Northern Belle has chosen the New Year to announce the highlights of what to expect in 2025 for tours on its iconic luxury train.

Spearheading the excursions will be eighteen steam-hauled trips over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle railway line, proclaimed by Channel 5 in its eponymous programme as one of the world’s most scenic railway journeys, and prompted Bill Nighy to describe the Northern Belle as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel”.

Travelling in 1930s luxury, the Pullman-style train will take champagne-sipping racegoers on slap-up excursions to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, and Glorious Goodwood.

For history buffs, destinations include historic cities such as Edinburgh, Chester, and York, and coastal resorts like Torquay, Llandudno and Oban.

In 2024, among other tours, there were trips to Edinburgh,
Weymouth, Dawlish, and Oban.

A new tour this year will be a special Mother’s Day Lunch trip on Sunday, 30th March 30 from Crewe, Warrington and Liverpool, and a visit to King Charles’ official Scottish residence at Holyrood Palace from Manchester, Preston, and Lancaster on Thursday, 25th September.

The train has seven hand-decorated carriages, each named after a stately home or castle, and one of which used to be part of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Train.

It is reputed to contain the favourite seat of the late Queen Mother, from where she would wave to excited onlookers and sip her gin and tonic as the train passed by.

Among the train’s special attractions are its own resident musicians and an onboard magician. Tours on The Northern Belle start from stations all over the UK, with fares starting from £365. More details about its upcoming excursions are on its website at www.northernbelle.co.uk.

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