Slow luxury

The Britannic Explorer, a Belmond Train, fuses a celebration of timeless rail heritage with contemporary British gastronomy, culture, wellness and style.

The Britannic Explorer is the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales and will make its first journeys in July this year. Departing from London, it will offer three-night journeys with a choice of three evocative routes through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District, and Wales. By day, optional off-train guided excursions will showcase the rich cultural tapestry, beauty, and history of each destination, and by night, passengers can unwind and mingle in the train’s botanically inspired Bar, located in the Observation Car, set to be the vibrant social heart of the Britannic Explorer. 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.

Setting a new standard in luxury design, the renowned London-based studio, Albion Nord, has created serenely elegant interiors with an unmistakable British charm, distinct to the train. Combining a colour palette inspired by the breathtaking natural world beyond the expanse of picture-windows, with heritage motifs and playful details, the ensuing environment is both tranquil and vibrant.

Each of the Britannic Explorer’s 18 cabins couple sophistication with comfort. The three Grand Suites and 15 Suites have been carefully crafted in Britain and delicately designed to make the experience of the journey as extraordinary as the destination. Inspired by sweeping views of Britain’s rugged coastlines and rolling hills, each moment is transformed into a visual feast, whether passengers feel at home in the privacy of their cabin, relaxing in the onboard spa, or indulging in the Bar and restaurant cars.  

The dining experience aboard the Britannic Explorer will be designed by award-winning restaurateur Simon Rogan, a visionary leader in Britain’s farm-to-fork movement. Rogan’s menus will 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.

Speaking of the collaboration, Simon Rogan shared: “For me, true luxury lies in humble ingredients, grown with care, respect for their surroundings, and harvested at their peak. Across all my restaurants, my dishes are defined by local, often home-grown produce, and by partnering with British growers and suppliers who share our deep connection to the land and its natural elements. This philosophy allows our food to resonate with the environment from which it originates. 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.”

The menu aboard the Britannic Explorer has been designed to reflect the landscapes and flavours of the regions the train travels through. Each dish highlights the flavours of local ingredients, providing a true taste of the UK’s rich agricultural heritage. From breakfast, the menu showcases organically and regeneratively grown native grains, with inventive dishes such as fermented barley crumpets topped with roasted ox marrow and cave-aged cheddar, and ancestral grain pikelets made with flax seed and grilled orchard fruits. Traditional British ingredients are celebrated throughout, including Lincolnshire smoked eel on toasted rye bread and savoury crop-rotation porridge featuring wild mushrooms and seasonal brassicas from local farms. 

Joining the train as Executive Head Chef, the Britannic Explorer is delighted to announce the appointment of Sven-Hanson Britt. With a career spanning Michelin-starred kitchens and luxury hospitality, including The Ritz London and Blue Hill Farm in New York, alongside his own acclaimed restaurant, Oxeye in London. With deep-rooted experience in the farming industry, Chef Sven combines his expertise in regenerative agriculture with a passion for seasonal British produce to create a dining experience that will bring a fresh environmentally conscious approach. “I believe that the Britannic Explorer will change the game for luxury sustainable hospitality full stop, not just luxury travel. I feel very privileged to be the bridge between the UK’s best independent restaurant group working closely with chef Simon Rogan, Managing Director Sam Ward, and their team of world class talents; and the world’s finest luxury hotel and travel group. It feels new and avant garde whilst also feeling embedded in heritage and traditional opulence. Most excitingly of all though, is that the Britannic Explorer sits in a category of its own. It is completely unique.”

Chef Simon adds: “We’re in the final phase of refining our dishes for the Britannic Explorer menu and it’s been a hugely enjoyable process. Sven is a highly accomplished chef who shares our ethos and knowledge for produce, so his appointment as Exec Chef was the perfect solution. Guests will be in the best possible hands as they enjoy their dining experience on the train.”

Each route offers a distinct dining experience. Highlights on the Wales route include a picnic-style lunch featuring delights like rarebit and leek tart. For those travelling on the Cornwall journey, a vibrant Cornish barbeque lunch is served, showcasing the region’s coastal bounty. Guests can indulge in refreshing salads, such as red lammas wheat berries with Spar’s golden ale and fermented cabbage, before moving on to grilled local delicacies like Roche village asparagus, St Austell mussels, clams, and jig-caught squid with seaweed, alongside Cornish red mullet. For dessert, classic Cornish summer berries are paired with meadowsweet and chamomile cream, offering a perfect finish.

The focus on sustainability and seasonal produce continues with signature dishes like the reimagined Corra Linn waffle, a nod to Simon Rogan’s culinary philosophy, served with birch sap-cured Tamworth pork chop. Afternoon tea offers a regional twist, with scones made from traditional Cornish recipes or Welsh Bakestones, paired with dishes that include wild bilberries, roasted chicory root, and Somerset-grown walnuts. 

Each dining experience onboard will reflect the landscape outside the train’s windows, using the freshest local ingredients to create an immersive culinary journey that celebrates the diverse flavours and stories of England and Wales

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.

A partnership with leading British wellbeing brand, Wildsmith, will see an exclusive Wellness Suite on board the train. Renowned for a nature-inspired approach to wellbeing, curated treatments will be exclusive to, and inspired by, the journey, offering guests a serene escape to harmonise body and mind. Housed in one of the train’s ten beautifully designed carriages, the Wellness Suite will be the first experience of its kind on a train in England and Wales. Wildsmith’s treatment menu will centre on five bespoke experiences with mindfulness, grounding techniques, and personalised reflection at its core – inspired by the world outside the train windows.

Designed exclusively for the Britannic Explorer, Wildsmith have created a ‘Signature Circadian Rhythm Reset’ treatment, drawing inspiration from the lifecycle of trees and the body’s natural rhythms, providing a tailored experience with a choice of three distinct treatments throughout the day: including a revitalizing morning session, a midday purifying treatment, and a calming evening ritual designed to promote relaxation and restful sleep.

“We are beyond proud to be chosen as the wellbeing partner for the Britannic Explorer,” says Katherine Pye, General Manager at Wildsmith, “as we continue to expand our presence in the wellbeing and hospitality sector, we seek partners who share our commitment to offering elevated wellbeing experiences. From our first meeting, it was clear that our shared values of innovation, excellence, sustainability and authenticity would allow us to create transformative journeys that reflect the distinctive and unique character of the train. We are thrilled to be joining them for this journey.” 

The Britannic Explorer’s General Manager, Hendrik Huebner, comments: “Wellbeing is at the heart of the Britannic Explorer experience. Our collaboration with Wildsmith is a commitment to offering our guests more than just a journey; we are providing an opportunity for them to take time to reconnect with themselves and the world around them. By integrating Wildsmith’s nature-inspired approach to wellbeing into our offering, we are providing an opportunity for every guest to leave the Britannic Explorer feeling re-energized and deeply cared for. This partnership reinforces our belief that travel should be transformative, immersive, and ultimately, restorative.”

Beyond the train, guests can continue their wellbeing journey with a curated selection of rejuvenating offboard experiences. Guests travelling to Cornwall can enjoy coastal sailing, yoga, and a mindful fire ceremony for moments of restoration. The Lake District itinerary offers outdoors experiences including wild swimming, rowing, and paddleboarding. On the Wales journey, wellness meets adventure with scenic valley hikes, lavender farm visits, woodfired saunas, art classes, and clay pigeon shooting. The Britannic Explorer and Wildsmith partnership provides guests with an opportunity to relax into a slower pace of life, and emerge restored and rebalanced.

The Britannic Explorer will debut in July 2025. Luxury accommodation onboard starts from £11,000 based on a double cabin. This includes a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board. The Wellness Suite will be bookable for guests on each Britannic Explorer journey.

For reservations and more information, please contact reservations.bex@belmond.com or visit the web page below.

belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/ britannic-explorer