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Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

Carnforth Station Heritage Centre: Hours, Address, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre Reviews: 4.5/5

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Carnforth Station Heritage Centre

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Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
4.5
653
#2 of 11 things to do in Carnforth
History Museums
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12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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Popular mentions
4.5
653 reviews
Excellent
425
Very good
176
Average
40
Poor
9
Terrible
3
Gillian F
5 contributions
A Brief Encounter with Carnforth
May 2022
A very informative and interesting station. The cafe is lovely however, when we were there it was practically empty and one staff member was very noisy so we left. Never-the-less, we really enjoyed the visit and were happy to donate to the work the volunteers and staff are doing to preserve it.
Written 13 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
cagedavid
Yorkshire, UK205 contributions
Nostalgic interesting and educational for young and old and FREE Entrance
Apr 2022 • Couples
This is a free entrance attraction; there’s discrete donation boxes. Volunteers run the Heritage Centre and are very helpful and friendly ; they seem passionate and proud of the centre.

A classic film “Brief Encounter” based on a Noel Coward play was made in 1945 and the station films , trains and station buildings were used for the atmospheric night time scenes . The Heritage centre runs this film (free) daily and focuses mainly on this . It also features rooms with videos of steam trains and LOTS of steam train memorabilia .

There’s a licensed cafe bar that reproduces faithfully the 1945 set where the romantic and quite funny scenes were set.

It’s an excellent visit and fascinating for film buffs and families.

There’s a great shop that sells lots in relation to “Brief Encounter” and to the steam engine era and also local history .

The car park is £2 for four hours ( it’s the railway station car park)

Also on the platform there’s a large model railway shop .

Ideally, watch the film “Brief Encounter” before you go and check the website for opening times .
Written 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nicola D
Hessle, UK3,055 contributions
Closed on a Saturday!
Mar 2022
Drove from the Lakes where we were staying. SO disappointed to find it closed on a Saturday! Only open Monday to Friday. Why? We live too far away to visit again.
And where is the famous station clock?
Written 16 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
John A
Nicola We are currently open Monday to Friday having lost nearly half of our volunteers over the very difficult last 18 months. Now that some feel able to return we will also be opening on Saturdays during the summer months. The clock is privately owned and has been taken away for repairs - we have no control over when it will return.
Written 29 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
whitbyabi
United Kingdom699 contributions
closed at weekends
Mar 2022
I love Brief Encounter so whilst spending a weekend in Morecambe I was really pleased to be able to go & visit the film site. Sadly although the leaflet in my B&B said open daily the Heritage Centre is actually closed at weekends so apaprt from looking through a few windows (having used the refereshment room & toilets) through the corridor that was all I saw, which was very dissapointing. When I asked the waitress in the tea room she told me & another lady that the Heritage Centre is always shut at weekends now & they get a lot of dissapointed customers going in. I live in the other end of the country & not likely to be up that way again in the foreseeable future so won't be making a return visit. Parts of the actual station are looking very shabby, which doens't reflect well on the train company who have home of Brief Encounter signs up everywhere, you'd think they would renovate all the station or at least paint it!
Written 14 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Debra E
Wales, UK35 contributions
Delightful experience for grown ups.
Dec 2021 • Friends
A delightful experience, especially if you are a train or Brief Encounter fan. Lovely friendly and helpful staff, the 1945 Brief Encounter film is playing in a mini cinema, so excellent activity for a rainy day. Probably not ideal for a young family due to it being quite historical and right next to the main line.
Written 21 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Arnold Simpson
Livingston, UK21 contributions
Must visit - historic Brief Encounter
Mar 2021
This is a must visit while in Carnforth. The one thing that makes the town famous is the clock from the film Brief Encounter, so you must visit. Very cool
Written 14 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Alan C
Halifax79 contributions
Thankfully brief
Nov 2021
Oh dear, perhaps my expectations were set too high, I had waited for an opportunity to visit the 'actual tea rooms' for sometime, Kate's birthday was a very good excuse so I thought I would surprise her... Parking close by costs £5 despite the fact that you may only have an hour or so and that includes Sundays!!! The approach is full of garish signs trumpeting the fact that 'Brief Encounter' was actually filmed in part at the station and tearoom. That's where the magic stopped for us, yes the tea room itself is still recognisable as is the subway to the platforms but the atmosphere is more an close encounter of the third kind rather than a gentle reminder of the brief one... The tea room confines itself to taking money and although the staff are clearly working very hard there is no nostalgic atmosphere at all... Even the music played was not of its time... We did not visit the other rooms that may indeed offer a blast from the past but we are very pleased that our visit was thankfully brief... Such a pity!!!
Written 30 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
John A
Alan It looks like you may have posted your review on the wrong site. The Brief Encounter Refreshment Room is owned and operated privately and is not operated by the Heritage Centre which is situated next door. As such, we have no control over the points you raise and are sorry you did not manage to visit us at all. Maybe you might consider moving your post to the correct site so that the owners can see your comments. Many thanks
Written 2 December 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
joan t
Doncaster, UK479 contributions
well worth a visit
Oct 2021
wanted to know if we could visit with our dog, so we sent an email prior to travelling. it was answered in the affirmative and we all went to the station one fine afternoon and were welcomed accordingly

hosted by volunteers, really friendly place, well stocked and very informative. a credit to all, really professional vibe too.

clean toilets, didn't use the cafe

we parked on a nearby side street as the parking at the station is very expensive for a short stay.

would definitely recommend - thank you
Written 27 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Shona B
Livingston, UK50 contributions
Glad we visited !
Nov 2021 • Couples
Been meaning to visit here for years and finally we had the time to stop off .Were surprised how large the exhibition areas were .Were met by a knowledgeable volunteer who told us what we could see .Centre is free to visit but all donations welcome as its volunteers who staff this place and it needs money for the upkeep. We spent ages looking at the exhibits and bought stuff in the gift shop .Would recommend for any train ,movie or history enthusiasts (great food in the refreshment room ) Well done to all the volunteers for all your hard work 👍🏻
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
John L
Matlock Bath, UK175 contributions
Traveled by train this morning to here all lovers of this film should visit, exellent!!!! ♥️
Oct 2021 • Couples
Planned this visit for sometime and staying at the hotel tonight here after a long but nostalgic journey, all those that love cowards story it's worth a visit station exactly as on David Leans film, clock recently repaired and all outside set basically as in film both my partner and myself loved it today, beautiful romantic location I would normally post photos but those would not do justice to it and belong to our day I suggest you visit yourself and soak up the feelingand mood that lean as a genius was able to recreate here 75 years ago. Afterall sentiment is everything isn't it....
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Carnforth Station Heritage Centre
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre is open:
  • Mon - Sat 12:00 - 16:00