Join us aboard the British Pullman, a Belmond Train, for an historic journey to Blenheim Palace and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, on 9 September 2026

On 9 September 2026, we invite you to journey through the English countryside aboard the luxurious, historic British Pullman train to Blenheim Palace—birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill—enjoying Champagne, refined dining and private access to the Palace State Rooms and Churchill Birth Rooms exhibition, in a month closely associated with some of the most defining chapters of his leadership.

Expect history and culture, and also luxury, relaxation and pleasure during a fascinating and unforgettable day. We shall travel through the English countryside in early autumn aboard the vintage British Pullman, a Belmond train, from London Victoria Station to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, enjoying a Champagne reception and fine dining to rival the leading London restaurants along the way.

We shall have a private view of the magnificent State Rooms of Blenheim Palace, one of the great Palaces of England. And we shall visit the historic private rooms where Sir Winston Churchill was born. The event has been arranged to mark a month deeply intertwined with Winston Churchill’s legacy.

Originally conceived as ‘Palaces on Wheels’ by George Mortimer Pullman, each lovingly restored 1920s and ’30s carriage is a masterpiece of the golden age of rail travel. Intricate marquetry, inlaid mosaic floors, crystal lamps and gleaming brass create an atmosphere of timeless glamour. Some carriages have played their own part in history: ‘Audrey’ carried members of the Royal Family to review the Fleet in 1953. Fittingly for this occasion, ‘Perseus’ formed part of Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train in 1965.

Settling into our plush seats with a sparkling Bellini to toast the day ahead, we shall savour a refined three-course brunch as the English landscape unfolds beyond the Pullman’s picture windows. And what awaits is truly magnificent.

Blenheim Palace is the only non-Royal country house in Britain to hold the title of Palace. It was given by Queen Anne to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his decisive victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704—a triumph that altered the balance of power in Europe.

We shall enjoy private access to the rooms of Churchill’s birth, now home to an absorbing exhibition tracing his extraordinary journey: soldier, parliamentarian, Prime Minister, historian and Nobel Prize-winning author. It explores not only the wartime leadership for which he is remembered, but also his devotion to painting, literature and the preservation of Britain’s heritage.

At the heart of Blenheim Palace lies the celebrated State Rooms — a breathtaking suite of spaces that embody three centuries of aristocratic splendour, artistic mastery and national history. These rooms are among the most magnificent interiors in Britain, each richly decorated with fine furnishings, tapestries, portraits and priceless works of art accumulated by the Dukes of Marlborough over generations.

Your private viewing will begin with the awe-inspiring Great Hall, rising nearly 70 feet and adorned with stone carvings by Grinling Gibbons and a painted ceiling by Sir James Thornhill depicting Marlborough’s military triumph with classical grandeur. Beyond this, the Saloon, once the principal state dining room, reveals frescoed ceilings and muralled walls by Louis Laguerre, where an extraordinary silver centrepiece—commissioned in 1846 and weighing more than 100lb—depicts the 1st Duke of Marlborough composing his famous battle dispatch.

In the long enfilade of interconnected rooms, we shall be surrounded by portraits by masters such as Reynolds, Van Dyck and Sargent, sumptuous damask walls, and delicate Sevres and Meissen porcelain displayed in elegant cabinets.

One of the most remarkable spaces you will encounter is the Long Library, stretching nearly 180 feet and housing thousands of historic volumes beneath its domed ceiling, alongside one of the largest pipe organs built by Henry Willis & Sons—a truly unique blend of intellectual and architectural splendour.

Interwoven with this artistic and architectural magnificence are intimate family treasures: ceremonial outfits, heirloom furniture and objects that bring the human story of this great house vividly to life. Together, these rooms are not merely places to look at but worlds to be experienced—grand in scale, sumptuous in detail and steeped in the layered histories of one of Britain’s great palaces.

Our visit falls in September—a month closely associated with some of the most defining moments of Churchill’s leadership. In September 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain, his resolve steadied the nation at one of its gravest hours. To stand at his birthplace at this time of year lends a quiet note of reflection to an already remarkable occasion.

After our private tour, there will be time to wander Capability Brown’s celebrated landscaped parkland. Early autumn casts a golden light across the Grand Lake, ancient cedar trees and sweeping lawns, with the great façade of the Palace reflected in still water—a scene of timeless English grandeur.

It was along these very paths that Winston Churchill walked, and within these grounds that, in 1908, he proposed to Clementine Hozier at the Temple of Diana overlooking the lake. The landscape is therefore not merely picturesque; it forms part of the personal story of a statesman whose life began here and whose destiny would later shape the nation. To stroll beside the water, to pause at the bridge or look across to the Column of Victory rising beyond the trees, is to experience the setting that framed both family history and national history alike.

We shall take our leave of Blenheim and return to the British Pullman, where a Champagne Reception awaits as we begin our journey back to London.

As the train glides through the Oxfordshire countryside in the mellow light of early autumn, a three-course dinner will be served, accompanied by the sommelier’s selected wines. It is a moment to reflect—on the magnificence of Blenheim, on the life that began within its walls, and on the quiet September resonance that connects birthplace to destiny.

Travel aboard the Belmond British Pullman is never simply about reaching a destination. It is about savouring the journey itself—the polished brass, the gentle rhythm of the rails, the elegance of another age. And on this particular journey, by the time we return to Victoria it will not merely have been a pleasurable day out, but an experience woven with history, beauty and memory.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Belmond British Pullman to Blenheim Palace

The usual fare for this exceptional experience is £670 per person.

CountryClubuk Members are invited to attend at the preferential rate of £497 per person.

This carefully curated day includes:

Round-trip travel aboard the British Pullman luxury train

Welcome sparkling Bellini

Delicious three-course brunch on the outward journey

A guided tour of the Blenheim Palace State Rooms and the Churchill Birth Rooms exhibition

Time at leisure in the Palace grounds and parkland

Champagne reception back on board

Sumptuous three-course dinner on the return journey, accompanied by the sommelier’s selected wines and followed by coffee, tea and petits fours

The British Pullman will depart London Victoria in the morning (around 09:00) and return to London Victoria in the early evening (approximately 19:30–20:30), allowing a full and splendid day at Blenheim Palace.

As places aboard the Pullman are necessarily limited, early reservation is warmly recommended.

To secure your places, please book here.

Or contact Member Services on 020 7399 2960.

We would be delighted for you to join us for what promises to be a most memorable occasion.

PLEASE READ: CountryClubuk Club Rules and Terms and Conditions