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Extremely posh train coming to UK railway with onboard spa and marble bathrooms
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A NEW luxury train service with an on-board spa, private cabins and other lavish touches is set to launch in the UK next year.
The Britannic Explorer will be the first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales by the hospitality and leisure company Belmond.
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Brit holidaymakers will know Belmond as the luxury train operator behind the British Pullman, the Royal Scotsman and the Orient Express.
A statement on the : "See Britain through new eyes aboard the first ever luxury sleeper train in England and Wales.
"Paying homage to the Great British tradition of touring, the Britannic Explorer celebrates the art of slow travel, preserving Britain’s pioneering railway history while ushering in a new era of culture and creativity."
Train journeys will launch in July, 2025, with services departing from London.
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Holidaymakers can choose from three routes, including the Lake District, Cornwall and Wales.
One each route, passengers can explore some of the UK's prettiest destinations like St Ives in Penzance, Haverfordwest and Porthmadog in Wales and Ribblehead Viaduct in the Lakes.
Curator-led tours of art galleries, foraging experiences and wild swimming excursions will also be organised for passengers.
It's not just about the destination but rather the journey.
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The luxurious locomotive will have 18 private cabins, including three grand suites, double suites and twin suites.
Each of the grand suites will feature a double bed, a marble dining room, an en-suite bathroom with a marble basin and shower cubicle and a personal butler.
British Pullman, a Belmond Train has been crowned best train journey in the world in the 2024 Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards
Meanwhile, the double suites, which have been decorated with a green colour scheme, will have a double bed, an en-suite bathroom, and a fold out table and stool.
Lastly, the twin suites have twin beds with an en-suite bathroom and a fold-out table and stool.
The twin suites will also feature artwork by English artist and designer Luke Edward Hall.
On-board dining on the Britannic Explorer has been described as a "moveable feast" by the luxury travel brand.
The food menu has been designed by chef Simon Rogan, owner of L’Enclume, a restaurant in the Lake District that holds three-Michelin stars.
Each train journey includes lunch, dinner and an afternoon tea, with meals served in the Dining Car.
Alternatively passengers can unwind in the Observation Car that features a bar where cocktails, gins and craft beers are served.
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The luxury sleeper train will also have an on-board spa where passengers can book massages and facials.
Tickets for three-night stays start from £5,800 per passenger for a twin suites, with six-night stays start from £11,600 person for the same cabin.
Breaks are already on sale, with more information available .
Other luxurious train journeys
At the end of last year, the Royal Scotsman in Scotland was named one of the best train journeys in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.
The Scottish train made the list thanks to its indulgent and intimate atmosphere.
Another fancy train journey in the UK is the four-night Welsh Dragon holiday, run by Steam Dreams Rail Co.
Travelling from London Paddington through Wales, there is an onboard bar as well as a dining car with a specially made menu.
Starting from £995pp, the steam train trip is set to run this September.
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Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
SUN Travel's journalists have taken their fair share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
"After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
"Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
"Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
"From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
"The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray
Meanwhile, this is one of the best overnight train journeys in the world.
And this scenic train route is in the UK and costs just £23.
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