Investigate London’s New Murder Mystery Experience
One train, five courses, ten suspects. A new immersive murder mystery experience on board the British Pullman train is setting off from London for a wildly entertaining whodunit.
Murder mysteries are an iconic British tradition. The secluded countryside manors stuffed with shady stock characters; the moustache-twirling detective; the third-act twists and turns that keep readers and audiences rapt in their seats. We’re proud custodians of Agatha Christie after all, with her iconic play The Mousetrap staged continuously (except for a brief pause during a certain pandemic) since 1952 – the longest-running production in London’s West End and the world.
But it’s Christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express that remains the most iconic example of the genre. Readers are still gripped and charmed by the snowy environs, the dastardly deeds, the glamorous setting of the famous train and shock ending. It’s no surprise that the novel was so popular; the Golden Age of Travel, during which chic adventurers traversed Europe’s finest cities in plush locomotive comfort, also coincided with the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, the era of classic murder mystery novels released in the 1920s and 1930s.
That’s not to say that the genre has fallen from favour, however – far from it. Murder mystery dinners and events are on the rise, and in the last few years alone, we’ve seen an influx of sleuthing stories hit both the big and small screen: take the Daniel Craig-starring whodunits Knives Out and Glass Onion, as well as hit TV shows The Traitors and The White Lotus. Many iconic movies set on trains feature a murder mystery – think The Lady Vanishes – and the rise in interest in the murder mystery, coupled with a heightened desire for slow travel and experiential luxury, means that a new generation of armchair detectives are craving their own plush puzzle to solve. Enter: One Way Ticket, a brand new murder mystery train experience aboard British Pullman, A Belmond Train.
Bedecked in antique marquetry, vintage lighting and heritage upholstery, the restored 1920s British Pullman train transports keen adventurers across England throughout the year to vibrant cities, ancient castles, stately homes and celebrated sporting events. It also embarks on beautiful round trips to Kent, which forms the round-trip route for this wildly entertaining Murder Mystery journey.
One Way Ticket, designed by Private Drama Events, is a truly immersive and bespoke experience, and it's a murder mystery unlike any other. It is set in the 1930s, where a mysterious philanthropist has constructed a dazzling utopian city off the coast of Britain. But not all is at it seems. As you join the maiden voyage to the island of ‘Arcadia’ on board the British Pullman, dark secrets will begin to emerge.
Ten mysterious characters will reveal what they know about the mysterious murder, and as each one – from highly-strung film director Renée Vandenheuvel to reclusive magnate Ambrose L. Valkerne – makes their way through these historic carriages, they’ll be eager to share clues, scandals and mischief. After gazing at the views outside, read through your private copy of The Arcadia Chronicle, which is riddled with secret clues. Interrogate every passing suspect and examine every intriguing detail around you.
English whimsy, right-royal mischief and spirited shenanigans are on the menu. But while revenge is a dish best served cold, rest assured that your enticing, five-course English lunch will be just the right temperature. Anticipate jolly seasonal fare from across the British Isles such as a rump of Kent lamb and Cornish hake, paired with fine wines – and, of course, a touch of champagne will no doubt assist your detective skills.
And by George, when you think you know whodunit, ensure you don’t spoil the fun for future spies and sleuths!
Photography by Anna Jay
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