Picture this: you step onto a train from London Victoria, velvet curtains parting like a West End stage, and suddenly you’re not just commuting – you’re starring in Baz Luhrmann’s latest blockbuster.
That’s Celia, the outrageously glamorous new private carriage he’s dreamed up with his wife and longtime collaborator Catherine Martin for the Belmond British Pullman, Britain’s ritziest rail experience.
What is this wildly extra train carriage?
Launching this summer, it’s a 1930s-inspired fever dream of Shakespearean florals, golden-age cinema sparkle and Moulin Rouge excess – complete with cocktail bar, private chef and dance floor for up to 12 guests. Baz promises “food, music, wine, laughter and performance” rolling through the English countryside; if you’ve ever fancied Gatsby-level glamour on tracks, your moment has arrived.
Belmond describes Celia as a fully private space for up to 12 guests, designed for those who like their train travel with a side of theatrical drama and several bottles of vintage champagne. The carriage will run on British Pullman services across the UK, offering private hire for daytime or evening journeys through the countryside.
The design: A Midsummer Night’s Dream on rails
Celia’s look takes its cues from three main muses: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, London’s 1930s West End theatre scene and classic golden-age cinema.
Inside, you’ll find thick velvet, British floral motifs, oak wood marquetry and a rich palette of greens, yellows, purples and reds – basically, Baz-core in carriage form. Heavy theatre-style curtains divide the space into bar, lounge, dining and entertainment zones, like scene changes in a play.
Martin says she hopes guests get “a rare opportunity to inhabit the nostalgia of another era,” imagining them eating, dancing, falling in love and taking photos as the English countryside rolls past the windows.
What’s actually inside the brand new carriage in the Belmond British Pullman?
This isn’t just a pretty dining car – it’s been engineered as a fully self-contained party capsule.
You get:
- A private cocktail bar at one end of the carriage, so you don’t have to share the shaker with anyone else’s hen do.
- A lounge area for pre-dinner martinis, gossip and dramatic cloak-shedding.
- A dedicated dining space where a private chef whips up bespoke menus using seasonal British produce.
- A pantry and kitchen built into the carriage, plus a butler and steward to keep the whole thing running smoother than the overhead line.
The option to turn the space into a dance floor or mini theatre once dessert is done – think performances, live music or just your mates throwing shapes to the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.
The whole vibe is deliberately loose and unstructured rather than stuffy: long, lingering dinners, spontaneous cocktails, and the sense that the journey is as important as the destination.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
Exclusive hire of Celia starts from an eye-watering £15,000. That headline price includes quite a bit of high-end faff, though:
- Exclusive use of the Celia carriage for up to 12 people.
- An experience curator to plan your itinerary, from timings to menus to entertainment.
- Private luxury transfers between Greater London and London Victoria station.
- A private chef, butler and steward on board.
- Welcome drinks and expert wine pairings tailored to your food and route.
A bespoke journey that fits around your own “rhythm and story”, as Luhrmann puts it.
Celia is due to begin welcoming passengers this summer, running attached to British Pullman services that meander through picture-perfect bits of Kent, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Surrey.
Who is this actually for?
It’s pitched squarely at:
- Big-ticket celebrations (think milestone birthdays, micro-weddings, film-premiere-adjacent parties).
- Brand launches and ultra-luxe events wanting a bit of Baz sparkle and privacy.
- Deep-pocketed romantics who hear “Golden Age of travel” and immediately reach for their Amex.
If you split the starting price between 12 people, you’re still looking at over £1,000 a head – but if you’ve ever wanted to LARP as a 1930s theatre starlet on her way to a country house scandal, this might be your moment.
How to book (if you’re feeling flush)
Belmond is handling bookings directly via the British Pullman website, where you can register interest, pick dates and work with their team to customise the route, menu and entertainment. Celia will run from London Victoria, and availability is tied to existing British Pullman journeys, so this is very much a “plan ahead, then plan some more” situation.
Even if you never actually ride it, Celia is a very fun reminder that in 2026, luxury rail travel isn’t just back – it’s being art-directed by Baz Luhrmann.