Inside the Britannic Explorer: New luxury sleeper train coming to England and Wales in July
Known for its popular luxury sleeper train in the Scottish Highlands, the Royal Scotsman, hospitality operator Belmond has now unveiled a new sleeper that will journey through England and Wales: the Britannic Explorer.
The new luxury train, complete with fine dining cars, 18 sleeper cabin suites and spa treatments onboard, is set to make its first journey on 21 July, bringing luxury sleeper experiences to England and Wales.
Within its cabins are three grand suites and 15 standard suites, where guests can spend three nights travelling from the capital to three different locations, Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales, on journeys aimed at paying homage to the British tradition of touring and celebrating the art of slow travel.
Passengers on the Britannic Explorer can take optional off-train guided excursions to immerse themselves in each destination's natural landscapes, cultural offerings and history.
This includes coastal sailing and yoga sessions by the sea in Cornwall, wild swimming in the Lake District, and lavender farm visits and wood-fired saunas in Wales.
On board guests will indulge in British gastronomy designed by multi-Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan as the hills roll by.
Rogan's fine dining menu will feature locally sourced ingredients, in line with his British farm-to-fork movement, with seasonal menus rotating across the three routes.
Speaking about the collaboration with the luxury sleeper, Rogan said last year: 'I am very excited to bring this approach to the launch of the Britannic Explorer, where each plate will reflect Britain's diverse landscapes.
'I hope every passenger not only enjoys the flavours but also feels a connection between the dishes and the journey, making their time on board truly memorable.'
Passengers will also have access to the train's botanically-inspired bar in their observation car for a cocktail or a craft beer, or perhaps relax while receiving a treatment or two in the train's onboard spa room.
The luxury train's all-British experience extends into the interiors of the train, with designs and colour palettes taking inspiration from the countryside and coastlines created through bespoke commissions from leading designers and artists.
Gary Franklin, vice president of trains and cruises at Belmond, said: "I am incredibly proud to launch this revolutionary new train, which further enhances Belmond's global portfolio of market-leading luxury rail experiences.
'The Britannic Explorer offers something truly unique; an opportunity to discover the rugged Cornish coastline to Snowdonia's untamed National Park and the vast expanses of the Lake District like never before.
'We are especially delighted to welcome the esteemed Chef Simon Rogan to helm the culinary direction. His vision brings a gastronomic journey that complements the train's spirit of adventure, celebrating British produce and highlighting the finest local specialities along the route.'
A trip aboard the Britannic Explorer in a double cabin starts from £11,000, including a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine and other alcoholic beverages on board.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
I love this fairytale-esque beach town that ISN'T on the sea – it's one of UK's prettiest but tourists always forget it
TUCKED away from Devon's coastline is one of the county's most beautiful towns, with wonky old buildings, quaint streets and fortified castles. Forget the tourists, it's even a day trip for the locals - as a born and bred Devonian, a day out in Dartmouth was always a treat for me, despite only living 30 minutes from the waterfront town. 6 6 But despite its beauty and charm, Dartmouth is often overlooked by neighbouring seaside towns and resorts like Torquay or Salcombe each summer. That's a mistake, it's just as good and considerably quieter in peak season, and even though the town isn't technically on the sea it still has its own beach. The town oozes warm, fairytale charm - it's picture perfect, with no graffiti and a warren of winding lanes and cobbled streets, lined with multi-coloured higgledy-piggledy cottages. Sat on the banks of the River Dart, its estuary position makes it a great spot for boat trips, such as The Fizz Boat that cruises on the river for 90 minutes with fizz constantly flowing for guests. And you can still take a bucket and spade to either Castle Cove or Sugary Cove. Castle Cove is a small sand and shingle beach that can only be accessed at low tide. The spot boasts stunning views of Dartmouth Castle, that towers above the beach and where visitors can also find the Dartmouth Castle Tea Rooms for a tapas board, locally-caught crab sandwich or traditional Devonshire cream tea. Over at Sugary Cove - a favoured spot among locals - the shingle beach is edged by rugged cliffs and thick greenery. You have to head down some pretty steep steps to reach the shoreline, which is why it usually uncrowded and the ideal place to spot some of the local wildlife such as seals and if you're lucky, dolphins. Across the town there are number of historic spots to explore, including Dartmouth Castle, which has stood guarding the town for over 600 years. The Trelawney Hotel in Torquay, Devon is among the chepeates places to stay in the UK, as rated by Tripadvisor Inside, for £10 visitors can find a Gun Tower and winding passages that give a glimpse at what life was like in the castle during the Hundred Years War, where it was used to protect the entrance to the River Dart from French invasion. The castle links to the town's naval history as well, which remains crucial to the destination today. At the other end of Dartmouth is the Britannia Royal Naval College where Royal Navy officers are still trained. Visitors can opt to go on a two-hour guided tour with a resident naval officer to learn about its 150-year history including a visit to the elegant chapel and even the Gun Room. The destination was recently awarded a TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award 2025, with one visitor recently commenting that it is "a must see for anyone visiting Dartmouth". Tours of the only remaining Naval College in the entire country can be booked online and cost £20 per adult and £12.50 per child. In the town centre itself, I have fond memories of the many amazing markets including Dartmouth Old Market, which takes place each Friday with local produce and independent makers. 6 The market was originally built as a 'pannier' market in 1828 - a type of indoor market originating in Devon and involved 'panniers', or baskets, to transport goods such as meats and cheeses. Every second Saturday of the month there is also the Dartmouth Good Food and Artisan Market, selling specialist produce like Dartmoor honey and locally-baked sourdough bread. Away from the markets, make sure to head to the town's independent shops and galleries, especially on Duke Street, famous for the Butterwalk building that has a sloping appearance and intricate black and white facade. It is opposite this building that you will find one of the most popular dining spots in the town - Embankment Bistro. The bistro is ideally located with views of the harbour on one side and the estuary on the other and sells some rather fancy fish and chips for £19 a portion. Though, if you want a cheaper option and happen to be in the town on a Tuesday, head slightly further along the promenade and you will reach a personal favourite of mine called Rockfish, where you can grab a portion of fish and chips for 50 per cent off. For a sweet treat, you will find numerous ice cream spots and places to grab a traditional Devonshire jam and cream scone, but one of the best is Dudley's - a cafe that serves cream teas along the promenade. The bistro and Rockfish are also conveniently located next to where visitors can catch the passenger ferry across to Kingswear, a picturesque village with pastel houses, a steam railway and Agatha Christie's holiday home, Greenway House. 6 One of the best free things to do in the town - especially with kids - is to walk along the water's edge. The water is always crystal clear and many times I would catch glimpse of silver fish skirting about close to the wall. As you walk along away from the harbour, you will reach English Heritage 's Tudor fort called Bayard's Cove Fort, built between 1522 and 1536. The fort used to house many heavy guns to protect the harbour from attack, but today stands as a ruin, free to visit. The thick stone walls and 11 gunports looking out over the water always provided the perfect spot for my imagination to run wild as a child. Between August 23 and 30, the 180th Dartmouth Royal Regatta takes place with sailing and rowing races, a 'Family Fun' weekend with a dog show and live music, a fire walk across burning coals and a fireworks display. Also on August 30, visitors can catch a glimpse of the Waverly - the world's last seagoing paddle steamer. Eventgoers can explore the 1946 steamer, including visiting the engine room and watching the paddles twist and turn through portholes, or take afternoon tea in the Dining Saloon. 6 If you fancy staying in the town, there are plenty for self-catered holiday cottages, such as Dart Valley Cottages that offer a range of water view homes. There are a few ways of reaching Dartmouth. You could hop on the train to Kingswear, before catching a passenger ferry for £5 return across the estuary to Dartmouth. Or if you are driving, you can head directly into the town or catch the car ferry from Kingswear for £14 return, which tends to be quicker. And if you do opt to stay in the town, but wish to explore the surrounding area, 10 minutes down the road is Blackpool Sands - an expansive Blue Flag beach on the South West Coastal Path. These are also the 1 0 stunning UK beaches nearby that star in a new Hollywood movie – from little-known coves to underground tunnels. Plus, one woman who lives in a much-loved Devon seaside resort has shared the hidden gem beaches and pubs that few people know about. 6
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bank holiday weekend: Travellers warned of road and rail delays
Millions of people have been warned of travel disruption over the bank holiday weekend, as heavy traffic, rail works and strikes threaten to throw plans into 17.6 million getaway trips are expected to be made by car across the UK between Friday and the bank holiday on Monday, the RAC said, urging drivers to set off early or prepare to spend longer in traffic. For those travelling on England's roads, the RAC said the South East and South West regions could experience some of the worst advised rail passengers not to travel on Saturday ahead of a strike by the RMT union, while Network Rail said several major routes would be closed for engineering works. Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern crowds are expected to head to events including London's Notting Hill Carnival, the Reading and Leeds festivals and the Creamfields festival in a transport analytics firm, said the M5 between Bristol and Devon could see the most severe traffic. The stretch from junction 15 north of Bristol to junction 23 for Bridgwater likely to see delays of more than 40 minutes on Friday and should also brace for hold-ups lasting more than half an hour on Friday on the M20 in Kent - a busy route for crossing the Channel via Dover or Folkestone."We're expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the south-east and south-west regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups," Nick Mullender, the RAC's mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said. "Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic." Rail delays Network Rail said the "vast majority" of the railway would run this weekend, despite plans to carry out works on more than 260 projects across it told passengers to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route would not be Sunday, there will be no long-distance services between London King's Cross and Peterborough, disrupting journeys by LNER and Lumo on the East Coast Main West Coast will operate a reduced service to and from London services will operate between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International between Saturday and Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry services will be diverted, which will extend journey times, while London Northwestern services will run to and from Birmingham International is running a reduced timetable over the weekend, with no services on Saturday. Services on Sunday could also be cancelled, it said. What's the forecast? It is expected to be a largely dry but rather cloudy day for many areas on and Sunday will stay dry for most, according to BBC Weather. There will be some areas of cloud but it will be warm in the August sunshine. As winds move round to a south-easterly flow, temperatures will rise slightly - this could be more noticeable on Sunday Scotland will have a few sunnier spells, but there will be a lot of cloud around for much of the day. Northern Ireland and northern England will be mostly cloudy. Temperatures will rise slightly as we lose the north-easterly wind and draw in a south-easterly flow, meaning they will be back above average for the time of year for central and southern Saturday and Sunday, central and southern England will be the warmest spots with temperatures between 23 and 25C (73 and 77F). However, Monday could see unsettled weather as the remnants of Hurricane Erin may start to approach the UK. While there is a chance of rain on Bank Holiday Monday, forecasters are still uncertain.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
One of the UK's most beautiful train journeys runs right across the beach and it costs less than £20
ONE of the UK's most scenic railway routes costs less than £20 to travel on all day. The Cambrian Coast Railway has previously been named one of the world's most beautiful train journeys. 4 4 The line runs from Aberystwyth to Pwllheli (with a change at Machynlleth) and often running along the coastline. One of the most beautiful journeys is via Barmouth, where it runs along a bridge that goes directly over the beach or the ocean, depending on the tides. Also called the Mawddach Viaduct, it is the longest viaduct in Wales made from wood, and one of the oldest that is still in use. You can even walk across the bridge, although you will need to ask to get off at Morfa Mawffach. Barmouth is worth a visit itself, as it was named an up-and-coming seaside town. National Geographic said: "This is the sort of town that's full of visitors-turned-residents and it's that sense of pride and community that's powering its revival." It even has a secret beach that can only be visited by tunnel - here is how to find it. Other fun stops along the way include Pwllheli, where you can access popular surfing spots, as well as Fairbourne for sandy beaches. Otherwise popular attractions include the National Library of Wales, in Aberystwyth, or the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn. Make sure to stay on the train in the evenings as well, as it has some of the best sunsets too. I took a 1920s themed train journey with flapper-style singers and luxury dining Visit Wales writer Karen Willans said: "The train ride itself can be a day out, but there's also loads to do along the way. "There's plenty of wildlife to see as well – sea birds (including cormorants), dolphins, porpoises and various birds of prey live in the area." Tickets cost £9.50 for kids or £19 for adults, which includes unlimited travel for the entire day. These can be used after 9:30am in the week, and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Railcard discount cards can also be used, and tickets are accepted on some bus services as well. 4 Around five trains run each way in the week between Machynlleth and Pwllheli, with 12 trains each way between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. These run every one or two hours. There are fewer trains on Sunday, with just three between the May and September season, or one out of this season. Here's the train journey which has been called the most beautiful in the UK. And there is a £5 scenic train journey where waves even crash again the windows. 4
