It is a late-Victorian station on the Tattenham Corner Line, 20 miles 72 chains (33.6 km) from London Charing Cross.

Part of the building is still used by Southern, with a large waiting area and ticket office on the ground floor, though this is only open during weekday morning peak travel.

There is a self-serve ticket machine located on each platform and Oyster smart card readers are installed at the entrance/exits on both sides of the station.

An open air terrace was once provided on top of the station's platform canopy for afternoon tea.

It was initially proposed that from 2018, when the Thameslink Programme is completed, services on this line would be operated with larger 12 car trains offering all day direct services to Cambridge via London Blackfriars.