The station, which serves as a main line connection point for Kendal and Windermere, is managed by Avanti West Coast and owned by Network Rail.

[2] The station was constructed as part of the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (which is now a section on the West Coast Main Line from London to Glasgow).

The station's popularity with visitors to The Lakes was fictionalised by Arthur Ransome in the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books, where it was renamed Strickland Junction.

On 10 February 1965 fugitive John Middleton, who was hiding in the waiting room, shot Carlisle policeman Alex Archibald at the station.

[6] On 16 August 2022 passengers departing at Oxenholme from a delayed service from London Euston were locked in at the station after staff went home early.

Waiting rooms are provided on both platforms, along with a variety of other amenities such as post box, coffee kiosk, cycle racks, toilets, shop and food/drink vending machines.