Enchantment & Discovery on a UK Rail Trip
Excerpt from Enchantments on the UK Rail in the February 2026 Issue of Passport Magazine on newsstands now!
Also available in digital at passportmagazine.com
“It was just shy of two hours after leaving King’s Cross in London and gliding north into the unfolding countryside when I pulled into York Station. Beams of sunshine poked through the curved glazed ceiling onto the platform of the historic depot. The original clock hung above the imperial staircase in what used to be the world’s biggest rail station back in 1877. It loomed large enough to let passengers on the remaining eleven platforms know what time it was. These old stations can be so cinematic. My mind’s eye snapped a picture.
I began my journey days earlier with Hidden London (Tel. +44-343-222-5000. ltmuseum.co.uk), exploring abandoned tubes and Piccadilly nostalgia deep inside the world’s oldest metro system. Even older is the British Rail (nationalrail.co.uk), marking 200 years in 2025. Up ahead, on my rail adventure, were gems of sprawling Yorkshire, remote cliffs of the Scottish coast, and kilt culture in the rolling hills of the Highlands.
The London North Eastern Railway’s Azuma bullet train was quick and direct, delivering me from London to York. Days later, an express from York to Edinburgh provided comforts and modern amenities, including a cafe. Boarding at Edinburgh Waverly Rail Station, further north to Inverness, I eased into slower travel, cozying up to all the movie moments appearing outside my window.
ENCHANTMENTS OF YORK
A medieval Roman wall stood tall just outside York Station, encompassing the city. It dates back to the first century AD, long before the Saxons and, later, the Vikings claimed the fortified town and renamed it Jorvik. Grassy gardens embraced the mostly intact wall, and steps led up to its walkway areas. I walked through a passageway to my nearby hotel while people strolled above in all directions. The peaks of York Minster, one of Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedrals, reached up from the pedestrian-friendly city center not too far in the distance.
Built in 1906, The Grand, York (Station Rise, York. Tel. +44-190-438-0038. thegrandyork.co.uk) was once dubbed a “Palace of Business” and served as headquarters for the prestigious North Eastern Railway Company. Its Edwardian grandeur still boasts Belgian marble, wrought-iron railings on its sweeping staircases, and a stunning lobby. After recent major renovations that combine gorgeous original interiors with comfortable contemporary touches, the 207-room five-star landmark has garnered an array of top awards worldwide. The nods to British culture, the luxury spa within the old vaults, and fine dining at The Rise deserve hearty recognition as well…”
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