Pristine white linen and sparkling glassware adorn your table in one of the Northern Belle's individually decorated 1930s Pullman-style carriages, lovingly restored by some of the country’s finest craftspeople, including marquetry experts, muralists and mosaic artists. Within moments, your steward will carefully pour you a sparkling Mimosa cocktail as you peruse the sumptuous menu created by the Executive Head Chef.
Ahead lies a journey back to the golden age of rail travel — a time when nothing was too good for the pampered passenger. As the date of your journey approaches, the Executive Head Chef and his team will be hard at work in the kitchen carriage, preparing a superb three-course brunch and an exquisite six-course dinner, accompanied by wines selected by a sommelier. Each course showcases the finest seasonal ingredients from across the British Isles, with both classic and innovative dishes crafted in the recently refurbished kitchen carriage.
Following a short break, rejoin the Northern Belle with a Champagne reception, as the chefs and stewards prepare to serve a delicious six-course dinner. The journey continues along the scenic coastal route around the Cumbrian coast — an 82-mile stretch offering spectacular views of the sea and mountains, scenery that is sure to take your breath away.
This majestic journey takes you past an array of impressive views and landmarks. Starting at York behind a vintage diesel engine, you will head towards Preston, collecting passengers in Leeds and Wakefield, before joining the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth. There, you will be joined by one of the most famous steam locomotives in the world — Tangmere 34067. Named after the military airfield in Sussex, this Battle of Britain class locomotive was built in 1947.
Leaving Carnforth, Tangmere will haul your train as you pass the famous Brief Encounter café and continue north. At Oxenholme, you will pass the junction for Kendal and Windermere, gateway to the Lake District. Continuing northwards, you will begin the long climb up to Grayrigg. The journey then takes you through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay — once a junction for a line east across to the Settle–Carlisle route, now long closed — before tackling the notoriously steep ascent to Shap. Along this stretch, you will enjoy spectacular views westwards across the Cumbrian mountains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells, the train descends to Penrith and heads towards Carlisle.
After a short break for water and a chance to stretch your legs, you will continue, steam-hauled, on the return journey to Carnforth via the scenic coastal route around the Cumbrian coast. This 82-mile stretch offers spectacular coastal and mountain views — enough to take your breath away. After Maryport, the train runs along the shoreline through the industrial district of Workington, once a centre for iron and steel production. There are dramatic cliff-edge views as you journey south from Workington through to Whitehaven, with the Isle of Man visible on a clear day across the Irish Sea. For several miles, the route hugs the shoreline prior to St Bees, renowned for its priory and school. You will pass Sellafield, where the British Nuclear Fuels plant dominates the landscape. At Ravenglass, you may glimpse the narrow-gauge, steam-operated Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.
At Millom, the train heads inland, following the sweeping estuary through Foxfield and Kirkby-in-Furness. After Ulverston, you will cross the Leven Viaduct and curve along the edge of the bay towards Grange-over-Sands. There are more striking views across Morecambe Bay as you cross the lengthy Kent Viaduct at Arnside and approach Carnforth. Here, you will bid farewell to your gallant steam locomotive as your vintage diesel engine takes over for the return to your departure stations.
This majestic journey takes you past an array of impressive views and landmarks. Starting at Liverpool behind a vintage diesel engine, you will head towards Preston, collecting passengers in Newton-le-Willows before joining the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth.
Leaving Carnforth, you will pass the famous Brief Encounter café and continue north. At Oxenholme, you will pass the junction for Kendal and Windermere, gateway to the Lake District. Continuing northwards, you will begin the long climb up to Grayrigg. The journey then takes you through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay — once a junction for a line east across to the Settle–Carlisle route, now long closed — before tackling the notoriously steep ascent to Shap. Along this stretch, you will enjoy spectacular views westwards across the Cumbrian mountains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells, the train descends to Penrith and heads towards Carlisle.
After a break in Carlisle, your return journey to Carnforth follows the scenic coastal route around the Cumbrian coast via Wigton and Maryport — an 82-mile journey offering spectacular coastal and mountain views, sure to take your breath away.
After Maryport, the train runs along the shoreline through to the industrial district of Workington, once a centre for iron and steel production. There are dramatic cliff-edge views as you journey south from Workington through to Whitehaven, with the Isle of Man visible on a clear day across the Irish Sea. For several miles, the route hugs the shoreline before reaching St Bees, renowned for its priory and school. You will pass Sellafield, where the British Nuclear Fuels plant dominates the landscape, and at Ravenglass you may glimpse the narrow-gauge, steam-operated Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.
At Millom, the train heads inland, following the sweeping estuary through Foxfield and Kirkby-in-Furness. After Ulverston, you will cross the Leven Viaduct and curve along the edge of the bay towards Grange-over-Sands. More striking views across Morecambe Bay await as you cross the lengthy Kent Viaduct at Arnside, before returning to Carnforth for your journey back to your departure stations.
Spectacular steam-hauled journey around the Cumbrian coast*
Welcome sparkling Mimosa cocktail
Delicious three-course brunch on the outward journey
Short break at Carlisle
Champagne reception including canapés and Caviar blinis
Sumptuous six-course dinner: British seasonal table d’hôte menu including: Award-winning Great British cheese board with Port to accompany, delicious dessert and a selection of petits fours
Sommelier’s choice - Bottle of wine per couple
Fortnum & Mason tea and Northern Belle blend coffee
*Steam: Because steam locomotives are antique, the engines do sometimes fail. If this does occur, Northern Belle will reserve the right to substitute the steam train with a suitable replacement. If, for any reason, this is not possible, Northern Belle will run the excursion with a heritage diesel locomotive and offer a credit of £30pp or a voucher of £75pp to put towards a future trip.
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 quickly. Please see the table configurations for bookings of two passengers below and call us on 0203 640 8887 to check availability for the private tables.
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PLEASE NOTE: Receiving receipt of payment is not confirmation that your booking has been successful. We will contact you one to 10 working days after you have paid to confirm your booking, take further details of those travelling and send your itinerary. In the rare instance your booking cannot be fulfilled for any reason, such as the operator cancelling a journey or anything else beyond our control, we will be in touch with alternative options or will refund your payment.
All prices shown are for one adult ticket. Sleeper journeys are based on two adults sharing accommodation. Single occupancy of cabins may incur additional charge.
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There are a limited number of private tables and cabin types onboard. While we keep our website updated regularly, there may be occasions when private tables or cabin types become fully booked meaning we are unable to fulfil your booking requirements. Should this be the case, we will contact you to discuss alternative options and refund any payments made.
We have the right to refuse the request of a deposit when a journey is scheduled to depart in less than 16 weeks. If you choose to book with a deposit you must pay the remaining balance in full 15 weeks before departure at the latest. Should you fail to pay the remaining balance 15 weeks prior to departure, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking. Deposits are accepted by request. Most journeys require a 25% deposit to secure a booking however some specialist journeys do require a 50% deposit. Please contact us for confirmation.
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