Breakaway – Affordable Day Trips on The Orient Express

The Orient Express is synonymous with bespoke travel of the most romantic and glamorous kind. It’s a bit of a splurge, but perhaps such an experience is well worth allowing an occasional scorched wallet. If you don’t fancy a long journey across continental Europe, I just discovered you can do day trips on the British Pullman or Northern Belle, part of the Orient Express’s experience, to say, the great houses or historic cities of England.

Perfect if you happen to be in the UK. Luxe luxe luxe all the way, imagine snuggling into your seat in this train, sip Champagne as the pretty countryside slips past you, and be pampered with good food and indulgent surrounds. Just remember you are likely to to travel with the well heeled silver dollar…but that makes it perfect for travelling with Mummy, no?

Just a peek into their range of trips, you can steam along to Bath (no pun intended) from London’s Victoria Station. For US$630, you get brunch with Bellini on your outward journey to Bath, followed by an optional coach tour of the city (if your knees are vexing you!) or roam around the ancient Roman town (and the setting for Jane Austen’s novel ‘Persuasion’) on your own. On the way back to London, you’re served with a glass of Champagne followed by a four course supper with wine. A similar experience is available for York, at US$460 per person. A personal favourite of mine, this is gorgeous historic town where you can lose yourself in the historic Shambles, York Minster, and poke around the Jorvik Viking Centre to see and smell an ancient Viking village recreated in all its detail.

Then there’s also the day trips to the Great Houses of England, like Blenheim Palace (Churchill’s glamorous birthplace) and Castle Howard (setting for Brideshead Revisited), and to castles like Alnwick (setting of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts), Glamis Castle in Scotland (setting for Macbeth) and the fairytale Dunrobin Castle. Departures from various points across the UK.

It’s one of those experiences that one should have at least once in a lifetime.

For details, check out

http://www.orient-express.com/web/uktr/uk_day_trains.jsp