Here’s How You Can Ride The Iconic Golden Arrow Pullman Train For Just £10

There is nothing chicer than a Great British escape onboard a luxury train through the English countryside this summer. Apart from upgrading the experience with a tour and tasting at Highweald vineyard in Sussex. Both are rolled into ‘The Grape British Railway’ this August, which Uber is offering on its app for just £10 per person, while tickets last. 

Before the train sets off, guests will enjoy live performances from professional violinists reimagining chart-topping hits. The star event is a ride on board the iconic Golden Arrow Pullman train, as featured in the likes of Downton Abbey and Poirot. Onboard, guests will enjoy a three-course lunch made with locally inspired dishes, each paired with wines curated from Highweald. The journey winds through the rolling Sussex hills, culminating in a guided tour and tasting at Highweald, one of the UK’s most celebrated vineyards. There are 0% options for those not drinking, too. 

About The Train

The Golden Arrow Pullman train is one of Britain’s most iconic luxury trains. Launched in 1929, the train provided an all-first-class Pullman experience on a route linking London’s Victoria Station with Dover, and connecting by ferry to the French “Flèche d’Or” service to Paris. On its launch, the Golden Arrow’s carriages boasted plush armchair seating, polished wood-panel interiors, and ornate details, lit by electric lights and warmed by steam heating, making it ahead of its time. Over the years, innovations included rectangular lavatory and pantry windows and a cocktail bar carriage styled as a high-class club, but the distinctive brown and cream livery on the exterior remain. In 1951, modern Pullman cars debuted with even sleeker, more streamlined decorations to celebrate the Festival of Britain. The Golden Arrow took its final run in 1972, but Pullman is bringing the story back to life with its modern journeys.

Are Micro Trips Back?

Recent research commissioned by Uber revealed a shift in British travel patterns, with over half (57%) of UK adults now preferring shorter, more frequent UK-based trips over longer holidays abroad. This aligns with a nationwide rise in demand for homegrown food and drink experiences. According to WineGB, there are now more than 300 vineyards offering tours in the UK, with visitor numbers up by 55% between 2022 and 2023 to 1.5 million visits. In fact, wine tourism now accounts for a quarter of total winery income. Colm Evans, Winemaker at Highweald Vineyard, said: “There’s never been a more exciting time for English wine, and this unique experience gives guests the chance to see, and taste, what makes our vineyards so special. From the first glass to the last view of the countryside, it celebrates everything we love about our homegrown wine culture.” So yes, it seems that micro trips are indeed back, but wine micro trips are, at least in part, fuelling the boom. 

Adventures On Rails

Alongside wine tourism, luxury train travel continues to increase in popularity, with experiences on-board now often more important than the destination. In the last few years, even just within the Country & Town House team, we have boarded a Pride rave on a train, two separate train murder mysteries, and boarded Sweden’s new night train. And if we had the time (or the money) we’d be signing up for this round-the-world-in-100-days rail adventure, too.

How To Book

Uber’s Grape British Railway will run exclusively on the 23rd and 30th of August and is bookable via The Grape British Railway website: ubergrapebritishrailway.co.uk | Tickets for The Grape British Railway go on sale via a pre-sale window from 2pm to 6pm on Friday, August 1st, followed by general sales at 10am on Monday, August 4th. At just £10 per person, spaces are expected to fill quickly on a first-come, first-served basis.