Railway Hotels, including Tregenna Castle, opened 5.8.1878

Railway Hotels, including Tregenna Castle, opened 5.8.1878

Posted by grahame at 08:33, 5th August 2026

https://www.malmaison.com/locations/reading/

The Malmaison Reading, boasts the distinction of being the world's oldest railway hotel, built back in 1844.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tregenna_Castle

The Great Western Railway (GWR) opened its St Ives branch line on 1 June 1877 and it leased the Tregenna Castle as a hotel the following year, opening it on 5 August 1878. Early railway hotels had only been situated near large terminals or junctions, but this one was the first intended by the GWR as a holiday destination in its own right.

https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp3458/british-transport-hotels

British Transport Hotels was the brand name of the hotels and catering business associated with British Rail, from 1962 to 1983. In 1981, the Conservative government decided to privatise the non-core activities of British Rail, this resulted in the British Transport Hotels. being sold off between 1981 and 1983.

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