December in London is uncompromisable. The city clicks into full festive action from the first day of the month. Markets pop up with mulled wine, ice rinks welcome skaters, and shopping quickly becomes the priority of every Londoner. But, for a slower taste of festive luxury, skip past the shoppers and mayhem. Instead, board the Christmas Steam Express and indulge in the festivity of five-star dining with winter views of London.

The Christmas Steam Express is a rare chance to savour festivity in London and unwind at the same time. The experience combines a scenic rail tour of London’s most iconic cityscapes with three courses of fine dining. Starting from London Victoria Station, you’ll loop through Richmond, Chelsea Harbour, and across the Thames more than five times – drinking and dining along the way.

London’s vintage Christmas train is an annual experience available on select dates in December. However, Steam Dreams Rail has run all year, every year, since 1999. The company owns some of the most famous luxury locomotives, including the Flying Scotsman, and pioneers’ luxury rail experiences across the UK. For the Christmas Steam Express, guests will meet Mayflower – one of only ‘two surviving B1 Class locomotives’. Built in 1948, Mayflower has been restored to provide the ultimate vintage steam train experience. And, for a rare dining venue, you can’t look much further

Of course, every luxury experience comes with options. On the Christmas Steam Express, guests can choose from Standard Class, Pullman Style Dining, and Premier Dining when it comes to seating options. Standard Class seats guests in the train’s 1960s carriages, where you can bask in the views of London from the window and purchase light meals and beverages.

However, a Premier Dining ticket is the better choice for those wanting to indulge in a festive three-course meal. The carriage itself is renovated with comfort in mind, featuring classy red, padded chairs, and decorative carpet. Your meal choice is selected in advance, meaning all you are responsible for at the experience is ordering a glass of wine and enjoying London views while you wait. The Premier carriage is a perfect choice for those wanting an immersive, classy 1960s dining experience. From the white tablecloths to the wooden panelling, every effort has been made to decorate the train immaculately to her original period.

If you are still considering an extra splash of luxury, we’d recommend the Pullman Style Dining ticket. The highest level of ticket available, it grants the guest access to the 1950s and 60s restored Pullman carriages. Similarly, your three-course meal is ordered in advance to maximise your relaxation time while onboard. However, the seating style is where your experience steps up from comfort to ultra-luxury. Chairs are padded with ornate cushioning and high-backed to create a sense of privacy at each table. The promise of the train’s ‘highest level of service’ and most authentic vintage carriages makes it an easy choice amongst many guests.

For guests who chose the Premier or Pullman Dining ticket, your culinary experience starts soon after you pull out of London Victoria station. As you head West, through London’s most exclusive and iconic boroughs, the starters begin to roll out. Prepared fresh on the train as it journeys, you can look forward to seasonal, locally sourced produce with a festive theme – of course. The starter consists of chargrilled vegetable terrine, delicately arranged on a bed of rocket salad and drizzled in a balsamic glaze.

After tasting and admiring the display of the starter, it won’t be long before you are anticipating the main course. In true Christmas style, the Christmas Steam Express serves a bacon-wrapped turkey roulade as guest’s main dish – complete with stuffing, fondant potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts, and thick rosemary gravy. For vegetarians amongst guests, don’t worry. The Christmas Steam Express has an entire tasting menu for non-meat eaters, which you can request immediately upon placing an online booking. From this menu, you can anticipate a delicious concoction of sweet potato marmalade tart with fondant potato, brussels sprouts, carrots, and vegetable-based rosemary gravy.

And what would festive fine dining be without a taste of traditional pudding? After a thoughtfully paced break from your main course, waiting staff serve dessert. Guests can expect a chocolate Yule log accompanied by a generous dashing of orange syrup.

While this Yule log is made deliciously from cake, burning actual Yule logs has been a tradition in most European countries since the Medieval period. Tasting such a traditional, symbolic dessert seems a perfect way to finish an evening of festivity. And, while you bask in the aftermath of your experience, you can re-focus your attention to the London cityscape unwinding through your window.

The Christmas Steam Express expertly juggles the balance of festivity, indulgence, and tourism. The experience suits Londoners and tourists alike – perfect for a social Christmas get-together with friends or an indulgent activity on a luxury travel itinerary. If December in London is uncompromisable, dining on the Christmas Steam Express is even more so. Winter dining on a vintage train ride through London is an experience to book, not miss.