Luxury Train Travel in the British Isles

20th October 2025

There’s a romance to train travel; watching the landscape drift by from the dining car, enjoying stop-offs in small towns without having to drive along small winding roads, time to relax with an ever-changing view, and being able to stretch your legs on a good walk in the countryside. In an age where speed and efficiency often come at the expense of all else, the nostalgic rail experience takes you back to a bygone era of travel steeped in heritage and style.

The British Isles by Train

In the world of luxury rail, few experiences rival The Royal Scotsman. It’s stunning carriages turn the Scottish Highlands into the garden of a moving country house. Its wood-panelled cabins with plush tartan fabrics offer luxury hotel-level comforts on the rails. Guests can dine on local produce, sip whisky in the observation car, and stop off for castle visits and distillery tours along the way.

Belmond’s newest venture, the Great Britannic Explorer, brings this opulent luxury to England and Wales. With interiors designed to impress, a spa carriage, and menus crafted by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, it promises a decadent experience of old-world glamour. The trips on these two trains are multiple days long and take you on a journey around the British countryside like no other.

A Grand Day Out

To experience all the joy of a grand railway voyage, but in just one day, there are many day trips starting from various stations across Britain. Northern Belle offers different routes and is reminiscent of the old Orient Express. Each carriage features vintage design with rich wood panelling and classic upholstery. Guests are served afternoon tea by white-gloved waiters. The journeys are all-day-long celebrations, with itineraries that include castle tours, garden visits, and seaside escapes. They even do themed murder mystery trips for any Agatha Christie fans out there.

Operating out of London Victoria, the British Pullman is the capital’s most elegant countryside escape. Its restored Pullman carriages, some dating back to the 1920s, are masterpieces of art deco design. Inside, expect fine dining with a view, white tablecloths, crystal glassware, multi-course meals, and wines chosen to match the route’s mood.

West Coast Railways capture a different kind of magic with the Jacobite Express that runs from Fort William to Mallaig across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, immortalised in the Harry Potter films. The steam engine pulls vintage carriages along the rugged West Highland Line, offering dramatic landscape views and a few hours in Mallaig to stop for lunch or a wildlife cruise.

In many areas, there are smaller heritage lines kept alive by the communities that exist there. In Wales, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway winds through Snowdonia’s woodlands and mountain passes on narrow-gauge tracks. The North Norfolk Railway steams past dunes and villages along the English coastline, while Northern Ireland’s Downpatrick & County Down Railway brings local history to life with its classic engines and period stations. There are so many charming miniature railways dotted around the UK, there are too many to list here, but if you are interested in a vintage train experience as part of your trip to the UK and Ireland, get in touch with Away from the Ordinary to find one that fits with your plans.

Stationary Carriages

For those who prefer the atmosphere of a vintage train and station rather than the journey itself, the UK offers brilliant dining experiences aboard trains that never move.

In Pitlochry, The Wee Choo Choo transforms a 1960s carriage into an elegant Thai restaurant with candlelit tables and deliciously different food from other restaurants found in the area.

In Ballater, the Rothesay Rooms allow you to dine in glamour at Queen Victoria’s former train station. They serve refined Scottish dishes and afternoon tea in an old-world dining experience.

Back on the West Highland Line, at Glenfinnan Station, a 1950s Dining Car serves up teas, cakes, hearty soups, and coffees, with highland views. It is perfect for those who want to experience the magic of Glenfinnan’s railway heritage while on a tighter schedule.

The splendour of vintage trains and rail travel is unrivalled. The travel itself becomes the highlight of the day, rather than just a means to get from A to B. To build luxury train travel into your UK and Ireland itinerary, get in touch with Away from the Ordinary today.