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The Man in Seat 61

London to Venice by

Venice simplon-orient-express.

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If you can afford it, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the most romantic and luxurious way from London or Paris to Venice.  Its vintage carriages are a delight and the food & on-board service are truly world class.  Unlike many expensive tourist experiences, this train really does live up to its five-star and you won't be disappointed.  Watch the video .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is a privately-run train of beautifully-restored 1920s, 30s & 50s coaches, providing a 5-star luxury train experience between London, Paris, Verona & Venice, running roughly once a week from March to November.  The journey from London to Venice takes 24 hours and costs over £3,300 per person one way, including meals.

The train is run by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) Limited, part of Belmond, who also operate the equally luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express from Singapore to Bangkok, the Royal Scotsman cruise train and the PeruRail trains to Machu Picchu .  The VSOE should not be confused with the real Orient Express, the true descendant of the original 1883 Orient Express, a regular scheduled train which was finally withdrawn on 12 December 2009, see here for an explanation .

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express also runs occasional trips to Florence, Rome, Krakow, Budapest, Stockholm and even Istanbul once a year, in August.

Important changes for 2024

2023 was the last season in which VSOE passengers travelled from London Victoria to Folkestone by British Pullman , got ferried through the Channel Tunnel by road coach and boarded the Continental train at Calais.  From 2024, the VSOE will operate between Paris Gare de l'Est and Venice , with connections to/from London St Pancras by Eurostar .  No more British Pullman.  This is due to Brexit, delays caused by longer border checks made the Folkestone-Calais coach transfer increasingly unreliable which in turn delayed the departure of the VSOE train from Calais.  A great shame.

Southbound dates , London to Venice

2024 :  14, 21, 28 March.  4, 11, 25 April.  5, 20 May.  27 June.  11 July.  3, 14 August.  5, 22 September.  6, 22 October. 1, 19, 23 November.  5, 12, 22 December.

Northbound dates , Venice to London

2024 :  5, 12, 19, 26 March.  9, 27 April.  10, 15 May.  1, 6, 12 August.  14, 24 September.  1, 15, 20 October. 5, 17, 21 November.  3, 10, 14 December.

Timetable 2024 (subject to confirmation)

How much does it cost .

Solo travellers:   The prices above are per person assuming two people share a 2-berth compartment in an LX-type type sleeper dating from 1929.  If you're a solo traveller, sole occupancy costs the same price if you book a single-berth compartment in a slightly less intricate slightly smaller mid-1920s-built S-type sleeper, but costs significantly more if you book a 2-berth compartment in an LX sleeper for sole occupancy, see the advice & explanation below .

Children:   Infants under 2 sharing a berth travel free.  Children under 12 sharing a compartment with a full-fare-paying adult get a 20% reduction.

The extra-cost cabin suites & grand suites are explained below .

How to buy tickets

Can a 24 hour train ride to venice be worth £3,350 per person , single travellers.

The VSOE consists almost entirely of luxurious LX-type sleeping cars built 1927-1929.  But there is usually one mid-1920s S-type sleeping-car on the train with 10 compartments which it sells as singles for the same price per person as two people sharing a 2-berth in an LX.  When booking at www.belmond.com with 1 adult selected you'll be sold sole occupancy of an S-type sleeper compartment if one remains available, otherwise you'll see a significantly higher price which is for sole occupancy of a 2-berth LX sleeper compartment.

The compartments in an S-type sleeping-car are very slightly smaller and have less intricate wood marquetry than an LX, but they are just as comfortable and just as historic - indeed, had you travelled from Calais to Istanbul in the 1930s you'd have travelled in an S-type sleeper rather than an LX-type, as the Calais-Istanbul car was usually an S, although the other (Paris-Istanbul) sleeping-car on the Simplon Orient Express was usually an LX.  My advice?  It's simply not worth paying so much more for a compartment in an LX if a single compartment in the S class is available.  And if you're lucky enough to get S-type car number 3425, Mrs 61 & I got engaged in the corridor, send me a photo!

Journey suggestions

Which is better, a southbound or northbound trip.

Either is great, but in my opinion the southbound has the edge.  Although the northbound journey tends to be less popular, so often has better availability and sometimes better rates.  But personally, I feel the journey works best going out from London with the arrival in Venice over the causeway a fitting climax.  You'll also see more of the Alpine scenery in daylight in the morning from a southbound train than (depending on the time of year) in the evening from a northbound train.

One way by VSOE, one-way by TGV & Eurostar

If you only take the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express one-way, you don't need to fly the other.  Take Eurostar from London to Paris in 2h15, have lunch at the amazing Train Bleu restaurant inside Paris Gare de Lyon, then take the afternoon TGV or Frecciarossa from Paris to Turin in 5h40, a comfortable & scenic journey through the French Alps, see the video & photos here , arriving in the evening.  Stay overnight in Turin, and next morning take a high-speed train from Turin to Venice in around 4h30.  This works equally well in either direction, see the London to Italy by train page for all you need to know.

For the ultimate scenic ride between London & Venice, take Eurostar & a TGV-Lyria to Zurich on day 1, then take the wonderful narrow-gauge Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps to Tirano with connections for Venice on day 2, see the Bernina Express page .  You can easily arrange this yourself, or you can ask custom-made tour agency www.railbookers.co.uk to arrange both your Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express trip and your scheduled trains and suggest some excellent hotels in Venice.

VSOE to Krakow, Budapest, Prague, Rome & Istanbul

As well as its regular London-Paris-Venice route, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express runs occasional departures to Krakow, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Stockholm and sometimes even Istanbul (London to Istanbul usually in late August, 5 nights for around £7,000 pp), see www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express or call Railbookers .

Day trips in the UK by Belmond's British Pullman & Northern Belle

The VSOE's British Pullman cars run a regular programme of day-trips, dinner trips and excursions around the British Isles, mostly around London and typically £210-£420 per person.  Belmond also used to own (but have now sold) a set of more modern cars dating from the 1970s converted to classic Pullman standard which is used on Northern Belle excursions in the north of England, see www.northernbelle.co.uk for routes, dates, prices & tickets.

Back to top

Option 1, call Railbookers

Railbookers are train specialists who often have special rates for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  They can also arrange hotels and regular scheduled European trains to create a customised trip - for example Eurostar & high-speed TGV-Lyria from London to Zurich, 1 night at the superb Hotel Schweizerhof (first introduced to me by Railbookers, now a personal favourite), onward travel through the Alps via the wonderfully scenic Gotthard Pass route to Venice, 3 nights 4-star hotel in Venice, then by fabulous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from Venice to London.  Railbookers take good care of their clients, and they now have offices in the UK, US & Australia.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk . 

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au . ,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ., option 2, call tailor made rail.

UK-based Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.  Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking.  From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461.  Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday.  See www.tailormaderail.com/trains/venice-simplon-orient-express .

Option 3, book at belmond.com

You can also buy tickets at www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express .  If you feel like packing some lucky loved one off to Paris or Venice, you can buy Venice Simplon-Orient-Express gift certificates.  Double cabin or Suite cabin?   See the explanation here .  However, I'd call Railbookers before booking, as sometimes Railbookers can offer VSOE plus hotels more cheaply than a train-only booking with Belmond.

What's a journey on the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express like?

London to paris by eurostar.

From 2024, passengers no longer use the British Pullman from London to Folkestone, and the Continental train no longer starts from Calais.  From 2024 onwards, passengers take Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord , which is a short 7-minute walk from Paris Gare de l'Est .  I expect Belmond will bus you from station to station, but it really is just a 7 minute walk !

See more about the Eurostar journey here .  Passengers bound for the VSOE travel in Business Premier, a meal with wine and champagne is served at your seat.  There are power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

The Venice Simplon Orient Express

In the evening at Paris Gare de l'Est you board the VSOE's continental train of restored blue-and-gold 1920s Wagons-Lits sleeping-cars for Innsbruck, Verona & Venice.  You've time to take photos.

The sleeping-cars

Historic compartments - authentic, see car layout.

Your sleeper attendant greets you at the door and shows you to your compartment.  The VSOE's sleeping-cars are mostly classic 1929-vintage LX-series cars with ten 2-berth compartments that convert to private sitting rooms with sofa and small table for daytime use.  With their inlaid wood marquetry, the LX-types were the most luxurious sleeping-cars ever built for La Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL, the original operator of the Orient Express), and the VSOE's restored LX-series cars were originally used on various CIWL trains including the Calais-Paris-Nice Train Bleu, the Paris-Rome Rome Express , the Paris-Berlin-Warsaw-Riga Nord Express .  One Paris-Istanbul sleeping-car and the Calais-Trieste sleeping-car of the Simplon Orient Express would also have been an LX-type in the 1930s.

VSOE also own two earlier 1927-built S-series cars which had less fancy woodwork and slightly smaller compartments, but they were both gutted in 2018 to create Belmond's modern Suites & Grand Suites.  In the 1930s, the Calais-Istanbul sleeping car & Calais-Athens sleeping-car of the Simplon Orient Express would normally have been an S-type.

Sleeper facilities :   Each historic compartment has a large sofa convertible to an upper and lower berth at night, a footstool, small folding table.  There's a broad luggage rack towards the ceiling capable of taking fairly large items.  In a corner (either by the door or the window), two doors open to reveal a washstand with soap, towels, flannels and hot & cold water.  Mineral water, slippers & dressing gown are provided, and (a modern addition) there are two plug sockets of the normal 2-pin European type.  Authentic 1920s sleeping-cars don't have en suite toilets or showers, they also didn't have air-conditioning, but this has now been fitted.  You can still wind the window down, great for reflection-free photos of the scenery.

The correct term is 'Compartment' not 'Cabin':   These sleeper compartments are described on the Belmond website as historic cabins .  Trains don't have cabins, that is a nautical term used for a room on a ship.  The correct term on a train is a compartment .  Travellers in the 1920s & 1930s would have known this perfectly well, travellers unused to trains & ships now seem to use 'cabin' for everything and even Belmond don't seem to know the correct term.

Suites & Grand Suites - not authentic

For the 2018 season, Belmond created 3 luxurious Grand Suites with double bed, parlour area and en suite shower & toilet, they also now offer several smaller Suites with either twin or double beds and en suite toilet & shower.  These modern suites were created by taking one of the VSOE's two historic S-type sleeping-cars (car 3425, the car my wife & I got engaged in, as it happens), completely gutting the car's original 1920s interior (it had ten 1 or 2 berth compartments with washbasin) and building these new suites from scratch inside the empty bodyshell.  The suites are a modern creation for the 21st century tourist market and completely unauthentic - the real Orient Express of the 1920s and 1930s would have no suites, no showers, and no en en suite toilets, just a chamber pot kept in a hidey-hole under the sink (hence the famous CIWL sign, Sous le lavabo se trouve une vase ...).  In fact the Orient Express wouldn't have had a bar car or piano either, just sleeping-cars and a restaurant car.  If you want the authentic 1920s/30s experience, save your money and stick with the basic, original, historic LX sleeper compartments.  Check prices for the suites & grand suites online at www.belmond.com or call Railbookers .

The place to go before or after dinner is the VSOE's lively bar car, with lounge area, cocktail bar and piano.  Needless to say, the real Orient Express even in its 1920s & 1930s heyday would have not have had any such fripperies as a bar or lounge, let alone a piano, just sleeping-cars and a restaurant.  It was a much more work-a-day train than most people imagine.  The piano-bar-lounge has been created for modern-day tourists out of a former Wagons-Lits Company pullman car built in 1931 - but it's still great place to mingle.  You'll find a small VSOE Boutique counter in these cars.

The 3 restaurant cars

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has three restaurant cars, each with unique decor: 

The Cote d'Azur was originally a 1st class Pullman car built in 1929, first used on the Cote d'Azur Pullman Express.   With lovely Lalique glass panels, it's my favourite.

The Etoile du Nord restaurant car was built in Birmingham in 1926 for the Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam Etoile du Nord Pullman train, it was later used on the Edelweiss from Amsterdam to Switzerland and the Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon.

L'Orientale was originally a Pullman kitchen car, built in Birmingham in 1927 and also used on the Etoile du Nord and later the Lusitania , and it features Chinese-style lacquer wall panels.

Soon after departure the Maitre d' comes down the sleeping-cars handing out dinner reservations.  You'll be allocated a restaurant car but feel free to request a table in your favourite.  Make sure you experience two different ones at dinner and lunch.

Dinner in the diner

Meals are included in the fare on the VSOE, and the food is truly excellent.  Drinks on the Continental train cost extra, reckon on the cheapest half bottle of wine costing €35, a full bottle €50.  A dress code applies in the evening, for men a dark suit is essential, but the majority of passengers bring a dinner jacket and bow tie as dressing up is part of the fun.  You can't be over-dressed on the VSOE!

Time for bed

You'll return from dinner to find your compartment converted into a bedroom by the sleeper attendant, with upper and lower berths.  The beds are the most comfortable I have ever slept in on a train, in fact they're more comfortable than many hotel beds.  There are toilets at each end of the corridor.  The door locks securely with both a lock and security chain.

Scenery next morning in Switzerland, Austria & Italy

In spite of its name, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express no longer uses the Simplon route via Lausanne, Brig & Milan.  Instead, it runs overnight from Paris to Switzerland and you'll probably wake up just beyond Zurich.  When I last took it, I found the train running alongside the sparkling waters of the Zürichsee or Walensee with a breathtaking mountain backdrop, heading for the Arlberg Pass then the Brenner - although from 2016 it travels via the Gotthard Pass to Milan, only using the Brenner and Arlberg northbound.  A Continental breakfast of excellent coffee, juice and fresh croissant is served on a tray in your compartment by your sleeper attendant.  When I took it, the train clipped a corner of Liechtenstein and entered Austria via the wonderfully scenic Arlberg Pass - which once gave its name to the Paris-Switzerland-Vienna Arlberg Orient Express which used this route.  The VSOE turned right after Innsbruck, and as a 3-course lunch was served in the restaurant cars we headed into Italy via the almost equally scenic Brenner Pass to Verona, passing Padua and Venice Mestre before finally rumbling slowly across the 2km causeway to Venice Santa Lucia station on the banks of the Grand Canal in central Venice, just 15 minutes walk from the famous Rialto Bridge or 25 minutes walk from St Mark's Square.

Video guide:  Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

More videos:   arlberg pass scenery video    brenner pass scenery video.

These two videos show the scenery through the Arlberg and Brenner Passes which you'll see over breakfast and lunch on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  They were shot from scheduled trains on the route, but the scenery is of course the same!

Travel tips

Dress up!   You'll need (for men) at least a dark suit and tie for dinner on the VSOE Continental train, but many travellers change into a dinner jacket with bow tie for dinner - indeed, you may feel under-dressed in just a suit.  A significant number of travellers dress up in 1920s or 30s style, you won't feel out of place if you do!  During the day dress code is smart-casual, you can't wear jeans on the VSOE.

Ask for your favourite restaurant for dinner - and a different one for lunch next day.   There are three restaurants on the VSOE continental train, each unique.  The Maitre d' will make a dinner reservation for you, feel free to request a table in your favourite restaurant - my favourite is the Cote d'Azur with its lovely glass panels by Lalique.  Next day, request a table in one of the other two, to experience a different car.

Are there showers?   Not in the original authentic 1920s sleeper compartments, no.  These were built in an era when hotel rooms didn't have en suite bathrooms, people survived without taking a shower every few hours and Sunday night was bath night whether you needed it or not.  The sleeper compartments have a washstand with hot & cold running water which was a luxury for the 1920s, when many hotel rooms didn't even have this.  Incredibly, Belmond tell me that the lack of en suite showers is the biggest thing that surprises many VSOE travellers even though they know they're going on an authentic 1920s train!  However, the more expensive suites and grand suites have en suite toilet & shower, as these are a modern innovation, they are not original or authentic.

Is there WiFi?   The train now has WiFi and there's decent mobile data reception all along the route, even inside the Channel Tunnel.

Are there power sockets?   Not on the British Pullmans, no.  But each sleeper compartment on the VSOE Continental train has two European-style 2-pin sockets, one under the sink, one under the window.  A post-1920s addition!

Special dietary needs. You can request these when you book, yes.

Smoking.   The VSOE train is all non-smoking.

Tips.   The fare includes service, although you can always tip a member of staff who gives particularly good service.

Dress code.   Jeans & trainers aren't allowed on the VSOE.  The dress code is smart casual during the day, and at least dark suit with tie for men in the evening.  But I'd take a DJ (that's a tuxedo if you're American) if you have one.

Luggage.   One large suitcase per person can be checked in to your final destination, and one item of hand luggage plus a suit carrier or overnight bag can be taken into your sleeper compartment.  In London, you can check your overnight bag or suit carrier in and you'll find them waiting for you in your sleeper compartment when you board the VSOE Continental train.  However, don't worry too much about luggage limits as unlike airlines, VSOE seem relaxed about exact bag weights or dimensions, as long as you don't take the Mickey.  There is a reasonably large luggage rack in your sleeping-car compartment.

Can children travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?   Yes they can, of any age, see the fares section above .

Do you have to go from London to Venice?   Belmond will sell journeys from London to Verona or Venice, or Paris to Verona or Venice, and in the opposite direction.

Is a northbound or southbound trip best?   See my answer here .

Does the train go across the Channel?   No, and the Orient Express never did. 

Today's VSOE journey is described above .  When it started in 1982 passengers used a ferry from Folkestone to Boulogne with the sleeper train waiting for it at Boulogne Maritime station, in the later years until 2023 they used an executive road coach from Folkestone to Calais which went through the Channel Tunnel on a car-carrying Eurotunnel shuttle train.  From 2024 onwards, VSOE passengers will use Eurostar from London to Paris Gare du Nord and board the VSOE continental train at the nearby Gare de l'Est .

Historically, the Orient Express always started at Calais with a totally separate British 'boat train' and ferry providing a connection from London.  The only passenger train ever to be physically ferried across the Channel on board a ferry were the London-Paris (and later, London-Brussels) sleeping-cars of the Night Ferry , which start in 1936, suspended during WW2, and discontinued in 1980, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Ferry .

Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express the original Orient Express?   You'd better read the next section!

Is this the original Orient Express ?    See the Orient Express history page

No.  Because there is no such thing as the original Orient Express.  The Orient Express was a service, not one specific set of coaches.  The Orient Express used different rolling stock at different times in its long history, and at any given time it required more than one set of coaches to operate - common sense, really, as in the 1920s & 1930s the Simplon Orient Express left Paris every day on a 3-night journey to Istanbul so clearly required at least 6 separate sets of coaching stock to operate.

In fact, by the 1930s there were several different Orient Express routes, including the Orient Express (Paris-Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest/Istanbul), Simplon Orient Express (Calais-Paris-Lausanne-Milan-Venice-Belgrade-Athens/Istanbul, as featured in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express), Arlberg Orient Express (Paris-Zurich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest) and Oostende-Vienna Orient Express (Oostende-Brussels-Frankfurt-Vienna-Budapest-Belgrade-Istanbul, as featured in Graham Greene's novel Stambul Train ), all taking different routes across Europe and switching cars between them at key points.

Furthermore, these were not huge long trains going from a single point A to one point B like today's 16-car VSOE.  They were relatively short trains of individual sleeping-cars from different starting points to different destinations, with cars switched between trains at key interchange points such as Vienna or Belgrade.  Restaurant cars would be attached for all main sectors, but there would not have been any bars, lounges or pianos.  More work-a-day than most people imagine. 

To give you a flavour of what it was really like, in the 1930s the Orient Express would leave Istanbul Sirkeci station at 10pm consisting of just 4 sleeping-cars and 2 baggage vans ( fourgons in French).  No restaurants, no bars, no lounges nor seats cars, just those 4 sleeping-cars and two fourgons, nothing more.  Two sleeping-cars and a fourgon were for Paris Gare de Lyon via Venice & Lausanne on the Simplon Orient Express , usually an LX and an S, with the S-type sleeping-car going through to Calais for the London connection attached to a Paris-Calais boat train.  Depending on the day of the week, the third sleeping-car was either for Brussels & Oostende via the Oostende-Vienna Orient Express or for Paris Est via Vienna and Munich on the (plain) Orient Express.  Again depending on the day of the week, the fourth sleeping-car was for either Prague or Berlin via the Balt-Orient Express.  A restaurant car was added at the Bulgarian border (where it had been detached from an eastbound Orient Express a few hours previously) in time to serve breakfast.  Still no lounges or pianos!

In addition to the various Orient Express routes, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (the company which ran the Orient Express) operated sleeping-cars and restaurant-cars all over Europe, both as all-luxury trains such as these and providing the sleeping- and restaurant-car service attached to regular trains in many countries.  Cutting a long story short, the CIWL handed over responsibility for the sleeping- and dining-cars to the various national rail operators themselves in 1971, but the company still exists.  For example, if you take Austrian Railways Nightjet sleeper trains , the sleeper attendants and catering are provided by NewRest, a subsidiary of the CIWL.  VSOE has been allowed to use the CIWL's name and crest on its vintage carriages under licence.

Most of the sleeping-cars on today's VSOE are 1929-built LX-type cars.  If you'd travelled from Calais to Istanbul on the Simplon Orient Express in the 1930s you'd have travelled in an S-type car built in 1927, with slightly smaller compartments than the LX-type and lacking the intricate wood marquetry decoration that distinguishes the more glamorous 'LX'.  In the 1950s and 60s, you'd probably have travelled in a newer Z-type sleeping-car which replaced the S-type on those routes after World War 2.  VSOE own a couple of S-type cars which they tend to use for solo travellers because of their smaller compartments.

Is it the one that stopped running in 1977?  Was it restored & put back into service?

No.  It is sometimes suggested that the 'original' Orient Express made its last run in 1977, and was taken out of service, then bought and restored and put back in service as today's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.  VSOE's marketing department don't exactly disabuse you of this notion.  Again, this is some way from the truth. 

The Simplon Orient Express (which ran daily, with direct sleeping-cars from both Calais and Paris to Istanbul) was replaced in 1962 by a slower train called the Direct Orient Express , which included one direct sleeping-car from Paris to Istanbul just three times a week.  The Direct Orient Express was almost entirely composed of ordinary seats & couchette cars belonging to the various State-run national railways along the route, with just one Z-type sleeping-car (a type of car not owned by VSOE) going through to Istanbul, still staffed by the Wagons-Lits Company.  The last Direct Orient Express left Paris Gare de Lyon at 23:56 on 19 May 1977 - in fact it left a little late, on 20th May.

But although the end of the Direct Orient meant the end of direct trains between Paris and Istanbul, it didn't mean the end of the (plain) Orient Express .  This was a separate train on a different route, Paris-Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Bucharest, originally conveying a thrice-weekly through sleeping-car from Paris to Istanbul which was attached at Belgrade to the Simplon Orient Express cars from Calais and Paris which had come via Venice.  The Paris-Istanbul car via this route ceased in the early 1960s.  This (plain) Orient Express was indeed the true descendant of the very first 1883 Orient Express which took a similar route, and it continued in one form of another until it's withdrawal in December 2009, by which time it had evolved into a Strasbourg to Vienna EuroNight sleeper train, run by the Austrian Railways with modern air-conditioned seats, couchettes and a 1980s-built sleeping-car.  It had been cut back in 2007 from running Paris to Vienna when the Paris-Strasbourg TGV-Est high-speed line opened.  All is explained in more detail on the Orient Express history page .

So what exactly is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express?

In 1977, a number of classic pre-war Wagons-Lits Company sleeping-cars and restaurant cars were offered for sale at an auction in Monte Carlo.  James Sherwood of Sea Containers Inc bought most of them, with the dream of restoring them and recreating a 'Train de Luxe' for modern-day travellers on part of the route of the fabled Simplon Orient Express.  He subsequently acquired a series of 1920s and 1930s Pullman cars for the London-Folkestone part of the operation. 

VSOE's LX-type sleeping-cars originally ran on front-rank Wagons-Lits Company trains all over Europe, including the Train Bleu from Calais & Paris to Nice & Monte Carlo, the Nord Express from Paris to Berlin, Warsaw & Riga, and the Rome Express from Calais/Paris to Rome.  The Calais to Trieste sleeping car attached to the Simplon Orient Express would have been an 'LX', as would a Paris-Istanbul and a Paris-Athens sleeping-car, even if the Calais-Istanbul and Calais-Athens cars would have been slightly older S-types.

Today's tourist-orientated VSOE has been running since 1982, London-Paris-Venice once a week from March to November.  Although it is a 'resumption' of the Orient Express more in spirit than in terms of historical accuracy but the VSOE has superbly-restored pre-war carriages, top-class food and service, and it has now become an institution in it own right.  Don't miss your chance to ride it!

The British Pullman train

This is a beautiful train of restored 1920s/30s/50s British Pullman cars, from 2024 it's no longer used as part of the London-Paris-Venice journey, but the train is still used for excursions within Britain so I shall leave this section here.

Each car features plush armchairs in open-plan saloons, arranged as intimate tables for two each side of the aisle.  It's strange how 80 years of ergonomics haven't produced anything as luxuriously comfortable as a 1920s Pullman seat.  Most Pullmans also have an enclosed 4-seat compartment at one or both ends known as a coupé, these can be requested if you want privacy though I prefer the more convivial open saloon.  You can read a brief history of each individual VSOE Pullman Car at www.belmond.com/british-pullman-train/british-pullman-carriages , worth checking as the history is fascinating, and many of the cars have links with famous trains or famous people.  You'll find a booklet about the history of the Pullman cars at your seat on board the train which you can keep.  Some cars were used on the Golden Arrow boat train between London & Dover, others on the Brighton Belle between London & Brighton, a couple were used on Winston Churchill's funeral train, and so on...  If one car particularly interests you, by all means request it!  The British Pullman train leaves Victoria station, rumbles slowly across the Thames past Battersea Power Station, then takes one of several possible routes to Folkestone.  Indeed it sometimes goes the long way round via Canterbury and Dover, dropping off day-trippers at Canterbury and doubling back along the coast to Folkestone.  A 3-course brunch is served on the way to Folkestone with sparkling Bellinis, all included in the fare.

Orient Express books, gifts & souvenirs

Venice simplon-orient-express gift certificates.

Belmond offer gift certificates, if you want to make someone a present of a journey on one of their trains:  https://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/monetary_gift_certificates .

Books about the Orient Express

If you want to learn more about the Orient Express, you can click the pictures to buy these books online at Amazon.  The book on the left has more about the history of the Orient Express, the book on the right concentrates on the restored Venice Simplon Orient Express.  Also recommended is 'The Orient Express - The life and times of the world's most famous train' by E H Cookridge.  Although out of print, you can buy it second hand through Amazon - click here for details .  The Orient Express also features heavily in fiction.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (actually set on the Simplon Orient Express, as she knew full well)

Murder on the Orient Express (DVD, 1974 film)

Stamboul Train by Graham Greene (actually set on the Oostende-Vienna Orient Express, not the Orient Express)

Hotels in London, Paris, Venice

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9 Beautiful Train Trips From London to European Destinations | Brief Journeys for Memorable Visits

• Destinations
• European Rail
• Types of Travel
• United Kingdom

Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

There are lots I love about Europe: the different countries’ history, the languages, the cuisines, and, tying them all together, the efficient rail network connecting them. A train trip allows you to sit back, relax, and watch the world go by your window. Travel across borders and to numerous capitals and regions in a brief journey, often much easier and faster than it would be if taking a less than an hour long flight with all the airport hassle.

It’s so easy taking trains in Europe, and when I lived in Paris, I was forever hopping on the Eurostar for a day in London, while exploring France and nearby countries too. There is something magical about train journeys; watching the ever-changing scenery roll by, sipping a coffee, a glass of wine, or, depending on which train and which route you are taking, enjoying a full-blown fancy dinner with champagne.

Here I have chosen a few fantastic trips — in no particular order — that will connect you in comfort from London to other European capitals and cities. This list allows you to keep London as a base, taking in a few other grand cities on your vacation without having to worry about catching flights and spending hours at an airport.

Sit back, look out of the window, or even lie down, and let these easy train journeys from London inspire you.

9 Beautiful Train Trips From London to European Destinations

• Distance: 212 miles
• Travel Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

This is a busy Eurostar route , you could nearly call it a commuter route because the fast connection between the two capitals makes a day trip eminently possible and convenient. Start at the wonderful London St. Pancras station, where there is a very lovely champagne bar above the tracks. You’ll then head straight to Gare du Nord in Paris, where you can hop on the metro and start your sightseeing without any noticeable fatigue after the brief journey. You can go standard class with no frills but absolutely comfortable for the duration, standard premier with a light meal, or business premier where you can enjoy a three-course meal with champagne and have full use of the lounges at either end.

10 Fantastic Paris Rentals With Amazing Eiffel Tower Views

Pro Tip: Should you be traveling with the grandchildren, there is even a direct service through to Disneyland Paris running every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Please note that this direct service will be stopped by summer 2023.

2. Brussels

• Distance: 197 miles
• Travel Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

An even quicker Eurostar journey takes you from St. Pancras to the Belgian capital of Brussels , which is full of grand sights, much art and architecture, plus a perfect place for sampling the famous Belgian foods and drinks. The relative compactness of the inner city makes it perfect for a short visit, allowing you to see most of the famous sights within a few hours. But, if you decide to stay a little longer, you have Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent within an easy train journey from the main station, allowing you to explore Belgium more in-depth.

Pro Tip: To add an extra city along the way, you can hop off in Lille , a perfect mix of French and Flemish flair, full of history and great food. Or indeed just take the day trip to Lille, have a look around, and stop for some moules frites and a Belgian beer before heading back to London.

3. Amsterdam

Netherlands.

• Distance: 220 miles
• Travel Time: 3 hours, 52 minutes

While not so far in miles, Amsterdam might be a little long of a ride for a day round-trip. But it is still a very comfortable ride through the French, Belgian, and Dutch countryside. With nearly 4 hours on board, and the café bar on the train offering limited choices, consider bringing a picnic or book into one of the premier classes and enjoy a meal and wine en route to avoid arriving parched and hungry.

Pro Tip: There are direct Eurostar routes between London and Amsterdam, and some where you can change in Brussels, adding a chance to extend your trip and take in two extra capitals in one swoop.

• Distance: 765 miles
• Travel Time: 16 hours

An absolutely fabulous journey is traveling from London to Brussels on the Eurostar, and then connecting onto the Austrian Nightjet . The Nightjet is a sleeper train that leaves Brussels in the evening (offering a possibility for daytime sightseeing before heading onward) and arrives in Vienna in the morning, after breakfast. Unlike day trips rush, traversing Germany, traveling through cities such as Aachen, Koblenz, Wurzburg, Nuremberg, and Passau, it is nearly a shame that you will be snuggled up in your cabin . You can also take this journey during the daytime on a regular train to enjoy the German countryside flying past your window, but if you schedule your visit over the summer, you will have plenty of daylight to enjoy both the views and your sleep.

Pro Tip: Depending on your budget and how many people you are traveling with, you can also get bunk bed cabins (without a toilet) or single cabins with a bathroom. You can even do the hostel thing and join gender-separated bunk bed cabins, making it really economical.

• Distance: 941 miles
• Travel Time: 17 hours

You can enjoy the opportunity of traveling on one of the world’s most luxurious trains, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express direct from London. Launched in 1883, the long-haul Orient Express was the first luxury train of its kind, with stylish cabins and restaurants on-board catered to the rich traveling long-distance to Istanbul. This service has just been relaunched, but, honestly, it costs an arm, a leg, and then some. If you don’t have the budget, you can still enjoy this historic way of traveling, between London, Victoria, and Venice , taking time to enjoy the utter extravagances on the train.

You can indulge in anything from gourmet meals served with champagne to a celebratory midnight brunch, and also have time to sit back to enjoy the fabulous views from your window across changing European landscapes to the Alps and northern Italy. Depending on your budget, you can continue onward , maybe all the way to Istanbul, or return on the same train to do it all over again. Most packages include a one-way train ride and a return flight. Either way, this is your chance to pack your best outfits and enjoy.

Pro Tip: If this whets your appetite for experiencing the Orient Express train but the budget is tight, you can opt to travel on the train not far from London while enjoying anything from afternoon tea to dinner .

6. Inverness

• Distance: 444 miles
• Travel Time: 10 hours, 31 minutes

Let’s just get the most important point out of the way: This is not the Orient Express. But, while not luxury, the Caledonian Sleeper is a viable alternative to flying when you think of hassle, time spent, and carbon footprint. You will get a comfortable cabin with an ensuite bathroom or a simple sleeper seat, depending on your comfort requirements and budget. All accessible, the train departs London Euston in the evening and you’ll wake up in Inverness on the doorstep of the Scottish Highlands. The train splits into three in Edinburgh, parts heading off to Aberdeen, Fort William, or Inverness. With Inverness being the northernmost city in Scotland, you actually have a chance to look out of the window for a while in the morning after breakfast.

Pro Tip: There are also direct daytime connections between Inverness and London, so you can easily sleep one way and look out of the window the other.

7. Marseille

• Distance: 621 miles
• Travel Time: 6 hours, 21 minutes

Want to check out the south of France from London? No problem. Taking the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, and after a quick change of train stations, you can be on your way south from the rather pretty Gare de Lyon. Whether you stop over in Paris for a croissant or head straight to the next train, you can leave London in the morning and reach the south of France around lunchtime. Marseille itself is one of those underrated cities that seems to get a bad rap simply because it is a port city and there were some troubles decades ago. Today, the stunning old harbor, the super-modern Mucem modern art museum, the cobbled streets, and the famous cuisine are just some of the reasons to pay the city a visit. Add the fact that Provence , Aix-en-Provence , the Cote d’Azur, and even Monaco are just around the corner, you potentially have a city break, beach vacation, and road trip all rolled in one. It’s all just a few hours’ train ride from London.

Pro Tip: If you are even vaguely interested in architecture, you should visit La Cite Radieuse by Le Corbusier, a unique concept of habitation.

8. Rotterdam

• Distance: 196 miles
• Travel Time: 4 hours, 30 minutes

On average, the train journey from London to Rotterdam Centraal takes around 4h 30m, with around 3 trains running on this route each day.  With the fastest direct Eurostar services, the journey can take just 3h 38m.

Upon reaching the station, you’ll be required to scan your ticket at the NS ticket gates when exiting, so be sure to keep your ticket at hand. The station is an ultra-modern structure that was reconstructed in 2014.

• Distance: 576 miles
• Travel Time: 16hours

Concluding this list of the best train trips from London is a trip to Berlin. Being just 16 hours long and with only one stop in between, it’s ideal for those looking to catch more views out of train windows across Europe or reduce their air miles in 2024.

Moreover, you can now hop on a sleeper train if you’re up for a weekend getaway in Berlin from London without the inconvenience of air travel. Having aligned its schedules with those of Eurostar, European Sleeper now enables passengers from London to easily transfer to Good Night Train in Brussels.

What Are the Best Train Trips From London to Europe?

The best train trips from London to Europe include some of the most exciting cities in Europe like Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Venice, or Istanbul. These train trips require a little more dedication and the ability to entertain oneself during long journey time.

Can I Take a Day Trip from London to Paris by Train?

Yes, not only is a day trip to Paris from London possible but if you can squeeze the short train ride in, it is highly recommended. Paris is just a quick two-hour train ride away, heading under the Channel on the high-speed train. 

What Is the Easiest European Train Trip to Get to From London?

The easiest European train trips from London are to France.  Day trips from London to France are extremely popular, with the French capital being only two hours away from King’s Cross, London Paddington, or Victoria Station in London.

Why Choose Train Trips From London Over Bus Rides or Flights?

Train trips invoke a sense of adventure within us. Train trips are usually more comfortable and cheaper. Most importantly,  train trips are the most environmentally friendly form of travel aside from walking or cycling.

What Beach Day Trip by Train Can I Take From London to Europe?

France’s Brittany Coast, Côte d’Azur, and Promenade des Anglais are some of the best train trips you can take from London for a day at the beach. Just take the Eurostar from London to Paris, Nice, or Marseille.

A travel writer and guidebook author for the last 20 years, Ulrike's work has been seen in National Geographic , BBC , The Independent , Australian Women's Weekly , The Telegraph , The Australian , Fodor's , France Today , CNN Travel , Lonely Planet , Travel + Leisure , CNTraveler , numerous inflight magazines, and many others.

She has written three books for Moon Travel Guides: 'Living Abroad in Australia' (3rd edition), 'Sydney & the Great Barrier Reef', and the shorter version 'Spotlight Sydney' and are all available in print and as e-books.

Having lived in seven countries (Germany, UK, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Australia, and France) to date and traveled to more than 100, she specializes in writing about travel, art and architecture, expat living, and life and style.

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ORIENT EXPRESS, ARTISAN OF TRAVEL SINCE 1883

Invent / reinvent.

For the past 140 years, Orient Express has been sublimating the Art of Travel with luxury trains, unique experiences and collections of rare objects. And soon the heritage of this legendary train will be transported to a collection of hotels and sailing yachts around the world. Introducing a new art de vivre, a different kind of journey that promises unforgettable moments along the way and the same destination since the beginning: to make dreams come true.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Once upon a time... There was the future Orient Express Train

Orient Express Silenseas

Stay on track....

Orient Express to open its second hotel in Italy

Steam Dream

Shop steam dream.

High-Life and its stories

Follow the journey on instagram.

10 Spectacular Train Trips You Can Take From London To The Rest Of The UK And Beyond

Ride the rails in search of adventure with these epic train trips in the UK and further afield too – including Berlin, Vienna and even Venice!

Table Of Contents

Train trips from London to UK destinations

Train trips from london to europe.

There’s something nostalgic and romantic about riding the rails and heading off for pastures new. Plus, with the continuing rise of the ‘flight-shame’ movement, railway travel is coming back in fashion in a big way, especially in Europe. Overnight train trips let you snooze your way to adventure – and they’re slightly more exciting than falling asleep on the Night Tube to Morden – whilst you can also strike out for Europe on grand railway journeys. Here are some lovely train trips from London we’re just itching to try!

Fair England and friends have a wealth of exciting destinations to get to – like Edinburgh for around just £25! – but for truly special train trips, try one of these on for size.

1. Caledonian Sleeper , Euston to Fort William

The renovated Caledonian Sleeper is the longest night train journey in the UK, departing from Euston by night and rolling into Scotland before sunrise. There are two routes, one heading to Glasgow and Edinburgh that arrives just after 7am, and another that skips the major duo and heads for Aberdeen, Stirling, and Inverness.

On the latter, one could hop off for a round of golf at Gleneagles, skip out at Aviemore to ski, or, as we’d do, stay in bed until the overnight train rolls into Fort William at 10am. This leaves you well placed to climb Ben Nevis, explore Loch Ness, or if you’re really train-mad, ride the rails to Mallaig aboard steam train service The Jacobite , which takes you over the Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by Harry Potter . Read our review of it here.

2. Night Riviera Sleeper, Paddington to Penzance

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tour Partner Group UK (@tourpartnergroup_uk)

Nestled right down in the southwestern corner of England, Penzance and the surrounding areas are well worth the trek. Sure, you could fly , but there’s a more relaxing way – hop on The Night Riviera sleeper from Paddington, and you’ll hopefully be drifting off by the time the train departs at 11:45pm. By the time the clock strikes 6am, you’ll have crossed the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall, and by 7.50am, the train will pull into Penzance. From here, strike out for St. Ives, explore Land’s End, or make a pilgrimage across the shifting sands to beautiful St. Michael’s Mount, which watches benignly over Mount’s Bay. More info here .

3. The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Euston-Carlise-Euston

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This one is actually a day trip, one which leaves the capital just after 7am to whisk you up to Carlisle, skirting the edge of the Lake District on the way. Once you’ve arrived at Carlisle and had a little wander, you’ll depart on a steam train, which takes a scenic route along the Cumbrian coastline, including the sights of Grange-over-Sands and the Kent Viaduct before stopping at the charming market town of Carnforth. From there, you’ll pick up the fast service back to Euston, arriving back at 10.30am and presumably heading straight to bed. Find out more here .

4. Cambrian Railway, Euston-Welsh Coast

This train journey takes you all the way to the edge of North West Wales passing through sights of the Shropshire hills, the Cambrian Hills and Snowdonia . While the train journey lasts about seven hours and also involves a change at Birmingham via Avanti West Coast , the Cambrian main line doesn’t just take you to the border into Wales but also through rugged mountain terrain, quaint towns, heritage sites and castles which makes it all the more worth it. Find out more here.

These train trips require a little more dedication – and, crucially, the ability to entertain oneself on long journeys – since you won’t be able to sleep the whole way there. However, waiting at the end of these trips are some of the most exciting cities in Europe, and you can get there without feeling the guilt of having caught a polluting flight!

5. Eurostar, St. Pancras to Amsterdam

Cards on the table, the Eurostar is going to be the starting point for a lot of the more ambitious train trips coming up now – but for now, here’s our favourite of the direct Eurostar routes. Since 2020, trains have run from St. Pancras ( Europe’s favourite station , dontcha know) directly to Amsterdam and back , eschewing the need to change trains at Brussels on the return leg (though this isn’t necessarily guaranteed).

The Dutch capital offers myriad delights (yes, that too), but a wander along the canals, a visit to the Rijksmuseum, and scoffing your face with everything in sight at Foodhallen should make for an excellent start. Though there aren’t deals currently running, this is something that often changes depending on the time of year. Learn more here .

You’d better be quick with this one though – rumour has it that this one is being suspended next year (2024) – thanks Brexit – so time’s running out if you want to make use of this bad boy!

6. Nightjet, St. Pancras to Vienna

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @heiko_cgn (@heiko_cgn)

Technically, once you’ve reached Brussels on the Eurostar, the Nightjet can take you to a whole variety of destinations across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy overnight. Still, we’ve opted to snore our way to historic Vienna, for a tour of its coffee houses, a ride on the Riesenrad, and lessons in history from the Jewish Museum, and in psychology from the Sigmund Freud Museum.

The Nightjet, which is run by Austria’s state railway service ÖBB, departs Brussels around 6pm – Vienna waits for you at 8.30am, although Frankfurt and Cologne are earlier stops. It’s a pretty brilliant way to city-hop across the continent without spending on accommodation, as overnight trains to Rome , Venice, and Berlin also run from Vienna. With typical Germanic efficiency, they’re frighteningly on-time too. Find out more here .

7. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Victoria to Venice

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As the Nightjet proves, there are other trains to Venice, but none will get you there with quite as much style as this route. It begins at Victoria station, as you hop aboard a gorgeous vintage Belmond Pullman train – a welcome brunch and Bellini being the icing on the cake. Once you’ve crossed the English Channel, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is waiting at Calais, complete with 1920s sleeping cars. You get a French-inspired , four-course dinner aboard this one, and winning views of the Alpine scenery before crossing the Venetian Lagoon around dusk. At a bare minimum of £3,353 per person, though, it’s one for when you’re feeling extravagant and pulling out all the stops!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (@vsoetrain)

Seriously though, it’s bloody fancy. See more here .

8. Multiple routes, St. Pancras to Istanbul

Oof, time to settle yourself in for a long one. First up, Eurostar to Paris (standard fare for you by this point), before you catch the TGV from Paris to Munich. You’ve got options from here to Istanbul, either taking an arguably more scenic route via Budapest and Bucharest, or following the more traditional route of the old Orient Express via Belgrade and Sofia. Both lovely, both requiring a commitment of about four days, but it’ll make for one hell of an adventure. Once in Istanbul, start with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, and then explore from there! Check out The Man in Seat 61 for details.

9. St. Pancras to Malmö

An intriguing new option was revealed recently, with the Swedish government unveiling plans to launch an overnight train from Malmö to Cologne. Assuming the reverse is true, and knowing that Cologne is reachable in a matter of hours thanks to the Eurostar and a connecting train, this means London-Malmö is a distinct possibility, with a journey time of around seventeen or eighteen hours. That might get cut even further if future plans to connect Malmö to Brussels via overnight trains come to fruition. The earliest we could see these trains is later this year, but it’s an exciting start for sure. Read all about it here .

10. The European Sleeper, St. Pancras to Berlin

Rounding off this list of the best train trips from London Town is this humdinger, which takes you all the way from the English capital to Eastern Germany and the capital of cool Berlin. Lasting just 16 hours and with only one stop in between , this development is a godsend for those looking to catch more views out of train windows across Europe, or decrease their air miles in the new year.

Our route was handily mapped out for us by The Man In Seat 61 back in January of this year, who said that from May of 2023, you can jump on the Eurostar to Brussels at 3:04pm, before hopping over to the European Sleeper Service to Berlin at 7:22pm. You’ll glide into the German capital at 6:48am – primed for a day of exploring after your cosy snooze and (free) breakfast. Find out more about this epic new route here.

So there you have it – a roundup of the best train trips from London. So if you’re looking to leave the big smoke on a national or international tour, then this list should have given you some inspiration!

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11 of the best London to Europe train trips for a great escape

You don’t need to fly to flee London: touring by train is a relaxing and pretty way to travel. Here are eleven European train trips with vistas to write home about

The romance of the railway might be hard to find in London – cramming yourself into a delayed service at rush hour is only going to get you raging, not wide-eyed. But travelling by train doesn’t have to be so stressful. In fact, it can actually be quite relaxing, especially when you have your very own seat and views flashing past you that can only be described as stunning.

Finding an aesthetically pleasing new adventure is easy, thanks to London’s great transport links . Whether you fancy heading to a different part of the UK or over the Channel to continental Europe for your next city break , your destination is only a hop, skip and jump away. Along the way, you’ll find picturesque mountain ranges, rugged castles, sparkling rivers and heaps of history – all so enchanting that you’ll really come to believe the old saying that it’s about the journey, not the destination.

RECOMMENDED: The best city breaks in Europe The most underrated travel destinations in Europe The cheapest cities to visit in Europe on a budget The best day trips from London

This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our  affiliate guidelines .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Beautiful European train journeys from London

1.  london st pancras to avignon via eurostar.

Look out for  Once you hit France it’s all rolling fields and quaint little villages. After passing through the charming, gastro-city of Lyon and on to the vineyard-strewn Rhône Valley, look out for the Massif Central mountains to the right and the snowy French Alps to the left before arriving in the incredibly beautiful, walled medieval city of Avignon, where you can catch up on your history and find a hefty dose of culture. 

Journey  London St Pancras to Avignon TGV station, changing at Paris (via Eurostar), to Avignon city centre (via shuttle train).

Journey time 6 hours

Approx cost  £197 (one-way, standard class, advance booking)

2.  London Paddington to St Ives via the Night Riviera Sleeper

Look out for  En route to Penzance, try and spot the giant Westbury White Horse, carved out of chalky Salisbury Plain. Cross engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous bridge over the river Tamar and keep a look out for the sign welcoming you to Cornwall in actual Cornish. Trundle along the breathtaking clifftops of St Ives Bay before arriving at the seaside town with its postcard-perfect harbour.

Journey  London to St Erth via the Night Riviera Sleeper, St Erth to St Ives (by bus). The Sleeper service runs Sun-Fri. 

Journey time 8 hours 19 minutes Approx cost £45-£165 (one-way, single sleeper)

3.  London St Pancras to Barcelona via Latour-de-Carol & the Pyrenees

Look out for  More scenic and cheaper than the TGV high-speed equivalent – rolling through the Rhône valley you’ll see countless pretty villages. Notice the Foix Castle emerge on the right before winding your way through the snowcapped Pyrenees. From the grand Latour-de-Carol station it’s a three-hour wobbly descent down the mountains to Barcelona. Look out for photo-worthy pretty views, like cascading waterfalls, tiny houses perched precariously on the hills and ancient ruins.

Journey  London to Paris (via Eurostar), Paris to Latour-de-Carol (via Intercité de Nuit couchette train), Latour-de-Carol- Enveitg – Barcelona (via Rodalies de Catalunya train).

Journey time 2 days

Approx cost £200 (one way, advance tickets)

4.  London St Pancras to Milan

Look out for  Race alongside the banks of Lake Como and into luscious green mountains. From Tirano, enjoy views of the mist-covered Alps, then it’s a fir-tree-lined descent past the vast Lake Poschiavo and over the six-arched curved limestone Landwasser Viaduct. Once in Milan – and if you want yet more rail action – you can hotfoot it onto a high-speed train and take a trip to Florence, Rome or Venice.

Journey  London to Paris (via Eurostar), Paris to Zurich (via TGV plus overnight stay), Zurich to Milan (via local train).

Journey time 2 days Approx cost £173 (one way, standard class, excluding overnight stay)

5.  London Euston to Fort William via Caledonian Sleeper

Look out for Waking up on board the Caledonian Sleeper in Bonnie Scotland is pretty special, but the return leg is even nicer. Unspoilt Scottish scenery will have you glued to the window until bedtime. Pass by Loch Lomond, bordered by craggy mountains, and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for deer on the marshy flatlands of Rannoch Moor. Add on a train trip to Mallaig at the end of the line to travel over the Glenfinnan Viaduct – you'll recognise the 21-arch bridge from the Harry Potter movies. 

Journey time 13 hours

Approx cost £55 seat/£285 single-bed bunks/£405 double bed (one way advance ticket)

6.  London Euston to The Welsh Coast via Cambrian Railway

Look out for This ride will take you all the way from Shrewsbury to the very edge of North West Wales, with some picturesque scenery along the way. You’ll pass the top of the Shropshire hills, the Cambrian Hills, and then Snowdonia to cap it all off. If you want to exit the train, your route takes you near to Ynys-hir Nature Reserve, where you can take a stroll whilst overlooking the Dyfi estuary. Don’t miss Harlech Castle, an impressive Medieval structure situated on the edge of a near-vertical cliff face.

Journey  London Euston to Shrewsbury, changing at Birmingham (via Avanti West Coast), Shrewsbury to Pwllheli (via Cambrian Railway).

Journey time 7 hours

Approx cost  £35–107 (one-way, advance booking)

7.  London St Pancras to The Black Forest via Eurostar

Look out for Apparently the sunniest city in Germany, Freiburg is a quant area with delicate miniature streams and cobbled streets. On the journey there, you’ll fly across the vibrant French countryside, through the Regional Natural Park of Lorraine, and then across the border into Southern Germany where you can expect incredible views of The Black Forest. We recommend hopping off and visiting the Forest on foot or riding in a cable car to get a bird’s eye view of the incredible dark treetops if you're feeling a little more adventureous. If you fancy extending your trip, there’s also a Black Forest train route running between Offenburg (30 minutes from Freiburg) and Konstanz.

Journey London St Pancras to Paris Nord (via Eurostar), Paris Nord to Paris Gare de L'Est (via Paris RER), Paris Gare de L'Est to Karlsruhe Hbf (via TGV),  Karlsruhe Hbf to Freiburg. 

Journey time  7 hours 35 minutes

Approx cost £140 (one way, 2nd class)

8.  London Victoria to Venice via Orient Express

Look out for Let’s be honest, once you’re on board the Belmond Orient Express you’ll struggle to take your eyes off the art deco interiors in your vintage cabin. But force your eyes to look outside the car, and you’ll see spectacular views of imposing mountains and lush valleys. Your journey starts as you whizz through the French countryside whilst enjoying a four-course meal and fizz. When you rise in the morning, you’ll be greeted by the all-encompassing Swiss Alps over your morning coffee, just like Hercule Poirot (hopefully with a lot less murder).

Journey  London St Pancras to Paris (via Eurostar), Paris to Venice (via Orient Express).

Journey time  32 hours (overnight, sleeper)

Approx cost  £3,88 0 (single, one way)

9.  London Euston to Carlisle via The Cumbrian Mountain Express

Look out for  On this steam train service, you’ll begin travelling across a patchwork of pretty English hills and farmland towards the Yorkshire Dales. As you weave across the country and towards Carlisle, you’ll pass through tunnels and over impressive viaducts, such as Ribblehead. The train also travels through Mallerstang, home to Pendragon Castle, past the River Eden and up to Ais Gill, the highest railway summit in England.

Journey  London Euston to Carnforth (via Electric), Carnforth to Carlisle (Steam).

Journey time  1 day

Approx cost  £115 (one way, advance standard class)

10.  London St Pancras to Budapest via The Balkan Odyssey

Look out for Beginning in Venice, where you’ll see the romantic Venice Lagoon and Grand Canal, the super luxurious Balkan Odyssey follows the Adriatic coast to Budapest, stopping off at beautiful and intriguing European spots. You’ll be taking your time to explore the different places along the way, but when you’re on board, make sure you keep your gaze out the window to spy gothic castles, gawp at the Carpathian Mountains in Romania and see the glistening Danube in Hungary.

Journey  London to Paris (via Eurostar), Paris to München (via SNCF), München to Venice (via Nightjet sleeper), Venice to Budapest (via The Balkan Odyssey).

Journey time 10  days

Approx cost  £9,983 (single, one way)

11.  London St Pancras to Prague via Czech Railways

Look out for As you whiz through Germany look for the Elbe River, one of Europe’s major rivers, as you travel south of Dresden. You’ll also spy Bad Schandau, a scenic spa town located on the bank of the river, and Děčín Castle where the Elbe meets Ploučnice river, before travelling alongside the incredible River Vltava on the way into the historic city of Prague.

Journey  London St. Pancras to Frankfurt (via Eurostar), Frankfurt to Berlin (via DB), Berlin to Dresden (via DB), Dresden to Prague (via Czech Railways).

Journey time two days

Approx cost  £215 (one way, not including overnight stay)

More amazing weekend breaks from London

Live the dreamland in margate.

Recently, 1920s theme park Dreamland has reopened after an 11-year campaign by locals. The UK’s answer to New York’s hyper-kitsch Coney Island, it boasts a mix of retro rides, seaside sauciness and a Tracey Emin-endorsed rollerdisco. Entry costs £17.95 and covers all rides. Skating is £4.95 Fri-Sun and £4.50 Mon-Thurs. With ‘Dreamland’ spelled out like the Hollywood sign across the back wall, it’s the most Instagrammable pleasure beach I’ve ever been to.

Margate retains an eccentric seaside spirit though. We paid £3.50 to pop into the Shell Grotto, a series of caves discovered in Victorian times (FYI, there’s a shell phallus), then visited the Mad Hatter, a tearoom in the old town, which has been covered floor-to-ceiling in Princess Diana memorabilia for the past 20 years. 

And that’s the thing – Londoners are always chasing trends, when we could be heading to Margs for some properly old-fashioned fun. A walk on the beach, a ride on the Ferris wheel, maybe even a stick of rock… Exactly the same things your nan enjoyed on holiday.

By Kate Lloyd

www.dreamland.co.uk

Getting there : By train from St Pancras or Victoria to Margate: around one hour 30 minutes. 

Go post-apocalyptic at Dungeness

Doomsday is upon us, and you are one of the few survivors! At least, that’s how it feels visiting this Kent coastal desert. Splintered remains of old boats litter the large shingle expanse, rusty train tracks run to the middle of nowhere, and a nuclear power station looms over you in the middle distance. Bring your camera and watch out for zombies. 

Getting there: By train from King’s Cross to Appledore (change at Ashford): around one hour 30 minutes. Then taxi.

Sculpt a castle at Sunny Sands

One of the few sandy beaches within an hour of London (and a lovely one it is too), Sunny Sands hosts the annual Folkestone Mermaid Festival and Sandcastle Competition, where the Michelangelos and Da Vincis of the sand-crafting world go head to head. You’d best get practising. www.folkestonefestival.org Getting there: By train from King’s Cross to Folkestone Central: around one hour.

Get down and dirty on a sewer tour in Brighton

You don’t really know a city until you’ve seen its shitty underside. This Southern Water tour (£12 adults, £6 children) will take you beneath the streets of Brighton, through a network of impressive Victorian tunnels that channel waste and water out of the city, before emerging from a manhole into a busy street!  www.southernwater.co.uk/brighton-sewer-tours

Getting there: By train from Victoria to Brighton: around one hour. 

Have a punt in Cambridge

A short train ride away from hordes of sweating sightseers, I find myself setting off on a two-mile punt down the river Cam. Scudamore’s punts can be hired at Mill Lane (£100 a day, £25 an hour), from which point you can drift out of town. Go far enough and you’ll reach the Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester, once frequented by Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, EM Forster and other dead types. As promised, everywhere is pleasantly scented, truly beautiful and – since the students have gone home for summer – nice and empty. 

The theory of punting is thus: drop the end of a metal pole to the riverbed, push and it will propel you forwards. The journey’s hard going (Scudamore’s also runs one-way guided trips up to Grantchester for the pole-shy) but ultimately worth it. We moor up by the tea room; there’s a charming, sun-dappled little orchard full of deckchairs and nattering locals. As I bite into a carrot cake, I let the tranquillity wash over me. And I’ve got the perfect way to hold on to this feeling: on the way back, I’m not doing the punting. 

By Alexi Duggins

www.scudamores.com

Getting there: By fast train from King’s Cross to Cambridge: around 45 minutes. Then walk (25 minutes) or taxi to Mill Lane. 

Raise a glass at Denbies in Dorking

As well as sampling award-winning wines produced by England’s largest vineyard, you can take indoor and outdoor tours of the estate (£6-£16). 

www.denbies.co.uk

Spoil yourself at The Grove in Hertfordshire

Queen Victoria used to ‘weekend’ at this country estate, 18 miles from central London. It’s now a fancy hotel with luxurious day packages on offer at its spa (£195-£350). Treat yo’self. 

www.thegrove.co.uk

Getting there: By train from Euston to Watford Junction: around 20 minutes. Then taxi.

Chug out West on the Dorset Coast Express

Getting there: Next train, July 22.

Take the plunge in Pangbourne

Pangbourne is a picturesque village with two or three nice pubs – and some of the best wild swimming within reach of London. We arrived in time for a riverside lunch at The Swan, then strolled down the Thames Path to the water meadows, a prime bathing spot (goose shit notwithstanding) with a slipway providing easy access to the river. 

Yes, it was bloody freezing. But only a few minutes in, I was surprised by a genuine feeling of being ‘at one with nature’. I was more literally bonded with some squishy mud near the bank, but a few feet out the bottom dropped away. Suddenly I was doggy-paddling in the clean, clear waters of Big Daddy Thames. 

It was glorious: enough to make you never want to dip a toe in chlorinated water again. On a sunny day I’d have been there all afternoon; but given the weather, a pint at The Cross Keys was a decent alternative. And we were back at Paddington by half six. Next time I go, I might even check the weather forecast.

www.wildswim.com

By James Manning

Getting there: By train from Paddington to Pangbourne: direct, around one hour 30 minutes; change at Reading for a journey of less than an hour.

Grin and bear (Grylls) it in the New Forest

Want to be able to survive in the most inhospitable environment? The place to start is… the New Forest. These family-friendly bushcraft courses (£70 adults, £55 12-18s) will teach you the basics of outdoor survival: how to build a shelter, make a fire, find water and wrestle bears to the death (well, the first three at least). www.newforestactivities.co.uk Getting there: By fast train from Waterloo to Brockenhurst: around one hour 35 minutes. Then taxi. 

Join the wolf pack in Berkshire

You’ll be howling with approval after a visit to the UK Wolf Conservation Trust. Open to the public every Wednesday (£8 adults, £5 children), the centre is home to ten wolves from places including North America and the Arctic. They’re all kept in enclosures, but maybe still err on the side of caution and avoid wearing any sheepskin. 

Getting there: By train from Paddington to Midgham (change at Reading): around one hour. Then taxi. 

www.ukwct.org.uk 

Take a walk on the wool side with llamas in Surrey

Dogs are soooo 2014! When you go for a walk in the countryside these days, you want a freakin’ llama by your side. Lead one of the friendly furries through the beautiful Surrey Hills on a day-long trek (£75 adults, £38 nine-15s), stopping for a picnic en route. Just don’t piss your llama off or you’ll learn the true meaning of ‘spitting distance’. 

www.surrey-hills-llamas.co.uk

Getting there: By train from Waterloo to Milford: around one hour. Then taxi.

Go to shellfish heaven on Mersea Island

The little island of Mersea (pronounced ‘Mersey’) is one of those places you don’t want to shout about. Let everyone else go to twee-on-sea Whitstable, with its bunting and overpriced oysters. Mersea has crept on to the food map in the past few years, but it’s still down-to-earth.

Seafood shack The Company Shed is exactly that – a big shed that grew out of the family oyster-farming business, with cheapo furniture, kitchen rolls plonked on tables and angry lobsters and crabs awaiting their fate in a tank on the back wall. 

Order at the counter then sit back like a Roman emperor as ridiculous piles of shellfish are brought to you. We go for the famous Company Shed seafood platter (£15 per person): a monster smorgasbord of crab, locally cured salmon, smoked peppered mackerel, prawns, crevettes and mussels. 

There’s plenty to do on the island – crabbing, a country park, cycling, boat trips, a tour of Mersea Island Vineyard and its microbrewery. But to be honest, we’re really here to feed our faces.  

By Cath Clarke

www.thecompanyshed.co  

Getting there: By train from Liverpoool Street to Colchester: around 50 minutes. Then taxi (30 minutes), bus or bicycle. You can also pick up a passenger ferry to Mersea from Brightlingsea.

Catch a moving film at the Floating Cinema

London’s favourite (and presumably only) canal boat cinema has gone cruising out west this summer, on a tour from Brentford to Bristol, along the Kennet & Avon Canal. You can take easy day trips to any of the places where it’s mooring for a range of workshops, talks and free outdoor screenings.  www.floatingcinema.info

Getting there: Transport and timings vary. See the website. 

Play the imitation game at Bletchley Park

Follow in the footsteps of Alan Turing (statue pictured) and his legendary team at the very place where brainy Brits cracked the Nazi Enigma code (£16.75 annual adult ticket, £10 12-16s, free under-12s). After taking in the incredible wartime history of the park at its fascinating museum, visit the huts where maths whizzes worked around the clock on German ciphers – work that is estimated to have shortened the war by two years.  www.bletchleypark.org.uk

Getting there: By train from Euston to Bletchley: around 45 minutes.

Stand the chance of a ghost in Pluckley

Steel yourself and head for Britain’s most haunted village. A screaming man, a suicidal schoolmaster, a burning lady and a murdered highwayman are among the 12 spectres said to hang out in this unassuming corner of the Kent countryside. 

www.pluckley.net

Getting there: By train from Charing Cross to Pluckley: around one hour ten minutes. 

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Luxury Train Journeys in England

Luxury train journeys UK

From luxury steam train journeys to historic Bath to a Murder Mystery Lunch, LuxuryTrainTickets.com offer a wide selection of luxury train day trips to some of England's most celebrated destinations. With vintage trains, such as the Belmond British Pullman and the Northern Belle , we offer only the most luxurious of rail transport. The Northern Belle departs from numerous locations throughout England, whilst the majority of the Belmond British Pullman journeys depart from London, Victoria, though they are now also offering a handful of journeys that depart from Cornwall.

If you've ever dreamt of an Orient Express journey in England, a steam train day trip or afternoon tea on a train, this is the closest you will get, the carriages of our luxury train journeys in England are of 1920's and 1930's style, with art deco being a huge influence in their makeup. With all our Orient Express journeys in England, come a fine dining experience, which includes silver service, combine with the best British seasonal ingredients. Browse our range of luxury train journeys in England and find yourself a fantastic trip.

Included in an luxury train journey:

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• Welcome sparkling Bellini reception
• Admission tickets (journey specific)

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