BIRMINGHAM TRAIN FIELD GUIDE
Steam, Scones and Shakespeare: An Afternoon Pullman from Birmingham to Stratford
A First Class Sunday steam service from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon with afternoon tea served to your seat — this guide explains what to expect on the Shakespeare Express Afternoon Service.
Steam, Scones and Shakespeare: An Afternoon Pullman from Birmingham to Stratford.
Board a vintage steam-hauled Pullman and slip through Warwickshire’s low, cultivated countryside en route to the timbered streets of Stratford-upon-Avon; the Afternoon Service is an elegant Sunday return that pairs 1960s carriages and express steam haulage with table service afternoon tea and a short hour ashore for steam-spotting or station exhibits.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Vintage Pullman Comfort and Onboard Tea Service
Travel in First Class in restored 1960s carriages on a steam-hauled service where a full afternoon tea is served to your seat and tea and coffee are available throughout the journey.
Warwickshire Countryside to Shakespeare’s Town
The train runs from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon, passing through scenic Warwickshire and operating either via the Shakespeare Line with Great Western Railway features or the Chiltern mainline.
An Hour in Stratford for Steam and Station Exhibits
On arrival you have roughly an hour in Stratford-upon-Avon to watch the locomotive run around the train, browse the onboard shop for a memento, and — on some weekends — visit art exhibitions at the station.
What the day feels like
What the Afternoon Feels Like
From boarding at Birmingham Snow Hill to the run back later that afternoon, the experience is deliberately genteel: vintage carriages and attentive table service as the countryside unspools outside, an hour ashore to stretch your legs and watch the steam locomotive prepare for the return leg, and a relaxed journey home completed in First Class comfort.
THE TRAIN
Vintage Pullman Comfort and Onboard Tea Service
Travel in First Class in restored 1960s carriages on a steam-hauled service where a full afternoon tea is served to your seat and tea and coffee are available throughout the journey.
THE ROUTE
Warwickshire Countryside to Shakespeare’s Town
The train runs from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon, passing through scenic Warwickshire and operating either via the Shakespeare Line with Great Western Railway features or the Chiltern mainline.
THE LAYOVER
An Hour in Stratford for Steam and Station Exhibits
On arrival you have roughly an hour in Stratford-upon-Avon to watch the locomotive run around the train, browse the onboard shop for a memento, and — on some weekends — visit art exhibitions at the station.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who should check before booking.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Board at Birmingham Snow Hill for the afternoon departure; published timetable shows a 14:07 departure from Birmingham Snow Hill, arrival into Stratford at about 15:10, departure from Stratford about 16:13 and return to Birmingham around 17:12. Timings are approximate and will be confirmed 48 hours before departure.
First Class tickets include afternoon tea served to your seat, with tea and coffee available throughout the journey.
Pullman and First Class Coaches cannot accommodate passengers confined to a wheelchair; limited wheelchair spaces (maximum two) may be available in the Buffet Coach and require advance confirmation. E-scooters, e-skateboards, e-unicycles and hoverboards are not permitted.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where do I join the Shakespeare Express Afternoon Service?
The service departs from Birmingham Snow Hill.
What are the departure and return times?
The published timetable shows departure from Birmingham Snow Hill at 14:07, arrival at Stratford-upon-Avon at about 15:10, departure from Stratford at about 16:13 and return to Birmingham at about 17:12; final timings are confirmed 48 hours before departure.
Is afternoon tea included with my ticket?
Yes — First Class tickets include a served afternoon tea and tea and coffee are available throughout the journey.
Can young children travel in Pullman seating?
Children aged five or under are not permitted to travel in Pullman accommodation.
What accessibility arrangements are available?
Pullman and First Class Coaches are not able to accommodate passengers confined to a wheelchair; a maximum of two passengers in a wheelchair may be accommodated in the Buffet Coach with advance confirmation and subject to standard government wheelchair size limits; there are no disability-friendly toilets on these coaches.
Are there any special events during the layover in Stratford?
Some weekends feature art exhibitions at Stratford station; there is also time to watch the locomotive run around the train and to visit the onboard shop.