Author: Mason Wood

Luxury Train Travel in the UK

August 7, 2025 / Mason Wood

The UK has some of the world’s most luxurious railway experiences where vintage glamour meets modern luxury. From day trips through the English countryside to multi-night journeys across the Scottish Highlands, luxury train travel is the best way to see Britain’s landscapes, heritage and food.

The Golden Age Reborn

Luxury rail travel in the UK is more than just getting from A to B – it’s a celebration of an era when the journey was as important as the destination. These beautifully restored trains combine authentic period craftsmanship with modern amenities so you can step back in time and enjoy 5* service and cuisine.

Belmond British Pullman: Day Trips in Vintage Style

The Belmond British Pullman is an icon of British railway heritage with 11 beautifully restored carriages from the 1920s to 1950s. Each carriage has its own name and history – some carried royalty, others featured in classic films and several were part of the famous Brighton Belle service.

Operating mainly from London Victoria, the British Pullman specialises in day trips and weekend breaks to destinations across southern England. You might find yourself visiting grand country estates like Blenheim Palace or Highclere Castle, attending sporting events like the Grand National or enjoying murder mystery lunches inspired by Agatha Christie’s famous novel.

The train’s interiors feature stunning marquetry, brass fittings and period furnishings that transport you back to the 1920s and 30s. Art Deco details, vintage table lamps and hand-stitched fabrics create a sense of luxury. White linen tables are set with fine bone china and crystal glassware and stewards in period livery will look after you.

Founded in 1982 the service continues to run and offers everything from champagne brunches to 5 course lunches. The carriages themselves are a piece of railway history with some having carried members of the royal family and others featured in famous films. The train occasionally runs under steam power on selected journeys.

The Northern Belle: Luxury for All

The Northern Belle brings luxury rail travel to a wider audience with departures from multiple stations across the UK not just London. Launched in 2000 the train is a recreation of the Belle services of the 1930s and has 13 beautifully restored carriages.7 dining carriages – Alnwick, Belvoir, Chatsworth, Glamis, Harlech, Warwick and Duart – each with its own unique interior design inspired by the British castles and stately homes after which they are named. The craftsmanship includes intricate marquetry, mosaics and rich wood panelling that evokes the luxury of inter-war travel.

What sets the Northern Belle apart is its geographical accessibility and range of departure points including Manchester, Liverpool, York and many regional cities. This means luxury train travel is now available to those outside of the South East of England. The train visits destinations across Britain from Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands to Bath, Chester and Torquay.

The culinary experience on board is exceptional with chefs working in tiny kitchens to produce 7 course meals while the train is travelling at speeds of up to 100mph. The train offers an à la carte experience unique to luxury trains where you can choose your dishes on the day of travel. Recent collaborations have taken the dining to new heights with the train able to accommodate up to 252 passengers across the carriages.

Belmond Royal Scotsman: Highland Luxury

For an overnight luxury rail experience the Belmond Royal Scotsman offers multi-day journeys through Scotland’s most stunning landscapes. Running since 1985 this iconic train is one of the world’s top luxury rail services.

The Royal Scotsman’s mahogany-clad Edwardian-style carriages combine period elegance with country house comfort. With capacity for 36-40 guests and a staff of 12 the service is incredibly intimate and personal. Passengers are welcomed on board to the sound of bagpipes with a red carpet rolled out and champagne served on silver salvers.

Journeys range from 2 to 7 nights with the classic 5 night itinerary covering 720 miles through the heart of the Highlands. Routes pass ancient castles, mirror-still lochs and dramatic mountain scenery. Days include off-train excursions such as visits to whisky distilleries, clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing, Highland safaris and tours of historic estates.

The train has 2 elegant dining cars – Raven and Swift – where passengers enjoy candlelit dinners featuring the finest Scottish ingredients and regional specialties. The Observation Car is the social heart of the train with plush seating, complimentary drinks and a bar with over 50 malts. An open air viewing platform allows passengers to experience the Highland air and panoramic views.A new addition to the train is the Bamford Haybarn Spa car where you can enjoy holistic treatments using botanical products as the Scottish landscape rolls by. Cabins are compact but thoughtfully designed with en-suite facilities, mahogany marquetry, soft Scottish wool fabrics and tartan accents. The train overnight at quiet sidings so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Belmond Britannic Explorer: A New Chapter

Launching in July 2025 the Belmond Britannic Explorer is a game-changer – the first luxury sleeper train serving England and Wales. This modern addition to Britain’s luxury rail options departs from London Victoria on 3 night journeys to Cornwall, the Lake District and Wales.

The train has 18 cabins including 3 grand suites with marble en-suite bathrooms, personal butler service and lounge areas. London-based design studio Albion Nord have created the interiors which celebrate British craftsmanship and contemporary style using natural materials such as wood, stone and wool in earthy tones inspired by the surrounding landscapes.

The dining has been designed by renowned chef Simon Rogan whose restaurants hold 8 Michelin stars. Each route has bespoke menus featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients that reflect Britain’s diverse regions and culinary heritage. The observation car has a botanical-inspired bar serving innovative cocktails, artisan gins and craft beers from independent British distilleries and breweries.

Daily excursions offer privileged access to cultural treasures: private tours of Hauser & Wirth Somerset with dinner at their restaurant, guided hikes through Welsh national parks, wild swimming in the Lake District, visits to Cornish sculpture gardens. An onboard wellness suite provides spa treatments designed to complement the slow travel experience.

The routes are structured so you can combine two regional journeys into longer itineraries – the Cornwall and Lake District routes run Friday to Monday and the Wales route runs Monday to Thursday. The train will feature work from emerging British artists whose creations respond to nature and the landscapes through which the train travels with commissioned pieces ranging from stitched textiles to wood veneer compositions throughout the carriages.

Planning Your Luxury Rail Experience

When considering luxury train travel in Britain several things to consider. Day trips are 9-12 hours so perfect for special occasions without the need for overnight arrangements. Multi-night sleeper journeys offer deeper immersion into regional landscapes and culture but are a bigger time and financial commitment.Dress codes vary by train and journey. Day excursions are smart casual, dinner services and formal occasions more formal. Many people view luxury train travel as an opportunity to dress up, but contemporary smart is fine too.

Book well in advance especially for popular routes, special events and tables for two. Peak season (spring to autumn) is the busiest time, Christmas journeys sell out quickly. Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.

Specialist Operators

Established in 2000 Luxury Trains has 25 years of experience in luxury rail travel worldwide. Based in Wales this specialist agency provides expert guidance and booking services for luxury train experiences globally including all British services. They are members of the Travel Trust Association so your booking is financially protected.

Specialist agencies are useful if you’re new to luxury train travel or want complex itineraries. They offer more than just bookings, they understand the nuances of each service, seasonal variations and how to get the most out of the experience. They can advise on which journeys are best for your occasion, coordinate complex travel arrangements and handle the details so everything runs smoothly.

Slow Travel

Luxury train travel is about meaningful, unhurried travel experiences. Rather than viewing time in transit as just getting from A to B, these journeys make the journey itself the experience. You watch the landscape roll by at a leisurely pace, dine on local produce, connect with fellow travellers in convivial surroundings.

The environmental benefits also appeal to conscious travellers. Rail travel generates much lower carbon emissions than flying so you can explore Britain sustainably without sacrificing comfort or luxury. Being able to travel through national parks, protected landscapes and remote regions without the environmental impact of road vehicles is a big plus.

Britain’s luxury train services offer many ways to experience the country’s landscapes, heritage and hospitality. Whether you choose a day trip on vintage Pullman carriages, a multi-day Highland adventure or the new overnight journeys through England and Wales you’ll find yourself transported – literally and figuratively – to an era when travel meant more than just getting to a destination.They keep the past while moving with the times. Luxury doesn’t have to mean losing authenticity and looking back can inform forward thinking travel. If you want experiences that combine nostalgia with excellence Britain’s luxury trains have got journeys for you.

Top 10 Tips For Your Wedding

January 5, 2023 / Mason Wood

This article shows 10 hacks that every bride should do on their wedding day, so without further ado, let’s dive in!

Tip 1: Eat Breakfast

So number 1 on my 10 hacks is something that you might actually do every day. It’s eating breakfast. It’s so easy to forget to eat breakfast on your wedding day. I know it sounds like a really really silly thing to add to my 10 hacks, but I think it’s so important. You will get so preoccupied with all the things that you want to do need to do and just everything that’s going on in the day you might forget to eat what you shouldn’t.

You really really need to make sure that you have a really good hearty breakfast. On the day of the wedding, because you’re not going to be having lunch at 12 o’clock or 1 o’clock you’re likely to get married at that time, your main meal of the day isn’t going to be until quite a bit later.

You might even want to try and fit in a little light lunch before the wedding as well. Now, obviously, I am aware that some of you might be having a beautiful slim slender tight-fitting dress and you don’t want to have any after-food effects, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat.

It is so so important to eat you’re going to have lots of adrenaline on the day you’re going to possibly have butterflies and nerves. You are going to have emotions flying all over the place. You need to make sure that you’ve eaten and that you are ready for the day ahead.It will give you lots of energy and you will feel better about it.

Tip 2: Don’t Rush

So my second hack for your wedding day is to allow time in the morning again it may seem like an obvious one, but you do not want to be rushing.

You don’t want to be rushing around having to get into your dress, last-minute or realizing that you haven’t allowed enough time to do your hair and makeup, or have your hair and makeup did that you’re actually not going to have enough time to get to the wedding Venue just really small things so make sure that when you’re working out your timings for the morning that you have allowed enough time now, I always say make sure you’re in your dress at least 30 minutes before the wedding ceremony.

So if it’s a civil ceremony and you’re getting married on-site then make sure you’re in your dress 30 minutes before the ceremony. Because don’t forget, you have to see the registrar as well and then you can just relax if you are traveling to your church or to your civil ceremony, then again just try and be ready.

30 minutes before you have to leave the house as opposed to the time that the ceremony starts but allow that time and enjoy it with your girls and guys, okay?

Tip 3: Delegate Your Tasks

So moving on to delegating delegate delegate delegate, I cannot advise you to do this one enough.

You cannot be doing things on your wedding day. You will not be taking on tasks for the wedding day itself. You need to relax, enjoy yourself and just let things happen and take it all in. You can’t be doing your to-do list and checking it off on the wedding day, so you need to delegate now whether that be your venue coordinator, whether you have a wedding coordinator or a wedding planner, whether you have Ashes, who you know, are going to be amazing.

At actually moving people assuring people from A to B, whether you’re using a Toastmaster or, is that your best man that’s going to do the announcements for you. If you’ve got a bridal party that has literally got your back and I’m going to make sure that the room is set up, how you need it to, and you have always got a drink in hand when you need it, those sorts of things someone will need To no doubt have cash for any last-minute supply payments.

You shouldn’t be doing it. Give that Duty to somebody else. Let somebody else take control of those small daily tasks so that you don’t have to do so. The on-the-day schedule is one of the key components of your wedding day.

Tip 4: Plan Your Schedule

Your on-the-day schedule must have as DTOs as you can possibly think of. So writing in how much time you’re allocating for yourself in the morning what supplies are arriving and what jobs need to be done in the morning at the venue that is with the suppliers, then there’s the actual timeline of your wedding itself.

What time do you need to leave your house what time the ceremony is, and what time do guests need to be ushered from one place to the other? When does the Toastmaster need to announce guests to go through to the wedding breakfast and so on? So that sort of thing needs to be written down in your on the day schedule, you will then send that out to oil suppliers, and your venue manager and you can even hand that, over to your bridal party or those people that you are having support you on the day that you are delegating to that means, everybody is then literally singing off the same hymn sheet.

There will not be confusion because it will all be written down.

Tip 5: Emergency Makeup Kit

Okay, so with that in mind, let’s move on to the next one, which is the emergency kit. You will want a bridal on-the-day emergency kit or as I like to call it: the bag of dreams.

That story comes from. Basically, when I was a maid of honor back in the day and I carried what we called the bag of Dreams which had everything that the bride might need and actually what the bridesmaids might need as well, so you’ve got the extra hair pins, the bobby pins.

The deodorant the blister passed plasters, the heel grips some hairspray face wipes, and so on. All these random things that you might need on the day or likely will need clear nail varnish for any runs in tights and now varnish that matches your nails.

Just in case you chip eye makeup, remove tissues. The list goes on whatever you feel that you might need to put in the bag of dreams.

Tip 6 : Stay Hydrated

Okay, so another one. That, again, probably seems a little bit obvious, but I personally think it is key to a good wedding day and that is staying hydrated make sure you drink water.

It is a long day. You will no doubt be having a few drinks. You do not want to be that bride. That is all over the shop or dehydrated unless you do, but I don’t think you do if you’re getting married in the summer or abroad, it’s even more important that you stay hydrated throughout the day.

You’ll also just keep yourself feeling fresh. You will have more energy, it’s pretty obvious. Why just make sure you do it and if it’s something that you’re worried about forgetting then speak to your caterer before the wedding day and say, can you make sure that you keep bringing me glasses of water throughout the day? Please they most certainly will do that. So have that conversation with them, if you think you need to.

Tip 7: Take a Time Off To Enjoy The Moment

This is the biggest piece of advice that I give my couples, so your wedding day will whiz by it will be the most amazing day of your life, but you will be whisked from A to B to here to chat with this person, to thank that person, and sometimes you get so whisked up in everything, that’s going on in everybody.

That’s where you get to the end of the day and you realize we didn’t have any time. You have to remember that your wedding day is about the two of you. So my biggest piece of advice is to take five, just the two of you now, the best time to do this is when your guests are going through to the wedding breakfast: that’s going to take them 15 to 20 minutes.

So at that point, you guys can just go off, just go and sit down or go and take a moment for 5-10 minutes and just be in the moment.

Just take a breath and just remember why you’re having your wedding day, what it’s all about and the new chapter that you have both just started together, and then you’ll get announced into the wedding breakfast as the new Mr. and mrs. Smith. And that would be first time that you’re announced with your new surname and you’re, really starting that new chapter, and just before then, you’ve had a moment just the two of you to really take it all in.

I honestly feel that this is one of the most important things to do on your wedding day because you will treasure that moment.

Tip 8: Enjoy What You’ve Paid For

okay, so my next hack is to enjoy what you’ve paid for now. With this I mean you will choose particular cocktails because they’re your favorite, or you may choose a particular band because you love them.

You make used to having some form of entertainment during the drinks reception because it sounds really good fun and you’re really looking forward to taking part as well as your guests. Now, as I’ve mentioned already, you can get whisked up for the whole day and there are so many of your friends and family there that you need to make sure you’ve spoken to everybody.

But don’t let that mean that you miss out on enjoying the things that you’ve paid for as well. If you’ve chosen a particular cocktail, make sure you manage to get one. Your caterer should sort that for you, but make sure you do if you’ve decided to get mini golfing for the drinks reception because you absolutely love.

Make sure you get around. If you have chosen a band in the evening because you cannot wait to dance to them, then make sure you get to dance to them now for my particular wedding, it was all about the music I and my husband met.

Music is part of who we are and we booked a wonderful acoustic singer for our drinks reception, and I made sure that our couples photos were only 30 minutes and after 30 minutes, I asked if we could go back to the drinks reception because I wanted to Enjoy her singing and her set, I didn’t want to miss it and we made sure that we did the wedding-breakfast walk around and thanked all our guests and managed to have a quick chat with every one of our guests during the wedding breakfast.

Tip 9: Thank Your Guests

So come the evening. At the reception when the band started, I made sure that I had spoken to every single person that was at our wedding so that I could go and dance because that is who I am. I wanted to be on the dance floor and I wanted to be dancing to that band so linking in with the last hack is actually saying.

Thank you to your guests. So, as I mentioned just now, I did the wedding-breakfast walk around it’s something again. I recommend to all my brides: the alternative is the very traditional receiving line which is still used today.

It’s just a little bit more time-consuming. If you don’t know what either of those is then check out my video on wedding etiquette, and wedding traditions, you’ll also have an opportunity to thank and greet your guests during your drinks, reception, and during the evening reception as well, but make sure you do another way of Thanking your guests are, perhaps writing them a personal thank-you card, that’s on their place setting, but it’s obviously not quite as personal as actually thanking them in person and going having a chat which I highly advise.

Tip 10: Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!

So finally, the tenth hack isn’t really a hack at all. Just relax and enjoy the day it will be the most amazing day of your life, sit back, relax and let it happen. You have pulled on a team of people to pull off your day.

They will do just that, for you to breathe it all in soak it all up. Remember what it’s all about, don’t let the stress and overwhelm get in just enjoy it for what it is. It will be magic anyway guys. I hope you found those 10 hacks helpful.

Choosing The right Wedding Car For Your Big Day

December 19, 2018 / Mason Wood

For most people their wedding day is undoubtedly the most crucial, special day of their lives. They want everything perfect, finely tuned to their own special requirements; the bride and groom expect their perfect day to be a reflection of them as a special family unit. There are obviously an awful lot of important decisions to be made; the wedding dress, flowers, location, guest list, honeymoon and so the list goes on.

Choosing the right transportation for you and your loved one, to your ceremony and reception can add wonderful quality and style for your unforgettable day. You should consider the theme of your special day. Have you opted for contemporary or traditional? Do you favour a particular colour scheme?

Budget is obviously important. Setting aside a reasonable amount of money for your transportation, allows you access to a wider choice of transport vehicles available to you, with additional extras available such as chauffer driven, decorative ribbons or complimentary champagne, all of these add to those extra special wedding day memories. Also bear in mind a few other factors about the vehicle you choose; is it actually wedding dress friendly? Who is going to travel with the bride to the wedding venue? Who is going to travel with the groom? Do you actually want matching wedding cars or each unique to the bride and grooms parties? Is the vehicle weather appropriate? Do you want the vehicle(s) showcased in your wedding photography?

The name Rolls Royce immediately brings to mind words such as class, style, quality. Rolls Royce Silver Wrath, 1948, has coachwork by Freestone and Webb and was actually originally built for the famous circus owner Jimmy Chipperfield. Owned by Phoenix Weddings, as the main chauffeur driven Bridal car, it is ideal as it is a 3 seater. The interior is beautifully restored, cream leather complimented by French polished Walnut trim. The iconic Rolls Royce Flying Lady and stunning chrome body details provide beautiful and creative backdrop to your wedding photographs.

Rolls Royce 25/30hp, 1936 is another beautiful Phoenix owned vehicle. Stunning, luxurious vintage in excellent condition throughout. It boasts a neutral beige interior, again complimented by French polished Walnut trim. Its coachwork is by Thrupp and Maberly. Lovingly maintained and exuding opulence. Its stunning, classic exterior delightfully magnificent for your wedding photography.

If you are looking for a larger, quality vehicle then consider the 1989 chauffer driven DaimlerDS420 Limousine. It is a perfect choice for family members, it is spacious with 7 seats. It offers plenty of leg room and head clearance. A popular choice amongst celebrities, used in James Bond films and owned by the Royal family.

Phoenix Wedding Cars, South Wales has two identical available for your special day hire. Classic grey interior, built for comfort, style and elegance. The exterior also looking elegant and classic, in black and white bodywork.

There are many idyllic locations around south Wales to capture the beauty and elegance of your special day. The Brecon Beacons offers wonderful, mountain views of the Welsh countryside. For a magical, fairytale experience visit Castell Coch, or Red Castle, with its turrets and surrounding woodland. Southerndown, a village in the Southwest of Bridgend best known for its stunning cliffs, beautiful beaches and the remains of Dunraven Castle, a wonderful photo opportunity.

Top Wedding Films

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Bride Wars (2009)
Farther of the Bride (1991)
The Wedding Planner
My Best Friends Wedding
Muriel’s Wedding
Wedding Crashers
The Wedding Singer
Bride and Prejudice
The Wedding Ringer