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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
'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 belmond.com.
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