No wonder Channel 5 chose to feature our trip over the magnificent Settle-Carlisle line on one of their “The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys”.
Narrator Bill Nighy was clearly impressed by the Northern Belle too, describing it as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel”.
The 73-mile route, snaking through the Eden Valley and the Yorkshire Dales, has been dubbed the most beautiful in the world.
And what better way to see it than comfortably ensconced in one of the Northern Belle’s plush vintage Pullman-style carriages—especially when the train is being hauled by a famous steam locomotive from a bygone era!
The day begins as usual when you board the Northern Belle over a red carpet laid across your home station platform.
Within minutes, a liveried steward hands you a sparkling Mimosa cocktail before a delicious three-course brunch is served as we travel north.After a little sightseeing in Carlisle—where the original diesel locomotive is now replaced by a steam engine—we set out again.
As we head for Settle, with your table adorned with pristine white linen and sparkling glassware, our staff begin serving a sumptuous six-course dinner with fine wines.
Each dish features the freshest seasonal ingredients and a mix of classic and innovative recipes, crafted with meticulous attention in our kitchen carriage, before finishing with our Great British Cheese Board and a lovely glass of port.It all makes for a dream day you will remember for the rest of your life.
Until the 1970s, steam-hauled expresses like the Thames-Clyde Express and The Waverley thundered between London and Scotland over this line, which was hewn out of the rugged Yorkshire Dales and the Cumbrian Fells by an army of 6,000 navvies during the 19th century.
Opened in 1875, one of the highlights is the magnificent 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct, which stands 104ft high and stretches for a quarter of a mile across the wonderfully named Batty Moss.
Discover our carefully crafted seasonal menu, showcasing fine British cuisine prepared fresh onboard by our expert chefs.
View confirmed menuTelford Central
Shrewsbury
Wrexham General
Chester Station
Carlisle Station
Steam haulage is not guaranteed and may be replaced by a heritage diesel locomotive in the event of dry conditions (due to fire risk from embers) or mechanical failure, as many steam engines are over 100 years old. The journey will still operate as planned regardless of the locomotive used. Our vintage diesel locomotives are steeped in history and extremely rare worldwide, with locomotives such as Windsor Castle and Scarborough Spa.
If the trip is diesel-hauled, guests will receive a £30 credit per person, equivalent to the steam supplement. While this is unlikely, we believe in being transparent as this is a possibility.
This trip is now almost sold out with only single seats available, there is no availability for couples or groups to sit together.
You can add your details on our waiting list and should any seats become available, our reservations team will be in touch.
Enter your phone number below to join the waitlist for this journey. If any seats become available, our reservations team will be in touch by phone.
If you have any questions, our reservations team is available on 01270 907010, Monday to Friday, 9:30am–5:00pm.
Bill Nighy called the Northern Belle 'the Grand Dame of luxury travel'. Steam the Settle to Carlisle line that Channel 5 filmed, with brunch and six courses.
£595 per passenger
Book NowSome days deserve more than a glass. Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon is the most celebrated Champagne house in the world, poured for royalty and favoured by Napoleon himself.
Everything in your Settle & Carlisle Steam Special day, plus:
Single travellers receive half bottles.
Book with Moët & Chandon classFor the once-in-a-lifetime days, there is KRUG: the most prized Champagne in the world, and the highest class of travel on the train.
Everything in your Settle & Carlisle Steam Special day, plus:
A bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée to share, per couple
Your wine upgraded from the Northern Belle Collection, per couple
Reserved seating in Duart, a former Royal Train carriage, or Glamis, named after the Queen Mother's childhood home
A parting gift to take home
Single travellers receive half bottles.
Book with KRUG ClassPlease read our most frequent questions here, if you don't see what you're looking for, visit our full list of Travellers Tips.
If you still have questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our reservations team.
Get in touchNorthern Belle has limited tables for two. We are happy to take a request, however this is not a guarantee and there is a chance that you may be sharing a table of four with another couple. Subject to availability you may guarantee a table for two by paying a supplement of £105 per passenger. When booking online if private tables of two are available you can select your preference, but you can select a shared table without a supplement subject to availability.
All of the Northern Belle carriages are vintage pullman style. Each row of seats is a table for two and across the aisle a table for four.
Yes. If notified at the time of booking, we will do our best to comply with any dietary requirements. These include Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Pescetarian and the exclusion of certain ingredients such as nuts, onions and dairy. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide meals requiring strict religious observance in preparation. Please order at least 14 days prior to travel to ensure we can order the supplies to the train whilst on tour. Please note that due to the small preparation areas on the train we cannot guarantee cross contamination within the kitchen and if you have severe allergic reactions then please call the reservations team to discuss. When you book on line you will find a section to list your passenger’s dietary needs and other comments.
We are able to accommodate passengers with slight walking difficulties. However, we recommend they are accompanied by a carer. We regret that our carriages cannot be boarded on wheelchair. Staff are able to assist passengers to their seats and folding wheelchairs can be stored during the journey.
Some journeys are not suitable for people with disabilities. Should you have any special requirements please contact your nearest reservations office.
For a journey aboard the Northern Belle luxury train, adhere to the smart casual dress code. Choose comfortable yet stylish attire and wear appropriate footwear for day trips that may involve walking.
Our Best Available rate is subject to availability at time of booking, it is not applicable for parties of 12 or more. Please contact [email protected] for group pricing.
What an amazing experience , I had heard about this from family and friends but what we experienced surpassed all my expectations, from getting on the train until getting off it was perfect, the food was amazing , every single course ! the drinks which were all part of the day were also really great as were the staff, the entertainment as well, the whole ambience of the day made us feel really pampered, even the couple that we shared a table with had similar work interests to ourselves which enhanced the whole experience. In one were Amazing!
This wonderful trip from Lincoln Central Station to Settle & Carlisle was absolutely fabulous from beginning to end. The attention to detail was superb and the customer service outstanding. Chloe (train manager) and her staff made us feel welcomed and valued as customers and Chloe herself was the perfect host. The quality of all food was outstanding and served beautifully and with care, and the selection of drinks was excellent. We upgraded to the Krug package and the royal carriage reservation and drinks upgrade were a real treat. The Duart carriage is beautiful and has its own bathroom which was kept extremely clean and well stocked with individual fluffy white hand towels throughout the journey. The 3.5 hours free time in Carlisle proved sufficient to explore the Castle, Museum & the Cathedral, and we were delighted that we travelled over the Ribblehead viaduct and enjoyed the scenic journey from Settle to Carlisle in both directions.
We spent a fantastic day on the Northern Belle train from Edinburgh to the West Coast mountains and lochs. The opulence of the train, the speed of the journey and the whole experience was sumptuous and to be enjoyed. The food and drink on board was amazing, specially considering how small an area there was to prepare it. we were thoroughly spoilt and looked after by Lucy and Katey, who are a credit to Northern Belle. Definitely a great way to celebrate a special event.
We boarded at Cardiff and headed to Chatsworth House and form our very first step aboard Alnwick we absolutely loved it all. The service, food quality, taste and quantity were all excellent and a massive out shoutout to Zina and Phil for looking after us - we have absolutely zero faults to report on the whole experience and we cannot wait to book again! When we arrived at Chatsworth House (also beautiful) we were all very excited to get back on the train and head back - that’s how good it was - you actually wanted to spend another 5 hours on a train!
This was our second trip and it was absolutely fabulous. Service is outstanding and the food exceptional. It is worth every penny. An amazing day in Llandudno at Bodnant Gardens and Conwy Castle followed by fantastic food and entertainment
An OUTSTANDING, FANTASTIC experience. We travelled from York to Carlsie via the Ribblehead Viaduct. On boarding at York the smartly dressed carriage Maitre d bade us welcome & directed us to our seats. On entering the carriage, the decor & set table, were a sight to behold. The table was laid out perfectly, utterly complementing the decor. We sat down in the 'armchairs', sinking into them easily. The menu was varied with each course being cooked to perfection; a joy to eat. My wife has Gluten & Dairy allergies & the Chef & staff went out of their way to ensure that she had the same fantastic culinary experience we had. They had prepared course so that she did noti mss a course. The courses being presented to the same high standard. The staff were extremely attentive throughout, with no query, or request, being to much. We were served by polite, smiling, attentive staff throughout the journey. There was even a '2 piece' band to accompany the dinner meal. A lovely day was had by all of us. Thank you to all staff at Northern Bell, especially Mark & Katy (Warick) - Thank YOU. You helped make the experience.
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