Britain, birthplace of rail transport, will get its first ever luxury sleeper train touring England and Wales next summer. The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, UK will set off from London in July 2025 on three routes through the picturesque hills, valleys and coastlines of Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales. The 18 cabins, including three grand suites and 15 suites, will be of an exquisite opulence not before seen on Britain's rails.
A preview cabin, unveiled at a railway depot in south London last week, is a sensuous delight. The finely chiselled oak panelling, the marbled lip of the table top, the plush velvet sofa, the deep carpets with their trompe l'oeil patterning and the welcoming cocoon of the bedroom all cry out to be touched and savoured. This kind of luxury does not come cheap.
Prices for a three-night itinerary in a double cabin, with excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages start at £11,000 (around $21,500). Those three nights, however, should be pretty special. The design is by London-based studio Albion Nord and is inspired by English houses and gardens, with a soothing palate of delicate greens and creams inspired by the scenery beyond the windows.
The overall effect, said Ottavia Palomba, global head of brand communications at Belmond, is of a "moving painting." In this elegant panorama, which Palomba likens to a garden party ambience, guests can soak up the views while lounging on the sofa, bed or swivel armchair of their suite with private ba.
