London and Surrey | Voting 12 – 18 October 2026
Which is Britain’s best railway station? Public voting opens today for World Cup of Stations 2026, and four stations in the South are in the running, including Brookwood in Surrey and St Pancras International. Here are five things to know.
1. Brookwood flies the flag for Surrey
Brookwood station has transformed unused railway land into an inclusive reflective garden, created with more than 30 volunteers using railway sleepers and track. It celebrates the station’s unique link to Brookwood Cemetery, once served by the London Necropolis Railway, and is a peaceful place for railway families and the community to remember loved ones.
2. St Pancras is in the running
St Pancras International combines historic Victorian architecture with modern design and direct links to Europe. Its beauty and international reach make it a destination in its own right.
3. A London community garden too
South Tottenham London Overground station’s staff have turned overlooked land into a welcoming garden where schoolchildren, older people and residents living with dementia can connect with nature and each other. Completing the South shortlist, volunteers at Bishopstone in Sussex have restored an Art Deco station into a thriving community hub.
4. Celebrating connections that matter
This year’s theme is “The stations creating connections that matter”. After more than 150 public nominations, a judging panel chose 20 stations across Britain for the difference they make to their communities. Last year’s winner was Ashington.
5. How to vote
Voting runs online from 00:01 on Monday 12 October to 23:59 on Sunday 18 October. On the evening of Wednesday 14 October, the leading station from each regional group goes through to a five-station final, and the winner is announced on Tuesday 20 October.