The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Budapest–London

Begin your trip in style with complimentary airport-lounge access before flying out to Budapest. You’ll be met on arrival by a private driver and brought to your central accommodation; choose from the Baroque elegance of our Superior option or opt for the 19th-century spa of our palatial Deluxe alternative. While you’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own, we’ve included a guided walking tour to help you get your bearings. Wandering among the city’s neoclassical architecture, you’ll spot everything from medieval castles and ornate palaces to grand thermal baths that date back to the Romans. It’s all centred on the glittering Danube.

Stay: Boscolo Budapest Hotel (Superior) or The Corinthia (Deluxe)

Today, after a last breakfast at your hotel, a private driver will see you to the station. Your personal steward, dressed in the train’s iconic blue, will be waiting for you on the platform to escort you to your private carriage. Here, you’ll settle in among the lacy detailing and darkwood panelling with a glass of sparkling wine and views of the Hungarian countryside. You’ll then be treated to the first of your indulgent meals with a multi-course lunch, served among the fine lacquerware and glasswork of the restaurant cars. Then, after changing for the evening and perhaps enjoying a piano-accompanied drink in the bar car, it’s time for dinner. Expect four extravagant courses that showcase ingredients from the train’s routes, including Brittany lobster and Mont Saint-Michel lamb.

You’ll wake this morning to views of the rural France and a Continental breakfast, served in the intimacy of your private cabin. You’ll then be treated to a gourmet brunch in one of the restaurant cars, before you arrive into Calais for a channel-tunnel hop. Then, on arriving into Folkestone, the Belmond British Pullman will be waiting for you. Every inch as glorious as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, its 1920s carriages have hosted the likes of the Queen Mother and the Duke of Edinburgh with plush armchairs and intricate marquetry. Following an indulgent afternoon tea and a glass of sparkling wine as Kent rushes past, you’ll then end your journey in London Victoria.