Royal Ascot
London Victoria → Ascot → London Victoria
Few experiences in Britain distil the romance of the railways and the pageantry of the turf into a single day quite like the British Pullman Royal Ascot journey. Departing London Victoria aboard one of the world's most celebrated vintage trains, guests settle into hand-restored art deco carriages for a morning of brunch and Bellinis as the English countryside unfolds beyond polished picture windows — before stepping out at Berkshire's most famous racecourse for an afternoon of world-class flat racing.
The Belmond British Pullman is itself a legend of British transport history. Built in the 1920s and lovingly restored, its eleven named cars — from the mosaic-tiled Lucille to Wes Anderson's symmetrical Cygnus — have carried royalty, film stars, and discerning travellers for a century. On Royal Ascot week, the train becomes the ideal prologue to racing's greatest social occasion: champagne and fine food on board, the Royal Procession on the course, and a glittering two-course supper on the evening return to Victoria.
This is a one-day circular journey — no overnight stay required — yet it is among the most coveted tickets on the British luxury-travel calendar. The combination of a meticulously preserved Golden Age train and the colour, fashion, and excitement of Royal Ascot is simply unmatched. Contact Palace Trains on 1-800-724-5120 or at travel@palacetours.com for availability and pricing.
- ✦Brunch with Bellinis in a restored 1920s Pullman carriage en route to Berkshire
- ✦Entrance to the Queen Anne Enclosure at Royal Ascot — the world's greatest flat-racing meeting
- ✦The iconic daily Royal Procession by horse-drawn Landau carriage
- ✦Parade ring access and trackside racing along Ascot's famous straight mile
- ✦Champagne and two-course supper served on the candlelit return to London Victoria
- ✦Travel in one of eleven art deco Pullman cars, each with a storied individual history
- ✦A complete royal summer day — fashion, racing, and luxury rail travel in one experience
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — London Victoria to Ascot and Return
Departure (c. 10:00, London Victoria): Guests are invited to arrive at London Victoria Station at least 20 minutes before departure. Platform staff guide passengers to their reserved seats in one of the eleven vintage Pullman cars. As the train glides through the southern suburbs of London and into the rolling Berkshire landscape, a classic brunch with Bellini is served at table — warm dishes, pastries, and sparkling wine marking the start of a truly special day.
Arrival at Ascot (mid-morning): The train pulls into Ascot station, just a short walk from the racecourse gates. Passengers' tickets include entrance to the Queen Anne Enclosure — Royal Ascot's premier public enclosure, offering access to the parade ring, trackside race viewing, grandstand ground floor, and the full electric atmosphere of race week. The five days of Royal Ascot (held in the third week of June) feature some of the world's most prestigious flat races, including the Gold Cup, the Queen Anne Stakes, and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Afternoon at the Races: Guests spend the afternoon at their leisure within the Queen Anne Enclosure, cheering on thoroughbreds ridden by jockeys from across the globe, watching the traditional Royal Procession as the monarch arrives by horse-drawn Landau at 2 pm, and soaking in the renowned fashion spectacle — elaborate hats, fascinators, morning suits, and jewel-tone ensembles that define the meeting's singular aesthetic.
Return Journey (departing Ascot, arriving London Victoria c. 21:00): As the sun begins to set over the Berkshire downs, guests re-board the British Pullman for the return to London. A light two-course supper with champagne and wine is served en route, the mood celebratory as the day's highlights are relived over candlelit tables in the train's ornate dining cars. The train arrives back at London Victoria at approximately 21:00, bringing a thoroughly British day of elegance to a perfect close.
Destinations & Highlights
London Victoria Station
The journey begins and ends at London Victoria, one of the capital's great Victorian termini and the traditional home of the British Pullman. The station's long-haul heritage — it once dispatched the Orient Express — lends a suitably theatrical atmosphere to boarding. The Pullman platform experience, with livery-suited staff and polished carriages gleaming under the station roof, is itself a moment of theatre before a wheel has turned.
The Berkshire Countryside
The route southwest from London passes through the Thames Valley into the gentle hills of Berkshire, one of England's most pastoral Home Counties. The landscape visible through the Pullman's wide picture windows — chalk downland, hedgerow-stitched meadows, and the occasional country house — provides a quietly stunning backdrop to the morning brunch service and sets the mood for an afternoon of British summer tradition.
Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, who rode out from nearby Windsor Castle to inspect the heath and declared it ideal for horse racing. The first race — a seven-horse fifty-pound plate — was run that August, beginning a 300-year tradition of royal involvement. Today Royal Ascot is held annually over five days in the third week of June and is widely regarded as the most prestigious flat-racing meeting in the world, attracting over 280,000 visitors and horses from more than 30 nations.
The Queen Anne Enclosure — named in honour of the racecourse's founder — is the largest and most vibrant public enclosure at the Royal Meeting. It offers direct access to the parade ring, where guests can study the horses at close quarters before each race, as well as grandstand viewing, a wide array of restaurants and bars, and an unobstructed view of the famous straight mile. The enclosure maintains a formal dress code, with hats or fascinators required for women and suits obligatory for men, but its atmosphere is exuberant and sociable rather than stiffly ceremonial.
The Royal Procession — in which the monarch and members of the Royal Family arrive each afternoon by horse-drawn Landau carriage along the course's straight mile — is one of the great British pageants, accompanied by the National Anthem and the raising of the Royal Standard. It has been a feature of Royal Ascot since 1825 and remains the emotional heart of each race day.