Wrexham start for luxury trip on the Northern Belle

It operates luxury train rides across the country, regularly stopping at Warrington Bank Quay.

But I'm going to give it my best shot.

I'd been oddly nervous ahead of this trip, and thought I'd be out of my depth in terms of 'poshness' but the minute me and my partner Ian, stepped into Wrexham General Station, I was put at ease.

In case you have no idea why I was so anxious, this day was pitched to be top drawer from start to finish. And at £565 per person, you would expect nothing less. There was a dress code and more courses of food and drink ahead than I have ever experienced.

Inside the Belvoir carriage.

We were greeted at the station by a very friendly gentleman, who made sure we ended up exactly where we needed to be. We joined a gathered group of other excited travellers, everyone looking very smart. Efforts had clearly been made.

The Northern Belle - a series of 1930s Pullman-style carriages - arrived, pulled at this point by heritage diesel locomotive Scarborough Castle. We would later have the steam locomotive The Lancashire Fusilier attached, delivering plumes of steam that made it feel as if we were in an old film, a time gone by.

Staff stepped out the Belvoir carriage, little red carpet included, and we boarded to find our seats.

I was instantly impressed and a bit giddy. It was stunning, yet despite its opulence, incredibly welcoming.

Some of the beautiful detail of the Belvoir.

Each carriage is unique, with twists in small details. The Belvoir features inlays of honeybees and flowers, from Indian rosewood, oak, pomelle, sycamore, madrone burr and walnut. Being Christmas themed, the carriages were also decked in a festive fashion.

There are 42 seats per carriage, made up of tables for two or four. We were joined by a pair of ladies to make up our foursome.

The table was set out elegantly, awaiting the first delicious treats of the day, a three course brunch.

All set ahead of brunch.

Having stopped at Telford and Shrewsbury ahead of us, and after one final pick up stop at Chester, the feasting began.

Head chef Matthew Green had put together very appealing menus, and wanting to try a bit of everything, I opted for the vegetarian selection.

My partner was also not drinking, so we requested no alcohol for him, and he was presented with a host of alternatives, which included soft drinks and non-alcoholic wine and beer. There is a fantastic selection of drinks onboard, including cocktails and non-alcoholic options.

All of this was remembered at every step of the way by our carriage team - Phil, Roz and Tom. This trio provided top notch service with personality and professionalism, and they really helped take our experience to the next level.

Apple cinnamon yoghurt dome.

First up was a mimosa, followed by an apple cinnamon yoghurt dome, with apple compote and granola. I'd not expected much to be honest but this was excellent, with wonderful presentation, and generated a very positive response from our little group. Had we've peaked too soon?

Absolutely not.

Tartlet 'Arnold Bennett' with hot smoked salmon.

For the trio of non veggies, they had tartlet 'Arnold Bennett', with hot smoked salmon, chive butter sauce and peccornio crisp. Again this delivered lots of oohing and ahhing. For me, potato rosti with wild mushroom croquette, tomato ketchup and peccorino crisp. We were initially worried the food would be tiny portions but definitely not the case, and this dish was incredibly substantial. The tomato ketchup had a little kick, and was the perfect partner for everything else else on the plate.

Potato rosti with wild mushroom croquette and tomato ketchup.

As if that wasn't enough, a bakery basket followed, with a selection of Danish pastries, croissants and sweet treats. Butter, preserves and honey were also available. All of this was washed down with tea or coffee.

Making an appearance during all of this was the first of two entertainment sections of the trip, in the form of a magician. Master of illusion John, who had performed at the Maelor Hospital's children's ward the night before, did different tricks all along the carriage. His patter and charm were effortless, and we giggled like schoolchildren.

Belvoir carriage of the Northen Belle.

After consuming far more than we would ever normally, we welcomed the break in Carlisle. As the engine and carriages drew quite a crowd, we enjoyed two hours of stretching our legs and bargain hunting, while walking off some of brunch.

As we waited on the platform for the return of the Northern Belle, there was such a lovely atmosphere. Once she pulled in, we watched so many other travellers not on this train, taking photos and video, peeking in the windows and having pictures with our host Phil (yes I got one too, the man is a star).

Claire Pierce with Belvoir star Phil.

Our return trip would take in the Settle-Carlisle line, including the Ribble Viaduct.

Boarding, we were stunned all over again. The tables had been totally prepared for the upcoming six course Christmas dinner, including branded pulling crackers. Both Ian and I saved ours to give to family back home. My son is saving his for Christmas Day.

Table for four all set for Christmas dinner.

First up on the menu was Champagne, with caviar on blini (olive pearls for the vegetarian option), with sour cream, quail egg, pickled shallot and parsley; and canapes - duck liver parfait with orange glaze, and goat cheese, tomato and olive.

This wasn't my favourite course, just too much going on for me but they were little works of art, and I did of course try them all.

Canapes and wine.

Next was a roasted plum tomato soup with red pepper pesto, the serving of which was another example of skill, as the staff dished out hot liquids with ease. Accompanied by your choice of several breads, it was another top tier course.

We were actually really filling up but the main event was here. For Ian it was roast breast of turkey, with sausage meat stuffing, braised red cabbage, glazed root vegetables, roast potato, sprouts and sage gravy; and mushroom wellington for me.

Roasted plum tomato soup with red pepper pesto.

We sampled each other's and couldn't fault any of it. The gravy with the turkey was fantastic, and the whole thing was a pretty decent plateful. My wellington may not have had as much of a visual wow factor but was one of the best things I ate on the day. This is such good food, I cannot stress that enough.

Roast breast of turkey Christmas dinner.

By now we really were reaching our belly limits but there is always room for pudding. For him the chocolate cherry yule log, which was actually very light, and adorned in edible, festive decorations. I don't have an overly sweet tooth and for me, my dessert of chocolate and cherry fashion éclair was perfection. It was incredibly rich but not at all too sweet. This was my number one dish of the day.

Chocolate and cherry fashion éclair.

As if we had any business putting another thing in our mouths, along came the selection of cheeses, with chutney, fruit cake, biscuits, and a glass of port.

I was very reserved in my pick. I'm normally a ride or die cheese fan but I had been defeated, so just a small taste for me. The port, I chose red, was of course a wonderful addition. Finally it was tea and coffee, with hand-made petit four. I barely had room to be honest.

It was in this very festive section of the day, we had our second performance, a pair of musicians. They lifted the whole mood even higher with their timeless tunes and humorous delivery. These absolute pros played different songs throughout their walk-through, and were a joy to watch and listen to.

Taking in the beautiful views from the Northern Belle.

And then all bar the gentle ride back, we were done. By stepping off time, it was almost 13 hours of pure indulgence.

I haven't shut up about this trip since, I've never experienced anything like it. And while the food and the transport are the showstoppers, we can't forget the views. The scenery along the way, especially the Settle-Carlisle line, is gorgeous, although being the time of year it is, we did lose light early on. This certainly didn't change our day in any negative way though.

Cheese and crackers.

The Northern Belle has been voted one of 'the best train trips in the world' by readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine for the second year in a row, and I can see why.

It's a lot of money to have this experience, no one could pretend otherwise but is it worth it? Absolutely.

Many people onboard were celebrating an occasion or the trip was a special treat in some way, and I can see why. It's incredibly memorable and for most of us a one-off, although we have already been eyeing up other trips running next year.

Taking in the beautiful views from the Northern Belle.

This may not be an important detail for some but we asked whether any tip given was shared out, and Phil explained that literally any person involved in our trip that day would be included in the sharing out of any gratuity. Good to hear in our book.

From start to finish, the staff you see or don't see, really are the heart of the Northern Belle. They had as much of an impact on us and our experience as anything else. They made us feel genuinely special, and it's a day I will never forget.

• For more details on trips with the Northern Belle, which include sporting events, flower show and castles, visit: northernbelle.co.uk