There’s something romantic about train travel. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a place where there wasn’t any, but I’m a bit obsessed with traveling by rail. From Malaysia to Machu Picchu, Sri Lanka to Switzerland, I’ve had a lot of great adventures on trains. But there’s no place like home, and today I want to share 5 great British railway journeys with you.
Great British Railway Journeys
I love traveling by train in the UK, not least because the countryside is stunning. From sheep-studded pastures to castle-strewn coastline and cathedrals in the sky, there’s always something to tempt me to press my nose to the glass.
The five journeys I’ve chosen are some of my favorites in the world, so let me tempt you to take them…
1. East Coast Main Line
Perhaps it’s because I did this train journey every week for two years, but the East Coast Main Line train trip is my favorite.
It’s one of the great British railway journeys for good reason: the stretch along the coast in County Durham, Northumberland, and the Scottish Borders is stunning.
From the views of Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island to the sight of Durham Cathedral rising above the city, the route is packed with one iconic sight after another.
And that’s to say nothing of the beaches along the Scottish coast, which I never expected to see before I first took the train.
2. Settle-Carlisle Railway
Another of my favorite train trips in the UK is the Settle-Carlisle Railway. This 73-mile line in northern England passes through the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines, offering spectacular scenery along the way.
My main memories of this route consist of rolling hills with stone walls and lots of fluffy sheep (I’m a sucker for fluffy sheep).
I got off in the Eden Valley, where I had an incredible time walking through the countryside for a couple days. But even if I had just done the rail travel part it would have been a scenic adventure.
3. Sleeper Train to Cornwall
Down south, another of the great British railway journeys is the sleeper train from London to Cornwall.
This one departs Paddington station in the evening and arrives in the west as the sun comes up. It’s great for maximizing time in Cornwall since the daytime trains can take half a day to get there.
I did this trip a few years ago and I’ll never forget waking up at sunrise as the train made its way through the countryside and along the coast. The way the light hit the landscape and turned everything golden was magical.
4. West Coast Main Line
I’ve spent a lot more time on the East Coast Main Line than the west, but the few times I’ve taken the train from London to Carlisle or Glasgow have shown me that the West Coast Main Line rivals its counterpart in beauty.
I particularly enjoyed two trips last winter, when Cumbria was dusted with snow. It was beautiful to see the hills powder white, especially from the warm comfort of a train carriage.
5. Edinburgh to Leuchars
Back in Scotland, I’ve taken a couple of train trips from Edinburgh to Leuchars, the station for St Andrews. As the train crosses the Firth of Forth, the views out across the water are stunning.
And that’s to say nothing of the coastline or the Fife countryside that completes the trip. It’s a quick ride of just an hour, but worth taking for the experience (and to see St Andrews, which is beautiful).
I hope you’ve been inspired to do these great British railway journeys yourself. If you need tips for booking them or making the most of your journey, you can take a look at my UK train travel tips.
In any case, I hope you enjoy your British rail travels as much as I have.
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Love train travel here too! Thanks for the guide, a few more things to add to the never-ending bucketlist 🙂
You’re welcome!
Those places are indeed fascinating. I myself would surely love to travel by train too. Thanks for the guide anyway. Looking forward to more of your train travels.
You’re welcome!
How about reviewing some of the UK’s steam railway trips too. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway runs through the Cotswolds, and the Severn Valley Railway is a superb experience
Thanks! Those sound great.
2 more to add which I have done and are amazing…
Caledonian Sleeper (Euston to Fort William)
Jacobite railway (Fort William to Mallaig “the Hogwarts Express”)
Thanks, Clare! I’ve always wanted to do the Caledonian Sleeper.
Great suggestions, some I definitely need to try!
Thanks!
Perfect timing as I was just deciding if I should take my family to St Andrews while in the UK
That’s great! It’s worth a trip.