This iconic train – restored to its former glory by the Venice Simplon–Orient Express – is proof of the adage that the journey is as important as the destination, if not more so. Climb aboard this vehicle that was named the best luxury British train and one of the world's top 10 in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Awards and enjoy a complimentary bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne per couple. Gourmet dining aboard ranges from classic afternoon teas to lavish five-course dinners, all served by handsomely liveried stewards in in gorgeously decorated carriages with hand-crafted marquetry, murals and mosaics. Popular Northern Belle journeys include Christmas market trips and Steam Specials pulled by heritage engines, and there are full-day trips to castles, stately homes, gardens, seaside resorts and historic cities.

Book by 22nd December 2022 to receive a complimentary bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne per couple with prices starting at £295 per person.

This 2.5hr journey from St Paul’s Cathedral to Fleet Street takes in some of the British capital’s most iconic sights while learning about four drinks that have shaped the city over the century: tea, coffee, gin and beer. Along the route you’ll discover the Old Bailey, Samuel Johnson’s house and the City of London Distillery (where you’ll sample some local gin), as well as several classic pubs oozing traditional atmosphere.

On the edge of the lovely Yorkshire Dales National Park, this quirky retreat is the ideal escape from modern life, with a log burner for the chillier months and an array of cosy pubs and restaurants within strolling distance. You’re also on hand for local highlights including Malham, Grassington and Appletreewick, and there are brilliant hiking trails and bike rides in the vicinity. That said, you might just be tempted to hole up in the cosseting cabin with its sheepskin throws, well-equipped kitchen and pretty garden.

This quirky spot invites you to escape from it all in pretty woodlands, hunkering down in a old army safari tent and tipi with a bomb-shelter-styled bathroom with a transparent roof affording views of the foliage overhead. Cosiness is the order of the day on this hillside site, with several wood-burning stoves to keep you snug, an outdoor wood-fired hot tub for soaking under the stars, and a fire pit.

Fans of the blockbuster movies delight in this three-hour jaunt with a local guide in a restored classic Mini Cooper, taking in the locations where the most successful British film franchise of all time was filmed, from The Philosopher’s Stone to Deathly Hallows. They include Lambeth Bridge, the inspiration behind Diagon Alley, the place where the Leaky Cauldron was shot and Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station (ideal for travelling on to the Warner Brother Harry Potter Studios Experience in Watford should you wish).

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