We try out the premium room onboard the Caley Sleeper to see what it’s like with two people in there! And will we get any sleep? Join us on an overnighter from London to Glasgow…
Hi, I’m Steve, a travel reviewer from Scotland. Join me on my adventures as I discover my own country, often visiting places for the first time, so hopefully it’s as much of an eye-opener for you as it is for me! Don’t expect expert opinion, just a very honest journey of discovery. Sometimes featuring my intrepid sidekick Alicja, sometimes featuring adventures beyond the borders of Scotland. Enjoy!
Filmed in January 2023
Apologies – audio is not great on this video. You can thank GoPro for that! I ‘upgraded’ to a GoPro11 but have had nothing but trouble with it, and GoPro make it as difficult as they can to resolve/return, so I do feel a bit ripped off by it. I’ll persevere though and try to find an audio solution for this camera. But in the meantime, it’ll be back to the GoPro8 for the next few videos I think! Cheers.
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50 Comments
Crikey – train travel has changed a lot since I last did a long journey! Not that I ever used the sleeper service. Great video – and I'm delighted that you were compensated with free travel. Nice one Caledonian Sleeper!
Hi Steve. Thank you so much for doing these videos. I've recently discovered them and they're great. The thing I really like is you show all the interesting nooks and crannies and really show what your country has to offer. I'm from Sheffield but I absolutely love Scotland and hope to head up for a visit soon. We're thinking Arran for our next trip. Gairloch is one of my favourites and have visited numerous times. Keep up the outstanding work. Phil.
Been trying to guess the show you went to see,the frog clue didn't help. The vlog was as always brilliant.
I love the sleeper and well done for going to the effort of making a vid on your way home. Having used the sleeper many times over the years I have to say for decor and onboard services, the older sleepers from the 90's still look better than todays. Still it was great to have a double although not quite reaching the level the extra cost deserves. Still a wonderful way to travel. Gosh I am sounding grumpsville today. apols.
Hi Steve just a thought your 7 city challenge by train in a day. It’s now 8 with Dunfermline City. Is this one for the near future? Can it be done?
Excellent video guys yous are a credit love from dublin❤
Great video again, never done the Caledonian Sleeper myself.. Done Holyhead to London Euston a few times when travelling from Ireland to The Netherlands, that would be the longest stretch I have ever done on the UK railnetwork.. By the way I convinced the wife to book a wee spring holiday in Scotland this year.. I insisted hahaha.. 😊😁
I'm assuming as it was a complimentary ticket that's why you got a lowland sleeper rather than the Aberdeen service – although it's a pretty early stop for the sleeper in Montrose, and you get a lot less time to get off than you do going all the way to the end of the service!
Still not been on it and I really want to go on it.
I really want to go on to be honest and apart from that I really enjoyed your video.
Liked the way you filmed this, nice and honest. Have you done the Riviera Night train to Penzance? ( The Mrs would love it) . Cheers
Great vlog Steve,
I think I'd sooner drive than squeeze into that small area.
By the way how was the shower 🚿, it didn't look great ?. Stay safe 🙏
Love your pods,lived in florida since the 80s and love to visit all the places that i never visited when l was young.cant believe all the beautiful places that i missed.keep up the good work from lanark graham
Great video! I've always had issues with Caledonian sadly. Gwr sleeper on the other hand, absolutely faultless
Great video Steve why didn't you get a drink and take it back to your room
That room would have been fantastic if it was the Highlander to Fort WIlliam; lots of sleep and time time top properly explore the train.
I used to take the Sleeper frequently in the 90s and 00s and could only get to sleep with a sleeping tablet that left me washed out in the morning. My last journey was in First Class when I was told that there was "no breakfast" that day ☹. I would now prefer to take the last BA shuttle and get a Premier Inn Plus Room. No risk of shunting there. (Hope Roo's Leap is still in Montrose.)
That was the largest bed I've ever seen on a train. Thanks for sharing.
Loved the part where they fake-'first entered'.
Oh, that was neat! It is – 44 below zero with the wind chill added in in Minnesota.
Loved it ❤
I took the sleeper last Summer and the benefit was not having to go through airport security and the thrill of it honestly. I'm surprised you didn't get a packet with shampoo, etc but maybe they were out. You did, however, get the eye mask which I did not. Overall, I'd say it was worth it, but definitely not the best night's sleep. I was a bit shattered when I got to London and was unaware that I could have used the lounge at Euston because the shower didn't really work for me. But I enjoyed it nonetheless! Nice video and yes those Scottish sky colors .. amazing! And even though I didn't sleep well the bed was VERY comfortable. I didn't sleep because I rolled from side to side!
I love the train videos 🙂 My wife and I were considering flying into London and catching a train north, still a bit undecided. Glad for the review, though it may need updating after the Scottish government takes over. Looks like someone popped into the Lego store too? What'd you get? 🙂
"That's terrible" that's a bit unfair lol she can play piano better than I can I can't play any instruments I can't dance and sure as hell can't sing lol
Excellent that your got your free trip Steve! There's nothing like a good train journey but I know what you mean about not getting much sleep overnight on one. When I was a child I went to Ontario on a train with my Mom to visit my Grandmother. I remember I loved it and slept great but as an adult I haven't managed to find that bliss again. Moving beds and noise don't make for for a good night's sleep for me I guess. I am envious of others than can sleep through anything. Lovely room you had though but Alicja having to work the next day was unfortunate. The next day after getting no sleep isn't good for anyone. Thanks for showing us your cabin and your trip and let's hope your next one goes smoother. All the best!
Steve, I've never understood and it's never bin asked… So deep breath, is aliesha ur daughter as I believed or partner (lucky sod!!)… Don't ever want to get too personnel with folk but!!??
another great vid .Thanks
At least they gave you compensation for your spoiled journey
Even if you have to buy her ladyship some new jeans cos she has put the knees out on her old ones so maybe not a bargain after all
Surprised at how big the bed was – corridor not so much
VG 10/10 Fab
Style over substance? Yeah, that pretty much sums up the Caledonian Sleeper for me. However, waking up by Loch Lomond and having breakfast as we crossed a snowy Rannoch Moor made up for it. I was travelling from Euston to Fort William and was upgraded from the Club room to the Double. Despite the comfort of a double bed to myself I barely slept at all until the train split at Edinburgh at around 4am. The noise and the motion of the train made sleeping very difficult. The shower only dispensed cool water too which was a bit of a shock to the system.
Really good video Steve. So interesting. Didn’t recognise you without your baseball cap. Haven’t seen your hair before!! 👏👏😀😀🏴
That was fun guys…:):):)
Lovely. Greetings from Canada.
Thanks Steve. I've seen a number of videos where service has been reduced, and the whole thing just doesn't seem very reliable, especially given the prices they charge. I think I'll stick with the plane.
Good, well,,,, interesting memories of that train up to the Highlands and some Munroes. Thanks.
Thanks for this one, Steve, informative and entertaining as usual . Can I ask if you have ever done any videos down towards Portobello and Musselburgh ? And are you willing to share what your and Alicja's day jobs are ? xx
Always wanted to do that trip, but could never justify the price of the train.
It is SUCH A SHAME that the UK railways are SO INSANELY EXPENSIVE to use – any class anywhere. My full family just loves trains, but we are only using buses OR OUR OWN CARS! Such a shame. 😒 But thank you for the excellent video! 😃 Appreciated. 🙂🙂🙂
Hi Steve and Alicja. We so enjoy watching your videos . We are watching from Cyprus tonight and our son watches your videos every week from Dubai . So appreciate seeing our homeland from afar . Our home is in Scotland too and great to hear you grew up in Stonehaven . I taught in all 3 primary schools there before I retired. Keep up the great work it's brilliant . Dot Jack & family
Since your going to montrose you could have left at 2115 sleeper service to aberdeen the highlander
The aberdeen sleeper stops at montrose
Great vid as always. I love the idea of the Caley Sleeper but the reality – the pricing and the potential lack of sleep puts me off. That being said, I’m sure I’ll give it a go again sometime soon!
I wonder whether my 6ft 7" husband would fit lengthwise, or whether he'd have to fold himself up.
This 'service' has over-promised and under-delivered ever since Serco took it over, but you would not know that from the eye-watering prices. Even on this trip we have a lack of food service and a broken table. What a shame because the idea appeals to many travellers. But the YouTube reviews tell a sorry story more often than not.
Nice!
Walking from Glasgow Central to Queen Street can be done in 5minutes or less if you are a fast walker
Hope you had a nice getaway guys! Thanks for taking us along on the homeward bound journey.
Well done for getting a freebie, it's productive to complain.
I can't believe how narrow the corridor was, a bit ridiculous really in this day and age.
Can you imagine someone got stuck and you couldn't get to your cabin lol.
This was a fair review and get's a 👍from me. The Caledonian Sleeper Service gets a 👎. You suggested it was style over substance – I agree. The problem is that the style is dated already, the food service is inconsistent and the ensuite is useless. The vibe is budget travel when paying hundreds of pounds for a ticket. The cabin looks dated already. The design was shortsighted and fails to cater for a tourist market looking for more luxury. Why put the sink where it blocks the view? One of the benefits of train travel in Scotland is the scenery.
Always love your videos Steve!!
Euston to Glasgow is a special train for me. One time I fell out with my pal and had to pay near on 200 quid to get home, the other was a trapse round Euston for 2 hours, begging for the good graces of a steward, because my ticket home was from Watford Junction. 😂😂
Maybe the sleeper from the Highlands to London would be a better experience with more time on board to unwind and relax. But from London to Glasgow, you could get a hotel room and early flight for a lot less than that and that's what concerns me when we're all trying to travel in a more carbon friendly way.
Oh I love the accent lol I am going to Edinburgh for the first time in march for 4 days any nice places I should see