Luxury hospitality company Belmond will be launching a new sleeper train in the United Kingdom in 2025. The Britannic Explorer will be deployed for three separate itineraries and travellers need to be prepared to pay up for the journey.
Belmond, which is owned by French holding company Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is known for its luxurious travel experiences. It offers a wide range of choices, from extravagant hotels over cruises to sleeper train voyages. Within the United Kingdom, Belmond is already operating two separate sleeper trains: the Royal Scotsman and the British Pullman. Set to launch in July 2025, a new ride will be added to that offer, called the Britannic Explorer.
“See Britain through new eyes aboard the first ever luxury sleeper train in England and Wales. Paying homage to the Great British tradition of touring, the Britannic Explorer celebrates the art of slow travel, preserving Britain’s pioneering railway history while ushering in a new era of culture and creativity. Visit and rediscover intriguing villages, historic cities and awe-inspiring countryside, admiring the landscapes from your private suite. From the rolling hills of the Welsh valleys, to the sparkling blue waters of Cornwall, and the jagged mountains of the Lake District, celebrate all that is intriguing, quirky and quintessential about Britain”, Belmond explains.
The Britannic Explorer will run three different routes, all starting from London. Travellers can thus choose to explore Wales, the Lake District or Cornwall on a three-night journey. Those who are eager to prolong their stay can also choose to combine the Wales route with either the Lake District or Cornwall for a six-night trip.
The sleeper train is clad in luxury, as one might expect from a Belmond voyage. There are 18 passenger cabins aboard (15 suites and 3 Grand Suits), along with a wellness suite in which travellers can enjoy a little spa moment, a bar and restaurant car, managed by British Chef Simon Rogan, head of the three-Michelin-starred L’Enclume restaurant. All rooms feel and look as if they were located inside an actual hotel, with splendid textiles and ornate woodwork.
However, in order to enjoy all that luxury-on-wheels, travellers will need to pay up. Prices for a 3-night trip start at £5,800 (€6,930) per person, based on double occupancy per room. That fare includes all excursions, meals and beverages, including alcohol.
