Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_21_20.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52234" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_21_20.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_21_20-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_21_20-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_21_20-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Here in Warks and the West Mids, we don&#8217;t have to travel far to find one &#8211; we&#8217;re lucky to have an express steam train service right on our doorstep (it even calls at mainline stations). All Aboard the Shakespeare Express, which bowls through beautiful Warwickshire countryside between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon pulled by a lavish authentic heritage locomotive that&#8217;s been in service for decades. But that&#8217;s not the only reason to book &#8211; here&#8217;s six more&#8230;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-olde-world-glamour">OLDE-WORLD GLAMOUR</h2>



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If you really want to live out your&nbsp;Before Sunrise&nbsp;or&nbsp;Strangers on a Train&nbsp;dreams, it&#8217;s got to be first-class in a stylish 1960s Pullman Class carriage around intimate tables of two or four, though even in Tourist Class, the seats are all tables of four in traditional British Railway carriage &#8211; so no undignified scrabbling for the table seats then.



Designed by American engineer, George Mortimer Pullman, these comfy, luxe train carriages were known as ‘palaces on wheels’ – plush blue and gold upholstery and white tablecloths most definitely add an air of vintage regality.



You can catch a service from one of two destinations, Birmingham Snow Street in the morning for a day out in Stratford-upon-Avon returning in the late afternoon; or a 2.5 hour round trip from Stratford to Birmingham over lunchtime and early afternoon (trains run on selected dates throughout the year).



It takes an hour’s ride in each direction &#8211; and don’t expect a slow coach, you’ll be travelling at express speeds of up to 75 mph on the journey home.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SUNDAY LUNCH WITH A DIFFERENCE</h2>



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Join the train at Stratford and you can opt for the full three-course Sunday lunch in Pullman class (from £85 per person) while the townscapes and glorious countryside of Warks whizz by. Menu highlights include smoked salmon and caper salad with lemon and dill dressing, roast sirloin of beef, Yorkshire pudding, duck fat roast potatoes with tarte au citron with blackcurrant compote and Chantilly cream. There&#8217;s also gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan or other dietary requirements catered to.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ARE SCONES MORE YOUR CUP OF TEA?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_53_25.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52241" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_53_25.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_53_25-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_53_25-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_53_25-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Pullman Class on board The Shakespeare Express </figcaption></figure>



&#8230;Then you&#8217;re in for a treat if you travel from Birmingham to Stratford, where it&#8217;s a full English brekkie on your morning journey and traditional afternoon tea coming back, including finger sandwiches, scones and mini cakes. It&#8217;s all included with your ticket if you travel in Pullman Class and there&#8217;s food options to add on if you go for Tourist Class. Talk about the perfect way to spoil your mum, we reckon this is an absolute shoo-in for Mother’s Day on Sunday March 26.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STRESS-FREE STRATFORD</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_46_14.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52238" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_46_14.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_46_14-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_46_14-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/01/fotor_2023-1-25_12_46_14-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>The gorgeous garden at The Arden Hotel overlook the RSC Theatres, Stratford, and River Avon</figcaption></figure>



If you&#8217;re looking for a neatly packaged day out without the hassle of car parking, then the Birmingham service is a winner, giving you a full five hours of sightseeing time in Stratford. As for what to do? We love the 40-minute river cruise with <a href="http://www.avon-boating.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Avon Boating</a> on one of its fleet of Edwardian vessels (or hire a rowing boat if you want to work off that Full English), then go and find where the Bard was born, courted his wife Anne Hathaway and lived as a playwright in the various Shakespeare family homes dotted around town. 



If you&#8217;ve got kids in tow, they&#8217;ll love the <a href="http://www.themadmuseum.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MAD Museum</a>, a small but fantastically interactive museum with eccentric mechanical artworks, contraptions and hands-on marble runs.



Taking the train also means you can have a tipple or two without the discussion about who&#8217;s driving, and pair it with a fabulous lunch if you want to really spoil yourself. Two of the best dining spots in town in our view are the brasserie with terrace at <a href="http://www.theardenhotelstratford.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Arden Hotel</a>, a four-star boutique hotel located in a pretty riverside spot opposite the RSC Theatres; or the family-run <a href="https://www.loxleysrestaurant.co.uk/">Loxleys Restaurant and Wine Bar</a> in Sheep Street. Both cook up a fab Sunday lunch if you’re looking for a weekend nosh up and have A La Carte menus.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SPECIAL DAYS OUT</h2>



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If you like to steam ahead planning the year, grab your&nbsp;diary&nbsp;and&nbsp;get&nbsp;these must-do dates in your&nbsp;diary&nbsp;pronto &#8211; Feb 12 for Valentine’s Day, March 26 for a family special and June 18 for Father’s Day. The Shakespeare Express will also be running on April 16 in the Easter holidays, May 28 on the Bank Holiday weekend, between July 16-Sept 3 in the summer hols and Oct 22 in half term.



You’ll definitely need to book well in advance for The Polar Express Train Ride in the run up to Christmas – an immersive theatrical performance on board bringing to life the sight and sounds of the 2004 film. It sets off from Birmingham Moor Street on a magical journey to ‘the North Pole’, between Nov 25-Dec 23.



Or celebrate in style by booking your own private train or carriage (for up to 100 guests in Pullman Class, and 320 in Tourist Class)!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">UNDER THREE’S RIDE FREE</h2>



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Not only are you making their&nbsp;Thomas the Tank Engine/The Polar Express&nbsp;or&nbsp;Harry Potter&nbsp;dreams come to life, but if they&#8217;re little they don&#8217;t need a ticket. Children under three can travel for free provided they sit on a parent’s lap, so whether you&#8217;re a family, or inter-generational group, it&#8217;s a big win, keeping the little &#8211; and big &#8211; kids happy with one trip. Tourist Class tickets are £35 return for adults, £15 for children aged 5-16.



Ready to board? <a href="https://vintagetrains.co.uk/train-rides/the-shakespeare-express/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Shakespeare Express</a> is available to book Feb – October. Email <a href="mailto:Bookings@vintagetrains.co.uk">Bookings@vintagetrains.co.uk</a> or call 0121 708 4960.

6 reasons to book Warwickshire’s magical steam train ride

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