The UK’s first ultra-luxury sleeper train linking London to Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales, is preparing for its maiden voyage on 21 July.
The Britannic Explorer, operated by Belmond, the LVMH-owned hospitality brand behind some of the world’s most iconic trains and hotels, now turns its attention to the heart of Britain. From the end of the month, travellers will be able to enjoy an unforgettable experience that will take them through the heart of the British countryside in pure, slow-travel style.
The brand behind the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and the much-loved sleeper through the Scottish Highlands has spared neither coin nor corner to create an experience as indulgent as it is memorable: a journey designed to make travellers feel no less privileged than had they boarded the now-decommissioned Royal Train.
If you want to truly pamper yourself while watching Cornwall’s cliffs, Welsh valleys, and Lake District hills roll by, this is for you. Provided, of course, you have pockets deep enough.
With journeys starting at £11,000 (€13,000), the three-night experience includes not just your cabin, but all meals, excursions, wine, and other beverages.
Departing from London to three key regions, the journey includes curated off-board excursions such as coastal sailing and yoga by the sea, wild swimming, lavender farm visits, wood-fired saunas in Wales, and even a night at Belmond’s Cadogan Hotel in London.
Gary Franklin, Belmond’s VP of Trains and Cruises, calls it a truly unique experience, ‘an opportunity to discover the rugged Cornish coastline, Snowdonia’s untamed National Park and the vast expanses of the Lake District like never before’.
And if stepping off the train sounds optional, that’s because the onboard world is an experience in itself. The Britannic Explorer features three Grand Suites and fifteen Double Suites, along with a spa, a cocktail bar, and a dining experience led by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, known for his farm-to-fork ethos and reverence for seasonal British ingredients. His menus change with the landscape, drawing inspiration from the regions the train passes through.
‘I hope every passenger not only enjoys the flavours but also feels a connection between the dishes and the journey,’ Rogan said. ‘Each plate will reflect Britain’s diverse landscapes.’
But it’s not just your taste buds that will be pampered. The interiors, classic in tone, conjure an atmosphere that feels like a full Burberry meets Laura Ashley meets Ashley Hicks – or in other words, the very best of British elegance, comfort, and quirk. Designed by London-based studio Albion Nord, the train brings together some of the UK’s most distinctive contemporary artisans.
Designers such as Luke Edward Hall, Mel Campion, and Olly Fathers have each added their touch: whimsical wallpaper reinterpreting botanical patterns and travel motifs; shell-adorned mirrors in the powder rooms; bold contemporary panels in the Grand Suites. Wool, velvet, wood, brass, and stone are used to echo the natural landscapes rolling past the windows. It’s a space that feels rich yet relaxed, familiar yet rare.
There’s movement and mood woven into every corner. Paintings by Sarah Woods in the Wellness Suite soothe with muted coastlines; the dining car comes alive with Ed Burkes joyful dancing figures and Adam Hall’s layered, hand-dyed panels inspired by algae and lichen. Even the lighting has a story – designed by Rose Uniacke to cast a warm, domestic glow over the carriages.
And should you want a moment to sip a G&T, Negroni, or something rarer, the bar carriage awaits, perfect for aperitifs, digestifs, or simply contemplating life as fields, hedgerows, cliffs, and castle ruins glide silently by.
The Royal Train may have made its final stop, but with the Britannic Explorer, a new crown jewel is on the rails. Stylish, spoiling, and steeped in storytelling, it’s the kind of train you secretly hope will never reach its final station.
