Luxury steam train to travel through Birmingham with 1930s charm - where to see it

It’s been described as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel’ by actor Bill Nighy with its distinctive 1930s-style Pullman carriages.

And the Northern Belle, which was once part of the Orient Express, will be picking up passengers in and around Birmingham for a fabulous trip - but it’s not cheap.

With the cheapest fare at £495 a time, those lucky enough to have booked on a special journey back in time will be treated to a wonderful experience.

The Northern Belle was voted one of the world's most luxurious trains by readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine last year. The engine's popularity has prompted its owners to add three more steam journeys over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line through the North Yorkshire moors.

Where to see the Northern Belle in and around Birmingham on Saturday, April 27

Passengers tomorrow will board over a red carpet before the Northern Belle departs Coventry at 6.25am, before calling at Birmingham International at 6.40am, Walsall at 7.25am and Stafford at 8.25am.

They will be handed their first glass of champagne before a three-course brunch is served as a vintage diesel locomotive hauls the train north to Carnforth in Lancashire.

Giant Battle of Britain class steam locomotive Tangmere, which once pulled famous expresses like The Golden Arrow between London and the South Coast, will take over for the trip through Carlisle and on to Settle in North Yorkshire. Passengers will be served a sumptuous six-course dinner with more wine and champagne during the journey home in the evening.

A spokesman for the Northern Belle, which was once part of the iconic Orient Express, said: “Even though this is always a popular excursion, we were surprised at just how quickly tickets were snapped up this time.

“But we won’t just be taking passengers for a day out, we will be transporting them back to the golden days of rail travel. Nothing is too good for our pampered passengers. We serve the finest food, the finest wine and the finest champagne. We even have our own on-board musicians and a magician to entertain our guests.”

And for those who have missed this weekend’s train, the journey will now be repeated on June 8, July 27, and October 19. Fares start at £495. For more details, see here.