When you think train travel, you don't necessarily think luxury; the world of delays and rail replacement bus services tends to loom larger, not least in Britain in 2025. For many, railways mean sitting on the floor by the loos because a train has been cancelled or overbooked, or sweaty commuting on a train whose almost-bankrupt operator has promised to install air conditioning by 2042. Maybe.
And yet, via train can be the most civilised way to travel – by far. Across the world, there are train journeys that offer travellers the chance to sit in comfortable surrounds while sipping on champagne and watching beautiful scenery zip or amble by out the window. Trains are (usually) quieter and smoother than flights, require less concentration than driving or being driven, and much faster than boats, buses, coaches or other ways of traversing long distances. The train is a symbol of modernity and infrastructure, and of travel whose upper limit of refinement is only limited by space: you can dine on a train, and then sleep in a bed while your journey continues.
Whether you’re getting from A to B or enjoying a round trip as a lovely day out, these are the luxury train journeys to consider in the UK.
The British Pullman, a Belmond Train
A trip on the British Pullman is as close as you can reasonably get these days to stepping back in time, as the train’s immaculate carriages are drawn from the hedonistic scenes of the 1920s – think Poirot, minus the murder(s). Journeys go from London to a range of storied cities, destinations and events across the south of England: Oxford, Bath, Blenheim Palace, Goodwood, Whitstable, as well as a handful of wineries and more. On certain days, steam traction is used to pull the train – it’s worth checking their website for which when you book.
Each of the carriages has been rescued, taken out of retirement and reimagined in a way that respects their past and offers the modern traveller an unique experience. Each carriage has a different design – some with stellar input: Wes Anderson is the creative mind behind the Cygnus carriage, a symphony of art deco motifs, silver leaf ceilings and exquisite marquetry.
One of the major pulls of the train is the gastronomical experience it offers. Sip on champagne as you depart London Victoria to head out on a day trip and return some many hours later, having in the meantime dined on British food by chef Jon Freeman. Menus are loosely inspired by the towns and cities the British Pullman passes, usually seasonal, and are paired with English sparkling wines. Yet it’s not limited to Freeman; recent appearances and collaborations with guest chefs have seen dinner experiences on offer created by Andrew Wong, Phil Howard and Atul Kochhar.
Northern Belle
If the Orient Express has always appealed but a Venice trip is out of the budget, try the Northern Belle on for size – the route was designed and created by the Orient Express team itself. More specifically, that should be routes, as there are 77 to choose from, encompassing, well, everything: city trips to Windsor, Bath, Edinburgh, and seaside towns; events including race days and Goodwood; occasion trips at Christmas and other holidays.
As these engines tend to be, the Northern Belle itself is pure 1930s in decoration and is an incredibly plush environment in which to relax as the train whizzes you from sea to shore, coast to city. Food on board is as you would expect (provided you had very high expectations, of course) – seasonal British produce of the highest quality, from grass-fed Herefordshire beef to patisserie creations to leave one agog. Expect hand-poured champagne, Royal Siberian caviar, white tablecloths and the service you’d expect.
The Royal Scotsman, a Belmond train
If the British Pullman appeals but you want more than a day trip, enter the Royal Scotsman. This mahogany-bedecked beauty offers a lot of the same experiences as its London-based Belmond cousin, but with the added cherry of overnight trips in its glorious cabins. This grand dame of the tracks will whisk you away for anywhere between two and seven nights traversing the Highlands, taking in clans, mountains, isles, castles and whiskies in the process.
Choose from a single, twin or double cabin or a suite – there are two, named Heron and Magpie – and trundle out of Edinburgh and back again, stopping off at various points of interest for cooling loch dips and cultural excursions. Among the many different itineraries one can choose to follow on the Royal Scotsman are a three-day, £20,000 wellness retreat catered by nutritionist Rose Ferguson and chef Mark Tamburrini, or an adventure through whisky over four days in the Highlands. On all of the trips, the cabin you sleep in will be as eye-catching as those green-dun mountains and slate-grey lochs out the window, and if that’s not quite enough to entice you on board, there’s even a Dior spa where you can massage away the knots while zipping through Scotland’s scenery.
