Board a Luxury Train from Wes Anderson’s Imagination
The fabulous team at the Belmond British Pullman has teamed up with filmmaker extraordinaire and visionary Wes Anderson to create a carriage unlike any other for your next journey through the English countryside.
Photo courtesy of Belmond
If you have ever watched a Wes Anderson film—be it The Grand Budapest Hotel, Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom, or one of his many other titles—you'll know that his portfolio goes beyond being “movies” and extends into being works of art. With intricate designs and color palettes, you know a Wes Anderson film when you see one, and he’s certainly a fan of incorporating luxury train journeys wherever possible. The celebration of a bygone era fits seamlessly into Anderson’s films, so it makes a great amount of sense that he has recently partnered with the Belmond British Pullman to create a unique train carriage.
Wes Anderson onboard the Belmond British Pullman (photo courtesy of Belmond)
“I have often had the chance to invent train compartments and carriages in my movies,” says Anderson. “So I was very eager to make something new while also participating in the process of preservation which accompanies all the classic Belmond train projects. They are keeping something special alive. An endangered species of travel which is nevertheless very suited to our time.”
The Belmond British Pullman & Wes Anderson
The Belmond British Pullman is a private luxury train that operates day and weekend trips around England. It is the sister train to the storied Belmond Venice-Simplon-Orient Express, the setting for Agatha Christie’s famous Murder on the Orient Express. Departing from London Victoria Station, this experience gives you the chance to whiz by the English countryside while you enjoy the splendor of a sumptuous meal or an afternoon tea onboard.
The journeys include themed trips, such as murder mystery lunches (very Agatha Christie indeed!) or champagne dinners hosted by celebrated chefs. There are also destination-based journeys that include stops with time to explore, such as a day out to Canterbury, a visit to Blenheim Palace, and day trips to the seaside, just to name a few. During the holidays, there are even Christmas lunches hosted onboard, along with visits to England’s quaint Christmas markets.
The eleven carriages on the Belmond British Pullman are all exquisite, but the one chosen for this new collaboration with Wes Anderson was Cygnus, which was originally built in the 1950s. It has its fair share of cinematic history already, having featured in the 1972 film Agatha starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave. The carriages of the Belmond British Pullman have hosted royalty, carried statesmen, and survived World War II bomb raids.
Anderson took his love of trains and passion for intricate craftsmanship and set out to balance the history of the Cygnus carriage with his own bold, modern vision. As a result, the carriage has been transformed into something straight out of his films, featuring symmetrical marquetry, bold rectilinear shapes, and complementary colors that are a feast for the eyes.
You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped onto a Wes Anderson film set as you take in the pastel-pink ceiling detailing paired with the green tones of the carpets and chairs. (Poe Travel happens to love a green and pink combination, as you might be able to tell from our own color palette!) The carriage’s stunning marquetry displays sunbeams, clouds, stars, and waves. To maintain the angular equilibrium for which he is known, Anderson incorporated bold, sharp lines in the shape of the chairs and mirrors. Even the smallest details were of great importance to Anderson; for example, the carriage features swan detailing, which references its name and history.
Wes Anderson’s reimagining of Belmond’s Cygnus carriage on the Belmond British Pullman (photo courtesy of Belmond)
You can book seats in Cygnus on any journey on the Belmond British Pullman. Choose between seats in the open carriage or treat yourself to an upgrade with a private coupe. In the open carriage, choose a table for one, two, or three guests and enjoy a bottle of champagne per couple. The private coupes seat up to four guests and include added benefits such as free-flowing champagne, exclusive menus, an upgraded wine package, unique crockery and glassware designed by Wes Anderson, a gift box and hand-tied bouquet, and private boarding.
This is your chance to experience the Golden Age of Travel but with a little Wes Anderson twist, appreciating the way his modern design blends seamlessly with the past. If you let the team at Poe Travel know which dates you would like to visit England, we can let you know your options for incorporating a journey on the Belmond British Pullman into a larger itinerary. We are part of Belmond’s exclusive Bellini Club and can guarantee all of the best added benefits to your experience. Of course, the team is also on-hand to design the rest of your itinerary to make sure you find just as much glitz and glamour on the rest of your trip as you do onboard this celebrated carriage.
If you would like to Go Away on the Belmond British Pullman (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us. We will check dates and rates and design a customized itinerary you will never forget.