To experience London’s surrounding countryside in first-class style, book an experience on Belmond’s luxurious British Pullman for a spectacular journey. Belmond offers trips to various destinations in England on board its meticulously restored Pullman train, including a lunch tour of the Kent countryside, an all-day round trip journey to Bath, and various themed experiences throughout the year.
We boarded the British Pullman at London’s Victoria Station in the late morning. Live entertainment on the platform and a welcome drink at the station immediately recall the Golden Age of travel, when transportation was civilized and guests made an occasion out of the experience. Indeed, smart attire is highly encouraged on the British Pullman — you literally can’t be overdressed. We spotted everything from nice pants and sweaters (no sneakers) to black tie and vintage dresses with opulent hats.
Once on board, as we pulled out of the station, the Champagne started flowing and lunch was served. We enjoyed a delightful five-course menu as we cruised through the quaint villages of the Kent countryside and what impressed us most about the food served onboard was that it was very, very good — truly restaurant quality. Lunch includes a selection of wine along with an optional addition of special wines representing various regions in which Belmond has properties.
One thing that impressed us the most about the journey was the attention paid to our son. In our experience, the UK is not known for being accommodating to younger guests, but the staff on board the train went out of their way to make the experience memorable for all of us.
Our train stopped in Dover, giving guests and opportunity to get up and walk around a bit, explore other cars (they are all different and one was actually designed by Wes Anderson), and enjoy some more live entertainment on the platform in the misty seaside air with a glass of British sparkling wine in hand.
Our train returned to London on a different route than we came, serving afternoon tea and coffee while the train passed through pastures of sheep and verdant farmland before returning right on time at Victoria Station.
If you’re looking for a truly special or unique experience in London, we highly recommend an experience on the British Pullman. Belmond is known for operating some of the most exclusive properties and experiences in the world and we truly thought the experience lived up to the reputation. The food truly surpassed our expectations, the hospitality was warm and welcoming, and every detail was attended to throughout the entire experience. A lot of the fellow guests on the train seemed to be celebrating special occasions and based on our experience, a trip on the British Pullman would be perfect for that!
Note: Belmond British Pullman provided support for the reporting of this story.