Great British Railway Journeys (2010)
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.
Watch now
Episodes
SpecialsSeason 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15Season 16
-
1
1. Paddock Wood to Frant2025-04-07 · 29mMichael Portillo takes to the rails to explore one of Britain’s oldest surviving landscapes, the woods and pasture of the Weald in south east England.
-
2
2. Hildenborough to Robertsbridge2025-04-08 · 28mMichael Portillo’s rail exploration of the historic wooded region of south east England, known as the Weald, continues from Tonbridge, at the heart of the area's rail network.
-
3
3. Dorking to Lingfield2025-04-09 · 28mMichael Portillo’s railway tour of the Weald reaches the spectacular Surrey countryside, where he finds a surprising connection to the darker reaches of the universe.
-
4
4. Gatwick Airport to Royal Tunbridge Wells2025-04-10 · 28mMichael Portillo’s rail exploration of the spectacular countryside of the Weald in Surrey, Sussex and Kent continues - this time, aboard the Gatwick Express train.
-
5
5. Chichester to Amberley2025-04-11 · 29mMichael Portillo’s railway tour of the green and pleasant landscape between the North and South Downs, known as the Weald, nears its conclusion.
-
6
6. Windermere to Sellafield2025-04-14 · 29mMichael Portillo begins a railway tour of the spectacular border counties of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire, starting in the stunning Lake District National Park.
-
7
7. St Bees to Grange-over-Sands2025-04-15 · 28mMichael Portillo’s railway tour continues as he travels along the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line. He visits an iron ore mine turned into an arts centre and discovers the cradle of Quak
-
8
8. Maryport to Penrith2025-04-16 · 29mMichael Portillo’s railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire heads to the hills as he follows in the footsteps of the Lakeland poets.
-
9
9. Aspatria to Carlisle2025-04-17 · 29mMichael Portillo’s railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire takes him to the rolling countryside around Aspatria to meet a couple who swapped their old life for organic da
-
10
10. Dumfries to Auchinleck2025-04-18 · 29mMichael concludes his journey from Cumbria to Dumfriesshire by crossing the Solway Firth into Scotland, where he visits the beautifully preserved last home of Scotland’s greatest p
-
11
11. Shrewsbury to Telford2025-04-21 · 28mMichael Portillo re-enacts the Battle of Shrewsbury and explores the town's beautiful gothic cathedral, while also riding the Telford Steam Railway’s flagship locomotive.
-
12
12. Ironbridge to Coseley2025-04-22 · 28mMichael Portillo is in Ironbridge Gorge on the River Severn, a hotbed of 18th-century innovation which features the world's first coke blast iron furnace.
-
13
13. Dudley to West Bromwich2025-04-23 · 29mMichael Portillo boards a barge on the Dudley Canal, discovers an ancient seabed and explores racial tension in 1960s Smethwick.
-
14
14. Birmingham New Street to Wednesbury2025-04-24 · 29mArriving in Birmingham, Michael Portillo heads to Curzon Street for a tour of the HS2 terminus still under construction. In the Newtown area, he visits the oldest private manufactu
-
15
15. Solihull to Birmingham International2025-04-25 · 28mOn the final leg of his Midlands tour, Michael Portillo travels to Solihull, the home of iconic British brand Land Rover. Later, he visits the childhood neighbourhood of JRR Tolkie
-
16
16. Loughton to Audley End2025-04-28 · 29mMichael Portillo embarks on a journey across Essex. He heads to the ancient woodland of Epping Forest and learns of Audley End House's role as a secret wartime military school.
-
17
17. Romford to the Blackwater Estuary2025-04-29 · 29mMichael’s exploration of Essex continues in Romford, where he visits a state-of-the-art rail operating centre. On the River Blackwater, he visits the Ross Revenge, home of Radio Ca
-
18
18. Chelmsford to Tollesbury2025-04-30 · 29mMichael’s exploration of Essex reaches Chelmsford, where the city's bishop relates her story of escape from Iran after the Islamic revolution of 1979.
-
19
19. Witham to Saffron Walden2025-05-01 · 29mArriving in the Essex market town of Witham, Michael heads into the countryside to visit one of the county’s great country houses, Terling Place.
-
20
20. Colchester to Chappel and Wakes Colne2025-05-02 · 28mMichael's exploration of Essex is drawing to a close. He visits Colchester, which was first mentioned in AD77 and proudly claims to be Britain’s oldest recorded town.
Cast
Michael PortilloSelf - PresenterImages
You might also like
★ 6.5
★ 8.0
★ 7.5
★ 8.2
★ 7.5
★ 8.1
★ 8.8
★ 7.9
★ 7.3
★ 7.1
★ 8.4
★ 7.5
★ 7.4
★ 7.8
★ 7.5
★ 6.5
★ 6.3
★ 7.3