We are proud to present perhaps the ultimate day out with Tornado

Take your seat aboard the British Pullman, a Belmond Train, as we visit York and, for the first time, Harrogate.

We look forward to welcoming passengers on The Yorkshire Pullman tour, if you would like to receive a notification when dates become available please email enquiries@a1steam.com.

Dates TBC - Register your interest!

Join us at the magnificently restored London Kings Cross station and step on board the British Pullman, sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and experience the fine-dining experience like no other. Your liveried steward will help settle you at your table, which is set with fine linen and bespoke tableware. Take time to admire the magnificent marquetry and art deco flourishes of your vintage carriage. As your journey out of the capital begins, your steward will take care of all your needs. It is also possible to join the train at Potters Bar station.

Sip champagne, marvelling at the ever-changing views through the window and the plumes of steam trailing through the sky. Read about the train’s history and imagine the famous passengers who once enjoyed its opulent interiors.

Fine Dining

Savour a fabulous brunch at a table set with pristine white linen, specially commissioned china and sparkling cut glassware. Sit back and relax as the liveried stewards take care of your every need. Enjoy the changing views through your picture window as the train makes its way into Yorkshire.

On returning to the train your fine-dining experience continues with a champagne reception. This is followed by a gastronomic four-course dinner complemented by our sommelier’s choice of wine.

Our Journey

The Yorkshire Pullman first ran in 1935, and in 1937 ran an amended route that encompassed York as well as Harrogate. It is this historic route that we take 85 years later.

We depart from the Great Northern terminus at King’s Cross and travel along the East Coast Main Line. After climbing to Potters Bar, we then cross the famous Welwyn Viaduct and head on through Stevenage, St Neots and Peterborough which preludes the long climb to Stoke Summit. It was on this stretch of line, albeit heading south, that Mallard set the World Speed Record for steam at 126mph.

We continue northwards running at the permitted 75mph maximum of our vintage coaches, passing the railway town of Doncaster before we arrive into York, where passengers have over three hours to enjoy all this historic city has to offer. Following the first set down, Tornado continues with the train via the beautiful villages of Poppleton and Knaresborough, the latter with its elegant tall viaduct giving wonderful views from high above. Those visiting Harrogate have over 3 hours to visit this lovely Spa town.

Our train will return to York for servicing so our York passengers will re-join us first. We retrace our steps to Harrogate where further passengers the train. We then set off via the stiff climb to Bramhope tunnel and on via Leeds to re-join the ECML near Selby. From here we return via our outward route.

About York

The city is built on 2000 years of incredible history and has more attractions per square mile than anywhere else in the UK. York is home to many world-class museums, art galleries, shops and bars.

Learn York’s gruesome past at York Dungeon or about the York’s sweeter history at York’s Chocolate Story. Be taken back to the time of the Vikings at JORVIK Viking Centre or catch a ride to the National Railway Museum on the road train and see a royal carriage.

For a little retail therapy, explore the web of winding streets flaunting designer stores, independent shops and boutiques. Parliament and Coney Street are home to the high street favourites, as is Coppergate – where archaeologists unearthed remains from the Viking city of Jorvik. Stonegate and Swinegate are home to a mix of stores hidden amongst medieval and Georgian architecture. For independent shops that are off the beaten track, wander along Gillygate and Petergate. Or explore the daily Shambles Market with more than 85 stalls offering a diverse selection of goods.

From enjoying a glass of wine on one of York’s riverside terraces to drinking a pint of locally-brewed Craft Beer in a quirky bar, York has establishments to suit all tastes. Rumoured to have once had a pub for each day of the year, York’s got old ones, new ones, haunted ones and tiny ones, so you can be sure you’ll find something to enjoy – whether you’re a Gin, Cocktail & Wine connoisseur or real ale aficionado.

Find out more about things to do in York here.

About Harrogate

Harrogate is the go-to destination for relaxation and indulgence, synonymous with quality shopping and afternoon tea. The definitive boutique spa town in the heart of Yorkshire.

Harrogate is known for its floral excellence, evident in the magnificent displays across the town and in its well-kept parks and gardens. The largest of these is the Grade II listed Valley Gardens, which features several distinctive areas and receives 3 million visitors a year. Possibly the most distinctive feature of Harrogate is its vast open space that surrounds the town centre, known locally as the Stray, at 200 acres this gives Harrogate town centre a green and spacious feel unique to the town.

Harrogate has always attracted the discerning shopper and this is never truer than at present. Take pleasure in browsing independent shops whose collections have been curated to provide something a little bit different. Several of the main shopping streets radiate from the town’s open floral space and provide a thriving home to numerous boutiques, jewellers, booksellers, shoe shops, bakeries, chocolatiers and a department store.

Born through a boom in Spa tourism during the Victorian 1800s Harrogate quickly developed a reputation for luxurious getaways for body and soul. The high society of the Victorian Britain flocked to Harrogate to enjoy the air, the space and the therapeutic spa treatments as well as taking the famous Harrogate waters. The iconic 19th century Pump Room is now home to a fascinating museum of the town’s fashionable Spa history, together with the nearby the Mercer Gallery which has an important collection of artwork spanning the centuries right up to present day offer fascinating insights into the town’s history. The stunning Victorian Royal Baths, a grade II listed building is home to the internationally famous Turkish Baths and Spa with its extraordinary Moorish interiors and offer a program of treatments and therapies.

You can enjoy a slower pace of exploration as you browse the delightful cobbled Montpellier Quarter housing art galleries, antique and vintage shops, jewellers, boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars – such is the range of things to do in Harrogate.

Find out more about things to do in Harrogate here.

Betty's

You will find the renowned vintage tea rooms of Betty’s in both York and Harrogate. Betty’s first opened in 1919 and since then little has changed, with an emphasis on simple pleasures in a beautiful setting. Afternoon Tea in these establishments is highly recommended, however it is advised that you book in advance. Find out more about Betty’s here.

THE YORKSHIRE PULLMAN