A guide to the greatest UK rail excursions

Added: 01/13/2006

There is no doubt that people who come to Great Britain for the first time should start their journey in London. However, if you had already observed all the highlights of this wonderful city you might find yourself willing to see more of Britain's places of interest. One option is to take a day trip by car to Isle of Wight or Stonehenge. But if you are dying to see as much as you can you might as well choose to take a rail excursion.

The main advantage of UK rail excursions over any other kinds is the opportunity to see everything out of the window of a real vintage steam locomotive restored with great panache. Tour operators usually charter them from private owners, as well as from museums and other organizations. When riding those trains, you actually feel like traveling back in time and may even imagine being a hero from an Agatha Christie's novel. Most rail excursions have two or three classes to choose from: standard, first and, sometimes, premium class. The main difference between them is seats, which are more comfortable in the first class compared to the standard one. Premium class also features delicious meals and beverages served in the carriages. All passengers are provided with a complete information pack, which will serve as a memory of the train excursion.

The most famous steam locomotive is, probably, the British Pullman, which offers rail excursions to the historic cities of the UK. It takes its name from George Mortimer Pullman, who in XIX century designed the first truly comfortable rail car, and later the Pullman Car Company, which soon became a leader in rail car production in the UK. The uniqueness of British Pullman is in its individual cars: Audrey, Cygnus, Gwen, Ibis, Ione, Lucille, Minerva, Perseus, Phoenix, Vera, and Zena, each having its own history. Many of these carriages have been used by the royal family over decades; some were involved in the historical events, such as the visits of the Russian leaders Bulganin and Khrushchev in 1956 and the funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965. Many of these great rail cars were removed from service in 1960-70s, then bought and carefully reconstructed.

The British Pullman and a variety of other trains offer unforgettable rail excursions to the most exciting places in Great Britain, including Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, and York with rates ranging from 255 to 460. The historical city of Bath famous for the Roman Baths with its hot springs is one of the most sought after attractions. On Christmas it is especially popular as a shopping centre. Oxford and Cambridge are mostly walking tours, which can be recommended for those interested in exploring the historical academic cities with world-famous universities, libraries and bookshops.

Those attracted by the medieval history of Great Britain will not be disappointed by York with its numerous historical museums. British aviation history is best presented in Southampton, where the Hall of Aviation tells fascinating stories about legendary aircraft. Regardless of your destination, upon arrival you will be greeted by the guides, who will accompany you on your excursion. Normally, you will be given a lot of time to explore the stores of other lures by yourself. On your way back to London, you will be provided with delicious dinner completed with wine or champagne serving as a final chord of your journey of discovery.

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