Sister to the world-famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Belmond British Pullman is one of the world's most luxurious trains and the definition of opulence. We escaped the city, stepped back to the 1920s and spent a day dining on board. Here's what happened.

Welcome aboard the Belmond British Pullman – a luxurious, vintage train consisting of cars that once ran on legendary 1920s services such as the Brighton Belle, Bournemouth Belle, the Queen of Scots and the Golden Arrow.

After being withdrawn from service in the 1960s and 1970s, many of the carriages on these services could no longer be repaired. Some of the lucky ones were purchased by train enthusiasts and others were just abandoned or sent to the scrapheap. And that's where Belmond came to the rescue.

In October 1977, Sotheby's held an auction in Monte Carlo, where James B Sherwood, a man who had a dream of reviving the Orient Express, began his business venture by purchasing some of the orphaned carriages. He eventually managed to track all of the lost carriages down and acquired 35 historic sleepers, Pullmans and restaurant cars: enough to build this luxurious train.

The train was named after George Mortimer Pullman, an American who originally designed trains to be like palaces on wheels. And the Belmond British Pullman certainly doesn't fall short of that. We were lucky enough to take a trip on board one of the train's many UK services, running from London Victoria to Kent: 'the garden of England'.

Before you even board the train, you're greeted with luxury. At the platform, you'll first enter the Belmond British Pullman lounge, where you're handed a free hot drink and have the option to sit and relax while you wait or leisurely board the train.

While the lounge is open 45 minuutes before boarding, guests are asked to arrive 20 minutes prior to the departure time. Trust us, it's worth it. After battling with London's rush hour, there's nothing better than taking time to enjoy the whole experience, from relaxing in the lounge, to slowly taking to your seats and making yourself at home.

Each carriage has a different name and reflects a different piece of history. We had the pleasure of dining in 'Ibis', the oldest carriage, first built in 1925. At your table, you'll find a booklet containing the story behind each carriage, so you can get fully immersed in the decade in which it was born.

If Liberty-print upholstery, marquetry and medallions aren't enough to take you back in time and make you feel as glamorous as your surroundings, then take a seat, because your glass will soon be filled with some Laurent-Perrier champagne to make the start of your journey that little bit more spectacular.

The menu varies from service to service, and depending on which journey you opt to travel on, you could be dining on dishes ranging from Dover sole and lobster, cooked by three-time winner of the Great British Menu, Richard Corrigan, to upmarket pub grub cooked by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. We opted for the Golden Age of Travel journey, which may not feature a celebrity chef, but makes you feel like a celebrity nonetheless.

Before lunch is even served, a plate of canapes sits casually on your table, waiting to be paired up with your glass of bubbly.

Meanwhile, staff, who soon slot into character in their 1920s uniforms, casually wander up and down the carriages to meet and greet guests, and make each table feel at home.

As the train heads well on its way, the first starter is served and plated up in front of you. We had the hot smoked salmon, horseradish and celariac tian and gin and tonic cured salmon graviax. And yes, it was as good as it looks.

Just half an hour into the journey, one course down and two glasses of champagne later, life really does feel like it's stopped. The scenery starts to change from the concrete buildings of London, to the more leafy suburbs of Surrey, down towards Kent.

The second course to be served is a soup. We indulged on the roasted cauliflower soup with caramelised cauliflower florets, and it definitely didn't disappoint. If you're wondering how messy eating soup on board a train gets, then the truth is surprisingly not very. Staff seem to have their portion sizes down to a tee. They understand the level at which to fill a bowl, cup or glass and look as though they could do it with their eyes closed and there'd still be no spillages.

After a short break (at which point you're already questioning how much more food you can handle), the main course is served. Waiting staff take it in turns to serve up each element of the dish, making their way down the carriages. We dined on a tender daube of beef with root vegetables, dauphinoise potatoes and tenderstem broccoli

What is perhaps most impressive about the whole experience is that each and every course is prepared in here: a tiny kitchen that looks just about big enough to serve up a meal for two, let alone an entire train of hungry guests.

While most of the food is prepared off the train, everything is cooked and plated on board and is served both piping hot and full of freshness. Hats off to the chef for looking this relaxed at the end of service.

After the first three courses (there's still another two to come at this point), the train stops at a station for a short break, where you are greeted with wine and oysters as soon as you step off the carriage.

On the platform, guests gather and chat among themselves while an instrumental quartet play a little jazz. While this was a delight for us and our fellow passengers, we can only imagine how confusing this scene is to local residents trying to embark on their daily commute (see the lady in the pink).

As you climb back on board, you're soon served up your next two courses. Firstly, you'll be offered a selection of cheeses, accompanied with crackers and chutney, before taking a short break and being greeted with the final course: dessert. We dined on the pear, blackcurrant and almond millefeuille served with creme anglaise. It really was as delicious as it looks.

After the food is served and coffee is poured, the train makes its way back to the big smoke, and unfortunately, back to reality. But, the trip, which lasts a total of five hours, is the perfect escape for train lovers and foodies alike. Visit the Belmond website for more details on this trip, the Belmond British Pullman train, and to feast your eyes on the rest of the world's most luxurious trains.