From Istanbul with love

The idea of Bond as a sophisticated tourist is given early substance by his journey on the Orient Express in 1963’s From Russia with Love. Sadly, this fabled trans-continental rail connection, which went as far east as Istanbul, has disappeared from the standard timetable. The closest thing is the Venice Simplon-OrientExpress, a gilded approximation run by luxury travel operator Belmond (0845 077 2222; belmond.com), whose classic two-day LondonVenice service costs from £3,785 per person (flights not included). For those who want a longer affair, the company is also planning a six-day journey between Istanbul and Paris next September, from £17,500 per person (flights extra).