Train enthusiasts who love a certain level of luxury on the rail, Heads Up: Brittannic Explorer Booking, the first luxury sleeper train in the UK and Wales is opening just before the busy summer travel season.
The 18 Cabin Britannic Explorer, an addition to the latest portfolio by award-winning railway operator Belmond, will debut on July 4, 2025 and kick off a new chapter in UK railway travel with unprecedented levels of luxury and nostalgia on itineraries of three and six lighting.
Britannic Explorer Itinerary
Brittanic Explorer departs from London and offers a trio of three-night itineraries through Cornwall, the Lake District of Northern England and Wales. For passengers looking for a longer journey (and who doesn’t want to spend more time riding the rails in this kind of comfort?), the schedule is designed for mixing and matching destinations. Along the way, optional off-train excursions include private dining at high-end restaurants, guided hiking, clay dove shooting, coastal voyages and open water swimming.
Highlights of the Wales itinerary include a guided hike in Randlindodwells, a town along the Pembrokeshire coastline. Travel through the scenic Eliri National Park with endless green hills and waterfalls. And before the final local pub’s send-off, we visited the charming Cotswold town of Moreton in Marche. The Lake District itinerary takes tourists to Workington along the Cambrian coast and visits the Victorian-era Lynholm Estate. There, guests have the option to hike open water swims and surrounding Lake District landscapes. This journey ends in Oxfordshire for a gala dinner at a 15th century mansion. And finally, the Cornwall itinerary head is located directly west of the capital of the Cornwall Coast, in the southern part of the capital. It features coastal hikes, exploring the seaside towns and private tours of the Hauser & Worth Gallery in Bruton.
Luxury restaurant and luxurious interior
No matter which itinerary passengers choose, the onboard experience will always be impressed. Among the many highlights is the incredible meals by highly regarded British chef Simon Logan. wellness suites and spa carriages (and an announced partnership with Wildsmith, a leading UK skincare and wellness brand). And the plant-inspired bar offers views of the UK’s past countryside, where passengers can taste cocktails.
Meanwhile, a total of 18 cabins, including three grand suites, feature sophisticated interiors by London-based studio Albion Nord, with inspiration coming from the British coastline and British heritage. Prices start from £11,000 (approximately USD 14,000) based on double occupancy rates (including food, drinks and excursions).
One notable highlight for passengers is the food offerings from Britannic Explorer, two dining cars named Malva and Samphire. The programme is led by Logan, a pioneering chef in the British farm-to-folk movement, with restaurants, including the UK’s Landcrum, boasting a total of eight Michelin stars and a Michelin green star worldwide.
Three routes include afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus, inspired by local cuisine and influences, and feature seasonal local ingredients.
The bar promises to be a particularly spicy place that remains on top of the aperitif. Located in the observation vehicle, the area is inspired by Victorian Aposegaries and features creative, plant-sloping cocktails, artisan gin and craft beer. A Belmond spokesperson told AFAR.
Belmond’s recent railway expansion
It was a busy time for Belmond, which was acquired by French luxury brand LVMH in 2019. In 2024, the Eastern Express and Oriental Express reopened, and the Simple Orient Express in Venice, including Paris, announced new accommodation and routes to the French Alps.
One recent development was the presentation at the Venice Biennale of L’Ombervatoire, a new sleeper conceptualized by acclaimed French photographer and street artist Jr. Additionally, Belmond has added a new grand suite to Royal Scotland.
This story was originally published in November 2024 and updated on March 5, 2025, and contains current information.
