Celia Has Arrived: The Most Cinematic Way to Travel Britain Just Got Even Better
May 8, 2026
Belmond has always understood that the best travel experiences aren’t just about getting somewhere. They’re about what happens on the way. And with the arrival of Celia, the brand new private dining carriage on the British Pullman, they’ve done something genuinely extraordinary.
This isn’t just a new carriage. It’s a new category of experience entirely.
What Is Celia?
Celia is the latest addition to the British Pullman, Belmond’s iconic day train operating out of London Victoria. But calling her an addition feels like an understatement.
Designed by filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and his Oscar-winning partner Catherine Martin , the creative duo behind Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby , Celia is a self-contained world on rails. Set within an original 1932 Pullman carriage, she has been completely reimagined as a private dining and events space for up to 12 guests.
Inside you’ll find a cocktail bar, a lounge, a dining area and an entertainment space. There are dedicated stewards, a private chef on request, and a level of personalisation that most venues , let alone moving ones, simply can’t match.
Available from 15 May 2026 across all British Pullman journeys from London Victoria.
The Concept: A Fictional West End Star Gets Her Own Carriage
Only Baz Luhrmann could make a train carriage feel like the opening scene of a film.
The concept is built around a fictional character, Celia, a glamorous 1930s West End leading lady gifted her own Pullman carriage following a career-defining performance as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The interiors reflect her world entirely. Tri-colour marquetry panels line the walls depicting English pastoral scenes. Velvet upholstered seating. Parquet wood flooring. Rich greens, deep reds, warm purples and yellows that reference both the British countryside and the theatrical stage.
Every detail has been handpicked. Marquetry artisans Dunn & Son. Bespoke furniture designer Bill Cleyndert. Cutlery by David Mellor. Glassware by Tom Dixon. Tableware by Duchess China, one of Britain’s finest bone china manufacturers.
Stepping inside Celia isn’t boarding a train. It’s a captivating story.
The Experience
Celia operates as an entirely private venue within the train. Your group, Your menu, Your occasion.
The dining experience is fully customisable, from a grand celebratory banquet to an intimate dinner for a handful of people who deserve something completely unforgettable. The space can also transform into a performance venue or, if the mood takes you, a dance floor.
A private chef will design menus using the finest British seasonal produce. The cocktail bar is yours from the moment you board. The stewards are dedicated to your carriage alone.
As the British Pullman rolls through the English countryside, past rolling hills, market towns and landscapes that haven’t changed in a century, Celia makes the journey the entire point.
Who Is This For?
Honestly? Anyone who wants to mark an occasion properly.
A significant birthday. An anniversary that deserves more than a restaurant. A corporate event that should feel extraordinary rather than corporate. A group of people who simply want an experience they’ll talk about for years.
Private hire of Celia starts from £15,000, inclusive of transfers within Greater London. For the right occasion, it’s not just worth it, it’s incomparable there is nothing else like it currently.
Our Take
We’ve been watching Belmond’s creative collaborations with love for a while now. The Cygnus carriage on the British Pullman, designed by Wes Anderson, set a remarkable precedent. Celia takes that idea and makes it even more immersive, even more personal, even more considered.
There is nothing else like this operating in the UK right now. Nothing even close.
It’s theatrical without being over the top. Luxurious without being intimidating. And it delivers something increasingly rare in luxury travel , the feeling that this experience was created for you specifically, rather than for everyone in general.
This one has WeGalavant written all over it.
How To Book
As Belmond preferred partners, every Belmond booking through WeGalavant comes with additional perks and benefits you won’t receive booking direct.
If Celia is calling your name , for a celebration, a milestone or simply because life is short and this exists , we’d love to make it happen.
Submit your enquiry here and we’ll take it from there.
Worth Knowing Before You Book
- Available from 15 May 2026 on all British Pullman journeys from London Victoria
- Private hire for up to 12 guests from £15,000, inclusive of Greater London transfers
- Private chef available on request, menus fully customisable
- The space works as a dining room, performance venue or dance floor
- As Belmond preferred partners, WeGalavant perks apply to every Belmond booking
- This is the sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, ask us about combining both
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Belmond has always understood that the best travel experiences aren’t just about getting somewhere. They’re about what happens on the way. And with the arrival of Celia, the brand new private dining carriage on the British Pullman, they’ve done something genuinely extraordinary. This isn’t just a new carriage. It’s a new category of experience entirely. […]
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