Is the Belmond British Pullman a Top 50 UK Experience? | UK Experience Guide
Britain is home to countless incredible experiences, but which ones are genuinely worth the money?
I’m on a mission to find the Top 50 experiences in the UK, and today, I'm putting one of Britain’s most famous luxury train journeys to the test.
We travelled aboard the Belmond British Pullman on its Historic Bath journey, experiencing the vintage carriages, fine dining and all the glamour that comes with travelling on one of Britain's most iconic trains.
But does it really deserve a place among the UK's Top 50 experiences?
In this review, I'll look at everything from the food and atmosphere to the itinerary and, most importantly, whether the experience offers enough value for money to justify its luxury price tag.
What makes a Top 50 Experience?
So, what actually makes an experience worthy of my Top 50 list? It’s about everything from whether we had a good day, the atmosphere, quality of the experience, value for money and, most importantly, how memorable it is. We want to find experiences that we would genuinely recommend to friends and family and that stand out as a highlight of things you can do in the UK. At the end of each review, we’ll decide whether we think it deserves a spot on our Top 50 list.
What is the Belmond British Pullman?
The Belmond British Pullman is a luxury vintage train made up of restored 1920s and 1930s Art Deco carriages. It offers luxury day trips, fine dining excursions and special events such as murder mysteries, through the British countryside.
Review Summary
Overall Rating - 9/10
Duration - Around 11 Hours
Top 50 Verdict - Yes
Departure Point - London Victoria Station
Journey we went on - Historic Bath
What’s Included:
Roundtrip Train Journey
Brunch and Dinner
Drinks (can order premium beverages at an additional cost)
Best for:
Special Occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries
Visitors wanting a quintessentially British experience
Anyone who loves vintage glamour and luxury travel
I wouldn’t recommend for:
Anyone wanting lots of time to explore the destination
Price - Luxury Experience
The Itinerary
Arrive at Victoria Station
Boarding the Pullman
Brunch
Exploring Bath
Return to the Train
Dinner
Arrival back at London Victoria Station
Arrival
The experience begins at London Victoria Station, where you are greeted by professional staff and shown to the lounge while you wait for the train.The lounge is nice but does not provide enough seating for everyone boarding the train so if you want to sit and relax in the lounge I recommend arriving early.
When arriving in the lounge you will be able to pick up a glass of rose to enjoy. They also have a live singer singing old fashioned songs like putting on the ritz to get you in the 1920s mood.
The train will then arrive, and staff members will help you find your carriage. Boarding is made effortless by the attentive staff, who also make a real effort to offer to take photographs of you on the train. They offer all guests to take a picture outside the carriage before departure.
The Carriages and Atmosphere
For our trip we chose a private compartment, which I do recommend if you are travelling as a group. For a one-off experience like this having our own private space made the journey feel even more special. However, if you're primarily interested in the food and atmosphere, I'd be less concerned about upgrading.
The train has a wonderfully luxurious feel and genuinely transports you back in time. The carriages are beautifully restored, with each one having its own character and history. Even the toilets have the most incredible mosaic floor. If you love old glamour this is perfect.
You are able to walk through and check-out the different carriages some of which have even hosted famous figures, including Queen Elizabeth II and Winston Churchill.
The Food
Food is a big part of the British Pullman experience, and on the Historic Bath journey, you are treated to brunch on the way to Bath and dinner on the return journey.
After departing Victoria Station, we settled into our seats and began our brunch as we went from London skyscrapers to English countryside. We started with a Belmond Bellini, the signature drink associated with Belmond’s Venice property, before moving onto the food.
Brunch Menu:
Pastries - Pain aux raisin and a banana pastry
Whipped yoghurt with granola
Trout Crossiant
Tea and coffee throughout
The brunch was a lovely way to start the journey. The pastries were a particular highlight for me.
Once we arrived in Bath, we had time to explore the city before returning to the train. By the time we got back to our carriage, the staff had completely reset everything for dinner, transforming the atmosphere once again.
On settling into our seats, we were offered a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne, which was an excellent start to the evening and one I was particularly impressed with.
Dinner Menu:
Focaccia with Butter
Burrata with Tomatoes
Chicken and potato
Strawberry Trifle
Cheese Board
Petit fours
Dinner was served gradually throughout the return journey, which was very well done and allowed the meal to really be the highlight of the journey.
The food itself was genuinely impressive, especially considering it was being prepared and served on a moving train. Everything we had was delicious, from the burrata and tomatoes through to the chicken and potato, while the strawberry trifle provided a lovely finish.
For dinner, each guest receives half a bottle of wine, with red, white and rosé available. There are also non-alcoholic options for those who don't drink.
One thing worth mentioning is that the menu is set, so there isn't the same level of choice you might get in a restaurant. However, I actually found this worked well. There were a couple of things on the menu that I wouldn't normally choose, but I still thoroughly enjoyed them.
The chef also came around the carriage during the meal to check that everyone was enjoying their food, which added a personal touch to the service.
Overall, the food was really good. The quality, presentation and timing of the meals all contributed to the feeling that this was much more than simply travelling from London to Bath and back. Food is clearly an important part of the British Pullman experience, and for me, it delivered.
Bath
Three hours isn't enough to experience everything Bath has to offer, but it is enough to get a taste of the city. We used our time to walk through the city centre, see the Royal Crescent and stroll along the River Avon.
If you're visiting Bath for the first time, I'd recommend planning your route before arriving because the limited time goes surprisingly quickly.
Value for Money
This is very expensive experience and the typical price at the time of writing this is £670 a person. However, we booked a promotion (four for the price of three), which effectively made the cost £502.50 per person. If you’re considering booking, it's worth checking for promotions before paying full price.
This is an expensive experience, however, I do think you get a lot included in the price. The food is generous, and there is also a good amount of drinks included, although premium beverages come at an extra cost.
Tips Before Booking
Check for promotions - Belmond regularly runs promotions, so its worth checking the website before booking.
Arrive early - If you want to make use of the lounge before boarding, arrive early to get a seat.
Dress Up - People wear a huge range of outfits, but dressing up is part of the fun and helps make the experience feel even more special.
Plan your time in Bath - I didn’t plan this particularly well and regretted it. With only a few hours in the city, having an itinerary beforehand will help you make the most of your time.
The Verdict - Is it a Top 50 UK Experience?
Yes, absolutely.
The main reason I am adding the Pullman to my Top 50 UK experiences is because it offers something very few other experiences can: the chance to spend an entire day immersed in the glamour and elegance of a bygone era.
From the moment you arrive at Victoria Station to the moment you step off the train at the end of the day, the whole experience feels special. Every detail has been carefully thought through, from the champagne and beautifully restored vintage carriages to the attentive service and beautifully presented meals.
Whilst I wouldn’t recommend the British Pullman if your main priority is exploring the destination, as you only have a few hours in Bath, it is still a lovely addition to the day and gives you the opportunity to see somewhere new.
Would I spend the money to do it again? Probably not. For me this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I think what makes it so special is that it feels like a real occasion.
But is it worth doing once? Absolutely, 100%.
It is expensive, but if you're looking for a truly memorable, luxurious and uniquely British experience, I think the Belmond British Pullman deserves its place in my Top 50 UK Experiences.
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