One of Britain's poshest trains which includes a carriage from the late Queen’s Royal Train is set to depart from Darlington on a royal-themed excursion later this summer - here are all the details.
The Northern Belle, dubbed by actor Bill Nighy as “the grand dame of luxury travel” on Channel 5’s 'The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys', is set to journey to Scotland from Darlington on May 9.
Also stopping in Durham and Newcastle, the 1930s Pullman theme carriages will be hauled by a vintage diesel locomotive to Dundee.
Passengers can then choose to explore former Queen Mum’s ancestral home at Glamis Castle or Scone Palace, where Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and 40 other Scottish kings were crowned.
Passengers will board over a red carpet laid across Darlington station platform at 6.40am before it calls at Durham at 7.20 and Newcastle at 7.50.
Once aboard, a hearty three-course breakfast fit for a king and queen is served to passengers on the leisurely journey North, taking in the sights of the east coast mainline.
On the journey home, there will be another champagne reception aboard the train before a lavish six-course dinner with wine and port is served during the journey home.
Perhaps a more strict rule of the trip is that jeans and trainers are banned - meaning you'll have to look the part as you sit in the same seats that may once have been used by royals themselves.
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A spokesperson said: “It may be a little old fashioned, but we like to think a day out on the Northern Belle is a special occasion, and so we believe that our guests should dress accordingly.”
The Northern Belle will be back in Darlington, Durham and Newcastle the following day for a slap-up lunch and afternoon tea trip, before a steam-hauled journey over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line on Saturday, May 25.
To find out more information, click here.
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