First Class on England's Ultra Luxury Sleeper Train

Today, I'm traveling first class on England's most luxurious train, starting with Celia, an entire private carriage, before heading north to the Lake District on board the brand new Britannic Explorer. I'll give you a never-before-seen look at life on board, from fine dining in the multiple restaurants to the spectacular lounges and off-train excursions. But can it really justify its place among the most expensive train journeys in the world? With that, let's pick up our story in London. Well, hello there, and welcome back to the channel. You join me here at Raffles London, where we begin our epic English railway adventure. So without any more to say, let's head right over to the station. It's only a short drive over to Victoria Station, and within a few minutes, we're entering the passenger concourse, just off platform two. Usefully, this is also where Belmont operate their dedicated departure lounge, along with live music. I am, however, drawn to the locomotive adjacent. This Class 67 is actually the King's locomotive, though I don't believe he'll be joining us today. We're invited over to our private carriage, Celia, which began service just a few months ago, though originally dates from the 1930s. It's been totally renovated under the direction of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and designer Katherine Martin. Let's see what it's like. Our experience begins with more live music from a talented local singer. This also signals the champagne to begin flowing, a delicious 2017 Krug. Free-flowing, by the way, but it needs to be for this price point, which I'll discuss in just a moment. It's not long before our train rolls majestically out of Victoria Station, in direction of the Kent countryside. I think it's time to see who's joined us on this trip. Welcome back to the channel, Millie. I'm back. How you doing, Millie? Yeah, good, thank you. And I've also brought some additions for the channel. Yes, you may have seen them in the background. Introducing Millie's parents. Hi, everyone. And of course, the regulars back to the channel. Who is it? Hi. Now that we're all introduced, I think it's time to get familiar with our carriage. We have private use of this entire space. There are three distinct areas to explore, beginning here in the bar and lounge. It feels like stepping into a hidden 1930s cocktail saloon. There is one small problem though. On all the marketing material, it shows sweeping views of the railway unfolding behind. We instead get a locomotive. It's at this point we're invited to proceed into the dining room. The dining room is concealed behind a sweeping red velvet curtain. And as it's drawn back, the next act of our journey is dramatically revealed. Once we're all comfortably settled into our assigned seats, should we take a peek at our menu? We begin with an English Chardonnay, produced at a vineyard not far from today's route. Next comes the freshly baked bread with one variety in particular catching my eye, infused with charcoal. To begin, mum has the crispy quail's egg with Wye Valley asparagus. And the rest of us opt for the rye-based scallops with Cornish caviar. It tastes every bit as delicious as it looks. Our next wine takes us south to Bordeaux. This will pair nicely to our mains. But the real question, how's the Wellington? Nothing short of perfection. Though dad has gone for the Dover sole and mum, the slow roasted aubergine. I really appreciate the efforts gone to accommodate everyone's dietary requirements here. As our wonderful singer joins us again, our next pairing is presented at 2023 English sparkling wine specially produced for the Pullman. And this accompanies our dessert. Now for something that's been intriguing me. Yes, even the smallest room on board Celia has been given the full theatrical treatment. It's most definitely up there with the most beautiful train bathroom I've ever seen. Back with the family, we've been invited to take a seat in the lounge for a performance. And in case we're not feeling full, there's port and cheese available. Well, what can I say? This has been fabulous to enjoy with all the family. And now we continue on the last stretch back into London where it all began. We're actually about to start our next segment of this trip but I'll tell you more about it when we get back to Raffles. A day aboard Celia is undeniably magical. Although given its extraordinary price point which I'll share in a moment, it absolutely needs to be. From here, it's just a short transfer back to Raffles where we can finally take a look at our room. And of course, freshen up before cocktail o'clock. It's been one incredible day, but tomorrow morning things are about to reach an entirely new level. Well, what can I say? It has been a real pleasure to stay here with both sets of parents, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end because now it is time for our next segment of our journey. In a curious case of deja vu, we're back at London Victoria but today the platform looks rather different. It's wonderfully quiet. We're welcomed into the Belmont Lounge and offered a glass of English sparkling wine as our tickets are presented to us. The excitement is steadily building and within minutes, our magnificent blue train comes thundering into platform two. Although the Britannic Explorer only launched in 2025, these carriages have traveled before. They once formed Belmont's luxury train in Ireland, but has since been completely refurbished and re-imagined for their life here in Britain. Train manager Sophie warmly welcomes us on board and directs us over to our carriage. And right on schedule, we pull away from London Victoria. So where exactly are we heading this time? Well, considerably further afield, all the way to the Lake District. As for now, our accommodation, there are two types of suite on board. The standard and grand suite, which I've booked for us today. Welcome on board the Britannic Explorer. Yes, welcome and welcome to our grand suite. This is pretty special. What do you think, Lily? Yeah, it's really nice. It's really lovely so far. Isn't it? I'll tell you one thing though that caught us off guard is how narrow the corridors are. Oh, so narrow, I had to squeeze in. Should we take a proper look around? Yeah, let's do it. Our grand suite is called Juniper and there are only three of these on board the whole train. Each measures around 100 square feet, which by railway standards is positively spacious. They're also fully air conditioned. We'll begin here in the intimate dining area. On the marble top table, a selection of welcome treats await us. A personal note from Sophie and an ice cold bottle of Krug, the very same champagne we enjoyed yesterday. There's also a small mini bar stocked with water and appropriately enough for a suite named Juniper, gin. Adjacent to this is a comfortable velvet upholstered sofa with a rather clever party trick. Then we have the fixed double bed. I love what the designers have achieved here, almost as though we're inside one enormous beautifully wrapped present. There are two compact wardrobes containing bespoke robes and slippers, along with a safe and even a color match Dyson hairdryer. Naturally, there's also an en suite bathroom. It's compact but practical with a marble basin, English Wildsmith toiletries and a separate shower. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel quite as special as Celia's bathroom. And despite the train being so new, a few cracks are already beginning to appear. As we continue to head ever northwards, we've actually had a bit of an idea. We're feeling quite tired. It's been a pretty hectic last 24, 36 hours. So why don't we take advantage of one of the perks of this suite? They actually offer in-room dining. I think we need to try that out. Now there are two restaurants on board. We've got plenty of time to give those a try over the next few days. But for now, let's order a gin and tonic and see what's for dinner. And just as we place our order, we've been given some pajamas. Should we have dinner in our pajamas? I think so. Most definitely the right decision. The custom Desmond and Dempsey pajamas are incredibly comfortable. So what's on the menu? A wonderful variety of British produce. I can't wait to see how it all comes together. Service begins with freshly baked sourdough accompanied by an amuse-bouche of toasted brioche topped with finely grated Parmesan. The chef behind our dining experience, by the way, is the three-Michelin-starred Simon Rogan. And tomorrow, we'll be visiting his farm in the Lake District. Our appetizer is Port Isaac lobster served with fermented gooseberry, horseradish, and dill. It's beautifully delicate and tastes incredible. For our main course, we're served stuffed Slade's Down chicken with baby turnips and a rich chicken sauce. To finish, we're presented with chamomile cake, a lovely conclusion to our first meal on board. For now, though, it's time for bed. Good morning from the north of England. Overnight, we've slowly meandered our way up through the country and into the stunning Lake District. Before we explore more of our luxury sleeper train, I'd like to thank the sponsor of this video, Revolut. It's a global financial app trusted by over 75 million people worldwide, and I've been personally using it for over 10 years. Right now, they're offering new users a $100 sign-up bonus. So let me tell you why it's so useful. 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We begin by making our way down the train to one of the two beautiful restaurant cars. This morning, we're invited to take breakfast in Samphire, which takes its name from the vivid green coastal plant found along Britain's shores. With breakfast served at staggered times between seven and nine, the dining car isn't particularly busy, allowing us to settle into a lovely table by ourselves in the corner. So what's on the menu? Alongside a selection of tea and coffees, there's a generous choice of classic English breakfast favorites. One double cappuccino and a macchiato later were presented with freshly baked crumpets and sourdough toast, followed by a full English breakfast, complete with those all-important baked beans. Shorts were perhaps not the wisest choice for this morning's first excursion. So after a quick change of clothes, we slowly trundle into our first stop of Grangeover Sands, our gateway to the Lake District. It's only when we disembark that we're reminded just how stunning our train looks, its powder blue livery positively glowing in this morning's sunshine. Minibuses await us outside the station, ready to whisk us deeper into the countryside. Around 15 minutes later, we reach the shores of the famed Lake Windermere and arrive at the magnificent Graefwaite Estate, a privately-owned 5,000-acre property that has remained in the same family for more than 500 years. The family has kindly welcomed us into their ancestral home for some late-morning refreshments before we head out onto the lake. Now it's time to take things up a notch. With our life jackets firmly secured, we stroll down to the private jetty where two high-powered ribs await. What would a visit to the Lake District be without venturing out onto its most famous stretch of water, Lake Windermere? Stretching for more than 10 miles, Windermere is England's largest natural lake, carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. As mentioned earlier, that the train's food and beverage offering is created in partnership with Simon Rogan. Well, we're now heading to his very own farm. We're warmly welcomed by the team and offered one of Simon Rogan's signature snacks, accompanied by a glass of English sparkling rosé. This 12-acre working farm is where much of the produce for Simon's five UK restaurants is grown. But most excitingly, we're about to sample some of that produce right here, just meters from where it's grown. We begin with a freshly-baked sourdough focaccia served alongside pesto, fermented gooseberries, and roasted Padron peppers. Oh, and a wine pairing is offered to accompany our meal. We begin with dill brined lettuce, pickled mushrooms, elderflower, and truffle. For the main course, we're presented with tender honey-glazed lamb shoulder accompanied by malt vinegar potatoes, kale, and a fresh cress salad. It is, as you can see, utterly divine. And just like that, we're back at the station, this time a little further down the line at Cark. It's been a brilliant few hours away from the train, but I'm most excited to get back on board. So in a strange turn of events, I find myself dressed in my dressing gown, and that is because I've got a spa appointment. So let's head over, as it's in the car just adjacent to ours. This carriage also features the other type of accommodation offered on the Britannic Explorer. The spa is operated in partnership with British skincare brand Wildsmith, the same brand behind the amenities in our bathroom. I must admit, it's an incredibly relaxing experience, although I do struggle not to drift off. The remaining accommodation in this carriage consists of the train's smaller suites. By day, they're arranged with comfortable seating, which is converted into a bed each evening. Despite their compact size, each one has its own ensuite shower room. Would you believe it's dinner time? This is served in both restaurant cars, but we'll of course need to try Malva, named after the flowering Malo plant. It has a slightly more formal feel with crisp white tablecloths, richly patterned seating, and a soft floral design, creating the atmosphere of an intimate country house. It seems everyone has chosen to dine in the other car this evening, which means we have the whole of Malva entirely to ourselves. After such a substantial lunch, dinner is a slightly lighter affair, which I think we all appreciate. And instead of the wine pairing, we've both opted for a gin and tonic. It is, after all, a thoroughly British choice. For our main course, we have the Gloucester pork loin with peas, bitter leaves, and a mead sauce. It's at this point that we trundle into Carlisle, the northernmost point of our journey and a historic border city just eight miles from Scotland. It's a shame we can't hop off for a little look around, as this is all but a technical stop. For now, though, we'll have to enjoy the view from the train and, indeed, our dessert of summer berries rice pudding with caramel crisps. To close off our evening, we simply must explore the last carriage and arguably the most spectacular, the bar and observation car. It's busy in here tonight, so I'll drop in some footage when it was quieter so you can see the space. There's live music tonight, too, so let's settle in and order a drink. We do, however, realise there's an even better spot right at the rear of the carriage. Given we've already sampled a G&T this evening, we ask our server to surprise us with something tequila-based. I'm fairly certain this is a British take on a margarita. We're soon informed that the change of driver is complete and we begin gliding gently out of Carlisle. It's been a long day, so as darkness falls outside, I make it time to settle in for the night. Tonight, we'll stable in a siding, which should lead for a far more restful night's sleep. Good morning. First, let me show you the hilarity of attempting to shower aboard a fast-moving train. The ensuite may be beautiful, but staying upright while we're travelling at speed presents quite the challenge. We're about to reach the most scenic section of our journey as we cross the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct. That certainly didn't disappoint. We've enjoyed the most spectacular view from the observation car, accompanied, of course, by a late morning coffee. And given it's a Sunday, we couldn't possibly miss out on a traditional Sunday lunch served over in the restaurant cars. Simon Rogan and the onboard team have knocked this one out the park. Roast sirloin of beef, braised red cabbage, and, not forgetting, an enormous Yorkshire pudding. To close, we're treated to a decadent, caramelized custard tart with Evita apple and milk ice cream. As we push ever closer to London, let's talk cost. First up, Celia, coming in at nearly $20,000. That's a staggering amount for lunch, although I could have bought up to 12 guests, so I can certainly see it appealing for corporate events or very special occasions. Next, the Britannic Explorer, and this one is interesting. I was originally scheduled to travel last year when the train first began operating, but a technical issue meant my trip was canceled. Belmont gave every guest a full refund and offered a complimentary rebooking for a date of our choice in 2026. Now, that's incredible service recovery, especially when you consider this trip would have cost more than $50,000. However, judging it against the full retail price, I simply can't justify the cost based on what's delivered. It is undoubtedly spectacular, but aside from the larger accommodation, there isn't enough to distinguish the Grand Suite experience from the standard suites, which cost around $18,000 for the same journey. At this price point, I'd expect significantly elevated excursions for Grand Suite guests, much like Journey Beyond offers in Australia, alongside an enhanced food and drink experience. There were also a few smaller issues. The observation car had little to no air conditioning and became unbearable at times, and also some of the dining was rather poorly timed, including our farm lunch, which wasn't served until after 3 p.m. That said, the staff are exceptional, and the service remained flawless throughout. Welcome back to London. Yes, welcome. We've had the most amazing time on board the Britannic Explorer, as well, of course, our time on the British Pullman. Thank you so much for watching, and we'll catch you all again next time. Bye!