Immersed in Elegance as the World Rolls By: Luxury Sleeper Trains
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a Belmond Train, Europe
Beginning in May, this opulent train, with its restored 1920s and '30s carriages, will offer a new, three-night journey called Paris to Tuscany by a Legend of the Rails. Step into Bar Car 3674 to enjoy live piano music before retiring to your jewel-toned room. Options include a 'historic cabin' with seats that convert to berths (communal restrooms are at the end of each sleeper carriage); a suite with its own marble bathroom and a double or twin bed that converts to a seating area; or a grand suite with a marble bathroom, double bed, dining area and 24-hour butler service.
During your travels, you'll visit Siena, Italy, where you'll tour the Gothic-style historic center. You'll stop by a 13th-century palace in the Piazza del Campo where you can savor an aperitif while taking in panoramic views of the city, and spend two nights amid vineyards and olive groves at Castello di Casole, a Belmond Hotel, Tuscany. While there, stroll the grounds, join a stargazing session at the outdoor amphitheater and unwind with live music in the courtyard. Prices (including meals with wine) are from 9,350 pounds, or about $12,100 a person, based on two guests sharing a historic cabin and two nights in a junior suite at Castello di Casole.
In June, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will begin traveling to Portofino from Paris again (last year was its inaugural journey), this time with an added carriage: the L'Observatoire sleeper carriage, designed by the French artist, JR. The train's largest accommodation will have its own library with more than 1,000 books, a tearoom with a fireplace, even a skylight so you can watch the clouds as the train moves along. The trip concludes at Splendido, a Belmond Hotel, which, beginning in June, will unveil renovations and updates to communal spaces, including a breakfast area, cocktail bar and Dior spa. Prices (which include meals and wine) for Paris to Portofino are from £10,400 a person, based on two guests sharing a historic cabin and two nights in a premium room at Splendido.
La Dolce Vita Orient Express
Channeling the allure of Italy in the 1960s and 70s, this sleek train will begin offering eight round-trip itineraries in April, each departing from Rome, where you'll find the new La Dolce Vita Orient Express lounge, at Roma Ostiense train station. From there, depending on your itinerary, you'll travel to places like Tuscany and Piedmont. Some itineraries may appeal to train buffs, such as the Rome-to-Sicily trip during which you'll see the train decouple and be loaded onto a ferry to cross the Strait of Messina, then get reassembled on the other side. Indulge in meals overseen by the chef Heinz Beck, perhaps best known for La Pergola, the three Michelin-starred restaurant in Rome. At night you'll sleep in one of 12 deluxe cabins with mirrored walls (a sofa unfolds to a double bed, and ottomans can be used as coffee tables) or in one of 18 suites with beds, sofas, tables and armchairs. An additional suite, meant to be the grandest on the train, is in the works. Prices for a one-night itinerary from 3,500 euros, or about $3,800, a person in a deluxe cabin.
Should you wish to supplement your train travels with stays in Rome or Venice, the first ever hotels from Orient Express are also opening this year, including the Orient Express La Minerva, a former 17th-century palace in Rome, and the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice.
The Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train, United Kingdom
Billing itself as the first luxury sleeper train touring England and Wales, this new train is scheduled to take to the rails in July. Departing from London, it will offer three-night journeys with three different routes through Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District.
Inside you'll find bright cars and 18 playful, soft-hued cabins, including 15 suites and three 'grand suites' that take their inspiration from the scenic views beyond the windows and have double beds, en-suite bathrooms and butler service. The British chef Simon Rogan, whose restaurants have garnered Michelin stars, will offer dishes with seasonal ingredients inspired by Britain's various regions. Indulge in massages and facials in the wellness suite, sip a cocktail at the bar, and take part in off-train activities, including swimming in the Lake District, visiting Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall, and touring the Hauser & Wirth Somerset gallery and arts center along with dinner at the on-site restaurant, Da Costa. Prices from £11,000 (for a double cabin), including a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals and alcoholic beverages on board.
Seven Stars
Plan ahead for a journey on the sumptuous Seven Stars in Kyushu, the island in southern Japan known for its hot springs, mountains and mouthwatering cuisine. A glamorous sleeper train with just 10 guest rooms, Seven Stars includes eight suites and two deluxe suites, one at the end of the last car with breathtaking views through a wall-to-wall window. Savor a cup of tea in the tearoom, enjoy piano music at the Blue Moon bar, or try the new Kaz Bar, a private bar in a cabin available for use by reservation only. Itineraries, some of which include stays at a ryokan, vary with the season. All depart from and return to Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka. To reserve, apply online (the next application period will be in the spring for journeys for fall 2025 to winter 2026) or book through a travel agent (some sell tickets as part of a package). March to June 2025 prices for a two-day journey are from 680,000 yen a person, or about $4,575, and from 1,300,000 yen for a four-day journey. Prices include meals and beverages (excluding some vintage wine and Champagne), as well as excursions. The Kaz Bar is not included in the price.
Kanpachi Ichiroku
For day-tripping sightseers in Kyushu, the new Kanpachi Ichiroku train enables you to gaze at the countryside while enjoying bento box meals that look (almost) too good to eat. Offering a soothing, minimalist atmosphere, the train has two runs. The Kanpachi service departs from Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, then travels to Oita prefecture; stops include Tanushimaru station, where part of the building has a head-and-beak design meant to resemble a kappa, a water creature from Japanese folklore, and Era station, where vendors sell local specialties. The Ichiroku service, begins at Beppu and ends at Hakata, with stops at Amagase station, where you can buy fortunetelling tickets that reveal their message when soaked in the hand and foot baths at the station, and Ukiha station, where you can try produce from this region. Choose from sofa-style seats, cozy box seats and private tatami rooms that can accommodate up to six with mats, seating, tables and big windows from which to watch the landscape roll by. Prices, sold only as one-way trips, include a bento box: From 18,000 yen, for adults and from 15,000 yen for children 6 to 12.
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England's First Luxury Sleeper Train Is Set to Depart in July—With Fine Dining, a Victorian-inspired Bar Car, and a Spa
On July 21, the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train will depart from London's Victoria Station on its inaugural journey, marking the debut of England and Wales' first luxury sleeper train. The plush eight-carriage locomotive offers three-night itineraries designed to showcase the coast of Cornwall, the villages and woodlands of Wales, or the mountainous Lake District. 'The launch of the Britannic Explorer is an important moment for Belmond as we build on the heritage of English and Welsh train travel with the introduction of the first luxury sleeper train,' Belmond CEO Dan Ruff tells Travel + Leisure . 'The train embodies slow luxury, allowing our guests to disconnect from their daily lives and discover design showcasing British wit and charm, food and drink reflecting the landscapes and flavors of the regions the train passes through, and off-board experiences that provide special access to some of the most intriguing locations in England and Wales.' The Britannic Explorer accommodates just 36 guests across 18 cabins—including 15 suites and three Grand Suites—each outfitted with interiors that take inspiration from the country's natural landscapes. London-based studio Albion Nord collaborated with artists Luke Edward Hall, Mel Campion, and Olly Fathers to create spaces filled with bold bespoke fabrics and wallpapers, artwork, and antique treasures that exude distinctly British character. Two restaurant cars, Malva and Samphire, feature menus created by chef Simon Rogan, a pioneer of sustainable British gastronomy behind restaurants like the three-Michelin-starred L'Enclume in Cumbria. The menus celebrate each region's star ingredients. On the Cornwall journey, for example, two dishes that spotlight local ingredients are the St. Ives Bay spider crab with hand-harvested seaweed, and Devon duck roasted with wild fennel. The Observation Car features a warm, wood-paneled bar with ochre banquettes and amber glass details inspired by Victorian apothecaries. There, guests can sip quintessential gin and tonics alongside other destination-inspired cocktails. Each journey begins with afternoon tea featuring regional specialties such as Welsh tea cakes and bara brith fruit cake. Beyond the plush accommodations and fine dining, an onboard Wellness Suite offers a menu of massages and facials developed with British skincare brand Wildsmith. The wellness experience extends to curated off-train activities, too—think wood-fired saunas and scenic hikes in Wales, and wild swimming and rowing in the Lake District. Each itinerary immerses passengers in the best of the region. The Wales journey includes Eryri National Park, the Pembrokeshire coast, a working lavender farm, and an intimate evening at a traditional Cotswolds pub. Lake District passengers can play English lawn games at Lingholm Estate, the Grade II-listed Victorian mansion where Beatrix Potter once summered. Cornwall travelers experience private wine tastings and coastal boat tours showcasing the region's idyllic shoreline. The Britannic Explorer joins the slate of Belmond luxury trains around the world, from Peru's Andean Explorer to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express taking passengers from Paris to Venice, among other iconic European cities. These journeys underscore the growing interest in luxury train travel, part of the broader slow travel trend that prioritizes deeper exploration of fewer destinations over rushed itineraries, soaking up the journey just as much as the destination. 'Our guests aboard the Britannic Explorer will experience a new pace of travel as they celebrate the contemporary heritage of England and Wales,' says Ruff. Three-night itineraries on the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train start from £11,000 ($15,118) based on a double cabin and including excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board, and you can book at
Forbes
14 hours ago
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The Britannic Explorer Luxury Train Is Set For Its Inaugural Journey In England And Wales
One of the dining cars on the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train Belmond The Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train, the first luxury sleeper train to tour through England and Wales, embarks on its inaugural journey on July 21, 2025. This marks a noteworthy milestone for British trains and for Belmond, which has established its reputation with luxury trains such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, The Royal Scotsman, and the British Pullman. The latter two set the bar for high-end rail excursions in Scotland and England. The Britannic Explorer extends that reach with journeys into further corners of England as well as Wales. "The launch of the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, marks a pivotal moment, forging a new chapter in British rail innovation.' Departing from London, the train will offer three-night trips on three different routes in the beautiful British countryside. It's part of the current trend for slow travel on luxury trains around the world, including Italy's new Orient Express La Dolce Vita. These are trains that pride themselves on their exceptionally high level of craftsmanship, flawless service, and curated journeys that are punctuated by memorable 'experiences.' "The launch of the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, marks a pivotal moment, forging a new chapter in British rail innovation,' said Hendrik Huebner, The Britannic Explorer's General Manager, in a press statement. As the author of National Geographic's 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime, 2025), I think there's every reason to get excited about this new train, which provides a window onto some of the most scenic villages, historic cities, and countryside in Cornwall, The Lake District, and Wales. 'Designing the Britannic Explorer has been an extraordinary opportunity to tell a new story of British luxury - one rooted in craft, landscape, and character.' These are three-night voyages in each locale, though the routes are scheduled to allow travelers to combine two regional journeys into one trip, such as the Lake District and Wales or Cornwall and Wales, for a six-night trip. It will cater to a growing demand for over-the-top train journeys for a select few guests with bottomless pockets in some of the world's most scenic locations. A Suite on the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train Belmond The interiors of the 18 cabins, which include three Grand Suites and 15 Suites, were created using materials crafted locally in Britain, with a design inspired by sweeping views of Britain's coastlines and rolling hills. The interiors were meticulously crafted by London-based studio Albion Nord, in collaboration with famed interior designers Luke Edward Hall, Mel Campion, and Olly Fathers. 'Designing the Britannic Explorer has been an extraordinary opportunity to tell a new story of British luxury - one rooted in craft, landscape, and character,' Camilla Clarke, Creative Director at Albion Nord, said in a press statement. 'We wanted the interiors to feel refined yet bold, timeless yet unexpected - much like Britain itself.' The two dining cars on the train, Malva and Samphire, were inspired by the English countryside, with large windows and mirrored ceilings. They feature artist Ed Burkes's depictions of dancing figures, paired with Adam Hall's multi-layered, hand-dyed fabric creations inspired by the lichen and algae found in nature and mounted onto the paneled walls. The dining experience was created by Michelin-starred British Chef Simon Rogan, known for his three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the Lake District, L'Enclume. A pioneer of the UK's farm-to-fork movement, he has emphasized seasonal menus inspired by the train's routes. Executive Head Chef Sven-Hanson Britt will execute these menus, showcasing the finest British produce and honoring provenance and a commitment to sustainability. The Observation Car on the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train Belmond The bar in the Observation car features a botanically inspired design and, as might be expected, serves botanically inspired cocktails. The lavish carriage is intended to be the social hub of the Britannic Explorer. The train also offers a dedicated Wellness Suite, decorated by painter and printmaker Sarah Woods with a calming beach motif. Taken together, the design elements are a tapestry of British design, where every detail contributes to a stylish journey. Off-board excursions along the three routes include a private tour of the Lingholm Estate in the Lake District, where Beatrix Potter spent her summers. You can visit the Welsh town of Machynlleth, located at the southern edge of Snowdonia National Park, which is famed for its Museum of Modern Art. Other excursions include a boat tour in Fowey, Cornwall, wild swimming in the Lake District, dinner at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, a guided tour of the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Penzance, or an after-party at a pub in Moreton-in-Marsh in the Cotswolds. A Belmond Train Belmond, which is owned by the luxury giant LVMH, is the world leader in creating such rarefied trains and journeys. Their Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the world's leading luxury train, making memorable rail journeys across Europe. The signature trip is from Paris to Venice. The British Pullman is a vintage train that offers day trips throughout England, while The Royal Scotsman takes guests on a journey through the dramatic Scottish Highlands. In South America, the company is behind the Belmond Andean Express and the Hiram Bingham Orient Express in Peru. 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'Gone are the days when it just tastes good,' said Kym Barter, the general manager of Atlantis The Palm, a resort perched on a manmade archipelago that boasts more Michelin stars than any other venue in the Middle East. But dazzling Dubai's food bloggers — the most popular of whom have millions of social media followers — isn't enough. Staying afloat means battling high rents and winning over a diverse and demanding group of consumers. Dubai has roughly nine expatriate residents for every Emirati citizen. Most of its private sector workers are migrants on temporary contracts, and only Vatican City has a higher share of foreign-born residents. Tourists, in turn, outnumber locals about five to one by some estimates, and they spend lavishly. Visitors to Dubai drop an average of over five times more than those traveling to nearby Saudi Arabia or even the U.S., according to global restaurant consultant Aaron Allen. Dubai is 'on the right path' to becoming the world's food capital, said Torsten Vildgaard, executive chef at FZN by Björn Frantzén. The restaurant, which runs at more than $540 a head, was one of two in Dubai to nab three Michelin stars in May. 'We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what's to come in terms of gastronomy here,' Vildgaard added. With each new set of illuminated high-rises and hotels, another crop of eateries emerge, vying for patrons. The legions of construction workers powering Dubai's progress also need affordable options. That growth, propped up in part by investor pressure on some of the world's biggest chains to expand in Dubai, has created what some analysts warn is a bubble. 'If you're a publicly traded company like Americana, what are you supposed to do — just stop opening restaurants?' restaurant consultant Allen said, referring to the Gulf-based operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and other big franchises. The frenetic expansion of Dubai's restaurant industry is part of a regional shift that has seen Gulf Arab states pour hundreds of billions of dollars into building out tourist destinations as they move away from hydrocarbons to diversify their economies. Saudi Arabia has a high-stakes, $500 billion project: a straight-line futuristic city called Neom. But, in a Muslim-majority region, the United Arab Emirates has gone to lengths that some consider too much of a compromise, including relaxing restrictions on alcohol that fuel its pubs and nightlife and other social reforms. High costs and failure rates The rapid development comes at a price. Dubai's restaurants have a high failure rate, industry veterans say, though local authorities don't say what the rate of closures is. In the downtown district and other prime areas, annual rents for restaurants can top $100 per square foot. That's on a par with some of the world's most expensive cities. Still, the emirate issued almost 1,200 new restaurant licenses last year, according to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The department declined to respond to questions. Empty tables during peak hours are common, even in top locations. Part of the problem, managers say, is that traffic congestion is so severe that convincing diners to drive out can be a tall task. 'I sometimes go, 'Do I go into the restaurant right now, because I'm going to get into traffic?''' said Waseem Abdul Hameed, operations manager at Ravi, a Pakistani family-owned eatery famous for its official Adidas shoe line and a 2010 TV feature from Anthony Bourdain. He knows restaurateurs who have had to shut up shop and others who are squeezed by slim margins and increasingly reliant on delivery apps, Hameed said. The demand sends fleets of migrant workers racing through gridlock on motorbikes, with few protections and tight delivery windows. Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times reported the accidental deaths of 17 Dubai food couriers last year. The math of Dubai's restaurant scene doesn't add up, delivery apps and wealthy tourists notwithstanding, restaurant consultant Allen said. He cited operating expenses that have more than doubled relative to sales since 2009, when a financial crisis almost hobbled the emirate. Too many Dubai entrepreneurs, he put it simply, have 'too much money, and they don't know what to do besides open restaurants.'
