• July 8, 2025

A new British Icon: A first look at Belmond’s Britannic Explorer

A new British Icon: A first look at Belmond’s Britannic Explorer

A new British Icon: A first look at Belmond’s Britannic Explorer 1024 685 micebook.

Last Thursday, Belmond unveiled the Britannic Explorer at an exclusive launch event, transforming a privatised station platform at London Euston station into a magical summer garden – and micebook was lucky enough to bag an invite (Thanks Perrine Chapelain!).

A beautiful and vibrant crowd celebrated the train’s upcoming debut – it will make its first journey later this month – with guests including more than a few well known faces enjoying surprise live performances and an exclusive first look at the newly designed vintage carriages.

Following a poem read by Hugo Hamlet as the magnetic Station Master, the train pulled into the platform to the sound of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ and we can confirm she’s a beaut. The exterior is an eye-catching blue, while the interiors are stylish but understated luxe, with colour palettes including greens and blues inspired by the British landscape.

The Britannic Explorer is the first luxury sleeper train to operate in England and Wales. Designed by London design studio Albion Nord, the train features 18 stylish cabins accommodating up to 36 guests, including three Grand Suites and an onboard spa.

The routes

The Britannic Explorer will depart from London, offering three-night journeys with a choice of three routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District, and Wales.

By day, optional off-train guided excursions will showcase the beauty, and history of each destination. Highlights include a private tour and dinner at the renowned Hauser & Wirth Somerset and on-site restaurant Da Costa, guided hikes through picturesque Wales, wild swimming in the stunning landscapes of the Lake district and a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall.

By night, passengers can unwind and mingle in the train’s botanically inspired Bar, located in the Observation Car.

The routes are scheduled to allow travellers to combine two regional journeys into one trip: The Cornwall and Lake District routes run from Friday to Monday, while the Wales route runs from Monday to Thursday. The maiden journey was originally scheduled to be Friday 4 July but has been pushed back until 21 July.

The gastronomy

Onboard, passengers can indulge in a world-class dining experience across wo dining cars, Malva and Samphire, where menus are created by Simon Rogan, a Michelin-starred chef and pioneer of sustainable British gastronomy.

Rogan’s menus celebrate seasonal, sustainable ingredients, sourced locally to showcase the richness of Britain’s diverse regions. Each of the three routes will feature bespoke afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus, highlighting the finest local specialties to ensure every meal is a true reflection of Britain’s culinary heritage.

The Bar, inspired by Victorian apothecaries, provides an elegant and convivial atmosphere where guests can savour a menu of innovative, botanically inspired cocktails, alongside a carefully curated selection of artisan gins and craft beers, highlighting the finest offerings from the UK’s independent distilleries and breweries.

Here’s a few of our snaps from the launch

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