Christmas getaway: Top five railway bars to make your escape from London

Europe’s longest Champagne bar at St Pancras International station is one of the most romantic to make your journey from.

For a quick cocktail, Searcys is right on track to make a pitstop before catching a train to take you away for the Christmas holidays. From here, you can travel as far afield as the 306-mile journey to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam or Bruges.

You can ‘Press for Champagne’ while you wait in a plush velvet booths, and order fresh oysters and caviar from the Seafood Bar or enjoy a taste of Searcys Signature Afternoon Tea.

For sports fans, located right next to London Bridge station, Redwood is one of the latest in a breed of bars offering action on big screens – from football, rugby, NFL, basketball, golf, boxing and F1 along with all other major tournaments. For a protein-packed lunch, try the Philly Cheesesteak Sub, with grilled hanger steak, peppers, onions, beer, cheese sauce, pickles, crispy roll and French fries.

If you’ve missed your train, a Christmas slap-up meal is on offer at the Railway Tavern near Liverpool Street Station. There’s a traditional turkey dinner, with turkey with a pig in blanket, goose fat roast potatoes, sprouts, tenderstem broccoli, roasted carrots, a Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

For vegetarians, there’s the Beetroot Tarte Tatina, with roasted thyme & polenta potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and parsley oil drizzle.

With views of Terminus Place and Victoria station, the open-air rooftop terrace on the top floor of London’s favourite food hall has been fitted with cosy booths, outdoor heaters and parasols. The Edwardian building also houses a food hall that’s open for lunch, dinner, drinks and late-night snacks.

There are eleven food outlets, three bars, and a coffee shop are spread over the market’s three floors. With space for over 450 people, you probably can chance your luck for an impromptu walk-in.

Stratford in east London has overtaken London Waterloo as Britain’s busiest railway station in the past year, with around about 14 million passengers passing through, according to the Office of Rail and Road.

So not surprisingly, the east London transport hub has upped its game. One of the fanciest bars and eateries to open in Stratford is Haugen. You don’t need a trip to the Swiss alps when you can pop into this alpine-themed fondue restaurant.

The rooftop bar offers ski-themed cocktails such as the Saint Bernard and the Black Diamond.