Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises has unveiled their new ‘Journeys in the United Kingdom’ brochure featuring the British Pullman, Northern Belle and The Royal Scotsman. The new brochure offers a vast array of historical and cultural days out, celebratory occasions, luxurious weekend trips, unforgettable dining experiences and sporting events.

The brochure also showcases the range of fully inclusive itineraries from one to seven nights onboard The Royal Scotsman.

The UK programme which includes over 50 special steam hauled departures provides the perfect opportunity to explore the magnificent landmarks and sights of Britain in the most opulent of surroundings, whilst being served delicious cuisine and being looked after by attentive stewards.

Northern Belle is a recreation of the spirit of adventure and style that surrounded the classic rail cruises of her namesake in the 1930’s. Today, Northern Belle is a ‘tourer’ par excellence, a modern classic. Furnished with the same intricate marquetry and glistening brass, as her sister trains, she travels throughout Britain to offer passengers journeys through stunning countryside in the style of a bygone era, with all modern comforts.

The mulberry and cream carriages of Northern Belle now depart from more than 50 regional towns and cities including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. As well as the existing departure points, Cheltenham and Newark have been introduced for the first time, making a journey on Northern Belle even more accessible.

Northern Belle’s Grand Tour of Great Britain will be operating for its fifth season. This spectacular 7 day / 6 night all inclusive tour of Great Britain includes stopovers at flagship hotels in Edinburgh and Chester and a gala dinner at the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. The Grand Tour departs from London on the 1st September and the price per person is £3100.

There have been a number of NEW destinations added to the Northern Belle programme for 2006 including:

—2006 will see the 100th Anniversary of Sir John Betjeman’s birth and the Northern Belle is operating a trip to celebrate this. On the 9th September the Northern Belle will leave London Paddington to the sounds of a brass band and will slowly make its way to Bristol. A delicious brunch with bucks fizz will be served en route. On arrival at Bristol Temple Meads, guests will be greeted by local dignitaries before joining a grand reception held in the “Brunel’s Passenger Shed”. There will be entertainment which culminates in the presentation of the National Poetry Prize for Schoolchildren by Andrew Motion, the current Poet Laureate. Later that evening guests will be welcomed back onboard Northern Belle with a glass of champagne, before indulging in a three course dinner. The trip departs on the 9th September and costs £295 per person.

—Bodnant Gardens situated above the Rover Conwy with views across Snowdonia is one of the world’s most spectacular gardens. Guests begin their day in style with a journey onboard Northern Belle with brunch and bucks fizz before enjoying the free time to explore Bodnant Gardens and the nearby Conwy Castle. The day is rounded off with a visit to the seaside town of Llandudno before re-boarding the Northern Belle for a four course meal on the journey home. The trip operates on 16th May (from Crewe, Manchester & Warrington) and 29th (from Lincoln, Newark & Nottingham). The price per person is £245.

—A trip to the scenic Cambrian Coast & Mountains onboard Northern Belle is a wonderful day out. Guests have brunch with a refreshing glass of bucks fizz whilst enjoying a scenic journey through the Cambrian Mountains, along the Cambrian Coast and over the spectacular Barmouth Viaduct across the River Mawddach. Upon arrival guests are taken on a coach tour of the area and visits include the Victorian camera obscura and Aberystwyth Castle. On the return journey guests are served a sumptuous four course meal with champagne and wine. This trip departs on the 9th June from Chester, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Warrington and the cost is £245 per person.

Dartmouth Royal Regatta is an exciting annual nautical event in a picturesque setting. Guests elegantly travel to the event onboard Northern Belle with brunch and bucks fizz. Upon arrival at Dartmouth, guests have free time to enjoy the regatta with its many races as well as exploring the regatta village. A four course meal with champagne and wine is served on the return journey giving plenty of time to reflect on the days events. This trip departs on the 24th August from Birmingham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Crewe and Worcester. It costs £255 per person.

Severn Valley Railway & Bridgnorth OR Ironbridge. A delicious brunch with bucks fizz is served on the outward journey and on arrival at Kidderminster the Northern Belle is joined by a steam locomotive which will take guests along the privately owned scenic Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth. On arrival at Bridgnorth guests may either choose a guided walking tour of the town or take a short coach transfer to see the famous Ironbridge, including the toll house and museum. Returning to Northern Belle later that afternoon guests are welcomed back onboard with glass of chilled champagne before enjoying a delicious four-course dinner. This trip departs on 6th June (from Derby, Leeds, Sheffield and York), 5th August and 13th September (from Crewe, Manchester, Shrewsbury and Warrington). The price per person is £255 per person.

New trip to the vibrant seaside town of Torquay departs on 15th July (from Birmingham, Manchester and Stoke on Trent). A guided coach tour which follows the Agatha Christie trail will give guests a taste of this popular town in the English Riviera. Following this there is plenty of time to spend at leisure. This trip costs £255 per person.

Other NEW Northern Belle trips include: Bowes Museum & Raby Castle in County Durham, Gateshead Quays, Skipton Medieval Christmas Fair, Dunrobin Castle in the Northern Highlands, Farnborough International Airshow, Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, Cardiff, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Country Living Christmas Fair in London and Christmas Carols at Chester.

The British Pullman with its vintage carriages and historical significance is a unique British thoroughbred. As an immaculate restoration, it represents an authentic opportunity to travel in the glamorous style of the art deco period. The British Pullman also plays an integral part in the world’s most romantic adventure - a journey from London to Venice or (vice versa) on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

All British Pullman departures are from London Victoria with regular day trips to favourites like Bath, Southampton, York and Brighton. Outings to special gardens such as Great Dixter and Wisley, stately homes like Beaulieu and Chatsworth and the sporting occasions of Cowes, the Grand National and Royal Ascot are also included in this year’s brochure.

The magical elegance of the Orient-Express is nowhere more clearly expressed than through ‘The Dinner’. These glamorous evenings are the ultimate in pure social extravagance and as a result of last years popularity more dates have been added to the 2006 schedule. The Dinner departs on 6th April, 6th May, 8th June, 6th July, 7th September, 12th October and 16th November and is priced at £275 per person.

Two NEW destinations have been added to the British Pullman programme for 2006 including:

—The American Museum in Bath, boasts an exquisite collection of American furniture, textiles and craftsmanship. The museum features fascinating examples of American life, from the17th century to the American Civil War. The museum is set in a beautiful manor with stunning views over Limpley Stoke Valley. Guests travel to and from the museum in style on board the British Pullman with a delicious brunch with bucks fizz on the outward journey and a four
course meal on the return. This trip departs on 28th June and 4th October and the price is £290 per person.

—A trip to Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, combined with a steam hauled trip on the British Pullman is a delightful day out. The Renaissance-style chateau, the creation of Ferdinand de Rothschild, houses some of the finest French 18th century decorative arts, and its furniture and porcelain collection rival New York’s Metropolitan Museum and Paris’s Louvre in terms of importance. This trip departs on 1st April and 19th August and costs £310 per person. This price includes a steam hauled return journey on the British Pullman with brunch on the outward journey and a three course dinner on the return.

Departures from Plymouth and Exeter have been once again included in the schedule. The British Pullman will operate a lunch trip from Plymouth and a dinner trip from Exeter on the 20th May and are priced at £195 per person.

The brochure highlights five weekend breaks offered onboard the Northern Belle and British Pullman. The weekend trips give guests the opportunity to enjoy a return journey on either the Northern Belle or British Pullman as it transports them to their destination. Guests will have two nights at a hotel in the carefully selected destinations of the Lake District, Cornwall and Edinburgh. Prices for a weekend break start from £650 per person.

The variety of stylish all-inclusive short breaks onboard The Royal Scotsman, available from 2nd May to 28th October in 2006, are detailed in the new brochure. Each journey onboard The Royal Scotsman gently rolls guests through the very best of Scotland’s magnificent scenery and offers them time away from the train to visit grand Scottish estates, to enjoy rousing ceilidh’s or simply to enjoy a stroll along the pristine white sandy beaches of the West Coast. A variety of journeys are available from the one night ‘Wee Dram’ to the seven night ‘Grand North Western’. All inclusive prices start at £840 per person, with all journeys departing from Edinburgh Waverley Station.

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