–Carlisle line take about 40 minutes, roughly every two hours (checked on National Rail for October 2026).
Annual events
-
Usually a Sunday in early summer (28 June in 2026)
Skipton Sheep Day
A free day of sheep shows, falconry, tractors, live music and food stalls on the High Street and at the canal basin, organised by Skipton Town Council.
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Skipton
Skipton has a good spread of hotels, inns and guesthouses, several close to the station. Compare them with the search link.
Tips for your visit
- There is only one LNER train each way a day, and none to London on Sundays; otherwise travel via Leeds on Northern's frequent Airedale line.
- The castle is at the top of the High Street, so combine it with the museum and woods on a single walk.
Questions about Skipton station
How many LNER trains serve Skipton?
One direct train a day in each direction between Skipton and London King's Cross, and none to London on Sundays. At other times, change at Leeds for Northern's frequent Airedale line trains.
Is Skipton station step-free?
Partly. National Rail lists level access to platforms 1 and 2, and fairly steep ramps (through the subway) to platforms 3 and 4 (category B1).
How far is Skipton Castle from the station?
About 15 minutes' walk, at the top of the High Street; the bus station is about 8 minutes from the station.
Is there parking at Skipton station?
Yes. National Rail lists a 100-space car park open 24 hours.
Can I get to the Settle–Carlisle line from Skipton?
Yes. Northern's Leeds–Carlisle trains call at Skipton roughly every two hours; Settle is about 22 minutes away and Ribblehead about 40 minutes.
Are there toilets at Skipton station?
Yes, on platform 1, including accessible toilets, but only while the ticket office is open.
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/Skipton_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipton
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipton_Castle
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skipton_Wood
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craven_Museum_%26_Gallery
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embsay_and_Bolton_Abbey_Steam_Railway
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolton_Abbey
- skiptoncastle.co.uk/
- skiptontownhall.co.uk/craven-museum/
- woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/skipton-castle-woods/
- embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/
- routing.openstreetmap.de/
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ski/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1249186
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
- bizzielizzies.co.uk/
- timothytaylor.co.uk/pubs/woolly-sheep-skipton
- welcometoskipton.com/events/sheep-day/
- nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/
Travelling to Skipton?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.