A LUXURY train company that offers day trips across the UK has been named the best train journey in the world.

The British Pullman is a fully restored 1920s train that was designed over a century ago to accommodate passengers accustomed to comfort and opulence.

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And the train still oozes decadence today.

Its 11 carriages feature art deco-style interiors, antique upholstery, and vintage lighting.

Intricate artwork can be seen throughout the train, including magnificent mosaics on the bathroom floors.

Fine dining experiences are served up to guests and there’s a strict dress code to maintain its elegant atmosphere.

While enjoying delicious food and admiring the train’s beautiful interior, passengers can enjoy views of the English countryside and coast.

The British Pullman A Belmond Train was crowned best train journey in the world in Conde Nast Traveller’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The awards recognise all areas of the travel industry, from hotels and resorts to airlines, airports, cruises, cities and more.

Based in the South East of England, The British Pullman regularly departs from London Victoria and travels year-round to a wide variety of destinations, including Kent, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey.

Passengers are welcomed onboard by a uniformed train steward and seated at tables adorned with crisp white linen and sparkling tableware.

They can then enjoy a variety of meals, including brunch, champagne afternoon tea, or a gourmet dinner. 

The train’s chef John Freeman has been part of the British Pullman team nearly two decades.

Having fallen in love with the challenges and fun of cooking onboard a moving train, John serves up food using British produce sourced from the very farms and fields by which the train passes. 

Vegan and vegetarian options are also available.

Destinations include Bath and Oxford, but there are also trips solely focused on afternoon tea and Sunday lunch.

Prices start from £400 per passenger on a table for two.

A British hotel was also a winner in the Conde Nast Traveller awards.

Raffles London at The OWO placed 33 in the best hotels in the world list.

Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world

Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.

Davos to Geneva, Switzerland

“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire

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Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen

“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey

London to Paris by Eurostar

“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski

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Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail

“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton

Beijing to Ulaanbatar

“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray

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SWANAGE has been named one of the best caravanning spots in the country thanks to its Blue Flag beach, colourful beach huts and steam railway.

Known as The Caravanning Mummy, travel expert, and mum-of-two, Rachel shares travel tips and destination guides on Instagram, including the best places to go on a caravan holiday in the UK.

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Rachel purchased her caravan back in 2019, with her family spending the school holidays and weekends exploring the UK in their Bailey Of Bristol Phoenix 650 caravan.

The mum-of-two started holidaying in Dorset in the 1990s with her parents and has spent the last few years returning to her childhood haunts with her own kids.

And she recently named Swanage as her favourite caravanning destination in the southwest.

She told Sun Online Travel: “Swanage is the quintessential British seaside town. It’s got Punch and Judy shows, colourful beach huts, Blue Flag Beaches and Corfe Castle. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

“Swanage is such a brilliant staycation location because it takes adults back to their childhood visits with old-timey beach attractions.

“I just think it’s a brilliant little place. While it’s not necessarily unknown, it is just a very special place.”

One of the top attractions in the coastal town is the Swanage Railway – a full-size steam train that ferries passengers from Norden to Swanage, passing sites like Corfe Castle.

Swanage Railway runs themed experiences throughout the year, including a Polar Express service and a Spooky service.

Adult return tickets start from £18, with children’s tickets coming in at £9 for a return.

There are several beaches in and around Swanage for holidaymakers to visit like the Blue Flag Swanage Beach, which is known for its fine sand, cleanliness and amenities.

Other nearby beaches include Studland Beach.

Back by a wildlife reserve, Studland Beach is regarded as one of the finest beaches in the country.

There’s also Chapman’s Pool, a small cove that’s similar to Lulworth Cove, and Sandbanks Beach.

Located in Poole, Sandbanks Beach has held its Blue Flag status for the last 35 years and is known for its golden sand and crystal-clear waters.

Facilities at the beach include toilets, showers, a beach cafe, a mini golf course and a beach volleyball net.

Swanage Pier is another popular attraction in the seaside town.

The pier is popular with divers because it’s one of the few sheltered sea diving sites on the south coast.

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Entry onto the pier costs £2 for an adult, with a £5 charge for any adult who wants to dive under the wooden structure.

Holidaymakers can hire equipment from Divers Down – the oldest diving school in the UK.

Other attractions include Swanage Museum, Prince Albert Gardens and the chalk hills on Purbeck Heritage Coast.

Even though it’s a village in its own right, Corfe Castle is another must for holidaymakers visiting Swanage, with Rachel adding: “Corfe Castle is brilliant for my boys – and kids in general – because they can run around the ruins of a castle and pretend to be knights.”

Located halfway between Wareham and Swanage, the skyline of the Dorset village is dominated by the remains of Corfe Castle.

Built by William the Conqueror and partially demolished in 1646 during the English Civil War, Corfe Castle attracts visitors from all over the world.

Managed by the National Trust, entry costs £12 for an adult and £6 for a child.

There are loads of places to grab fish and chips in Swanage, including the Village Inn, the Fish Plaice, which has been running since the 1970s, Harlees Fish and Chips Swanage and the Hungry Shark, to name a few.

Swanage has plenty of pubs too like the Black Swan Inn, the White Horse Inn Swanage and the Ship Inn.

Later this month, Rachel will be sharing more Dorset caravanning tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.

And this holiday park has been named as one of the best in the country.

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HOLIDAYMAKERS travelling to the Balearic Islands will see the tourist tax rise next year.

In a bid to combat overtourism, local government officials in the Balearics announced a tourist tax rise.

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Brit holidaymakers heading to Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will pay more tourist tax in June, July and August.

While the exact figure hasn’t been announced, the tourist tax in the high season is set to increase, according to the Balearic President, Marga Prohens.

The new measure, which has been dubbed an “eco-tax” was announced during the General Policy Debate of the Community.

Local government officials have yet to determine the exact increase in tourist charges.

This is because the Balearic Government is looking for formulas so that residents will not pay the “eco-tax” through tax deductions.

Tourist tax charges during the low season (December, January and February) could be reduced in a bid to encourage more visitors to the islands in the colder months of the year.

It is not yet known if the low-season tourist charge will remain at its present level (making it lower than the proposed charge) or be reduced further.

Visitors to the Spanish islands currently have to pay the same level of tourist tax throughout the whole year, whether low or high season.

Current tourist charges cost anything up to €5 a night extra, payable on arrival, depending on the quality of the accommodation.

Balearic President, Marga Prohens also announced other tourist restrictions, such as limiting the number of rental properties for holidaymakers.

All new tourist rental places in all multi-family homes are set to be banned as part of the tourism measures.

Properties that already rent to tourists won’t be impacted by the announcement.

In a statement, Marga Prohens added: “The discomfort of residents due to the externalities of tourism is increasingly unanimous and transversal.

“This summer‘s demonstrations are a test, and we cannot put ourselves in profile because we listen to everyone.”

Despite the measures, the Balearic President stressed the importance of the tourism sector for the islands, by adding: “we are a hospitable land where tourists are welcome”.

A law is set to be approved in February, which will bring the measures into force.

The news comes after a series of anti-tourism protests took place on the Balearic Islands throughout the summer.

In May, over 15,000 locals took to the streets in Palma, Majorca to campaign against tourists visiting the island.

OTHER TOURIST CHARGES

Earlier this year, Greece introduced a new levy for overnight visitors in a bid to combat the damage caused by extreme weather conditions.

Holidaymakers traveling to Greece during the high season (from March to October) are required to pay an additional tax on overnight stays.

Just like the previous tax, the rate will vary depending on the type of accommodation tourists have booked, and it will range from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night.

The new tax will be added to the country’s existing accommodation tax, with charges rising as a result.

All holidaymakers heading to Tunisia will be forced to pay a new tourist tax under plans outlined by the country’s government.

Meanwhile, this popular tourist destination is also planning to increase its daily tourist charge.

And this UK seaside town became the first to tax tourists this year.

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