Britannic Explorer: The Lake District

It is a 4-day, 3-night round trip from London Victoria. The train departs London on day 1, spends day 2 in the Lake District, hosts a gala evening in Oxfordshire on day 3, and arrives back at London Victoria in the early morning of day 4.

From London the train travels north, passing the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales and running along Cumbria's southern coast with views of the Irish Sea to Workington. It returns south over the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle and Carlisle line and through the Peak District to Oxfordshire, then back to London.

On day 2 you are driven from Workington to the Lingholm Estate on Derwentwater, a Grade II listed Victorian mansion where Beatrix Potter spent her summers. Private quarters are reserved for Britannic Explorer guests, and you can choose from activities such as guided open-water swimming.

The journey culminates on day 3 with a black-tie gala dinner at a two-Michelin-star country house restaurant in Oxfordshire, in a private dining room overlooking a 15th-century manor. It is included in the fare, so bring formal evening wear.

The landscapes on this route have inspired writers for centuries, including Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter, whose summer home at Lingholm you visit on day 2. The journey is a good choice for travellers who enjoy literary and country-house history as well as scenery.

Yes. On day 3, over a leisurely brunch in the dining car, the train crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct on the Settle and Carlisle line, one of the most famous railway views in England, before continuing through the Peak District.

No. Activities at Lingholm, such as open-water swimming, are optional and there are gentler choices on the estate. Much of the journey can be enjoyed from the train, with the Wellness Suite and Observation Car on hand.

Choose from a Suite with a double bed, a Suite with twin beds, or the Grand Suite. Double and Twin Suites have about 7.8 sq m and an en-suite shower, with the steward converting seating into beds each evening. The Grand Suite offers the most space.

Yes, any cabin can be booked for sole use. Single occupancy starts from about USD 16,845, and the exact sole-use fare for your date is shown on this page or can be confirmed by our team.

The fare includes three nights aboard with 24-hour steward service, all table d'hote meals including breakfasts, brunches, lunches, afternoon teas and dinners with a selection of beverages, the gala dinner in Oxfordshire, and a tailor-made programme of off-board tours and experiences.

As the train leaves London on day 1 you are served a Cumbrian afternoon tea with a menu rooted in the region's food traditions, including treats such as Kendal mint cake and Grasmere gingerbread.

The train has elegant dining carriages, a Wellness Suite for restorative treatments, and an Observation Car with expansive windows, as well as your private cabin with 24-hour steward service.

A 25% deposit secures your cabin, with the balance due 125 days before departure. If you book within 125 days of departure, the full fare is payable at booking.

Yes. The 6-night Lake District and Wales itinerary follows the same first three nights, then continues from London into Wales for the Pembrokeshire coast, a valley hike and Machynlleth. Ask us if you would like to compare the two.

Every departure listed on this page can be booked directly online. For questions about cabins or dates, email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, where a travel specialist or our AI assistant will answer.

Fares start from about USD 8,423 per person sharing a Suite, including the gala dinner and excursions. The exact fare for each departure and cabin type is shown on this page.

Departures on sale run from 25 September 2026 to 12 November 2027, so you can choose between seasons. Each date is listed on this page with live availability by cabin type.