A-TRACK-TIVE
World’s most beautiful train station just one hour from the UK is like ‘travelling back in time to golden age of rail’
We've also rounded up some of the most beautiful railway journeys in the UK
A TRAIN station often dubbed the most beautiful in the world has become an unlikely tourist attraction.
While most passengers simply want to get on the move, there are some airports, train stations and even service stations that have become tourist attractions in their own right.
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One of those places is Antwerp Central Railway Station in Belgium, which was crowned the most beautiful train station in the world in 2014 by Mashable writer Dennis Green.
He wrote: "Its beauty is so unique, experts have difficulty assigning it an architectural style."
Since then, the Belgian train station has topped the list on other rankings too, including Conde Nast Traveller's round-up of the 36 most beautiful train stations in the world.
More recently, Antwerp Central Railway Station was also mentioned in a round-up of Europe's most beautiful train stations by Euronews.
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It's not just travel experts who have hailed Antwerp train station as beautiful, the train station has also been praised by holidaymakers on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: "It's not just a train station, it's a masterpiece of art and history. The building is so beautiful and majestic, with its domes, arches and sculptures.
"I felt like I was traveling back in time to the golden age of rail travel. The interior is equally impressive, with its marble floors, stained glass windows and ornate decorations."
Another person added: "This is such a beautiful train station that is worth visiting just for its architecture."
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A third person wrote: "The railway station is one of the most beautiful in the world, well worth a visit even if you're not taking the train."
Antwerp Central Railway Station first opened on August 11, 1905.
Stretching for 66m and standing at 44m high, the station's steel canopy was designed by Clément Van Bogaert.
While the canopy sounds impressive on its own, it's the station's interior that leaves jaws dropping.
Designed by Belgian architect Louis Delacenserie, who was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, the train station features a large dome.
Located directly above the station's waiting room, the large dome floods Antwerp station with plenty of natural light.
Because of the large dome, the train station has been dubbed the railroad cathedral or the Spoorwegkathedraal.
In his design, Louis Delacenserie drew on different styles of architecture, including Neo-Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Baroque.
There are more than 20 different kinds of marble and stone inside the station and it has a host of ornate features like towering columns and intricate pieces of ironwork, a large station clock, and high-glass-ceilinged train halls.
By 1975 the train station became a protected monument, with it being thoroughly renovated in 1986.
In the early noughties, the train station doubled in capacity to include platforms on two underground levels.
As well as being used by both commuters and residents, the train station is now a spot on several walking tours too, with companies like Viatour adding the site onto their route.
The train station spans across four floors, and it is one of the country's most important transport hubs with high-speed services to Amsterdam, Paris and Marseille.
Luxair operates direct flights from the UK to Antwerp, with flight prices starting at £57 for a one-way ticket.
Direct flights from the UK to Antwerp take just one hour.
Brit holidaymakers who don't want to fly to Belgium can board a Eurostar service at London St Pancras to Brussels, which takes just over two hours.
From Brussels, passengers will be able to jump onto a connecting train to Antwerp.
If you're more interested in the journey, then there are plenty of scenic rail routes throughout the UK and Europe.
One of those is along the Italian coast, and it takes just 25 minutes to complete.
Located along the Italian coastline in northern Italy, the Cinque Terre is a string of five villages, including Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
A small train runs between the five villages, and those holidaymakers who've managed to nab a window seat can expect seaside views overlooking crystal-clear waters, ragged cliffs and colourful buildings.
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Meanwhile, you can ride a London Tube train with sea views on this British island.
And these are some of the most beautiful railway journeys in the UK.
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