Lady’s Vintage British Pullman Train Trip from London

Today I want to bring you my review of a British Pullman train trip from London. With vintage carriages, Art Deco opulence, and a five-course lunch, this once-in-a-lifetime experience is worth treating yourself to. I’ve been invited on ‘One Way Ticket’, an immersive murder mystery train journey, as a guest of British Pullman, A Belmond Train. I’m on board now and I’m excited to share the adventure with you in this sponsored post.

British Pullman Train Trip from London

A new imagining of a moving murder mystery, ‘One Way Ticket’ is an unforgettable day trip from London by train. It offers passengers an afternoon of suspense, elegance, and unforgettable drama aboard the legendary British Pullman.

Departing from Victoria station, the vintage carriages whisk travelers off through the English countryside to enjoy a day of champagne, fine dining, and interactive detective work.

As the train makes its way past cities like Canterbury, along the seaside in Kent, and back to London, the drama unfolds and the cast of characters presents its case for why each is innocent. All but one is telling the truth.

Arrival & Welcome

I arrive at Victoria station on a Sunday morning. I meet a friend, and we take a minute to admire one another’s attire. We’ve both embraced the spirit of the journey and dressed in glamorous 1930s outfits.

We walk over to the check-in area by Platform 2 and a staff member directs us to where a singer is welcoming guests to the train. As she serenades us, we’re ushered into a room where a server pours us a small glass of sloe gin.

Back on the platform we pose for a photo in front of a vintage luggage display, then walk to our train. We’re welcomed aboard by a uniformed attendant who takes us to our seats in a refurbished Art Deco train carriage called Zena.

Soon the champagne flows and we’re given an orientation to the carriage. It’s been lovingly upholstered in rich Liberty fabrics, carpet, and curtains. The marquetry has been done by the same family that did Buckingham Palace and the Titanic.

As we settle in, we let ourselves be transported back in time to the Golden Age of travel. It feels wonderful.

Departure

At 10:55am the train leaves the station. On the table between our seats are magazines that set the scene for the murder mystery. Articles and interviews lay out the series of events and clue us in to our roles in the drama.

We’re destined for “Arcadia”, a new utopian city that promises prosperity and fresh beginnings for all of us. But last night there was a murder, and it threatens to derail our hopes for the future.

As we peruse The Arcadia Chronicle, our meal and wine service begin. A server furnishes a course of Cornish hake with Windsor beans, red pepper, and tartar sauce.

We tuck in, discussing our theories as to which of the characters we’ve read about might have done the deed.

Soon an actor arrives. He plays one of the accused, and he makes a convincing case for his innocence. We ask him several questions, admiring how deftly he deflects even the slightest hint of blame.

Journey

When our second course of spinach soup with feta comes, a pair of actors comes to the carriage. They argue and accuse one another of wrongdoing, adding drama and intrigue to the adventure.

At the same time, the English countryside scenery starts to get really good. There are rolling hills and green pastures galore, not to mention buckets full of sunshine and blue skies. It’s the perfect day for a scenic train ride from London.

As the carriage makes its way to the coast, we enjoy increasingly good views and a main course of Kent lamb. More actors come through to state their cases and answer our queries, and we have lively discussions about which one the culprit might be.

Between Ramsgate and Margate the train turns back to London, and we spot the sea out the windows. It’s hot inside the carriage, but we take in more of the countryside scenery as we tuck into glazed lemon tarts and make our final attempts to solve the mystery.

A cheese board helps us along, as does a pair of actors. They come to our carriage after we pass Rochester, and they make the big reveal. It’s fun to hear the full story and learn how the events transpired.

As the train makes its final approach to Victoria station at 4pm, we enjoy our last glimpses of the green fields and tuck into hand-rolled truffles, coffee, and tea.

We go over the mystery one final time, talking through the details we missed and discussing how we’ll be better detectives next time.

British Pullman Train from London

And there will be a next time. Our experience on board the British Pullman train from London was exceptional, from the stunning vintage carriage to the immersive mystery experience, the lunch, and the attentive service.

The views of the countryside were the stuff of English dreams. In fact, the whole journey was the stuff of dreams. As we alight from our carriage and make our way back to reality, we start planning our next railway adventure.

I hope this blog post has inspired you to do the same. If you want to see more, take a look at my video of the trip on Instagram. Tickets for upcoming dates for ‘One Way Ticket’ are selling out, so make sure to book yours soon.

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