A day trip on the Orient Express

The Orient Express is widely regarded as one of the most luxurious way to travel, with opulent carriages dating back to the 1930s. Karen O'Grady was transported back in time to a golden age of glamour and romance, on her trip aboard the British Pullman.

London Victoria to York, 8am
Arriving at the prestigious-looking Orient Express lounge at Victoria Station, I was full of anticipation for my day ahead. I was due to board the British Pullman for a day trip to York. Just before 8am, one of the train's many stewards escorted me to the train, and guided me to my seat. I was surprised to see that my seat was in fact an armchair, and also that the armchair was not fixed to the ground, meaning I could move around to enjoy the scenery form different vantage points.

Within seconds of sitting down, I was asked by our carriage waiter if I would like a Bellini. It was 8am in the morning, usually I would be looking for caffeine, but keen to enter into the spirit of decadence essential to luxury travel, I gladly accepted the offer, and settled into my armchair to take in the opulence of my surroundings.

 
The British Pullman carriages were described by their originator, George Mortimer Pullman, as 'Palaces on Wheels', and it's not hard to see why. Each British Pullman carriage is uniquely designed, with its own name and décor, from Victorian to Art Deco. The carriages seat around 20 passengers and have a stately look and feel. Tables are set with beautiful china, along with a flower in a vase and table lamp. Art is displayed on walls, armchairs are upholstered in pretty florals or regal stripes, and elegant light fittings and brass luggage rails adorn the walls. Of course, the views outside the carriage are pretty spectacular as well. The train moves at a comfortable speed, making it easy to savour the spectacular scenery. To ensure points of interest along the route are not missed, there is a map of the journey provided which clearly shows cathedrals, rivers and local beauty spots.

Exceptional service
One of the most memorable and enjoyable aspects of taking a trip on board the British Pullman is the outstanding level of service provided by the stewards. The expression ‘nothing is too much trouble' must have been coined by a traveller on this train, because I have never experienced such attentiveness.

Each course of the extensive brunch served onboard was brought to the table with genuine pleasure by the waiters, who took real pride in the food as well as the train itself and the overall experience on board. A seemingly never-ending supply of coffee was on offer, with a waiter appearing to top up my cup at the exact time when a refill was required. Whenever I moved around the train I was greeted with a smile and allowed to pass by the waiters serving food, or stewards organising the next round of service. In fact, the stewards were so polite, and  kept such a close eye on my every need, that after a few hours on board, it's easy to start enjoying the luxury of table service, and wonder why life can't always be as good as this? I particularly enjoyed the steward's announcement to the carriage that the train would be arriving in York in 10 minutes time - a girl likes to know when it's time to start preparing for disembarkation!

Gourmet cuisine
During the five-hour journey to York, the brunch menu was outstanding. There was of course the Bellini, followed by biscuits and Danish pastries. These had been devoured by around 9am. Next was an exquisite fresh fruit cocktail, followed by scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and crumpets (to die for). By now it was about midday and time for a break from eating, and a chance to enjoy the scenery floating by until the next course of morning pastries were served, along with a melt-in-the mouth pear tarte tatin and cream. And of course, more coffee. It's a foodie's paradise, and highly enjoyable to devour five courses over five hours - who has the time for this most days?!

The home run, York to Victoria, 5.30pm
After an afternoon spent enjoying the sights of York, I was greeted enthusiastically by our carriage steward, (who had now become a personal best friend) and shown to my seat. A glass of champagne was poured for me and I contemplated whether it might be possible to stowaway on board and live this life forever. I reasoned this probably wasn't an option, so I carried on with the business in hand of enjoying travelling in complete luxury.

The return menu consisted of two starters, guinea fowl and a sweet potato and leek soup, followed by a main course of roasted rump of lamb with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Each table was given either a bottle of red or white wine to enjoy with dinner, which made for a relaxing trip through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. The fantastic main course was followed by delicious cheese and biscuits and a baked egg custard tart. I have to say, this really is gourmet cuisine at its best. As the magnificent train pulled into Victoria at around 10.30pm, attracting a lot of attention from frazzled commuters on the platforms, I felt relaxed and completely serene. The combination of a charming train, excellent service, fine dining and beautiful scenery makes travelling on the British Pullman a memorable experience that's hard to beat.

Further information

Prices for a day trip on The British Pullman from London to York start from £320. For more details and to book a trip, click here. For details of all Orient Express travel, visit www.orient-express.com