Everything You Need To Know About The Northern Belle Train
Think of UK luxury train travel and the Northern Belle instantly comes to mind. The UK’s very own luxury train, the Northern Belle offers passengers exceptionally luxurious day trips across the UK. Evoking the opulence of 1930’s rail travel, this train is like no other, offering authentic luxury those would have experienced back in the Golden Age of Travel and promising every journey will make memories every passenger will cherish for years to come.
After being carefully restored, the Northern Belle was launched in the year 2000 and pulls 13 Pullman-style coaches including dining and baggage cars. The name ‘Northern Belle’ is to recall the ‘Belle’ trains of the 1930’s, such as the Brighton Belle and features the same exceptional artwork mosaics and fine wood panelling as trains of that era.
Northern Belle day trips are perfect for those looking to celebrate in style or treat themselves or someone special to a truly unforgettable day. With a wide range of trips available throughout the year, the Northern Belle can only be compared to a five-star hotel on wheels as your every need is met. Enjoy unrivalled levels of luxury as the glorious British countryside glides by and you feast upon exquisite cuisine, all combining to create a truly unique experience.
The Northern Belle Carriages
The Northern Belle is made up of thirteen carriages, all of which have been restored to an exceptional condition and preserving all original details from the 1930’s. The interiors evoke the same levels of luxury as they did back in the Golden Age of Travel and consist of fine fabrics and exceptional wood panelling as well as authentic works of art. Every detail has been meticulously attended to ensuring a truly glorious experience for every traveller.
The coaches are all unique and decorated and named accordingly. The train is made up of seven dining carriages and six other carriages.
The dining carriages:
• Alnwick
• Belvoir
• Chatsworth
• Glamis
• Harlech
• Warwick
• Duart
The other carriages consist of:
• Crewe – Mark 3 staff sleeper
• Balmoral – Mark 3 staff sleeper
• Mow Cop – Mark 2 Brake staff car
• Caedydd – Mark 1 kitchen car
• Car No. 1953 – Mark 1 kitchen car
• Car No. 92904 0 Mark 1 baggage car
Amber and Nantwich
The Northern Belle will sometimes be joined by two lovingly restored Mark I Pullman Carriages - the only genuine Mark I Pullman set operating on the main line in England. These rare carriages are part of the owner's prized collection and contain only thirty seats, making them extremely roomy and comfortable.
Northern Belle Orient Express?
The term ‘Orient Express’ is often used as a word to denote all luxury trains, but is actually inaccurate to do so. The Orient Express was a long-haul sleeper trained that stopped serving in 2009. So with that, there technically isn’t an Orient Express in existence any more. Read more in our blog Can I Ride the Orient Express?
That said, there are many trains including the Northern Belle that evoke the same feel and levels of luxury and offer carriages from the same era as the famous train. Some may be disappointed to learn this but they shouldn’t be; a trip aboard the Northern Belle offers the same opulence those would have experiences back in the 1930’s at a much more affordable price and a more convenient location.
The cost of a Northern Belle trip is also significantly less than a cross-continental journey. Tickets for the Northern Belle typical start from around £200 where as a journey that mimics the Orient Express can require a premium of up to £50,000 per ticket. This therefore makes the Northern Belle the perfect option for those wanting an authentic experience for themselves or a loved one but without the organisation and fees surrounding such a journey.
Northern Belle Trips
With a wealth of trips on offer throughout the UK on multiple dates throughout the year, there is a trip aboard the Northern Belle for everyone. Some journeys go through multiple stations allowing passengers from all over the UK to climb aboard their ideal journey. While every journey is unique, they all share the same high levels of opulence and dedicated stewards service that make your journey truly exceptional.
In short, there are two main types of journey aboard the Northern Belle; those with a destination and those without. Journeys with a destination usually stop and allow you to get off and explore on your own for a few hours before returning aboard for your journey home. Trips that don’t offer a destination mean you stay aboard for the whole duration and enjoy multiple courses of cuisine and relax in pure comfort as the beautiful scenery glides by.
Below you’ll find a brief example of some of the destinations the Northern Belle departs from as well as some of the journeys on offer. All journeys are round-trips and include any meals and drinks outlined in that particular journey. Nearly all journeys offer some sort of course, such as a lunch or dinner, sometimes even both.
Examples of Northern Belle journeys:
- Alnwick Castle & Gardens, Northumberand - Find out more
- Bangor at Leisure - Find out more
- Berwick Upon Tweed at Leisure - Find out more
- Brief Encounter Afternoon Tea - Find out more
- Brief Encounter Lunch - Find out more
- Bristol Aerospace Museum - Find out more
- Caernarfon Castle - Find out more
- Cardiff at Leisure - Find out more
- Chatsworth House at Leisure - Find out more
- Cheltenham Gold Cup - Find out more
- Christmas Lunch - Find out more
- Classic Afternoon Tea - Find out more
- Dumfries House - Find out more
- Dundee at Leisure - Find out more
- Edinburgh & Firth of Forth - Find out more
- Edinburgh & Royal Yacht Britannia - Find out more
- Edinburgh at Leisure - Find out more
- Edinburgh Christmas Markets - Find out more
- Winchester Christmas Markets - Find out more
The Northern Belle departs from locations such as:
- Bath
- Birmingham
- Brighouse
- Cardiff
- Cheltenham
- Chester
- Crewe
- Derby
- Durham
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Harrogate
- Hereford
- Hull
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Nottingham
- Wakefield Westgate
- Winchester
- York
Northern Belle ‘Brief Encounter’ journeys
Inspired by the 1945 romantic drama, the Northern Belle offers journeys themed around the film ‘Brief Encounter’. A love story between two strangers who meet each other at a railway station by chance, trains play a pivotal part in the story and you can re-live the cinematic magic aboard the Northern Belle.
Choose between a lunch or an afternoon tea, the Northern Belle Brief Encounter journeys are exceptionally popular and offer something truly unique. Embracing the story of the film, the journey takes you to Carnforth station, restored back to its 1940’s former glory and the setting for the film. Visit the heritage centre, have a dance on the platform along to the Northern Belle house band or enjoy all the fun from the comfort of your armchair.
The journeys include a champagne reception, a short stop at Carnforth station for approximately 20 – 30 minutes as well as strolling musicians a table magician and a bottle of wine per couple.
Northern Belle Seating Plan
The Northern Belle can cater up to 252 passengers with each carriage seating 42. Tables are arranged in tables of two or four with plenty of room for guests to move around and socialise aboard the train.
The carriages are made up of tables of two and tables of four. The private tables for two are very popular and therefore sell out very quickly. Please see the table configurations for bookings of two passengers below:
What to wear on the Northern Belle
Recommended attire can vary based on the type of journey you are embarking on. If it is a more casual day trip you have chosen such as a lunch, then smart casual is the best option when boarding the Northern Belle. If you are boarding for a dinner or a more formal occasion, then it is recommended that more formal attire is worn such as a tie at dinner.
Journeys aboard the Northern Belle are luxurious experiences with many passengers taking the journey for a special occasion or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It is therefore recommended that you are dressed appropriately and bear in mind the more prestigious environment.
Jeans and trainers are strictly not allowed.
Northern Belle Offers
At LuxuryTrainTickets.com, are pleased to work closely with the Northern Belle directly. This therefore allows us to offer clients a more bespoke service, including a complimentary concierge service to ensure your journey is nothing short of perfect. With this in mind, we are able to offer exceptionally competitive offers across almost all Northern Belle journeys.
Below are just some of the journeys we currently have on offer, but if you are looking or something in particular or require any other form of assistance. Please do not hesitate to get in contact.
