In a busy world where an hour or two away from real-life responsibilities can offer you a brief respite, then surely a journey on board of the most magical, fairytale-like private dining carriage can give you the breathing spell you’ve been longing for. It is precisely what Celia, presented by Belmond Train, British Pullman, has set out to offer: a chance to let your imagination run wild and create your own special moments in the whimsical world designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin.
On 9 May 2026, several handpicked A-listers were able to celebrate and have a little taste of what Celia has to offer ahead of its official debut on 15 May. The intimate launch dinner onboard of the Celia was co-hosted by Luhrmann, Martin, and Anna Wintour, while among the distinguished guests were model Alexa Chung, actresses Emma Corrin and Simone Ashley, as well as leading figures in the British creative scene such as Tom Ford and Stella McCartney and professional tennis players Roger Federer and his wife Mirka Federer.
A Celebration of British Craftsmanship
Inspired by the theatrical heritage of London, specifically the 1930s West End theatre scene and vintage cinema, Celia is an homage to William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ set within an original 1932 Pullman carriage seating up to 12 guests and features its own cocktail bar, lounge, dining, and entertainment area.
In its entirety, Celia is a celebration of British craftsmanship, British seasonal produce, and even the quintessential British landscape, which plays a big part in creating the dreamlike, cinematic atmosphere set up by Luhrmann and Martin. The design concept itself follows Luhrmann’s fictional muse, Celia, who was gifted her own Pullman car in 1932 after her performance as Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
What makes Celia special is the cohesiveness between the British landscape, culture, and history, down to the craftsmanship and materials used to bring Luhrmann’s and Martin’s vision to life. Elaborate fabrics with floral motifs, veneered marquetry, thick velvet upholstered furniture, all set to a colour palette of rich greens, yellows, reds, and purples, created an elegant, intimate, yet cinematic atmosphere that one could simply immerse oneself in for hours.
If you need more convincing, Luhrmann himself said Celia is “a playful and exceptionally unique way to experience the UK at your own pace and according to your own rhythm and story” while Martin commented that Celia “gives travellers the rare opportunity to inhabit the nostalgia of another era.”
Celia departs from London’s Victoria Station across all British Pullman journeys, with the opportunity to personalise both their onboard and offboard experiences.
