LSWR Cavalier
Established Member
The Guardian has some photos of Brutalist buildings, Preston bus station is included, it was built when there were plans to double the size of the town
I've always liked Trades Lane in Dundee for its timelessness and traditional caff. Even better when the garage opposite was still open, which is a plus point at St Andrews and Chichester. And I like Durham, its plus point being the JDW over the road, and Wakefield for no particular reason. The overall UK favourite may well be Morpeth, it seems just right for its purpose and I like the town a lot.
You used to have Talbot Road bus station - dangerous, fume filled, god awfulLiving in Blackpool, we don't have the luxury of a bus station, but I'm quite impressed with Preston Bus Station, far more manageable and pleasant
I was only there briefly so I can't in good conscience list it as a "favourite", but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice Mansfield bus station was. By far the nicest non-PTE bus station I've ever used.
They keep trying - that's the third one there in my lifetime.I was only there briefly so I can't in good conscience list it as a "favourite", but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice Mansfield bus station was. By far the nicest non-PTE bus station I've ever used.
Always impressed with Bradford Interchange.
Also fond of Bolton's new Interchange.
Memories of visits to relatives and being allowed to wander there for an hour. Here's a good shot (not mine) of the public street as you mention....The old Edinburgh St Andrew Square bus station... there was the uncovered section where Citylink/Stagecoach arrived and departed and passengers would wonder across it willy nilly getting to the ticket office (pre health and safety) and there was the dark coverred platforms where Fife/Eastern/Lowland/Midland all arrived and departed. Best bit was the public street that ran thru the middle of it. Few people knew of it but after 6 and on Sundays you could park there for free and go shopping... leaving you ended up in a queue of buses. Must have been weird to those not in the know to see a string of Alexander Y-types and various coaches streaming out of the station exit, with a Fiat Punto in the middle of them.
Very good shout there.I'm going to vote Hull Paragon, as it's basically in the railway station.
I can go one better than that; my home town of Elgin has had four in my lifetime, and neither have been very inspiring!They keep trying - that's the third one there in my lifetime.
Personally, it's got to be Barnsley. The architecture is quite unique in my opinion.What's your favorite bus station in the world?
Surely that's Heathrow Terminal 5, and anything else based on the old NBC model of waiting at basic bus stops under a dingy multi-storey car park. The waiting area in Doncaster Interchange is spacious, fully enclosed, air-conditioned, has proper seats and lighting, and automatic doors keeping the cold, fumes and noise out. Apart from a lack of natural light I couldn't fault it.I certainly wouldn’t put Doncaster on the list. It’s the bus equivalent of Birmingham New Street
That thread isn't open for further replies by the looks of it.Okay, let's keep to the "favourite bus station" topic, please. By all means discuss the worst ones, but feel free to start a new thread, if there isn't one already kicking about.
*EDIT*
There is:
Worst Bus Station
Just thought I would follow on from the best bus station thread, what is the worst bus stations, my nominations would be Middlesbrough, dont like the layout and design of it, also Park Lane in Sunderland and Durham which I think are badly designed Worst of all time for me would be the old...www.railforums.co.uk
Definitely Buchanan Bus Station by a mile. Good amount of space, decent facilities and normally warm.
I'm not getting the love for Buchanan. I know it's personal opinion but I thought it ok but not as good as Leeds, for example.
In fact, I'll roll another grenade. I don't get north of the border too often (christ, north of the M4 would be good at the moment!!). However, aside from the nostagia-fest for ones that are seemingly untouched by progress (e.g. Perth, Dundee, Jedburgh), I'm struggling to think of many Scottish ones that really impress.
Gala is a good one (location good for both rail and the town, and with a nice coffee shop last I was there), and some of the Fife ones (e.g. Dunfermline and Leven) are decent, maybe Hamilton (and its good for the trains). After that, I'm struggling....
It's open nowThat thread isn't open for further replies by the looks of it.
Anyway, my two favorites are Doncaster interchange and Hull Paragon interchange, one reason in particular because of the close proximity to the trains.
Doesn't look to be openIt's open now
First time someone has said something positive about Derby Bus Station! My local route being close to the open air bays at the end is not one of the best stands to wait for a bus with the doors constantly opening blowing cold air in and all of three seats and a narrow walkway. Suppose it is not as bad at other bays.The best two I can think of are Doncaster and Derby. Belper is interesting, being in the garage, and Ashbourne is disappointing: a lay-by on a street with a disused toilet.
Is it because we have come to expect a certain standard which is much higher than we experienced in the past? I can remember when Leicester St Margarets opened in 1984, and that was exceptional against a) what was there before and b) the vast majority of truly awful bus stations that we had in that era. For example:Places like Doncaster, Derby, Leeds, Wakefield are fairly ok due to being of a fairly modern design and facilities. I'm struggling to think they are notably good, but they're better than many.
Surely, we must have at least one that is truly wonderful ?
Still locked here too.Doesn't look to be open
Reading through that thread, there's quite a few that have been replaced in the intervening 8 years!
Yes, it's a breath of fresh air compared to the old one.Also fond of Bolton's new Interchange.