When trains first arrived in Surbiton in 1838, it was little more than a small village on a crossroads. But as rail connections to London improved, the new station began to attract commuters, who bought up land and turbo-charged the town's growth. By the 1970s it was the definitive commuter town, immortalised in the classic suburban sitcom The Good Life.
The Art Deco building that passengers alight at today was built in 1937, and remains one of the most distinctive stations in the UK. It was designed by James Robb Scott, the chief architect for the Southern Railway - and thanks to his work the station has several film and TV appearances to its name, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Today it whisks commuters to London Waterloo in just 15 minutes, and also connects to Hampton Court and Guildford. In 1998 it was voted Britain's most improved station after a £3 million refurbishment.