Cornwall, with its golden beaches, extensive coastline, ample surfing opportunities, and dramatic cliffs — draws millions of visitors annually. UK travel and food content creator George Kimm recently detailed his trip to the picturesque county — causing quite a stir in the process.
He embarked on an overnight sleeper train journey from London to Cornwall, documenting his adventure on Instagram. George took the Great Western Railway (GWR) Night Riviera service, which departs from London Paddington and arrives in Penzance by morning, with the entire trip lasting just over eight hours.
The travel aficionado gave an honest review of his journey. However, one key detail left his Instagram followers stunned – the cost.
George booked a “very cozy” private cabin on the service, equipped with a single bed, a table that also served as a washbasin, a wardrobe, and under-bed storage, which he found “very useful”. GWR also provided several amenities, including soap, according to CornwallLive, reported Bristol Live.
George noted that the restrooms are located outside the cabins. But apart from that, he felt the rail operator “really had thought of everything else”.
The London-based content creator commented: “Before we left London Paddington I had a look in the onboard bar where you can sit down, relax. They also provide free tea and coffee with biscuits and when it comes to going to sleep, I actually had a really good experience.”
After settling in and doing a bit of exploration, George watched the train pull out of the station before turning in for the night. He shared that he enjoyed the sounds and movement of the train, which helped lull him to sleep.
Upon waking up the next morning, George had breakfast, which was included with his cabin. He opted for a cup of tea and a sausage bap, describing it as “very delicious”.
The travel aficionado added: “And it was so lovely to have my breakfast whilst watching the countryside whizz by.”
He wrapped up his Instagram reel by revealing the cost of his journey and cabin, saying: “My ticket cost £119 and an additional £149 for the cabin.”
George thought it was “such a cool experience” to fall asleep in London and wake up in Cornwall. He felt that it was “honestly so worth it” and something he would definitely do again.
The Instagram post has garnered an impressive one million views, thousands of likes, and over 400 comments.
One user pointed out: “£75 return to Paris, just saying.”
To which George replied: “Totally get it. This was a bucket list trip.”
Another remarked: “Looks fun but the price is insane.”
A third stunned viewer asked: “Omg… how much?”.
Yet another person even labeled the price as “criminal”.
Despite the steep price, some viewers found positives, with one remarking: “This looks like a great experience but it’s very costly for a return journey. I guess the benefit is both journeys are during the night so you aren’t losing out on any holiday time.”
Another chimed in: “Would love to do this! ! Honestly would see the cost as part of the holiday, so special.”
Travelers on the Great Western Railway Night Riviera can obtain an airline-style seat at no extra charge when they purchase a train ticket, and rates for a single cabin start from £49 per passenger.