Formal dress is encouraged and I was only delighted to oblige, so we donned our finest and set off for London Victoria station. The platform was buzzing with well heeled passengers decked in all their finery, and a trio called the Spitfire Sisters clad in vintage dresses serenaded us with songs from the roaring 20s as we queued for check in. We were travelling in the Minerva carriage - built in 1927 and adorned with Edwardian style marquetry, we were informed that it had been included in special trains for many state visits and royal tours. We had an opportunity to explore each of the carriages and we couldn't get over how beautiful each one is! Many original features have been carefully restored, the tables are decorated with Art Deco style lamps and seating is in the form of large comfortable armchairs upholstered with vintage fabrics from the period. Even the powder rooms are impressive, each one a different design but equally as luxurious and spacious, many with mosaic tiles and old style fixtures.
The Golden Age of Travel experience is a five hour journey through the Kent countryside during which guests enjoy a champagne reception and a delicious five course lunch served with wine. Each carriage has tables for 1, 2 or 3 guests - with private 'coupes' available for tables of 4. The very friendly and attentive steward accompanied us to our intimate table for two and gave us a brief history of the train and the various carriages while topping up our flutes of champagne. If this is how people used to travel then please take me back in time! This was sheer luxury - from the elegant table settings of porcelain and silverware, to the generous armchairs that seem to envelop you.
Lunch kicked off with a plate of beautifully presented hors d'oeuvres, followed by a Barbary duck and granny smith apple terrine, before moving onto a delicious Roast Pumpkin soup. I marvelled at how the stewards managed to serve all of these plates while the train swayed gently along, especially the soup course which was very carefully poured and garnished before us. The main course was a mouth-watering dish of wild Cornish sea bass served with heritage carrot puree and pomme fondant. A selection of seasonal cheeses followed, while the best (in my humble opinion) was saved for last, an indulgent Pineapple upside down cake, served with Chantilly crème and spiced Tiptree butterscotch sauce - divine! A choice of house white or red wine is included as part of the five course lunch, but you can also choose from a list of wines and cocktails on their drinks menu if you prefer.
Between courses we had the opportunity to explore the rest of the train and check out the décor in each of the other carriages. I was very keen to see the Cygnus carriage which has been recently restored and reimagined by filmmaker Wes Anderson. It had been impossible to secure a seat in this carriage at the time, as it had only very recently been unveiled and the first few outings had been reserved for glossy magazine editors and fashion darlings. It did not disappoint, the armchairs upholstered in shades of green contrast beautifully against a playful accent of pastel-pink on the carriage ceiling. Wes Anderson's signature design aesthetic is evident throughout, but particularly in the ornate Art Nouveau marquetry and symmetrical design elements. Each of the carriages has it's own unique charm but fans of Wes Anderson will not want to miss out on a seat in this carriage.
Tea and coffee was served along with hand-rolled chocolate truffles as we made our way back towards Victoria station. It was such an enjoyable trip that we were already soliciting advice from the stewards on the other luxury train journeys that are available on the Belmond trains. No surprise that the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express tops the list, but we also discovered a few others (the Royal Scotsman, Hiram Bingham and Andean Explorer) that we would love to experience. All in all, the British Pullman Golden Age of Travel was a wonderful experience that I highly recommend - perfect for a birthday or other special occasion!
Pro tip - if you are looking to book this experience as part of a longer trip to London then you should consider pairing this with a stay in The Cadogan hotel. As The Cadogan is also part of the Belmond group, they should be able to tailor your stay around your train journey - they even have a board in the lobby by the stairs (pictured below) with details of the next British Pullman departure. You can read all about our stay in The Cadogan here.
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