BELMOND’S BRITANNIC EXPLORER: A NEW CHAPTER IN BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP AND SLOW TRAVEL

Crossing the countryside from Cornwall to the Lake District, Belmond’s Britannic Explorer renews the golden age of rail travel with a distinctly modern vision – celebrating design, gastronomy, and the enduring art of the journey.

For Belmond, travel has always been an art form: one defined by discovery, refinement, and time. The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, continues this legacy, weaving together British craftsmanship, natural beauty, and contemporary comfort in the first luxury sleeper train to journey across England and Wales.

Conceived as a modern homage to Britain’s railway heritage, the train invites guests to slow down and take in the scenery that has inspired poets, painters, and travelers for centuries. Designed by the London studio Albion Nord, its eight carriages have been transformed into elegant retreats for just 36 guests. The interiors evoke the serenity of an English country house in motion: oak paneling, wool and linen textiles, and soft tones inspired by the fields, forests, and shorelines passing by the window.

The sense of craftsmanship extends to every detail. Custom furnishings, handcrafted artworks, and locally made fabrics pay tribute to Britain’s design heritage. Each suite takes its cue from the natural world – earthy greens, coastal blues, and garden tones –creating an atmosphere that feels both timeless and intimate. This meticulous attention to materiality and mood defines Belmond’s approach to hospitality: understated luxury rooted in authenticity.

Onboard, culinary excellence takes center stage under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan. His menus, crafted from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, trace the route’s geography: Cornish seafood, Cumbrian produce, Welsh lamb… Each dish echoes the regions through which the train passes. Meals are served in the elegant dining cars Malva and Samphire, where botanical inspirations and polished service embody Belmond’s signature hospitality.

Beyond the train, curated excursions offer guests a deeper connection to local culture and nature. Days are punctuated by experiences that embrace the rhythm of the landscape: wild swimming or sailing in the Lake District, art and coastal walks in Cornwall, or contemplative hikes through the Welsh countryside. Each itinerary is designed to balance discovery and rest, echoing the philosophy of slow travel that defines the journey. To this end, wellness, too, plays an essential role, and in partnership with British botanical brand Wildsmith, the onboard spa offers restorative treatments using plant-based formulations.

With the Britannic Explorer, Belmond expands its celebrated portfolio of British rail experiences, joining the Royal Scotsman and British Pullman in a lineage of storied journeys. Yet this new train also offers a reflection on modern luxury itself: slower, more sustainable, and profoundly connected to place.

More than a journey, the Britannic Explorer is a moving celebration of design, gastronomy, and cultural heritage, an enduring tribute to the spirit of British travel, rediscovered through Belmond’s inimitable lens.