I Put Britain's “Most Luxurious” Train To The Test!

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I spent a day on what Conde Nast Traveler Magazine calls “Britain’s Most Luxurious Train”, and rates as one of the world’s Top 10 Trains: the “Northern Belle”.
I’ll reveal what the eye-watering fare got me, the unusual history of the train, it’s link to cruising and some surprising quirks I never thought I’d see or experience on a train.
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#NorthernBelle #train #BritishPullman

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2 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 199

@lisaanderson8235 Год назад

What a fun video! I love trains and train travel, so this was a nice surprise when this popped up instead of the usual cruise content. Yay! 👍👍(Love the cruise content, just enjoy that you mixed it up a bit)

@tulinfirenze1990 Год назад

Agreed.

@sallydownes3125 Год назад

I love cruising and so did my grandad. When he became too ill to go on a cruise we went on the Northern Bell and it was the most magical journey. It means the world to me that I got to spend that last special day with my grandad. The staff and other passengers were wonderful with grandad, I know everyone gets amazing treatment but they seemed to go above and beyond for him. Would highly recommend!

@stephenm8818 Год назад

Fab, great video, Gary. Looking forward to trains being a regular feature! And Mark, you are a kind and generous man ! 😊

@lesleywaghorn1627 Год назад

Agree with everyone - love that you have added this content. And while clearly an expensive trip, it looked like the furnishings, facilities and food were all excellent.

@icypeanutpolo Год назад

I live in north Georgia, and there is a similar, though not as luxurious, day trip train ride there. A premier seat will cost you $100 for a 4 hour trip to a small town nearby that is on the border between GA and TN, and I thought this was very reasonable. Considering there is a tea service, small lunch, gift tote with magnets and high quality enamel pin, etc., I consider this to be well worth the price of admission. I’d probably consider taking your train ride myself if I had the time when I’m next in the UK!

@cherylkoski7184 Год назад

I live in Knoxville. Tell me more!

@PaulCashman Год назад

@@cherylkoski7184 they might be referring to the Tennessee Valley RR Museum's "Copperhill Special," which runs from Delano TN (near Etowah) over to Copperhill TN/McCaysville GA, as the towns are on the state border. It is nowhere NEAR as luxurious as this, but a fun day-long ride.

@marilainefontenot8220 Год назад

I've been on this train ride and it was fun! Beautiful scenery. But nothing like what Gary and Mark experienced.

@seprishere Год назад

Actually $100 for four hours seems very reasonable, as I just paid £50.20 for a very utilitarian 105 minutes (should have been 95) from Paddington to Newport (Gwent) in second class.

@SheSailsAway Год назад

Blue Ridge? We are neighbors!

@gavinmclean3451 Год назад

Marvellous videography Gary. Wonderful also to get your insight into something different and share a special memory with us.

@KMA66 Год назад

My god, that cheese plate!

@PaulGodfrey Год назад

That did look a great train for a special trip. Excursion trains have become very expensive. Quite often over £100 for standard class non dining. And nudging £300 for first class dining. So not that crazy expensive in terms of today's excursion trains.

@hennarosenthal Год назад

I enjoyed this episode very much. I love a train trip and splashing out on a luxury line would be great fun.

@owensmith7530 Год назад

My dad mourns the loss of a proper cheese board in restaurants. I think he'd be satisfied by the one on this train.

@ginacota9724 Год назад

It’s fun to see you taking some different adventures! Cruising is my first love, but I also like to mix it up with some different types of travel now and then

@thomaswilson3437 Год назад

I'm really happy to see you have added the train packages to your channel. A few years ago my wife and I took a bus tour which routed us through Scotland. We loved it, until she got very car sick traveling from Ben Nevis to Oban (she is sensitive to motion sickness--BTW, Oban was fantastic). She told me she would not take the bus the next day to Glasgow, so what I did was book us two tickets on the train. The station is Glasgow was two blocks from our scheduled hotel. It worked out great and we loved the train trip, which while it was just a standard train, we really enjoyed. It was a whole separate adventure! Anyway, as a result she is now interested in these types of excursions......

@thomaswilson3437 Год назад

That trip did seem a bit pricey tho….

@BSWVI Год назад

A delightful departure, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!Your comments on anything you do are always thoughtful, gracious and informative. We're along for the ride wherever you go!

@frankfitzsimons4442 Год назад

You always do a great job on your reviews. Alongside your commentary I liked the informative cinematography and the overview.

@Fleetwoodphil1 Год назад

I’m glad you put most luxurious in inverted commas, I have travelled on it a couple of times, once when it under VSOE and once after West Coast Railway took it over, standards although good have dropped. For personal reasons I drink decaf coffee, other trains use decaf filter, they use instant sachets with warm water, at your table. The food is preprepared off train, just heated on board. On my last trip with them, some light bulbs were not working, the supposed entertainment didn’t show up. Frankly I found it overpriced. We stopped at a station for almost an hour without any information, turned out it was a locomotive problem. Also they branded themselves “most luxurious train “ for real luxury try the Royal Scotsman ( still run by Belmond ).

@SoloonaCruise Год назад

Wow, a fun change. I like these kinds of posts. But these kind of trips are so dear.

@Emperorvalse Год назад

Thank you Mark for spending your bonus on this trip. Thank you both for sharing this trip and having something different on the channel. I enjoyed it very much and hope this train can stay in operation for decades to come.

@christianoliver3572 Год назад

Honestly £440 doesn't seem to be too much to pay for this experience. I'm guessing that they have included alcoholic wine/champagne and if you want something fancier that option is there for you but it's extra. The food, service, entertainment, and the train itself looks stunning. And it's about the experience.

@lilbatz Год назад

For two people, in NYC, Broadway show tickets and dinner/after glow coukd easily top $1K, if you really splash out.

@christianoliver3572 Год назад

@@lilbatz I've spent more than that on a bottle of Bordeaux in New Orleans. Prices of everything are just stupid right now and the first thing that becomes out of reach are the luxuries that sooth some of our souls. So honestly I do think it's a good value but I'd caution Americans and other non Europeans what exactly the voyage is all about. I'd love this but I'm pretty sure many of my fellow Texans might not understand how amazing it is that those American Pullman cars made in the Chicago area and shipped to the UK still even exist. We don't have much of a passenger rail heritage past the 1950s which was two decades before my birth. For me it would be as much about the train than the journey.

@davidstephenson9251 Год назад

I love the look of that journey and will seriously consider going on it. Also, it was great to see Mark participating in the video. You should stream more things as a team n

@barbaralazier8352 Год назад

This looks like a winner. I will add it to our Canadian cross country train: The Rocky Mountaineer Toronto to Vancouver or reverse

@CMW__ Год назад

Really liking the different episode 👏🏼

@charliedurham4248 Год назад

Wait a minute, this isn't a cruise.. .

@JamesC-jr3sm Год назад

Looks good. Just back from 2 days on the Rocky Mountaineer (Gold car). Great trip but also very expensive for what it was.

@chezgopherchezgopher7130 Год назад

Just a (pernickety) FYI: Alnwick is pronounced "Ann-ick"; Belvoir is pronounced "Beaver". Train looks fab!

@littleannie390 Год назад

Also Glamis is pronounced Glaamz.

@helenorgarycrevonis2022 Год назад

Nice trip. Glad you and Mark had fun!

@debbiehill7408 Год назад

Looks like the train we took back to the sacred valley from Machu Pichu, it was an amazing experience. Part of Celebrity cruise land and sea experience paired with Galapagos

@thethresh Год назад

Fantastic video, Gary! I watch your videos to be educated and entertained and this train video is tops!

@kays749 Год назад

I love trains. We have too few here in America. I must say that Mark sitting there looks very "to the manor born"!

@philipbooth3601 Год назад

Traveled on the Northern Belle earlier this year, absolutely fantastic experience and worth every penny. Will definitely be doing it again!

@TheOnlyLilithcat Год назад

Sadly, when I took the Orient Express to Venice last year, Belmond had to cancel the British Pullman/coach/Eurotunnel Le Shuttle portion of the trip and put us on the Eurostar instead. All thanks to delays at border crossings at Calais, due to Brexit. It was a delightful trip nonetheless, and we received a substantial onboard credit. I hope that one day I can do the British Pullman, because it looks fantastic!

@wendywebster-sv2li Год назад

We went from Liverpool to Edinburgh 3years ago in covid times to celebrate my hubby’s 70th . Had a fantastic day, everything on the train was tip top. The weather was glorious . Can highly recommend.

@lilbatz Год назад

Jelly! That trip looked fabulous. Though you say it's spendy, it's cheaper than two top tier Broadway show tickets with dinner. (alas, I have The Poors, and couldn't do the train nor the show lol)

@cathydrumobich9045 Год назад

FYI: Belvoir -- named after Belvoir Castle -- is actually pronounced "BEAVER."

@maryevans1972 Год назад

I love train trips, again you have given me something else to add to my bucket list, and Mark gave me a laugh with the cooking vinegar comment

@tipsfortravellers 10 месяцев назад

Wonderful!

@aureliacornelia79adgracchu29 Год назад

You call that eye wateringly expensive? Try travelling at short notice from London to Edinburgh! By the way Glamis is pronounced Glamz (Sorry, picky Scot!☺) Loved the trip. Quite close to me, so I'll give it a try. I hadn't heard of it at all. Thank you 💖

@Clutching.My.Pearls Год назад

Thank you Gary and Mark for taking us on an adventure on land!! We're planning on a trip in 2025 to the United Kingdom and we'll look into this once in a lifetime side trip. ❤❤

@lizcampbell2354 5 месяцев назад

Fabulous content tbankyou .I am booked for Christmas lunch departing from Newcastle .

@trace8153 Год назад

who is MARK sorry im lost

@kathleenkalt3852 Год назад

What a fantastic experience. My husband and I decided to focus on experiences rather than things, when we retired. Wish we'ed learned that earlier in life.

@elegant_travelling Год назад

YES! Thank you so much for doing a review of this wonderful train! Hope there will be more in the future. Next time you’re in Civitavecchia or Italy in general do check out if your trip matches up with one of Italys historic trains (Arlecchino and Settebello are highly recommended :) ) Glad you had a good time!

@deborahbergstrom2290 Год назад

Thank you so much for making this video. It was a fun change of pace and something I would not have ever known about.

@seprishere Год назад

I think I will stick to the 1750 SWR service to London Waterloo, arriving at 1949 (also this seems slow compared with GWR Paddington to Newport/Cardiff, LNER King's Cross to Leeds/York, or Avanti Euston to Preston/Manchester Piccadilly/Liverpool Lime Street).

@deboraharonson8975 Год назад

LOVE it sooooooo much! I want more of this, exotic and amazing trips. Just returned from Alaska for the third time, many cruises in. Kind of over it, after 35 years; perhaps it’s time of life, perhaps many things, really.I don’t know how you have done 100…..I would really be ‘over’ the process of it all. If you know of a channel which might cover this, please share. UNLESS YOU will be doing more. The fancier and cleaner, the better. Hugs from Oregon.

@dansatMaryland Год назад

Gary, my wife and I are wondering about the device you are using for some of your walking shots. I see you holding something but I see no connection to the camera? Off on Fred Olsen out of Liverpool this Friday with a friend in Wales. Thnx for that video! DS Maryland.

@sharonwhite1985 Год назад

The idiosyncrasies of English places names! I believe Alnwick = ‘Annick’ and Belvoir = ‘Beaver’. Happy to be corrected though if wrong!

@jetdriver 10 месяцев назад

That is an utterly insane price ESPECIALLY since everything (like alcohol) isn’t included. 880£ plus drinks for a day trip? Sorry no.

@juliewatts1937 Год назад

Have just returned from a ‘imagine cruising’ package - Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to Civitavecchia followed by a stay in Lake Garda then return to UK on Orient Express to Calais and the Belmont Pullman to London. The whole trip felt opulent and well with the price. I was so impressed by the Belmond - we had afternoon tea which took the whole journey back. I would be quite happy to pay out for a trip like yours, to celebrate an occasion, as the Pullman trains are very special.

@josephsgroi4474 Год назад

I was bracing myself for a much higher fare for this absolutely incredible train (a once in a lifetime experience). However, I’m probably in the minority, I could do without the entertainment.

@SharonJohnson-l7n Год назад

Just subscribe to your channel after bingeing on your cruise videos. They are very informative and made me think about what I would like in a cruise having only done a few adventure type cruises. BUT I love trains so I throughly enjoyed this video. Keep up your excellent and enjoyable videos😊

@Chandransingham Год назад

Very helpful. Thanks. Perhaps you could do one on the Orient Express also.

@regplate2923 Год назад

We went on this. As we started the train juddered and jerked. The waiter slopped Champaign into the cups and saucers on the table. He missed the glass altogether. The saucer was full. No apology and he didn’t replaceb them until we asked. The cold draft was unbelievable - freezing air whistling down the carriage. Our feet were so so cold. It was hours of real discomfort. Would never go on one of these again. Real disappointment.

@kencarruthers6714 Год назад

You had a great treat! I guess if you break the cost down to what it comes to per hour - given the dining experience, luxury and service - it’s not horrendous. But I’m not sure I’d fully appreciate the on-board entertainment. Ken

@jenna6149 Год назад

How delightful! Though it's likely going to stay a dream I would love to take a luxury train vacation.

@planner722 Год назад

Seems very empty.

@johnathankain8033 Год назад

How lovely of Mark to treat you to such a cool trip. I love seeing Mark along with you on trips!

@hispid1 Год назад

Every single non- alcoholic wine I've ever tried has been like cooking-vinegar . You'd think someone would have fixed it by now.

@stustuart7323 Год назад

Loved this Gary....we both love cruises and I love trains (not my husband tho)

@KMA66 Год назад

Looking very smart, Gary!

@Smokeyham Год назад

Comparing this experience with a 3-day cruise aboard a low cost cruise line does not seem to be comparing like items. The experience looks wonderful but is not to everyone's taste. Thanks for posting this and giving us an idea of what the experience is like.

@sandiandgregh Год назад

Very interesting...and an interesting price tag, too. We love train travel and with there were more opportunities here that were budget friendly. We enjoy your cruise videos even though we are more flyers and ferry-users than cruisers. It's all good though. #armchairtravel

@LMays-cu2hp Год назад

Thank you for the both of you on a great trsin trip for the day. I agree with Mark as well, I am not a backwards seating person. I did enough of that because of my career flying. Yes, the jump seats were enough for me in those years. Now, as I have traveled, I prefer to sit forward. But yes, if I am traveling with a friend or relative then I give up a good seat as a courtesy to another person.

@johnwatson3616 Год назад

Do you know what he vegetarian main meal provision was like? Im nervous about spending that level of £££ for a nut cutlet or similar.

@naren2k6 Год назад

That looks like a real bucket list train journey, even at $554/ US it seems to be worth it, you are treated like Royalty. True its a bit rich. Great video Sir.

@scotsam7590 Год назад

I get emails for these trips. They look wonderful and you two lads looked so very nice in your smart suits; love the colour. You should dress up more often in your videos. Maybe you'll start a trend. Thanks for covering this type of getaway.

@isthatrubble Год назад

mark and I are opposite, I love travelling backwards on trains, I have no idea why!

@bobikdylan Год назад

Unless you live around the corner from Victoria, that's well over a thousand per couple. Was it really worth it?

@Rosenburge Год назад

The train looks half empty. How often does this service run?

@RandallLeighton Год назад

What a fun thing to do. That train is gorgeous and the food looked over the top. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

@denizalgazi Год назад

If only these luxury trains had intercity schedules instead of excursions.

@clement2780 Год назад

where why would you travel by train vs bus coach vs river cruise? where would you ocean cruise?

@raphischuster2060 Год назад

I really enjoy Your cruise content sir but its also nice seeing You do something different and i would enjoy more videos like that from trains or airlines as well as Your cruise related topics thank You.

@juliachandler7629 Год назад

I nearly booked that trip! Although went for a cheaper option with another company.

@Gus0898uk Год назад

The Belvoir is pronounced Beaver. Nice video though.

@artquest Год назад

It looks like a lovely trip, though pricey. I hope you get a chance to try out the Royal Scotsman on one of the three or five day trips. Very much like a river cruise. Also pricey but well worth it.

@cssr26 Год назад

LOVE the special edition episode!!!

@BoysOfBoca Год назад

How long is the trip each way? What is there to do in the destination you mentioned? It looks like Coney Island.

@keithheathcote8284 Год назад

Hope you enjoy the Indian Pacific in December.

@PuenteAJ Год назад

Ohhhhh what a lovely day. Something I would love to do. Really enjoyed the video. Thank you

@maurinet2291 Год назад

I was a little concerned with how empty the train seemed, for it to continue to be viable :(.

@brigidconroy2111 Год назад

Can you choose which carriage you are in? Can you stay overnight or do you have to do it in one day?

@Dot_Skeith Год назад

Glad to of watched this. Never for me. Great video as always!

@MandalorianFanboy Год назад

Loved this. Will definitely add to our itinerary next time we are in London!

@chuckm6486 Год назад

As much as I love ships (especially Cunard ships!), I do admit that there is something special about lingering in a railroad dining car over a nice glass of wine after a highly enjoyable meal. Glad you did this trip and shared it with us!

@dzikijohnny Год назад

You need more train travels on this channel to mix things up.

@baseballfan99 11 месяцев назад

Great review. I am booking this for next year 👍

@ShadowSiren88 Год назад

You both are cute together ❤️. Hope to see more adventures together ❤️

@ConanTheLibrarian-n5q Год назад

I was great to see and hear Mark. Please Gary, give us more Mark

@Victorflange Год назад

That looks like an amazing day, I really want to give it a try.

@DanetteSWhite Год назад

Very elegant, fancy. Wonderful decor.

@WasmitReisen Год назад

I would say, the Royal Scotsman is much more luxurious, no question... But maybe it is not regarded as a British train 😂

@corettejones Год назад

👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🥰🇺🇸 I wanna go on the train.

@Diana-007 Год назад

Gary you deserve a treat for all your hard work sharing your tips for travelling with us, well done Mark glad he appreciates you too. Flying Scotsman next ?? I’ve always fancied it and hubby is a bit of a train buff, I see they are doing a 3 day whisky experience, pretty expensive be great if you could try it out first 😁 he has a special birthday coming up! 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

@tipsfortravellers Год назад

Yes, I would love to try that. that is super costly though... but tempting.....

@malcolmreed3742 Год назад

I was on their website. Their trains are not wheelchair accessible which is inexcusable in 2023. Such a great disappointment.. and quite honestly, infuriating.

@robertwilson738 Год назад

You seem to be missing the whole point of the experience which is to sample heritage railway carriages which were built in an age when accessibility was not a consideration many decades ago and are unable to be adapted. This is a similar situation to the ancient manor houses where you cannot adapt without destroying the fabric of what makes it an attraction.

@sl4193 Год назад

Thank you for the video, Gary. A lovely insight into a very different rail travel experience. I've wanted to do something similar for a number of years, now I'm going to start searching in earnest😊

@LowVisionUKTerrysView Год назад

How lovely. I loved hearing all about this special journey. I have now added it to my must do list, and will be treating my Partner Dean to it myself, as a result of your posting. Thanks so much..Terry x

@enjoyslearningandtravel7957 Год назад

Sorry I didn’t catch it, Was the price for one-way or return?

@briangasser973 Год назад

It was a 12 hour day trip out and back to Victoria Station. There are no one way options

@wendysherbert3257 Год назад

I LOVED this video! We have nothing like it in the USA to my knowledge. I took our AutoTrain on Amtrak and booked a family bedroom. It had its own shower/toilet comfortable seating and fold down service while we had dinner. We spent the night and had breakfast in the morning. For the car, meals, two adults, and a family suite it cost right at 1000.00 USD. It was “our” treat too.