Lake District café opens aboard Murder on the Orient Express train

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 24 Oct, 06:01 · Archive

A Lake District café now offers dining aboard the replica steam train used in Kenneth Branagh's 2017 film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express.

Bassenthwaite Lake Station, a restored former railway station near Keswick, now operates as a café where diners can eat aboard Art Deco carriages of a full-size replica French steam locomotive. The locomotive and carriages were used in Kenneth Branagh's 2017 film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, which starred Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench.

The original station opened in 1865 on the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway and closed to passengers in 1966. After falling into disrepair, it was purchased by Simon and Diana Parums in 2019 and painstakingly restored over two years.

The train was built slightly wider than a genuine locomotive to accommodate camera crews during filming. Today, a 36-seat restaurant carriage serves breakfast and lunch, while afternoon teas are also served aboard the restaurant and a 44-seat salon carriage. Afternoon tea costs £37.50 per person.

The menu includes a full Cumbrian breakfast featuring local smoked bacon and Cumberland sausage, slow-braised beef, a Cumbrian mezze board and freshly made cakes. Visitors can also explore the restored station, woodland, wildflower meadow and bird hide.

The attraction plans to expand with double-decker afternoon tea bus tours launching in 2026. Bassenthwaite Lake Station has achieved a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating on TripAdvisor with 615 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating on Google with 1,447 reviews.

How it is being reported

• 'Hidden treasure' Lake District café set aboard famous Hollywood film trainThis Lake District café offers diners the chance to eat aboard the replica steam train used in a Hollywood adaptation of an Agatha Christie classic.NW Evening Mail · 24 Oct, 05:00
• 'Hidden treasure' Lake District café set aboard famous Hollywood film trainThis Lake District café offers diners the chance to eat aboard the replica steam train used in a Hollywood adaptation of an Agatha Christie classic.News & Star · 24 Oct, 05:00
• 'Hidden treasure' Lake District café set aboard famous Hollywood film trainThis Lake District café offers diners the chance to eat aboard the replica steam train used in a Hollywood adaptation of an Agatha Christie classic.Westmorland Gazette · 24 Oct, 05:00
• 'Hidden treasure' Lake District café set aboard famous Hollywood film trainThis Lake District café offers diners the chance to eat aboard the replica steam train used in a Hollywood adaptation of an Agatha Christie classic.Whitehaven News · 24 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Bassenthwaite Lake Station · Keswick · Kenneth Branagh · Agatha Christie · Johnny Depp · Dame Judi Dench · Simon Parums · Diana Parums

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