Yorkshire Moors

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Pickering station

By Jon Cosson · Updated 29 October 2026 · Checked 28 October 2026

Checked 28 October 2026

Pickering station is the southern end of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, on Park Street in the centre of Pickering. Trains run from here to Levisham, Goathland, Grosmont and, when the whole line is open, Whitby, 24 miles away.

Before you go: the practical facts

  • Address: Park Street, Pickering, YO18 7AJ.
  • Parking: Pickering Station car park is owned by the railway and run by CPS UK; Blue Badge holders are not exempt. The railway also lists four town car parks: Platform 3 and Eastgate (long stay, all day), Vivis Lane (long stay, up to 24 hours) and the Ropery (short stay, up to 2 hours).
  • Bus: the Coastliner 840 stops at Eastgate Square. From York it takes about an hour and a quarter (check the Coastliner timetable), or take the train to Malton and the 840 on to Pickering.
  • Facilities: the Station Tea Room and the gift shop are on Platform 1, and there are toilets, including a wheelchair-accessible one. The railway publishes an accessibility map of the station.
Car parkCharges
Pickering station (NYMR, CPS UK)£2 per hour, £7 all day (9am to 6pm daily; free outside those hours)
Ropery, PickeringUp to 1hr £2.40, up to 2hrs £3.80
Eastgate, Pickering1hr £2.50, 2hrs £3.70, 3hrs £4.40, 6hrs £7.30, 24hrs £8.70
Vivis Lane, Pickering1hr £2.50, 2hrs £3.70, 3hrs £4.40, 6hrs £7.30, 24hrs £8.70

Journey times from Pickering

Published by the railway; check the timetable on the day.

ToTime
Levisham20 minutes
Goathlandabout 45 to 60 minutes
Grosmont1 hour
Whitby1 hour 45 minutes

A short history

Pickering's first station opened in 1836 at the southern end of the horse-drawn Whitby and Pickering Railway. The railway says the present station, designed by G.T. Andrews, was completed in 1847 when the line was rebuilt for steam; Historic England's listing dates the building to the mid-1830s. British Railways closed it in 1965, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway reopened it in 1975. The original roof was taken down in the early 1950s, and a replica of the 1847 roof was completed in 2011 with Heritage Lottery Fund support as part of a wider restoration. The station building is listed Grade II.

Winter 2026

The 2026 season runs to 1 November. The Santa Express runs from Pickering to Levisham and back, about an hour, on 28 and 29 November and on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 22 to 24 December. The Christmas Pullman dining train runs from Pickering to Goathland and back on selected dates. In spring 2026 trains ran only as far as Goathland while Bridge 42 near Grosmont was propped up; a permanent repair is planned for winter 2026/27, funded by the railway's Bridge 42 appeal.

Nearby

Pickering Castle (English Heritage), the Beck Isle Museum (open late March to 31 October), the parish church of St Peter and St Paul with its 15th-century wall paintings, and the Monday market.

FAQs

Where do you park for the steam train at Pickering?

At Pickering Station car park, owned by the railway, or at the town's Eastgate, Vivis Lane, Platform 3 or Ropery car parks.

Can you get to Pickering station from York?

Yes. The Coastliner 840 runs from York station to Pickering in about an hour and a quarter, or take the train to Malton and the 840 from there.

How long is the steam train from Pickering to Whitby?

About 1 hour 45 minutes when the whole line is open.

Is there a café at Pickering station?

Yes, the Station Tea Room on Platform 1.

Is Pickering station accessible?

It has a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and the railway publishes an accessibility map of the station.

More North York Moors questions? See the full FAQ →

Sources

Where to stay in the North York Moors

Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.

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