Great British Railway Journeys

5 series ∙ 75 episodes ∙ travel.

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country by train.

Series Selector for Great British Railway Journeys

All episodes for series 2 of great british railway journeys, s2 e25 · lochailort to skye.

Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II.

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Train truckers, great british landmark fixers, fred dibnah's world of steam, steel and stone, secrets of the railways, tony robinson's marvellous machines, the architecture the railways built, chris tarrant: extreme railways, abandoned engineering, great american railroad journeys.

Great British Railway Journeys

This week's journey sees Michael travel coast to coast from Liverpool to Scarborough. His first stop is at the great port of Liverpool where he meets local author Peter Grant. Peter gives Michael a lesson in how to speak Scouse as they explore the impact of immigration on the city and its famous accent. He then visits Birkenhead Park, one of the inspirations for Central Park in New York, where he meets Mervyn Kingston. Mervyn's family fled from Russia in the 1880s when the Jews were being persecuted in the pogroms. He tells Michael how many of the Jewish refugees ended up in Liverpool after catching the train from Hull, to begin their journey to America. Leaving Liverpool, Michael travels along the world's first passenger railway line to Manchester. Stopping off at Rainhill, he talks to rail expert Christian Wolmar about the Rainhill Trials, the first locomotive race won by Stephenson's rocket, and the first railway fatality when Liverpool MP William Huskisson was mown down by the Rocket on the day the railway opened. After spending the night in Worsley, Michael explores the nearby underground canals, part of the world's first canal system built by the Duke of Bridgwater. At his last stop, he meets Ian Edmonds for a tour of his family's cake factory, the last remaining Eccles cake business in the area. Inside, Michael has a go at folding an Eccles cake and finds out why these sweet pastries were exported all over the world.

Michael explores 'cottonpolis' - George Bradshaw's home town of Manchester. Meeting up with tour guide Jonathan Schofield, he finds out how the world's first railway helped to turn Manchester's cotton industry into a global success. Jonathan takes him to the Royal Exchange and Manchester Town Hall to hear about the local cotton barons. Michael then takes the train out to the suburbs of Manchester to Denton. This was once the centre of the hat making world turning out 1000s of hats which were transported all over the country on the railways. Here he meets Karen Turner, the manager of Failsworth Hats, the last remaining hat factory in the area. Karen fits Michael for his own custom made trilby which some say was invented here. He also finds out where the phrase 'mad as a hatter' came from: it was the mercury used in the processing of rabbit fur into felt. Back in the centre of Manchester Michael spends the night in an old cotton warehouse styled like a Venetian palazzo. The next day, Historian Trefor Thomas tells Michael more about George Bradshaw the man and how he came to produce the world's first pocket railway timetables.Leaving Manchester for Bury, Michael meets businessman Tony Rogers to find out how the railways helped to create a national institution - fish and chips. The railways allowed fish to travel quickly inland and it soon became available everywhere, allowing fish and chip shops to flourish all over Britain. Tony runs a fish and chip shop supply business and he takes Michael to one of the best fish and chip shops in the area to for a fish supper.

Michael's first stop is the West Yorkshire town of Todmorden . Here he meets Pam Warhurst who is persuading the people here how to grow vegetables and source their food locally. In Bradshaw's day, the railways made it possible for food to travel quickly and cheaply all over the country transforming our eating habits. But these days, things are changing again. In Todmorden, the aim is to become self sufficient and cut down on food miles. Pam takes Michael on an egg hunt in her friend Lynne's back garden. Travelling on to Skipton, Michael meets railway carriage restorer Stephen Middleton and samples first class travel Victorian style on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey steam railway. He visits the nearby ruins at Bolton Abbey, a great favourite with Victorian tourists and spends the night at the Devonshire Arms, a 350 year old coaching Inn mentioned in Bradshaw's guide. For the next leg of his journey, Michael and his Bradshaw guide take to the skies with a trip on the Network Rail helicopter to survey the tracks and monitor coastal erosion. In Bradshaw's time this kind of work would have been done by linesmen walking the tracks but these days the lines checked with infrared cameras. Back on the ground, Michael finds out what makes train spotters tick before exploring York's Roman remains with archaeologist Andy Jones. Bradshaw write a great deal about Roman York but what's been discovered since then?

On today's journey, Michael meets Tom Dixon, the last liquorice grower in Pontefract. Pontefract was covered in liquorice fields in Bradshaw's time and it was here that the Pontefract or Pomfret cake was invented. Michael finds out what's happened to the liquorice industry since Bradshaw's time and visits the new Haribo factory. His next stop is Hull, once the destination for 'monster excursions' - massive trains carrying thousands of early tourists to the coast. In Hull, Michael investigates why Bradshaw compared the city to Venice before meeting Maritime Historian Robb Robinson to find out how the railways transformed Hull into one of the world's largest white fish ports. On the train to Bridlington, Michael shares his journey with climate expert John Pinnegar who explains what's really happening to North Sea cod stocks and how global warming is changing the kinds of fish found around our coast. His final destination today is Bridlington. In Bradshaw's time, Bridlington was transformed by the railways from a sleepy fishing village into a bustling seaside resort. Today it's changing again. Travelling out onto the beach with Frank Powell, Michael learns how to fish for sea bass the sustainable way from a new wave of fishermen.

On today's journey, Michael's first stop is Flamborough Head. There he meets RSPB site manager Ian Kendall to find out what's happened to the sea bird populations around here since Bradshaw's time. Back then it was a popular destination for bird watchers and 'climmers' who scrambled down the cliffs to steal bird's eggs. These days, it's home to Britain's largest mainland colony of gannets. The cliffs are also home to England's oldest chalk lighthouse, as well as a more 'modern' one built in Bradshaw's time which pioneered a new signalling system. Along the coast in Filey, Michael meets local fisherman Jeremy Smith to discover why they still use traditional 'coble' boats. These boats are unique to the North East and were built to cope with the challenges of the coastline around here. Calling on expert knitter, Margaret Taylor, he learns to decipher the patterns on Filey fishermen's jumpers . The traditional designs reflect the fishing life and the unique patterns to help identify sailors lost at sea. Michael's last stop of the day is Scarborough, which became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Victorian times when the railways arrived. He pays a visit to field archaeologists Dr Nigel Melton and Janet Montgomery to hear about the latest research into 'Gristhorpe man'. This 4000 year old skeleton was discovered in Bradshaw's time and caused an immediate sensation, attracting crowds of Victorian visitors to Scarborough. Today, Michael finds out what kind of person Gristhorpe man was and what killed him. Lastly Paul Hallam takes Michael on a tour of one of the oldest and largest purpose built hotels in Europe, the Scarborough Grand, a traditional Victorian hotel of the most luxurious kind.

This week's journey takes Michael from Preston all the way to Kirkcaldy in Scotland. At his first stop, he meets Anne Hindley, a member of the Temperance Society, to hear how the hard working, hard boozing mill town of Preston gave birth to the Temperance Movement. Continuing north to Blackpool on the 'Passion Express', Michael meets Norma and Norman Watkins. In the 1950s, many a romance was started on the 'passion express' which carried youngsters to Blackpool to dance the night away. Norma and Norman met on the train and have been together ever since. In Blackpool Michael heads for the Tower Ballroom, to find town crier Barry McQueen. Accompanied by the tower organist, Barry gives a special performance of a Victorian music hall hit all about Bradshaw's Railway Guide. As Michael takes in the sights of Blackpool, including the famous tower, he discovers how the town's birth as a resort was a direct result of the railways. Soon, day trippers and holidaymakers from all over the country were heading to this entertainment Mecca. Michael spends the night in very familiar hotel, the Imperial, which has hosted many party conferences and even a few prime ministers in its time. After a stroll along the pier with local Blackpool comedian, Joey Blower, he travels on to his final destination Kent's Bank on Morecambe Bay. Here he meets Cedric Robinson, the 'the keeper of the sands', an official guide appointed by the government and mentioned in Bradshaw. Cedric protects walkers venturing out onto the shifting tidal reaches of Morecambe Bay.

Cast & Crew

Michael Portillo

Tom Richardson

John Comerford

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great british railway journeys season 10

Great British Railway Journeys

great british railway journeys season 10

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great british railway journeys season 10

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great british railway journeys season 10

Great British Railway Journeys

All episodes 2010 - 2023.

  • 257 Episodes
  • Official Site IMDB TMDB TVDB Fanart.tv JustWatch Wikipedia

great british railway journeys season 10

  • Airs 2018-01-11T18:30:00Z s at 2018-01-11T18:30:00Z on BBC Two
  • Premiered 2010-01-04T18:30:00Z
  • Runtime 30 m
  • Total Runtime 5 d 7 h 5 m (255 episodes)
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Languages English
  • Studios Talkback Thames + 1 more , Fremantle UK
  • Genres Documentary

great british railway journeys season 10

257 episodes Air Date Air Date Number Popularity Percentage Votes Watchers Plays Collected Lists Show All FADE Watched Not Watched Collected Not Collected Listed Not Listed Rated Not Rated HIDE Watched Not Watched Collected Not Collected Listed Not Listed Rated Not Rated

great british railway journeys season 10

Special 1 Episode 1

  • no air date — 30 m

Special 2 Episode 2

Series premiere, 2010-01-04t18:30:00z, 1x01 liverpool to eccles.

  • 2010-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ep1: Liverpool to Eccles. Michael begins his journey on the world's first passenger railway line, learns to speak Scouse in Liverpool, finds out about the first railway fatality and explores the origins of the Eccles cake.

2010-01-05T18:30:00Z

1x02 manchester to bury.

  • 2010-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael is in Manchester to find out more about George Bradshaw himself. He also gets fitted for a trilby in Denton and learns how the railways helped to create a national institution - fish and chips.

2010-01-06T18:30:00Z

1x03 todmorden to york.

  • 2010-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael travels back in time on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, finds out about the latest Roman discoveries in York and takes to the air in the Network Rail helicopter.

2010-01-07T18:30:00Z

1x04 pontefract to bridlington.

  • 2010-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael searches for the last liquorice grower in Pontefract, discovers how the railways turned Hull into one of the largest white fish ports in the world and goes fishing for sea bass in Bridlington.

2010-01-08T18:30:00Z

1x05 filey to scarborough.

  • 2010-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael goes bird-watching on the wild cliffs of Flamborough Head, learns to decipher traditional knitting patterns in Filey and meets one of the oldest residents of the Victorian seaside resort of Scarborough - a 4000-year-old skeleton called Gristhorpe Man.

2010-01-11T18:30:00Z

1x06 preston to morecambe.

  • 2010-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael explores the origins of the temperance movement in Preston, samples the attractions of Blackpool, a resort made by the railways, and takes a walk across Morecambe Bay with the official Keeper of the Sands.

2010-01-12T18:30:00Z

1x07 settle to garsdale.

  • 2010-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael returns to the historic Settle-Carlisle line to find out what has happened to it since he helped save it in the 1980s. Along the way, he explores the magnificent Ribblehead viaduct, finds out about the navvies who helped to build it and catches a steam train along the line.

2010-01-13T18:30:00Z

1x08 windermere to kendal.

  • 2010-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael takes a steamboat tour of Lake Windermere, visits Wordsworth's home village of Grasmere and makes sausages with a local Herdwick sheep farmer.

2010-01-14T18:30:00Z

1x09 carlisle to glasgow.

  • 2010-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael meets the wild clansmen of Carlisle, the Border Reivers, witnesses a wedding in Gretna Green and visits a secret World War One munitions factory.

2010-01-15T18:30:00Z

1x10 edinburgh to kirkcaldy.

  • 2010-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael makes apple juice in the Clyde valley orchards, pays a thrilling visit to the top of the Forth Rail Bridge and relives his childhood memories in his grandparents' home town of Kirkcaldy.

2010-01-18T18:30:00Z

1x11 swindon to bristol.

  • 2010-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael finds out about free holiday trains for the GWR workers in Swindon, samples the Spa in Bath, and tries his hand at glass blowing in Bristol.

2010-01-19T18:30:00Z

1x12 yatton to weston super mare.

  • 2010-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael samples local Cheddar strawberries, explores Cheddar Gorge and the famous caves, and visits one of the oldest piers in the country at Weston Super Mare.

2010-01-20T18:30:00Z

1x13 torquay to totnes.

  • 2010-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael finds out about Torquay's micro climate, goes salmon fishing on the Dart estuary and spends some of Totnes' new local currency.

2010-01-21T18:30:00Z

1x14 bugle to mevagissey.

  • 2010-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael visits the largest clay mine in the world near St Austell, goes pilchard fishing in Mevagissey and finds out how the estate of Heligan shaped British gardens.

2010-01-22T18:30:00Z

1x15 truro to penzance.

  • 2010-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael searches for the lost church of St Piran, explores the last working tin mine in Cornwall and harvests oysters on the Helford River.

2010-01-25T18:30:00Z

1x16 buxton to matlock.

  • 2010-01-25T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael visits an architectural wonder, the Duke of Devonshire's stables in Buxton, helps to repair the ancient peat landscape of the Peak District and travels on the historic steam railway to Rowsley.

2010-01-26T18:30:00Z

1x17 cromford to burton-on-trent.

  • 2010-01-26T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael visits the oldest working factory in the world at Cromford, explores the country's first public park in Derby and finds out why Burton's beer is said to be the best.

2010-01-27T18:30:00Z

1x18 walsall to bournville.

  • 2010-01-27T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael meets the queen's saddler in Walsall, learns how to cook an authentic Indian curry in Birmingham and visits Bournville, rumoured to be the best place to live in Britain.

2010-01-28T18:30:00Z

1x19 coventry to watford.

  • 2010-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael relives the Coventry Blitz, meets the last pure breed Aylesbury duck farmer in Buckinghamshire and finds out how the trains helped to evacuate millions of children during World War II.

2010-01-29T18:30:00Z

1x20 st pancras to westminster.

  • 2010-01-29T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of four epic journeys, he travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains. His journey takes him from Buxton along one of the first railway routes south to the capital, London. This time, Michael explores one of the grandest railway stations and hotels in the country: St Pancras. He rides the world's first tube line to Smithfield market and climbs up the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament to hear Big Ben chime.

Season Premiere

2011-01-03t18:30:00z, 2x01 brighton to crystal palace.

  • 2011-01-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Brighton to Cromer - Ep 1. Brighton to Crystal Palace. Michael finds out about Brighton's Victorian aquarium, the largest in the world at the time; explores the underground quarries of Godstone, and discovers the wonders of the Crystal Palace in suburban south London.

2011-01-04T18:30:00Z

2x02 waterloo to canary wharf.

  • 2011-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Brighton to Cromer - Ep 2. Waterloo to Canary Wharf. Michael finds out about the Stiff's express, a funeral service running coffins from Waterloo to Brookwood cemetery. He discovers how London's west end became a great 19th century shopping destination and explores the changing fortunes of London's docks.

2011-01-05T18:30:00Z

2x03 enfield to cambridge.

  • 2011-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Brighton to Cromer - Ep 3. Enfield to Cambridge. Michael visits the Government Arms Factory at Enfield, the largest machine shop in Europe in Bradshaw's day; discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket's races and finds out why Cambridge could be considered the birthplace of modern football.

2011-01-06T18:30:00Z

2x04 ely to king's lynn.

  • 2011-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Brighton to Cromer - Ep 4. Ely to King's Lynn. Michael goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely and visits one of the great triumphs of 19th century engineering, the Denver Sluice. He ends his journey in King's Lynn, where he uncovers an ambitious plan to reclaim the Wash in Bradshaw's day.

2011-01-07T18:30:00Z

2x05 dereham to cromer.

  • 2011-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Brighton to Cromer - Ep 5. Dereham to Cromer. Michael gets the rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train, finds out why Norfolk black turkeys appeared on the Christmas menu in Bradshaw's day, and samples some classic Cromer crab.

2011-01-10T18:30:00Z

2x06 ledbury to shrewsbury.

  • 2011-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 6. Ledbury to Shrewsbury. Michael tastes the Victorian drink perry, a kind of pear cider, gets up close and personal with a pedigree Hereford bull and visits the grandfather of all skyscrapers, the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.

2011-01-11T18:30:00Z

2x07 telford to wrexham.

  • 2011-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 7. Telford to Wrexham. Michael visits the world's first Iron bridge at Coalbrookdale, explores the historic Chirk castle and has a go at making traditional Cheshire cheese.

2011-01-12T18:30:00Z

2x08 chester to conwy.

  • 2011-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 8. Chester to Conwy. Michael takes a tour of Chester's Roman remains and discovers a secret World War II chemical weapons plant at Rhydmwyn. After spending the night in Llandudno, he goes mussel fishing on the beautiful Conwy estuary.

2011-01-13T18:30:00Z

2x09 llanwst to porthmadog.

  • 2011-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 9. Llanwst to Porthmadog. Michael explores the Conwy valley, stopping at Britain's first artists' colony at Betwys-y-Coed, visiting the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog and taking a steam train down to the harbour at Porthmadog.

2011-01-14T18:30:00Z

2x10 llanberis to holyhead.

  • 2011-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ledbury to Holyhead - Ep 10. Llanberis to Holyhead. Michael takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon; witnesses the revival of Anglesey's sea salt industry; and discovers how the railways transformed the tiny port of Holyhead.

2011-01-17T18:30:00Z

2x11 newcastle to chester-le-street.

  • 2011-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 11. Newcastle to Chester-Le-Street. Michael visits the first locomotive factory in the world opened by George Stephenson, searches for the lost pit village of Marsden in South Shields, and is entertained by a comic troupe of rapper sword dancers in Chester-le-Street.

2011-01-18T18:30:00Z

2x12 durham to grosmont.

  • 2011-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 12. Durham to Grosmont. Michael visits the historic Durham Cathedral, sees one of the first locomotives in Darlington and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby, before ending his journey on a steam train across the North Yorkshire Moors.

2011-01-19T18:30:00Z

2x13 york to saltaire.

  • 2011-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 13. York to Saltaire. Michael takes a Turkish bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate, explores the exemplary Victorian village of Saltaire, and rubs noses with some friendly alpacas, whose fleeces made fortunes in Bradshaw's day.

2011-01-20T18:30:00Z

2x14 batley to sheffield.

  • 2011-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 14. Batley to Sheffield. Michael finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, discovers how the railways boosted Yorkshire's forced rhubarb trade, and meets the great-great-granddaughter of George Bradshaw himself.

2011-01-21T18:30:00Z

2x15 langley mill to melton mowbray.

  • 2011-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 15. Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray. Michael learns the secrets of stilton cheese, finds out how trains transformed the traditional British sport of fox hunting and attempts to make an authentic Melton Mowbray pork pie.

2011-01-24T18:30:00Z

2x16 london bridge to chatham.

  • 2011-01-24T18:30:00Z — 30 m

London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 16. London Bridge to Chatham. Michael visits the Royal Observatory at Greenwich to see how the railways standardised time, takes a walk through the world's first underwater tunnel at Rotherhithe and explores the historic Dockyards at Chatham.

2011-01-25T18:30:00Z

2x17 aylesford to tunbridge wells.

  • 2011-01-25T18:30:00Z — 30 m

London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 17. Aylesford to Tonbridge Wells. Michael explores the life of Victorian hop pickers, finds out about Maidstone's revolutionary paper industry and discovers how the railways turned cricket into a national sport.

2011-01-26T18:30:00Z

2x18 canterbury to margate.

  • 2011-01-26T18:30:00Z — 30 m

London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 18. Canterbury to Margate. Michael finds out how Canterbury Cathedral was saved during the Baedeker raids of World War II, goes whelk fishing in Whitstable and explores the origins of a seaside swim in Margate.

2011-01-27T18:30:00Z

2x19 sandwich to folkestone.

  • 2011-01-27T18:30:00Z — 30 m

London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 19. Sandwich to Folkestone. Michael explores a secret port that ran the first train ferries to France carrying vital supplies during World War I, visits Walmer castle, the home of the Duke of Wellington and discovers how the Victorians initiated the building of the Channel tunnel.

2011-01-28T18:30:00Z

2x20 hythe to hastings.

  • 2011-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

London Bridge to Hastings - Ep 20. Hythe to Hastings. Michael discovers a hardy breed of sheep on the atmospheric Romney Marsh, explores Kent's new sparkling wine industry and finds out why the Victorians went mad for ferns in Hastings.

2011-01-31T18:30:00Z

2x21 ayr to paisley.

  • 2011-01-31T18:30:00Z — 30 m

This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye Ep21. Ayr to Paisley. Michael visits the hometown of Robbie Burns and finds out how to make haggis, discovers how the railways transformed the game of golf in Prestwick, and uncovers the story of the great Victorian tartan hoax in Paisley.

2011-02-01T18:30:00Z

2x22 dumbarton to tyndrum.

  • 2011-02-01T18:30:00Z — 30 m

This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye Ep22. Dumbarton to Tyndrum. Michael explores the historic Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark, visits one of Queen Victoria's favourite haunts, Loch Lomond, and goes hunting for gold in Scotland's mountains.

2011-02-02T18:30:00Z

2x23 oban to corrour.

  • 2011-02-02T18:30:00Z — 30 m

This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye Ep23. Oban to Corrour. Michael discovers how trains spread the word about Oban whisky, hears about the heroic struggle to build a railway across the desolate Rannoch Moor, and visits Corrour, one of the favourite shooting estates of the Victorian political elite.

2011-02-03T18:30:00Z

2x24 roybridge to glenfinnan.

  • 2011-02-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye Ep24. Roybridge to Glenfinnan. Michael investigates one of the great geological mysteries of the 19th Century, the parallel roads of Glenroy. Plus, he finds out how the Victorians put a weather observatory on the top of Ben Nevis and takes a steam train across one of the most spectacular viaducts in Britain at Glenfinnan.

2011-02-04T18:30:00Z

2x25 lochailort to skye.

  • 2011-02-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

This journey goes up the west coast of Scotland from Ayr to Skye Ep25. Lochailort to Skye. Michael discovers how the railways helped train the first generation of commandos at Lochailort in World War II, finds out why langoustines have replaced herrings as the top catch in the fishing port of Mallaig, and sails across the sea to Skye to explore the history of the highland crofters.

2012-01-02T18:30:00Z

3x01 great yarmouth to beccles.

  • 2012-01-02T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo discovers the grave robbing history of Great Yarmouth and tries his hand at working a Victorian swing bridge in Reedham.

2012-01-03T18:30:00Z

3x02 darsham to felixstowe.

  • 2012-01-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo follows the Victorians' fascination with Britain's own Atlantis to Dunwich and discovers the history of the Port of Felixstowe.

2012-01-04T18:30:00Z

3x03 sudbury to southend.

  • 2012-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo comes face to face with a medieval politician, takes a rail tour of Victorian freak show hot spots, and rides an early electric railway.

2012-01-05T18:30:00Z

3x04 epping to hackney.

  • 2012-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo sees how gunpowder made in Waltham Cross fuelled an empire, and heads to Hackney to uncover the gruesome details of the first murder on a train.

2012-01-06T18:30:00Z

3x05 fenchurch to embankment.

  • 2012-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes a ride on a secret miniature railway hidden beneath London's streets, and rings the bells of the famous church of Bow.

2012-01-09T18:30:00Z

3x06 windsor to didcot.

  • 2012-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo visits a station fit for royalty in Windsor and views an engineering triumph built by Brunel to span the Thames at Maidenhead.

2012-01-10T18:30:00Z

3x07 reading to alton.

  • 2012-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo tastes a Victorian superfood in Alton and tries his hand at driving a steam train on the challenging Watercress Line.

2012-01-11T18:30:00Z

3x08 winchester to isle of wight.

  • 2012-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo experiences the magnificent Victorian organ at Winchester Cathedral and visits a 19th-century rail works still running in Eastleigh.

2012-01-12T18:30:00Z

3x09 brockenhurst to poole.

  • 2012-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the trail of a Victorian snake catcher, Michael visits the New Forest seeking out venomous adders, uncovers a secret library in Wimborne containing some very rare books, and visits the Poole potteries founded in the 19th century, which are still working today.

2012-01-13T18:30:00Z

3x10 wareham to portland.

  • 2012-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael uncovers the amazing oil fields hidden underneath England's quiet seaside resorts, discovers the crucial role Weymouth played in the D-day landings, and heads to the cradle of Victorian Britain's most prestigious building rock, Portland.

2012-01-16T18:30:00Z

3x11 oxford to pershore.

  • 2012-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael is lead to a special view of the city of Oxford by his 19th century guidebook, samples a Victorian navvies' brew made by steam power, and discovers a unique and colourful crop in the heart of the Cotswolds.

2012-01-17T18:30:00Z

3x12 hartlebury to great malvern.

  • 2012-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo visits the Worcestershire village of Hartlebury, which was once home to a bishop who captured Queen Victoria's attention, on the second leg of his journey from Oxford to the south Wales coast. He also investigates the secrets of Worcestershire sauce and learns why the Malvern hills were popular with 19th-century health enthusiasts.

2012-01-18T18:30:00Z

3x13 lydney to newport.

  • 2012-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael discovers Britain's hidden micro-mines within the Forest of Dean, sees why the Victorians fell for the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey and uncovers the railway engineering behind the industrial icon that is Newport Transporter Bridge.

2012-01-19T18:30:00Z

3x14 cardiff to brecon.

  • 2012-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael discovers the Victorian coal heritage that turned Cardiff into the city it is today, explores the 19th-century reason why Barry Island isn't an island, and takes a steam ride through the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park.

2012-01-20T18:30:00Z

3x15 port talbot to milford haven.

  • 2012-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael explores the Victorian railway legacy behind the steel works of Port Talbot, follows the trail of 19th-century waterfall hunters in Neath, and uncovers the fascinating whaling past of Milford Haven.

2012-01-23T18:30:00Z

3x16 berwick-upon-tweed to morpeth.

  • 2012-01-23T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael discovers the unique cross-border history of Berwick-Upon-Tweed, hears the unique story of the Pitman Painters of Ashington and sees first-hand the perils of working on the rails in Victorian times.

2012-01-24T18:30:00Z

3x17 bardon mill to wigton.

  • 2012-01-24T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael gets his hands dirty following the example of Victorian archaeologists at Hadrian's Wall, discovers how the invention of the ticket machine made a big difference to 19th century rail users, and sees how the Victorian railways first fuelled invention in Wigton.

2012-01-25T18:30:00Z

3x18 cockermouth to eskdale.

  • 2012-01-25T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael drinks a Victorian brew drawn from the pure waters of Cockermouth, steps inside the hidden world of nuclear reprocessing at Sellafield, and travels into the wonders of a Japanese inspired, 19th century garden.

2012-01-26T18:30:00Z

3x19 kirkby-in-furness to lancaster.

  • 2012-01-26T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael finds out the secrets behind Kirkby's famous blue slate, submerges himself into a secret world of nuclear submarines in Barrow, and sees why the executions at Lancaster castle drew the Victorians in their droves.

2012-01-27T18:30:00Z

3x20 heysham to snaefell.

  • 2012-01-27T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael sets sail from Heysham to the Isle of Man, where he discovers the horse trams of Douglas, the 19th century secrets of the giant Laxy Waterwheel, and the Victorian history of the delightful Snaefell mountain railway.

2012-01-30T18:30:00Z

3x21 bray to dublin.

  • 2012-01-30T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Today Michael observes the amazing engineering feat involved in building the railway along Dublin's treacherous East coast, explores 19th century crime and punishment in a Victorian jail, and finds out how the lions of Dublin Zoo changed the fortunes of the railways.

2012-01-31T18:30:00Z

3x22 enfield to drogheda.

  • 2012-01-31T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Today Michael explores the extensive railway network within the Bog of Allen, discovers the Victorian secrets behind the amazing Boyne Viaduct, and travels underground, into the vast Irish Zinc mines.

2012-02-01T18:30:00Z

3x23 dundalk to portadown.

  • 2012-02-01T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Today Michael explores the Victorians' fascination with antiquity, by visiting the amazing Cromlech stones of Dundalk. He reaches for the stars at the Portadown Observatory and travels in style along the steam railway of Downpatrick.

2012-02-02T18:30:00Z

3x24 belfast to whitehead.

  • 2012-02-02T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Today Michael explores the fascinating history of Belfast's Victorian docks, discovers the Irish spade making traditions untouched for over 150 years and takes a walk on the wild side with Whitehead's Victorian coastal paths.

2012-02-03T18:30:00Z

3x25 ballymoney to londonderry.

  • 2012-02-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Today Michael takes a white knuckle walk over the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, follows in the footsteps of the Victorians to experience the delights of the Giant's Causeway and explores the rich history of Londonderry.

2013-01-07T18:30:00Z

4x01 high wycombe to stratford-upon-avon.

  • 2013-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on another journey around the nation with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook to discover how the railways have affected people and what remains of Bradshaw's Britain. He begins by travelling from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, finding out about the remarkable craftsmen behind the Victorian furniture trade, discovering how George Bradshaw helped save Britain's canal heritage and seeing Shakespeare through the eyes of a 19th-century rail tourist.

2013-01-08T18:30:00Z

4x02 birmingham to stafford.

  • 2013-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo learns how the railways helped to make Birmingham the pen-making capital of the world, hears the chilling tale of one of 19th-century Britain's most notorious murderers and samples delicacies concocted in a Victorian kitchen at Shugborough Hall, Staffordshire.

2013-01-09T18:30:00Z

4x03 stoke-on-trent to winsford.

  • 2013-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo travels from Stoke-on-Trent to Winsford, Cheshire, finding out about one of the greatest locomotive factories in railway history along the way. He also discovers the dark side of the Industrial Revolution and learns how Victorian potteries brought their products to the masses.

2013-01-10T18:30:00Z

4x04 dudley to bridgnorth.

  • 2013-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo travels from Dudley in the West Midlands to Bridgnorth, Shropshire. He learns how Victorian blacksmithing was not for the faint-hearted, rides on one of Britain's most modern trains and traverses the Victoria Bridge at Bewdley in Worcestershire.

2013-01-11T18:30:00Z

4x05 welshpool to aberystwyth.

  • 2013-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo travels from Welshpool, Powys, to Aberystwyth in Ceredigion. He experiences Victorian entertainment in one of Wales's best-loved resorts, hears how the railways took the country's textiles into the most exclusive households and unleashes the power of a 19th-century engineering triumph.

2013-01-14T18:30:00Z

4x06 portsmouth to gomshall.

  • 2013-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on the next stage of his journey in which he travels from the naval hub of Portsmouth to Grimsby docks. On the first leg, he helps feed the crew of Britain's newest battleship, discovers how the Victorians planned to repel a possible French invasion and learns there is a well-established industry in an unlikely location.

2013-01-15T18:30:00Z

4x07 woking to clapham junction.

  • 2013-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo travels from Woking in Surrey to Clapham Junction in south London. Along the way he gets close to some precious Victorian botany at Kew Gardens, tries his hand at croquet and discovers a very surprising 19th-century place of worship.

2013-01-16T18:30:00Z

4x08 london victoria to abbey wood.

  • 2013-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael learns how volunteer Victorian firefighters liked a tipple, discovers that 19th-century sewage pumps were a marvel of design and puts in a shift at the oldest fish market in Britain.

2013-01-17T18:30:00Z

4x09 london king's cross to peterborough.

  • 2013-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo discovers how derelict Victorian London is being rejuvenated. Furthermore he works in a shift at a Cambridgeshire brick factory and meets members of an immigrant community linked to it.

2013-01-18T18:30:00Z

4x10 spalding to grimsby.

  • 2013-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael learns about how Lincolnshire farmers utilised rails to improve their harvests, visiting the impressive cathedral in Lincoln and looking to the future of rail freight.

2013-01-21T18:30:00Z

4x11 stirling to invergowrie.

  • 2013-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with his copy of Bradshaw's Victorian railway guidebook, he travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to see what of Bradshaw's World remains. Michael is exploring the stunning scenery of rural and coastal Scotland, travelling from Stirling, through the industrial east coast and dramatic Highland landscapes, to the beauty of the western lochs, finally ending his journey in John O'Groats. Michael learns about a Scottish hero, visits a Highland Games and discovers how an impressive piece of Victorian engineering ended in tragedy.

2013-01-22T18:30:00Z

4x12 dundee to aberdeen.

  • 2013-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with his copy of Bradshaw's Victorian railway guidebook, he travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to see what of Bradshaw's World remains. Michael is exploring the stunning scenery of rural and coastal Scotland, travelling from Stirling, through the industrial east coast and dramatic Highland landscapes, to the beauty of the western lochs, finally ending his journey in John O'Groats. Michael learns how Queen Victoria used to hide from her subjects, discovers how factory workers went deaf and goes out with a bang in Aberdeenshire.

2013-01-23T18:30:00Z

4x13 dufftown to aviemore.

  • 2013-01-23T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with his copy of Bradshaw's Victorian railway guidebook, he travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to see what of Bradshaw's World remains. Michael is exploring the stunning scenery of rural and coastal Scotland, travelling from Stirling, through the industrial east coast and dramatic Highland landscapes, to the beauty of the western lochs, finally ending his journey in John O'Groats. Michael learns how Victorian whisky trains were raided by robbers, travels along one of Scotland's most impressive viaducts and discovers that life is not always sweet on a shortbread production line.

2013-01-24T18:30:00Z

4x14 inverness to plockton.

  • 2013-01-24T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with his copy of Bradshaw's Victorian railway guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to see what of Bradshaw's world remains. In this programme, Michael explores the scenery of rural and coastal Scotland, travelling from Stirling to the beauty of the western lochs, ending his journey in John O'Groats. Michael rides one of Scotland's most picturesque railways, visits Scotland's smallest station and learns what went into a Victorian-style spa break.

2013-01-25T18:30:00Z

4x15 invergordon to john o'groats.

  • 2013-01-25T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with his copy of Bradshaw's Victorian railway guidebook, he travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to see what of Bradshaw's World remains. Michael is exploring the stunning scenery of rural and coastal Scotland, travelling from Stirling, through the industrial east coast and dramatic Highland landscapes, to the beauty of the western lochs, finally ending his journey in John O'Groats. Michael learns how one man's vision helped bring train travel to the Highlands, discovers how farming has changed since Bradshaw's day and hears the remarkable tale of Scotland's Victorian gold rush.

2013-01-28T18:30:00Z

4x16 london paddington to warminster.

  • 2013-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael gets to grips with the old grey matter at a Victorian asylum, gives an historic horse a facelift and makes malt the 19th century way.

2013-01-29T18:30:00Z

4x17 salisbury to castle cary.

  • 2013-01-29T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael visits a world famous tourist hotspot that's been captivating visitors since the Victorian era, takes to the air in Yeovil and tries his hand at cloth making, the 19th century way.

2013-01-30T18:30:00Z

4x18 taunton to minehead.

  • 2013-01-30T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael explores a church that moves in mysterious ways, finds out just what it takes to run a 19th century signal box and summons all his strength, to move a one hundred and ten tonne steam locomotive.

2013-01-31T18:30:00Z

4x19 lynton and lynmouth to exeter.

  • 2013-01-31T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael gets up close to a piece of natural history, visits a garden used as a viewing platform for public hangings and experiences a timepiece like no other.

2013-02-01T18:30:00Z

4x20 exmouth to newton abbot.

  • 2013-02-01T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael takes to sea with the heroes of the RNLI, visits a stormy coastal railway and has a close personal encounter with his boyhood hero.

2013-02-04T18:30:00Z

4x21 killarney to cobh.

  • 2013-02-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks once again using his Bradshaw's 'Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland' from the Victorian era. Portillo is on a railway journey through the Republic of Ireland travelling from the rugged beauty of County Kerry, across the rural Irish Midlands to end in the city of Galway on the Atlantic coast. In this episode Michael samples nineteenth century foodie delicacies, explores a stunning landscape shot to fame by rails and royals and risks life and limb for the gift of the gab.

2013-02-05T18:30:00Z

4x22 charleville to waterford.

  • 2013-02-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks once again using his Bradshaw's 'Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland' from the Victorian era. Portillo is on a railway journey through the Republic of Ireland travelling from the rugged beauty of County Kerry, across the rural Irish Midlands to end in the city of Galway on the Atlantic coast. In this episode, Michael learns the ancient art of butter making, attempts to learn the basics of Ireland's oldest game, and rides the Duke of Devonshire's Victorian Irish railway.

2013-02-06T18:30:00Z

4x23 kilkenny to athy.

  • 2013-02-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks once again using his Bradshaw's 'Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland' from the Victorian era. Portillo is on a railway journey through the Republic of Ireland travelling from the rugged beauty of County Kerry, across the rural Irish Midlands to end in the city of Galway on the Atlantic coast. In this episode, Michael tries his hand at cutting marble Victorian style, uncovers 19th century Ireland's surprising industrial heritage and learns how the railways helped bring motorsport to the masses.

2013-02-07T18:30:00Z

4x24 newbridge to roscrea.

  • 2013-02-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks once again using his Bradshaw's 'Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland' from the Victorian era. Portillo is on a railway journey through the Republic of Ireland travelling from the rugged beauty of County Kerry, across the rural Irish Midlands to end in the city of Galway on the Atlantic coast. In this episode, Michael visits the Irish National Stud, discovers how harsh life was for the Irish poor and uncovers an astronomical feat of Victorian engineering.

2013-02-08T18:30:00Z

4x25 athlone to galway.

  • 2013-02-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks once again using his Bradshaw's 'Handbook for Tourists in Great Britain and Ireland' from the Victorian era. Portillo is on a railway journey through the Republic of Ireland travelling from the rugged beauty of County Kerry, across the rural Irish Midlands to end in the city of Galway on the Atlantic coast. In this episode, Michael is on the final leg of his Irish journey and discovers historic jewellery with royal connections in Galway, meets a people's king and finds his voice with a traditional Irish singing group.

2014-01-06T18:30:00Z

5x01 manchester to birkenhead.

  • 2014-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from Manchester, birthplace of George Bradshaw, the publisher of his trusted guide, to Chesterfield, burial place of George Stephenson, the father of the railway. In the first leg of the journey, Michael finds out how the world's first industrialised city also gave birth to a revolutionary political movement and hears how railway workers founded one of the most successful football clubs in the world. Along the way, Michael does the washing in Port Sunlight and discovers the legacy of an American named George Francis Train in Birkenhead.

2014-01-07T18:30:00Z

5x02 southport to leyland.

  • 2014-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey through the North West of England. He begins in the elegant Lancashire resort of Southport, where the railways brought thousands of visitors to enjoy the pier and all the fun of the fair. Michael discovers Victorian entrepreneurship in Wigan, traces the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in Bolton and drives a hundred-year-old commercial vehicle in Leyland.

2014-01-08T18:30:00Z

5x03 preston to rochdale.

  • 2014-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey through the North West of England. He celebrates Victorian trade with the Preston Guild then heads to Rochdale where he discovers a pioneering movement that helped improve the lot of working families. Michael follows in the tracks of swathes of nineteenth-century working people who made day trips from the industrial towns to Hebden Bridge to walk in the beautiful Calder Valley.

2014-01-09T18:30:00Z

5x04 haworth to huddersfield.

  • 2014-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey from Manchester to Chesterfield at the home of the three Bronte sisters in Worth Valley, Yorkshire. He then moves on to Oakworth where he learns how the station and its heritage railway line secured a starring role in one of the most popular films ever made. In Bradford, Michael finds out how nineteenth-century workers could save to buy a home of their own, and in Halifax discovers how the railway contributed to the town's sweet success.

2014-01-10T18:30:00Z

5x05 honley to chesterfield.

  • 2014-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the last leg of his journey from a notorious slum in Manchester to the grandeur of a ducal seat in Derbyshire, Michael Portillo tunes in to the music of the mills and collieries of Victorian England, testing his puff with the brass band at Honley. In Holmfirth, Michael finds out about a nineteenth-century tragedy that struck the town and led to a tourist boom on the railways. At Chesterfield, Michael pays homage to the father of the railway, George Stephenson, before finishing his journey in style at one of the first stately homes to welcome visitors by rail - Chatsworth.

2014-01-13T18:30:00Z

5x06 london euston to cheddington.

  • 2014-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

2014-01-14T18:30:00Z

5x07 bletchley to newport pagnell.

  • 2014-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey north on Robert Stephenson's first inter-city railway line from the capital. Along the line at Bletchley he meets one of the Second World War's most secret agents, discovers a poet in Olney whose words are still sung today and explores the first purpose-built railway town at Wolverton. Michael's last stop on this leg is Newport Pagnell, where he learns the ancient craft of vellum making.

2014-01-15T18:30:00Z

5x08 northampton to nuneaton.

  • 2014-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his Bradshaw's Michael Portillo heads north on his journey from London to Leeds, stopping in Northampton, the land of shoemakers, where Victorian 'clickers' have been making shoes for more than 130 years. In Rugby, Michael discovers the legacy of Dr Thomas Arnold and trains with the school's 1st XV before heading to Coventry, where he finds out how the city's craftsmen learned to adapt to survive. Michael ends this leg of his journey in Nuneaton, birthplace of an author whose identity was once a closely guarded secret.

2014-01-16T18:30:00Z

5x09 leicester to loughborough.

  • 2014-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Guided by his Victorian Bradshaw's Michael Portillo continues his journey north along Robert Stephenson's London to Birmingham line. He begins this leg in Leicester, where he picks up the trail of 'the famous crook-backed King Richard III', who Bradshaw's informs him was buried at the Grey Priory. Michael finds out about the hunt for the king's remains and how scientists managed to prove that the skeleton found under a car park was him. From Rothley, Michael works his passage on the Great Central Railway to Loughborough, where the bells have been tolling since 1839.

2014-01-17T18:30:00Z

5x10 nottingham to leeds.

  • 2014-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the final leg of his journey along the first inter-city line to be built from the capital, Michael Portillo rediscovers a once-famous poet in Nottingham. In Mansfield he travels on a railway line resurrected by popular demand after falling victim to Beeching's cuts, then heads to Worksop, where he learns about the burrowing activities of an eccentric Duke. Michael's next stop is 'railway city' Doncaster, where in the nineteenth century thousands laboured to build trains and where in the twentieth century, rail workers shaped British political history. His last stop on this journey is Leeds, where he auditions at the Venus and Venice of Variety on the stage at Britain's oldest continuously working music hall.

2014-01-20T18:30:00Z

5x11 southampton to basingstoke.

  • 2014-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Assisted by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton. On this first leg, he learns to set the table aboard the luxury liner Queen Elizabeth before she sets sail and discovers how Cunard steamers began by transporting post across the Atlantic. He then heads to Netley, where he discovers the remains of an extensive military hospital built by order of Queen Victoria. From there he journeys to Basingstoke, where he finds out about a pitched battle between townspeople and the Salvation Army.

2014-01-21T18:30:00Z

5x12 winchfield to crowthorne.

  • 2014-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's journey continues in a military vein, as he views the Duke of Wellington's funeral carriage and visits the army camp at Aldershot.

2014-01-22T18:30:00Z

5x13 wokingham to bradford-on-avon.

  • 2014-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the third leg of his journey, Michael Portillo learns how demand from rail commuters fuelled the development of the modern printing press.

2014-01-23T18:30:00Z

5x14 chippenham to gloucester.

  • 2014-01-23T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton beginning today in Chippenham, where at Lacock Abbey he discovers how the world's first photographic negative was made and learns how to make a print. He travels on to Bristol to visit the Victorian Clifton Zoo, where he finds tigers and polar bears before him also arrived by train. Next stop is Severn Tunnel Junction in Wales, where he explores an extraordinary piece of Victorian engineering with its own pump house pumping out millions of gallons a day to keep it dry. Michael then heads for Gloucester to find out why the station became infamous for lost luggage. At the city's cathedral, Michael meets a stonemason who bravely invites him to chip away.

2014-01-24T18:30:00Z

5x15 cheltenham to wolverhampton.

  • 2014-01-24T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the final leg of his journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton, Michael's first destination is the elegant spa town of Cheltenham, where he discovers a very early locomotive carriage which ran not on rails but on the road and is lucky enough to get behind the wheel. His next stop is the medieval town of Tewkesbury, scene of a grisly battle during the Wars of the Roses. Armour-plated and sword at the ready, Michael joins a group of re-enactors for a taste of the action. Mercifully unscathed, he makes tracks for Droitwich to find out about how a lowly boatman became the King of Salt and lived in a beautiful chateau, an unexpected sight in the Midlands countryside. Michael's journey ends in Wolverhampton. He learns how the townspeople showed off their talents to the Queen, among them the lost art of Japanning, a speciality of Wolverhampton.

2014-01-27T18:30:00Z

5x16 norwich to brandon.

  • 2014-01-27T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Guided by his 19th century Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from Norwich to Chichester. On this first leg he explores Norwich's medieval heart. In the city's Norman castle he uncovers the Victorian public's gory fascination with crime and punishment and finds out how campaigners such as Elizabeth Fry, who was born in Norwich, worked to improve conditions for prisoners. At the city's livestock market, Michael learns how to buy a calf at auction with a subtle twitch of his guidebook. He then heads west to Thetford to explore the rabbit warrens of the Brecks. He discovers how the Victorian appetite for rabbits and their fur led to special train services to London, known as Bunny Trains. After a painful encounter with a polecat, Michael heads northwest to Brandon, home of some of the best quality flint in Britain and tries his hand at flint-knapping.

2014-01-28T18:30:00Z

5x17 ipswich to chelmsford.

  • 2014-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

2014-01-29T18:30:00Z

5x18 ilford to rochester.

  • 2014-01-29T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo heads along the Essex bank of the Thames before crossing the river into the Garden of England, Kent. He begins this leg at Barkingside, where a Victorian philanthropist called Dr Thomas Barnardo made it his life's work to transform the lives of destitute children. From Upminster Michael takes the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway to Tilbury and finds out how the line and the old station transformed the town into one of the country's most important ports. At the docks, Michael tries his hand at loading a container on to a pocket wagon. Over the river at Gravesend Michael discovers how one of Queen Victoria's favourite army officers, General Gordon, left his mark on the town. Michael's last destination on this leg is Rochester, where he encounters a host of familiar characters and explores the city which was home to one of the Victorian era's greatest writers, Charles Dickens.

2014-01-30T18:30:00Z

5x19 faversham to dorking.

  • 2014-01-30T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Norwich to Chichester beginning in Faversham in Kent, at one of the country's oldest surviving breweries, Shepherd Neame. Michael discovers how the brewery invested heavily in the railways and even ran rolling stock with its own smart livery taking beer to London. After making his own delivery to the Railway Tavern in one of the brewery's oldest vehicles, Michael heads for the south coast to the defensive town of Dover, little more than 25 miles from the historic enemy, the French. Here he uncovers one of Dover's best kept secrets, the sunken fortress known as the Western Heights. In the Weald of Kent, Michael finds out how the railways helped to put Tonbridge School on track for cricketing glory before heading into Surrey where he blow-dries a hen in Dorking!

2014-01-31T18:30:00Z

5x20 brighton to chichester.

  • 2014-01-31T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the final leg of his journey between the cathedral cities of Norwich and Chichester, Michael Portillo discovers the history behind the extraordinary Pavilion at Brighton and learns that Queen Victoria was not an admirer of the Prince Regent's flamboyant taste. Michael finds that while above ground the railways brought day trippers to frolic in fashionable Brighton, underground, Victorian engineers built a magnificent network of sewers more than 40 miles in length, which are still functioning today. At Bramber, he discovers at the time of his guide tourists flocked to the town in huge numbers due to a Victorian museum of taxidermy. Michael's next stop is the impressive castle at Arundel and he's pleased to find that the Duke of Norfolk was a great supporter of the railways. His rail journey ends in Chichester from where he heads up into the South Downs for a taste of life in the fast lane at Goodwood.

2015-01-05T18:30:00Z

6x01 ayr to stewarton.

  • 2015-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey through southern Scotland from west to east. From Ayr, he admires the granite island of Ailsa Craig before getting to grips with the ancient sport of curling, with help from a Scottish world champion. The Ancient Society of Kilwinning Archers invites Michael to take part in the oldest archery competition in the world. At Barassie, he rides the footplate of a freight train hauling coal on Scotland's oldest railway line. He caps off this leg of his journey in Stewarton.

2015-01-06T18:30:00Z

6x02 greenock to larkhall.

  • 2015-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey through southern Scotland. He celebrates Victorian iron and steel in Motherwell and admires one of its crowning achievements - the Forth Rail Bridge. Michael journeys through picturesque countryside to admire the raw power of nature at the magnificent and romantic Clyde Falls, which inspired Wordsworth and Coleridge, and where Victorian ladies swooned. In Cumbernauld, Michael learns of the birth of one of Scotland's best-selling soft drinks. In Linlithgow, he marvels at the ingenuity of the engineers who built the Union Canal and experiences a 21st century technological refinement at Falkirk.

2015-01-07T18:30:00Z

6x03 motherwell to linlithgow.

  • 2015-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

2015-01-08T18:30:00Z

6x04 stirling to pitlochry.

  • 2015-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey in Stirling, where he visits the scene of a bloody battle at Bannockburn. Following in the footsteps of Victorian holidaymakers, he travels north to Crieff to experience the popular Hydro. In the ancient capital of Scotland, Perth, Michael learns what it takes to make a sporran before catching the highland mainline to Pitlochry and one of Queen Victoria's favourite haunts. He finishes for the day with a wee dram in Scotland's smallest distillery.

2015-01-09T18:30:00Z

6x05 st andrew's to edinburgh.

  • 2015-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the last leg of his journey across Scotland from west to east, Michael Portillo pays homage to the birthplace of golf at St Andrews. He visits a factory where they make traditional hickory-shafted clubs and ventures out on to the green. In Dunfermline, Michael discovers the poor beginnings of one of the world's wealthiest men, a remarkable philanthropist who worked on the railroads before making his fortune in steel. Crossing the Firth of Forth via the legendary red bridge, Michael arrives in Edinburgh in the middle of the world's largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, where he treads the boards in an unconventional adaptation of a play by Oscar Wilde.

2015-01-12T18:30:00Z

6x06 amersham to regent's park.

  • 2015-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a series of journeys through London. He travels on the capital's first underground railway, the Metropolitan Line, from Amersham, where he discovers the foundations for modern-day suburbia. In Pinner, Michael finds out about a Victorian domestic goddess and whips up a pint of her fanciest ice cream. In Highgate, Michael investigates the terraced catacombs of one of London's vast 19th-century cemeteries. At Baker Street, he comes face to face with Isambard Kingdom Brunel before experiencing a hot wax at first hand. He ends this journey with a trip to the zoo at Regent's Park.

2015-01-13T18:30:00Z

6x07 deptford to west silverton.

  • 2015-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo is invited aboard the construction locomotive for Crossrail to travel under the Thames and to meet Mary, on whom the project depends. He travels on the capital's first railway, and admires the remarkable brick viaduct on which it was built. He takes a tour underneath its arches with a Victorian map showing the poverty of those who once lived there. The Docklands Light Railway takes him to Greenwich, home to Britain's most famous tea clipper. And in Woolwich, he discovers the firepower of the British Empire before coming to a sticky end at West Silverton.

2015-01-14T18:30:00Z

6x08 stratford to london victoria.

  • 2015-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Guided by his Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo takes the high-speed line to Stratford to explore the legacy of the Olympic Park. He hears how an Indian lawyer, who learnt his trade in Victorian London, went on to change the world and explores an area of the city which has been home to wave upon wave of immigrants, Spitalfields. He ends this journey at Victoria Underground Station, where he finds out about the massive makeover currently under way.

2015-01-15T18:30:00Z

6x09 covent garden to soho.

  • 2015-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Guided by his Victorian Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo explores London's theatreland and discovers how 19th-century engineering made for spectacular theatricals. At Charing Cross, Michael learns about the ambitious building programme which saw Trafalgar Square replace streets of slums and comes face to face with George Bradshaw. At one of the busiest stops on the tube, Piccadilly Circus, Michael indulges in some retail therapy at a perfumery patronised by kings, queens and prime ministers. The Bakerloo to Oxford Circus line brings Michael to Soho and a grimmer side of Victorian London, where disease was rife.

2015-01-16T18:30:00Z

6x10 high street kensington to london bridge.

  • 2015-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the last of his journeys in the capital, Michael Portillo explores Albertopolis and reaches dizzying heights inside a Victorian landmark. He meets some of Battersea's most famous residents and gives one of them a bath! At Vauxhall, Michael learns about the darker side of London's flower market in Bradshaw's day. He ends this journey at London Bridge, where two stations are becoming one, and a new concourse is being built.

2015-01-19T18:30:00Z

6x11 derby to grantham.

  • 2015-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey following his Bradshaw's handbook from the heart of the industrial east Midlands to the north eastern island of Lindisfarne. On this leg, he gives an old engine a fresh start in the railway hub of Derby. In Nottingham, he discovers the Victorian origins of a well-known high street chemist. He then travels to Newstead Abbey, where he learns about its former owner, the young Lord Byron. A baking lesson in Grantham yields a batch of the oldest commercially traded biscuits in the country, and no visit to the town would be complete for Michael without calling at a historic grocer's shop.

2015-01-20T18:30:00Z

6x12 boston to hensall.

  • 2015-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo continues his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne. Beginning in Boston in the flatlands of Lincolnshire, Michael explores the connection between the town and its American namesake. At Southwell, he discovers the origins of a favourite Victorian apple and learns how to make apple pie. In Menston, Michael visits an imposing institution built to provide asylum for those suffering from mental illness and learns how volunteers care for its once derelict chapel and graveyard. At Wakefield, Michael manages to board one of Britain's least frequent services and finds out what led to the birth of the parliamentary train. Along the way, he meets a former locomotive engineer who offers him the chance to drive a steam engine.

2015-01-21T18:30:00Z

6x13 hessle to york.

  • 2015-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey from the heart of the east Midlands to Northumberland's Holy Island. He begins in Hessle, on the north bank of the River Humber, in the shadow of the magnificent Humber Bridge, where he learns about the technology that made it possible. In Kingston upon Hull, Michael meets his friend and sparring partner, local MP Alan Johnson, who tells him about another famous son of his city, William Wilberforce. In Scarborough, Michael's handbook directs him to the castle, where the founder of the Quaker movement was once imprisoned. His last stop of the day is York, where Michael learns what made the ancient capital a centre for the sweet-making industry.

2015-01-22T18:30:00Z

6x14 middlesbrough to hexham.

  • 2015-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Following his Bradshaw's Handbook, Michael Portillo begins this leg of his journey from Derby to Lindisfarne in the Victorian ironopolis of Middlesbrough. He visits one of the last cast iron foundries in the city and helps cast a carrot valve for a steam engine. His next stop is Darlington, spiritual home of the railways, where he learns how the city profited from its fast connections to the capitals of England and Scotland by developing a newspaper industry. Michael meets the editor of the Northern Echo and finds out about the colourful history of one of his predecessors, WT Stead. At Jarrow, Michael visits the monastery to learn about its famous monk, the father of English history, Bede. His last stop on this leg of his journey is Hexham, where he visits a historic ginger beer emporium.

2015-01-23T18:30:00Z

6x15 newcastle to lindisfarne.

  • 2015-01-23T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo journeys from Newcastle up the north east coast to Lindisfarne. He finds out about the world's earliest swing bridge and its inventor, Newcastle engineer Sir William Armstrong, and discovers how the city's Victorian industrial heritage has found a new cultural purpose. From Seahouses by boat, amid puffins and cormorants, Michael goes in search of a darling of the Victorian press who, with her father, rescued nine people from tumultuous seas. On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, Michael explores the lime kilns and finds out how, in the 7th century, Christianity spread from here across northern England.

2015-01-26T18:30:00Z

6x16 pembroke dock to swansea.

  • 2015-01-26T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey from west Wales to East Anglia. Beginning at Pembroke Dock, Michael visits the dockyard where Queen Victoria's royal yachts were built. He investigates what caused riotous rebels to dress up as women in Narberth and spends the night at an inn in Carmarthen where Admiral Lord Nelson once met Lady Emma Hamilton. After flagging down the steam train to ride on the Carmarthen-to-Aberystwyth railway, Michael pitches in with the volunteers who look after the Gwili heritage line. In Swansea, on the estate of one of the pioneers of British photography, Michael learns how to pose for a photograph in Victorian style.

2015-01-27T18:30:00Z

6x17 swansea to hereford.

  • 2015-01-27T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his journey from Pembroke Dock to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins in the ruinous gardens at Aberglasney in Llandeilo before riding shotgun in the driver's cab on the Heart of Wales Line on one of the most scenic routes in Britain. En route, Michael learns about the Victorian signalling system still in place today and struggles with his Welsh pronunciation. Over the border in Leominster, Michael steps out on to the dance floor at the Lion Hotel Ballroom, where a grand ball was held to celebrate the opening of the Ludlow to Hereford railway. He finishes this leg of his journey at a traditional cider house in Hereford, where he is invited to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

2015-01-28T18:30:00Z

6x18 abergavenny to hanborough.

  • 2015-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo makes his way from west Wales across Britain to Cambridge. On this leg, he begins underground at Big Pit coal mine in Blaenavon, where he learns how Victorians toiled night and day to power the industrial revolution. On the River Usk, Michael casts a line and learns about 19th-century developments in angling. On rebellious turf in Ascott-under-Wychwood, Michael discovers the Ascott Martyrs and lends a hand ploughing on the farm where they struck their early blow for labourers' rights. Michael's last stop is Hanborough and Blenheim Palace, where he investigates a fire described in his Bradshaw's which is said to have claimed some risque art.

2015-01-29T18:30:00Z

6x19 oxford to luton.

  • 2015-01-29T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael continues his journey from Pembroke Dock to Cambridge. Beginning in the heart of academia in Oxford, Michael visits the Bodleian - the university's research library - to see some Victorian treasures, including Mary Shelley's manuscript of Frankenstein and a pocket-sized edition of Bradshaw's Companion. At Bicester, Michael investigates two exciting new rail projects, one of which will be the first in over a hundred years to connect the capital with a major city. Michael finds out about Victorian philanthropy in Bedford, and in Luton he explores the dark arts of the hatter.

2015-01-30T18:30:00Z

6x20 oakham to cambridge.

  • 2015-01-30T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On the final leg of his journey from west Wales to East Anglia, Michael Portillo begins in Oakham, where he learns of a noble tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Following in the footsteps of peers over the centuries, he determines to take part. Heading east to Stamford, Michael discovers why the town is such an attractive location for period dramas and takes part in a Victorian melodrama. A ghoulish scene awaits in Peterborough as Michael visits a Victorian operating theatre where railwaymen were treated. Michael's last stop on this final journey is Christ's College at Cambridge University, where he learns about the student days of the father of evolution, Charles Darwin.

2016-01-04T18:30:00Z

7x01 carlisle to penrith.

  • 2016-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Carlisle to Penrith Joining the cracker packers of Carlisle on the factory floor, Michael really takes the biscuit as he investigates the Victorian appetite for the custard cream on his new journey through north-west Britain. Braving a perilous descent into the only operational slate mine in England, Michael discovers a miniature railway which once hauled slate to the surface. Following in the footsteps of Victorian miners on their way to work, he steps out gingerly on to what is now Britain's only Via Ferrata - a terrifying tightrope challenge 300 feet above the Borrowdale Valley.

2016-01-05T18:30:00Z

7x02 windermere to carnforth.

  • 2016-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Windermere to Carnforth Michael continues his journey through the Lake District where he discovers a magical world of talking rabbits, ducks, hedgehogs and mice, who have entertained children for more than 100 years. At the village home of author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, Michael learns about her legacy and her fears about the railways. Fuelled by a Victorian energy bar, Michael presses on to Brantwood, home of the Victorian art critic John Ruskin. He finishes with a brief encounter at Carnforth.

2016-01-06T18:30:00Z

7x03 preston to swinton.

  • 2016-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Preston to Swinton Michael reads the riot act in Preston, where he discovers four mill workers were shot dead by soldiers at a protest in 1842. In Darwen, he makes a splash in pink as he traces developments in 19th-century interior design from wallpaper to paint. Michael explores the Victorian industrial landscape of Salford, populated by little matchstick figures, as revealed in the paintings of LS Lowry. Michael finishes this leg of his journey on Kersal Moor, where he twists his tongue around the Lancashire dialect and discovers the poetry of Edwin Waugh.

2016-01-07T18:30:00Z

7x04 st helens to knutsford.

  • 2016-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

St Helens to Knutsford Steered by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael begins this leg of his journey in Merseyside, where he feels the heat of modern glassmaking in St Helens. He discovers how the techniques invented in the Victorian era to construct buildings such as the Crystal Palace have evolved and are powering a new architectural revolution.

2016-01-08T18:30:00Z

7x05 ashley to alton.

  • 2016-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ashley to Alton On the last leg of his journey through north west England, Michael makes a clean sweep in Ashley, where, in Victorian times, the new middle classes set up home in suburban villas with multiple chimneys, swept by children. In Macclesfield, Michael finds the end of the Silk Route and tries his hand at screen printing. After stoking the fire on the steam-powered Churnet Valley Railway, Michael alights at Froghall for Alton Towers, to trace the 19th-century origins of the modern theme park.

2016-01-11T18:30:00Z

7x06 dover to lewes.

  • 2016-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Dover to Lewes Michael embarks on a railway journey along the south coast of Britain. Beginning in the port of Dover, he is inspired by a brave Victorian sea captain to plunge into the English Channel. A spectacular miniature steam railway, one third the size of his customary mode of transport, conveys him from Romney Marsh to Dungeness. In elegant Eastbourne, he discovers how the refined Victorian upper crust was attracted to the town by design of the 7th Duke of Devonshire. He ends his journey in truly eccentric English style at the Glyndebourne opera festival on the South Downs.

2016-01-12T18:30:00Z

7x07 newhaven to worthing.

  • 2016-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newhaven to Worthing Following his Bradshaw's handbook, Michael examines the nation's hidden defences against potential invaders, beginning in the port of Newhaven. Detouring north to Balcombe, he interrupts his journey to appreciate two magnificent engineering achievements - the Ouse Valley Viaduct and the Clayton Tunnel - and learns of a gruesome murder. High on top of a favourite Victorian beauty spot, Michael learns how trains once brought hordes of day trippers here to walk and fly kites. Michael ends this leg of his journey in Worthing, where he finds a novel way to pick tomatoes.

2016-01-13T18:30:00Z

7x08 littlehampton to beaulieu.

  • 2016-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Littlehampton to Beaulieu Michael arrives in Littlehampton, where he discovers how Victorian engineers dug deep to defend the town's residents from cholera and learns how their drills still access clean water around the world. At Gosport, he experiences first-hand the lethal firepower unleashed on the French and learns how the Victorians were engaged in a furious arms race against them. At the family home of Florence Nightingale in the New Forest, Michael finds out what motivated the Lady of the Lamp, before seizing the chance to drive the first motor car at Beaulieu.

2016-01-14T18:30:00Z

7x09 lymington town to exmouth.

  • 2016-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Lymington Town to Exmouth Armed with his Bradshaw's Handbook, Michael arrives in the sailing haven of Lymington where he makes a lifesaving discovery. Exploring Dorchester's literary landscape, he finds out how the coming of the railways inspired the work of the region's greatest writer - Thomas Hardy. Weaving his way to Axminster, Michael tries his hand at carpet making. His last stop is Exmouth, home to Francis Danby, a forgotten Victorian landscape artist.

2016-01-15T18:30:00Z

7x10 plymouth to porthcurno.

  • 2016-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Plymouth to Porthcurno In Plymouth, Michael finds out about the Royal Navy's fighting spirit and mixes his own blend of ruin. Crossing into Cornwall, Michael learns about the last bridge to be built by one of his heroes, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. By Tre, Pol and Pen, he comes to know Cornishmen and how to prepare the perfect pasty. His journey ends in a small village which in Victorian times became a hub of global communications.

2016-01-18T18:30:00Z

7x11 birmingham to worcester.

  • 2016-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Birmingham to Worcester Every train ride begins with a whistle and Michael's new railway journey is no exception, blasting off from Birmingham's jewellery quarter to the sound of the Acme whistle, manufactured there since 1884. A visit to the city's town hall reveals a magnificent organ and the location for a celebrated music festival. Travelling south to Kidderminster, Michael reports for duty at the Post Office, where he sorts the letters and discovers more about the great postal innovator Sir Rowland Hill, before heading out to deliver the Royal Mail. 19th-century quack doctors and their bogus remedies are exposed in Worcester, where Michael discovers the origins of the British Medical Association.

2016-01-19T18:30:00Z

7x12 redditch to gloucester.

  • 2016-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Redditch to Gloucester Michael heads for the sharp end of the Victorian industrial revolution at a needle manufactory in Redditch. The Freemasons of Cheltenham invite Michael into their lodge to share the secrets of their society. In Gloucester, he learns how to make Gloucester cheese. Continuing on to Highnam, Michael is glad to discover the beautiful Victorian Gothic church of Thomas Parry and to join the Gloucester Choral Society in a rendition of Jerusalem composed by Thomas's son Hubert.

2016-01-20T18:30:00Z

7x13 stroud to bath.

  • 2016-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Stroud to Bath Michael takes pot luck on the snooker table as he investigates the Victorian origins of the game and finds out what it takes to produce the fine green cloth which smoothes the path of the balls. In Cirencester, he ploughs a crooked furrow at the Royal Agricultural College before taking tea with the ladies in Bath, where he also discovers a scandalous novel written by an eccentric recluse, once the wealthiest man in England.

2016-01-21T18:30:00Z

7x14 bristol to glastonbury.

  • 2016-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Bristol to Glastonbury Armed with his Bradshaw's guidebook, Michael enters the foul-smelling world of a Victorian tannery. In Nailsea, he discovers how mountains of bird droppings made one of the greatest fortunes of the era for a 19th-century entrepreneur, who spent his wealth building churches and chapels and one of the most luxurious country houses in Britain. Reaching Glastonbury, Michael heads for the mystical abbey, where Victorian tourists flocked to hear stories of King Arthur and the Holy Grail.

2016-01-22T18:30:00Z

7x15 bridgewater to dartmouth.

  • 2016-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Bridgwater to Dartmoor Following his Bradshaw's Guidebook, Michael stands trial at the Bloody Assizes in Taunton and feels the full force of the law. He gets to grips with a miracle of Victorian engineering on the Somerset Levels at Westonzoyland and on Dartmoor he embarks on a mid-19th-century treasure hunt still popular today.

2016-01-25T18:30:00Z

7x16 ashford to sevenoaks.

  • 2016-01-25T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ashford to Sevenoaks Michael begins a new journey through the home counties in Ashford, Kent, lending a hand at a state-of-the-art train maintenance plant, home to the High Speed 1 rolling stock - a modern railway hub in a Victorian railway town. A visit to a historic make-up brand reveals the foundations of the Victorian cosmetics industry. Taking the tracks east to Marden, Michael is moved by music played on Queen Victoria's personal piano before ending his journey in Sevenoaks at Knole House, seat of the Sackville-West family, where he learns of its colourful history.

2016-01-26T18:30:00Z

7x17 east grinstead to guildford.

  • 2016-01-26T18:30:00Z — 30 m

East Grinstead to Guildford At East Grinstead, Michael dons a boiler suit and takes to the footplate of a loco on the Bluebell Railway, Britain's first passenger carrying heritage line. Travelling north to Merstham, Surrey, Michael experiences an explosive encounter as he witnesses the power of dynamite first-hand. Moving east through Surrey countryside, he visits the stunningly situated Leith Hill Place to explore the compositions of the great British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The journey ends near Guildford with the story of a giant of Victorian art - GF Watts.

2016-01-28T18:30:00Z

7x18 woking to walton-on-thames.

  • 2016-01-28T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Woking to Walton-on-Thames Michael's journey through the home counties continues at Woking, Surrey, where Michael uncovers the story of Britain's first purpose-built crematorium, a response to overcrowded cemeteries and London's ever-expanding population. A trip to world-famous Wisley Gardens sheds light on the work of the Royal Horticultural Society, as Michael gets green fingered. Swapping trees and tranquillity for the roar of a motor car, at Weybridge Michael visits Brooklands the birthplace of motor racing and gets behind the wheel of a vintage Bentley racing car. As this journey leg draws to a close, Portillo goes camping at Walton-on-Thames and learns about the unlikely origins of a leisure pursuit that is going strong today.

2016-01-29T18:30:00Z

7x19 hampton court to teddington.

  • 2016-01-29T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Hampton Court to Teddington A royal residence beckons for Michael as he is treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the world's longest vine at Hampton Court Palace. Maintaining a royal theme, Michael is drawn to Esher to visit stately Claremont House, where tragic circumstances led directly to the birth of the Victorian era. Moving up the line to Wimbledon, Michael is challenged to a duel on the common, the site of a historic and memorable duelling event. This journey ends in Teddington, where the story of a Victorian reformer whose work revolutionised the care for those living with learning disabilities is uncovered.

7x20 Egham to Henley-on-Thames

Egham to Henley-on-Thames Michael begins the final leg of this journey through the home counties at Egham, where a perfectly preserved, historic steam fair offers the original white-knuckle ride. Across town lies the palatial Royal Holloway College, now part of the University of London, where Michael discovers the institution's philanthropic roots. Moving on to Berkshire, Michael drops in at a factory that manufactures a famously sleep-inducing beverage with historic roots. This journey ends riverside at Henley-on-Thames, where Michael takes to the water and learns that rowing in an eight is a challenging business.

2017-01-02T18:30:00Z

8x01 the flying scotsman.

  • 2017-01-02T18:30:00Z — 30 m

he Flying Scotsman A once-in-a-lifetime journey aboard the most famous train in history, the Flying Scotsman, begins for Michael before dawn at London's King's Cross. Excitement builds on the platform as the world's media, fans and 300 passengers await the arrival of railway royalty.

2017-01-03T18:30:00Z

8x02 welwyn garden city to peterborough.

  • 2017-01-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Welwyn Garden City to Peterborough After the excitement of his ride on the Flying Scotsman, Michael begins a new journey with his Bradshaw's guide book north from London, following the historic service's path at a more leisurely pace. Along the way he is forced to expend more effort than usual on the rails as he pumps a track inspection trolley.

2017-01-04T18:30:00Z

8x03 newark-on-trent to stockton-on-tees.

  • 2017-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newark on Trent to Stockton-on-Tees Following his trip from London to York on board the Flying Scotsman, Michael uses his Bradshaw's to trace the path of the famous service, beginning in the 'Key of the North' Newark-on-Trent and finishing in the cradle of the railways, Stockton-on-Tees.

2017-01-05T18:30:00Z

8x04 darlington to dunbar.

  • 2017-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Darlington to Dunbar In Newton Aycliffe, he tests a state-of-the-art passenger train on tracks which follow the route taken by George Stephenson's steam engine on its historic journey in 1825. Through the looking glass at Croft-on-Tees he discovers a curious potion at the childhood home of Victorian writer Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and finds the author was also a fan of Bradshaw

2017-01-06T18:30:00Z

8x05 longniddry to edinburgh.

  • 2017-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Longniddry to Edinburgh Michael helps himself to a ukulele lesson in Haddington, birthplace of Victorian self-improvement guru Samuel Smiles. In Musselburgh, he gets a taste of life as a fishwife before exploring the Scottish capital Edinburgh, where a popular 19th-century mode of transport is making a comeback. The city's proud medical heritage, highlighted in his guide book, takes Michael to the Royal College of Surgeons, where he discovers the macabre history of body snatchers and murderers who contributed to the science of anatomy.

2017-01-09T18:30:00Z

8x06 blackpool to manchester victoria.

  • 2017-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Blackpool to Manchester Victoria On a new journey across Bradshaw's Britain with his Victorian guidebook. He makes potent new friends in Fleetwood then heads to Manchester, where George Stephenson built the world's first modern railway line. This epoch-defining achievement is being incorporated into a new multi-million pound rail link between Manchester's Victoria and Piccadilly stations and Michael lends a hand with the welding. At a moving ceremony in Manchester Piccadilly station, Michael unveils a new monument to 87 railwaymen of the London and North Western Railway, who lost their lives in the Great War.

2017-01-10T18:30:00Z

8x07 manchester piccadilly to silkstone common.

  • 2017-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Manchester Piccadilly to Silkstone Common Michael Portillo's journey from the Irish Sea to the North Sea continues by tram from Manchester. At the imposing town hall of the world's first industrial city, Michael comes face to face with the Victorian scientist who invented modern atomic theory. He then heads to the city's National Graphene Institute, where he learns to make the groundbreaking material invented there by two Nobel prize-winning scientists. His Bradshaw's leads him to an 18th-century settlement built by refugees from Europe.

2017-01-11T18:30:00Z

8x08 chapeltown to doncaster.

  • 2017-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Chapeltown to Doncaster From Chapeltown, Michael heads to Wharncliffe Crags, where he plucks up courage to follow in the terrifying footholds of the Victorian daredevil who made rock climbing a sport. The relative calm of academia beckons at Sheffield University but, face to face with a hagfish, Michael's visit to the Alfred Denny Collection proves an eye-opener

2017-01-12T18:30:00Z

8x09 gainsborough to ely.

  • 2017-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Gainsborough to Ely Steered by his Bradshaw's railway handbook to Gainsborough, Michael Portillo wraps his head around an ingenious Victorian machine which changed shopping forever. In Lincoln, he discovers the verse and popularity of 19th-century Poet Laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and finds poetry thrives today in a city pub.

2017-01-13T18:30:00Z

8x10 stowmarket to harwich.

  • 2017-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Stowmarket to Harwich Michael Portillo is on the final leg of his journey following the route of the North Country Continental service to Harwich. Along the way, he meets volunteers on the Mid-Suffolk Light railway and is allowed to drive The Middy. In Leiston, Michael uncovers an intriguing industrial pioneer - the world's first purpose-built assembly line.

2017-01-16T18:30:00Z

8x11 wexford to wicklow.

  • 2017-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Wexford to Wicklow Armed with his Bradshaw's Handbook, Michael Portillo begins a journey across Ireland. In the port of Wexford, he takes to the seas in a 100-year-old lifeboat and discovers a hero of the American navy. He tunes in to the Meeting of the Waters at the Vale of Avoca, then heads for Wicklow, where he learns of a Victorian project to combat sickness and disease in the capital, Dublin. Embracing the gentler pace of life of a traditional Irish traveller in Victorian times, he ends this leg in a beautiful horse-drawn, barrel-top caravan.

2017-01-17T18:30:00Z

8x12 greystones to dublin.

  • 2017-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Greystones to Dublin At Trinity College, Dublin, Michael Portillo discovers one of Ireland's greatest treasures and learns how it became the symbol of the nation. There is a chance to sample the black stuff in a Dublin pub before Michael learns how Victorian royals were deployed to calm rocky relations between Britain and Ireland. He explores the magnificent house and gardens of Powerscourt in County Wicklow. Finding an angle on triangulation helps Michael to understand how Ireland was put on the map - and why.

2017-01-18T18:30:00Z

8x13 navan to mullingar.

  • 2017-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Navan to Mullingar Michael gets up to speed with modern archaeology in County Meath and uncovers a controversial Victorian dig at the sacred Hill of Tara. He investigates leaping salmon in Leixslip and discovers an electrifying breakthrough at an historic seminary. At Mullingar, Michael bangs the drum for the town's marching band.

2017-01-19T18:30:00Z

8x14 dromod to sligo.

  • 2017-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Dromod to Sligo With his Victorian Bradshaw's guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo crosses the Emerald Isle uncovering Irish identity, forged at a time of political strife. Travelling through the beautiful landscape, Michael learns how it inspired one of the 20th century's greatest poets, WB Yeats.

2017-01-20T18:30:00Z

8x15 ballina to westport.

  • 2017-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ballina to Westport On the last leg of Michael Portillo's long journey from Wexford to Westport, a fashionable Victorian seaweed bath is followed by a steamy scene in Ballina. On tenterhooks in Foxford, Michael discovers the visionary charity of an entrepreneurial nun. He learns of a double tragedy at Clew Bay and begins a pilgrimage to the summit of Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick.

2018-01-01T18:30:00Z

9x01 cromer to cambridge.

  • 2018-01-01T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Cromer to Cambridge His first journey follows in the footsteps of the new monarch for the new century, King Edward VII, from the grand estates of Norfolk to a bivouac on Brownsea Island. In this first episode, Michael takes a pot shot at the sport of kings at a country estate, where the king dallied with his mistress. He learns the ropes aboard an Edwardian wherry on the Norfolk Broads and joins variety performers to tap dance on Cromer Pier. In Cambridge, he investigates the student days of the young Prince of Wales and the novelist EM Forster, author of Howard's End.

2018-01-02T18:30:00Z

9x02 letchworth garden city to herne hill.

  • 2018-01-02T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Letchworth Garden City to Herne Hill Michael joins a garden party where a fourth-generation citizen of Letchworth introduces him to the city's community spirit. Heading into the capital, Michael discovers a favoured haunt of King Edward VII and samples the monarch's favourite tipple, the King's Ginger, invented to keep him warm in his horseless carriage. Improvements to the London Underground in the early 20th century gave us a network of electric railways, which shaped our modern capital. Inside London's newest rail tunnel, Michael meets engineer Jonathan Cooper to discover more about current improvements to London's oldest deep-level tube line, the Northern line, which is being extended.

2018-01-03T18:30:00Z

9x03 croydon to shoreham-by-sea.

  • 2018-01-03T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Croydon to Shoreham-by-Sea Steered by his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo arrives in west Croydon, where he uncovers a once-celebrated, now forgotten, mixed-race composer with an uncannily familiar name. With the modern British rail network now half the size of the Edwardian one, Michael is delighted to discover a railway renaissance in Three Bridges. After inspecting a new depot and its fleet of new Class 700 trains, Michael is accorded the great honour of washing one down. Next stop Lewes, where Michael makes a beeline for Charleston, the beautiful home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, where he finds every surface exquisitely decorated by the inhabitants. At Shoreham-by-Sea, Michael discovers that magnificent Edwardians in flying machines took off from the oldest licensed airport in the country. Michael takes to the skies.

2018-01-04T18:30:00Z

9x04 chichester to cowes.

  • 2018-01-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Chichester to Cowes His early 20th-century Bradshaw's guide in hand, Michael Portillo is in Chichester, West Sussex, where he encounters an Edwardian motoring duo patronised by King Edward VII. After a grand tour of their factory, he is treated to some R&R in one of their finest vehicles. Arriving in the seaside resort of Southsea, Hampshire, Michael heads for the majestic King's Theatre, built by a renowned theatre designer of the day. He treads the boards with a group of true thespians, in a community production of Lads in the Village. Crossing the Solent with a ticket to Ryde, Michael boards the Island Line to travel along the pier in a 1930s London Underground carriage, then hops on to the Isle of Wight heritage line bound for Wootton. His destination is Osborne House, where the future King Edward VII spent much of his childhood

2018-01-05T18:30:00Z

9x05 swanwick to brownsea island.

  • 2018-01-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Swanwick to Brownsea Island Steered by his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo promises to do his best on the island where Robert Baden Powell began the Scout movement in the early 20th century. Joining a group of modern Scouts he learns to build a bivouac and finds out what it is about Scouting that still appeals to boys - and girls - today. In the New Forest, Michael searches out some unsung heroes of the First World War, the ponies who became war horses, and hears their story from a commoner who runs a stable and riding school. Plus in Bournemouth, he investigates a very British institution: the beach hut.

2018-01-08T18:30:00Z

9x06 whitland to swansea.

  • 2018-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Dressed in the colours of the Welsh flag and with his 'new' Edwardian Bradshaw's guide in hand, Michael Portillo embarks on a railway adventure, from the coalfields of south Wales around the Bristol Channel to the southernmost tip of Cornwall. His first stop is Whitland in Carmarthenshire, where in the early 20th century, thrill-seekers gathered on Pendine Sands to indulge their need for speed. Michael joins latter day petrolheads to burn rubber on the beach in an iconic three-wheeler. In Llanelli, Michael retraces the fateful events of a national rail strike in 1911 and is stirred by the sound of a male voice choir as they sing the town's unofficial anthem.

2018-01-09T18:30:00Z

9x07 pontyclun to ebbw vale town.

  • 2018-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Pontyclun to Ebbw Vale Town Armed with his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael strikes gold at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, where after much frisking, he gains access to the inner vaults. At Cardiff Arms Park, Michael revisits the scene of a triumphant Welsh victory over the fearsome All Blacks and hears from Welsh international Gerald Davies how the Welsh national anthem kicked the intimidating Haka into touch. In Cardiff Bay, Michael discovers the departure point for one of the Edwardian era's most famous expeditions - Scott's ill-fated voyage to the Antarctic. Aboard the racing yacht Challenge Wales, Michael meets young sailors training for a Tall Ships Race.

2018-01-10T18:30:00Z

9x08 newport to clevedon/yatton/bristol channel.

  • 2018-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newport to Clevedon Yatton Bristol Channel Steered by his early 20th-century Bradshaw's guide, Michael discovers the birthplace of British aviation in Bristol and prepares an Airbus 380 for a smooth landing at Filton. In Newport, he uncovers the heroism of a young boy who rescued a workman from a dock disaster in which many died. Michael admires the Albert Medal awarded to the brave Tom Lewis, now in the proud possession of his great grandson, the 385th Mayor of Newport. Michael discovers the home of a forward-thinking Edwardian family at Eagle House in Batheaston. Frieda Roberts remembers the suffragettes who campaigned for votes for women in the early 20th century and found refuge at the house after their release from prison. And in the Somerset town of Clevedon, Michael goes to the movies in a perfectly preserved cinema dating from 1912 and hears about the first film to be shown there, in aid of survivors of the Titanic disaster.

2018-01-11T18:30:00Z

9x09 taunton to newton abbot.

  • 2018-01-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Taunton to Newton Abbot With purple, green and yellow ribbons flying, and sporting ankle bells, Michael Portillo is led a merry dance in Stogumber - all in the name of fertility. He visits a celebrated Edwardian garden at Hestercombe to discover the fruits of an unusual partnership and learns how to deadhead the roses. There is a trip aboard the longest heritage line in England and the chance to ring in the new era at Exeter Cathedral before dining out in style on King Edward VII's coronation gala dinner at Bovey Castle.

2018-01-12T18:30:00Z

9x10 plymouth to the lizard.

  • 2018-01-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

2018-01-15T18:30:00Z

9x11 hull to malton.

  • 2018-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo embarks on a journey through Britain steered by his Edwardian railway handbook. He begins in the East Yorkshire port of Hull, where he heads for the docks through which millions of migrants passed at the turn of the 20th century and which are today getting a second wind. At Cottingham, Michael picks up the trail of the future King Edward VII, when he was Prince of Wales. Bertie, as he was known in the family, became embroiled in scandal after a high-stakes game of cards in the grand house of Tranby Croft. Next stop is the beautiful seaside town of Scarborough, which Michael discovers was reeling in 1914 from bombardment by German warships and still carries the scars. Rose gardens, follies and Baroque architecture belonging to a radical countess entice Michael to the market town of Malton, where he finds Howards still inhabit their castle.

2018-01-16T18:30:00Z

9x12 york to frizinghall.

  • 2018-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

York to Frizinghall Armed with his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo conducts important research in an historic tea room, built by an Edwardian immigrant to the city of York. Research of a more sombre kind leads Michael to the roots of our modern welfare state in the work of an early 20th-century Quaker investigator, whose family manufactured chocolate. Next stop is Leeds, where Michael discovers the city's textile heritage, which relied in Edwardian times on a group of skilled Jewish immigrants to take it forward. Michael learns how some of the big names built their empires in Leeds and measures up to a footballing legend. At Bradford Grammar School, Michael hears the story of a talented Edwardian student who became a famous composer and enjoys one of his works, sung by a music pupil of today.

2018-01-17T18:30:00Z

9x13 sheffield to nantwich.

  • 2018-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

With his Edwardian railway guidebook tucked under his arm, Michael Portillo is in the steel city of Sheffield, where he discovers an enormous and beautifully preserved early 20th-century steam engine. At 400 tonnes and packing 12,000 horsepower, it produced armour plate for the most feared warship of the Royal Navy. Heading south into Nottinghamshire, Michael reaches what was once the most successful coalfield in Europe. He follows his Bradshaw's guide to the former pit village of Eastwood, where he finds the birthplace of a man then called Bert, better known today as DH Lawrence. The author of Women in Love and Lady Chatterley's Lover opened the eyes of Edwardian society to the life of the working class and challenged their attitudes towards sexuality. Michael finishes with a dip in the briny at Nantwich.

2018-01-18T18:30:00Z

9x14 liverpool to dolgarrog.

  • 2018-01-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's Edwardian railway guide takes him to the city of Liverpool, where King Edward VII had recently laid the foundation stone for a grand Anglican cathedral at the top of St James's Mount. The young winner of a competition to design the building was a Roman Catholic from a family of architects. His name was Giles Gilbert Scott. Michael takes a trip down his own memory lane in Maghull on the outskirts of Liverpool, where he discovers a childhood favourite - a miniature tank engine with three carriages in dark red - made by Frank Hornby. Heading west to Wales, Michael skirts the coast to reach Abergele, where he visits the romantic ruined Gwrych Castle. He learns the story of its fervently Welsh countess, the last of the Lloyds of Gwyrch, and admires the dedication to her legacy of a young man devoted to restoring the estate.

2018-01-19T18:30:00Z

9x15 criccieth to caernarfon.

  • 2018-01-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

With his Edwardian Bradshaw's railway guide tucked under his arm, Michael Portillo begins the last leg of his journey from Hull to Caernarfon. In picturesque Snowdonia, he braves the fastest zip line in the world - stretching 1,500 feet across a vast slate quarry. He uncovers a bitter industrial dispute between quarrymen and the owner of the pit, Lord Penrhyn, which divided the community at the beginning of the 20th century. Riding north Wales's splendid heritage railways, Michael visits the home of British mountaineering, Pen y Gwryd, to hear how an Edwardian journalist and poet created a climbing community, which grew to include men who would conquer Everest in the 1950s. Michael meets the grandson of one of his political heroes, the Edwardian Prime Minister David Lloyd George, at his birthplace in Criccieth.

2019-02-04T18:30:00Z

10x01 warrington to preston.

  • 2019-02-04T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Warrington to Preston Armed with his Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a new journey through Britain’s industrial heartland. Starting at Warrington, Michael then heads to Huyton and Preston.

2019-02-05T18:30:00Z

10x02 blackburn to manchester.

  • 2019-02-05T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Blackburn to Manchester Michael Portillo continues his journey through Britain’s industrial northwest, visiting Blackburn, Nelson and the renovated 19th-century Manchester Victoria station.

2019-02-06T18:30:00Z

10x03 manchester to elsecar.

  • 2019-02-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Manchester to Elsecar Armed with Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey through Britain's industrial heartlands, leaving Manchester for Oldham, Edale and a private family railway line.

2019-02-07T18:30:00Z

10x04 maltby to hinckley.

  • 2019-02-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Maltby to Hinckley Armed with his Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo continues his tour of Britain’s industrial heartlands, heading for Maltby, Derby and on to Hinckley.

2019-02-08T18:30:00Z

10x05 birmingham to the potteries.

  • 2019-02-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Birmingham to the Potteries Armed with his Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo visits Birmingham, then travels on to Cradley Heath and Landywood, before reaching the Potteries at Stoke-on-Trent.

2019-02-11T18:30:00Z

10x06 newry to portadown.

  • 2019-02-11T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Newry to Portadown Beginning in Newry, Michael Portillo finds a specially chartered train that would deliver demonstrators campaigning for Irish Home Rule to a rally in the town.

2019-02-12T18:30:00Z

10x07 belfast to portrush.

  • 2019-02-12T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Belfast to Portrush Michael Portillo continues his rail journey through Northern Ireland. In Belfast’s grand Edwardian City Hall, Michael investigates the scene of a watershed moment in Irish history.

2019-02-13T18:30:00Z

10x08 larne to dumfries.

  • 2019-02-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Larne to Dumfries Leaving from the seaport of Larne, Michael Portillo reaches Stranraer and the Mull of Galloway, where in a lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson, he discovers a magnificent machine.

2019-02-14T18:30:00Z

10x09 glasgow to cumbrae.

  • 2019-02-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Glasgow to Cumbrae Michael Portillo explores the industrial heartland of Glasgow and its mighty River Clyde before taking the ferry to the island of Cumbrae. With his early 20th-century Bradshaw's guide in hand, he is put to work behind the scenes at Glasgow's circular subway, explores the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde and hears how one woman led a successful mass protest against high rents in the city's notorious tenements. On the island of Cumbrae, Michael investigates a forgotten Scottish expedition to the Antarctic and discovers the beauties of intertidal marine life.

2019-02-15T18:30:00Z

10x10 glasgow to connel ferry.

  • 2019-02-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo falls into line with the University of Glasgow’s Officer Training Corps. Founded in the early 20th century, the Corps flourishes today and Michaels joins students for drill. From Glasgow, Michael heads west along the Firth of Clyde to Helensburgh, where he discovers a pioneering group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. The idyllic West Highland Line takes Michael deep into the Highlands to Inveraray and the ancestral home of the Clan Campbell and the Dukes of Argyll. Here, he discovers an unconventional royal marriage between Queen Victoria’s spirited daughter, Princess Louise, and a commoner, the Marquess of Lorne, later the 9th Duke of Argyll. Michael’s final stop is Connel Ferry, near Oban, where, on the Achnacloich Estate, he discovers Lily, a pedigree Highland calf. Michael learns how Lily’s herd has been owned continuously by the Nelson family since 1901 and hears how the breed has become an icon of the Highlands.

2019-02-18T18:30:00Z

10x11 warwick to radley.

  • 2019-02-18T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Warwick to Radley In Warwick’s medieval castle, Michael Portillo uncovers the scene of an extravagant and scandalous ball, which changed the life of its hostess, Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick.

2019-02-19T18:30:00Z

10x12 reading to cookham.

  • 2019-02-19T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Reading to Cookham Messing about in boats is the name of the game in Henley on Thames, where Michael Portillo slips into a launch to hear about the world-famous regatta.

2019-02-20T18:30:00Z

10x13 ealing broadway to south kensington.

  • 2019-02-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Ealing Broadway to South Kensington In the Queen of the Suburbs, Ealing, Michael Portillo finds comedy at the home of British cinema and is transformed for the silver screen by expert hair and make-up.

2019-02-21T18:30:00Z

10x14 piccadilly circus to gravesend.

  • 2019-02-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Piccadilly Circus to Gravesend At Covent Garden’s Royal Ballet School, Michael Portillo hears how in 1909 a Russian ballet company took London by storm.

2019-02-22T18:30:00Z

10x15 east malling to rye.

  • 2019-02-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

East Malling to Rye In Folkestone, Michael Portillo hears how the town coped with an influx of more than 100,000 refugees from Belgium fleeing the German invasion in 1914.

2020-01-06T18:30:00Z

11x01 newcastle to county durham.

  • 2020-01-06T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Beginning just outside Newcastle in Jarrow, Michael uncovers the desperation which led 200 men to march 300 miles to Westminster in order to petition the Government for work. In Newcastle, Michael admires the city's iconic railway bridge.

2020-01-07T18:30:00Z

11x02 kielder forest to edinburgh.

  • 2020-01-07T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his 1936 Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo is in Northumbria en route to the Highlands.

2020-01-08T18:30:00Z

11x03 falkirk to dundee.

  • 2020-01-08T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's railway journey through 1930s Britain from Newcastle to Loch Ness reaches Falkirk in Scotland.

2020-01-09T18:30:00Z

11x04 dundee to aberdeen.

  • 2020-01-09T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Stopping at Dundee, Michael Portillo heads for Glamis Castle, where Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother, grew up.

2020-01-10T18:30:00Z

11x05 elgin to loch ness.

  • 2020-01-10T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's journey ends at Loch Ness, where he joins the Deep Scan research team as they scour the deep for signs of the elusive monster.

2020-01-13T18:30:00Z

11x06 st ives to st day.

  • 2020-01-13T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo explores the West Country between the wars and discovers a Cornish fisherman, who, although he began painting only in his seventies, inspired established artists from the capital.

2020-01-14T18:30:00Z

11x07 truro to st mawgan.

  • 2020-01-14T18:30:00Z — 30 m

In the countryside surrounding Truro, Michael finds the historic estate of Trewithen, whose gardens were stocked from China by professional plant hunters commissioned by its owner.

2020-01-15T18:30:00Z

11x08 bodmin to totnes.

  • 2020-01-15T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Clutching his 1930s Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo reaches Bodmin en route to Totnes as he explores the West Country from St Ives to Salisbury Plain.

2020-01-16T18:30:00Z

11x09 paignton to tiverton.

  • 2020-01-16T18:30:00Z — 30 m

The Dartmouth Steam Railway takes Michael Portillo to the beautiful home of Agatha Christie, in the company of her great-grandson, James Prichard.

2020-01-17T18:30:00Z

11x10 taunton to salisbury plain.

  • 2020-01-17T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo crosses the county line from Devon into Somerset. He sees first-hand how willow farmers sought to overcome the challenge from the production of synthetic plastics during the 1930s.

2020-01-20T18:30:00Z

11x11 canterbury to alexandra palace.

  • 2020-01-20T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Beginning in Canterbury in Kent, Michael treads the boards as he uncovers the political message behind a play, published in 1936, inspired by the 12th-century murder of Archbishop Thomas a Becket.

2020-01-21T18:30:00Z

11x12 limehouse to rochford.

  • 2020-01-21T18:30:00Z — 30 m

On this leg, Michael alights at Limehouse in east London for Cable Street, which became the focus of Britain's fight against fascism in the 1930s.

2020-01-22T18:30:00Z

11x13 witham to felixstowe.

  • 2020-01-22T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's railway journey reaches Witham in Essex. Here he visits the factory of the world's oldest supplier of metal framed windows which became popular in the 30s.

2020-01-23T18:30:00Z

11x14 saxmundham to norwich.

  • 2020-01-23T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo heads for Snape Maltings, a concert and arts venue, and learns how the music and life of one of Britain’s greatest composers was shaped by the sea and his Suffolk surroundings.

2020-01-24T18:30:00Z

11x15 attleborough to skegness.

  • 2020-01-24T18:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo is in Attleborough, at the headquarters of an international horse welfare organization which was established in the late 1920s, where he learns about the charity's pioneering founder.

2021-04-26T17:30:00Z

12x01 oxford to abingdon.

  • 2021-04-26T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo strikes out on another series of railway journeys, starting with a tour of the Home Counties and beyond in the city of dreaming spires, Oxford.

2021-04-27T17:30:00Z

12x02 stoke mandeville to beaconsfield.

  • 2021-04-27T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his travels through England's Home Counties at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, where he discovers the legacy of a German Jewish doctor who fled the Nazis.

2021-04-28T17:30:00Z

12x03 west ruislip to windsor.

  • 2021-04-28T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo heads for leafy Hatch End, where he investigates an illustrator whose work was so popular in the 1920s and 30s that his name entered the English dictionary.

2021-04-29T17:30:00Z

12x04 guildford to aldershot.

  • 2021-04-29T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo resumes his tour of the Home Counties in the picturesque and historic county town of Guildford. English

2021-04-30T17:30:00Z

12x05 farnborough to winchester.

  • 2021-04-30T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael is heading for Farnborough, Hampshire, famous today for its airshow and home to what was then the Royal Aircraft Establishment.

2021-05-03T17:30:00Z

12x06 saxmundham to dedham.

  • 2021-05-03T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his 1930s Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo explores interwar East Anglia. Starting at Sutton Hoo, he visits the experimental Summerhill School and learns about the Kindertransport refugees.

2021-05-04T17:30:00Z

12x07 colchester to chadwell heath.

  • 2021-05-04T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his Bradshaw's-inspired journey through East Anglia, where he discovers the Essex origins of the BBC and joins the Women's Land Army to pick damsons at Tiptree.

2021-05-05T17:30:00Z

12x08 potters bar to cardington.

  • 2021-05-05T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael's Bradshaw travels resume in leafy Hertfordshire, where he attempts a canoe slalom course, visits the estate of Dame Barbara Cartland and hears the shocking story of the R101 airship.

2021-05-06T17:30:00Z

12x09 sawbridgeworth to cambridge.

  • 2021-05-06T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Steered by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo heads for the Hertfordshire village of Perry Green to learn about Henry Moore became one of the defining artists of British modernism.

2021-05-07T17:30:00Z

12x10 newmarket to walsingham.

  • 2021-05-07T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo is in Suffolk on the last leg of his 1930s Bradshaw's inspired tour of East Anglia, visiting the racecourse at Newmarket and the Roman Catholic shrine at Walsingham.

2021-05-10T17:30:00Z

12x11 crewe to shotton.

  • 2021-05-10T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Oh, Mr Porter, what could he do? Michael Portillo is in Crewe, a town steeped in railway history and immortalised in Victorian music hall, to investigate the making of the iconic cinema classic, The Night Mail during the 1930s.

2021-05-11T17:30:00Z

12x12 rhyl to anglesey.

  • 2021-05-11T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo's 1930s Bradshaw's-inspired railway tour of North Wales takes him to a coast lined by magnificent castles and sweeping bays.

2021-05-12T17:30:00Z

12x13 bangor to betws y coed.

  • 2021-05-12T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo continues his 1936 Bradshaw's-inspired railway tour of North Wales in the coastal city of Bangor before turning south from Llandudno Junction to travel the Conwy Valley Line to Betws y Coed, the gateway to Snowdonia.

2021-05-13T17:30:00Z

12x14 blaenau ffestiniog to barmouth.

  • 2021-05-13T17:30:00Z — 30 m

In the Welsh mountains of Snowdonia, Michael Portillo reaches an abandoned mine, where in 1940 the wartime government sought sanctuary for the National Gallery’s priceless art collection. Michael hears how, as invasion appeared imminent, great masterpieces were transported by train and lorry to be stored hundreds of feet beneath the ground in a natural granite bunker. At Tan y Bwlch, Michael meets 'Blanche', who used to haul slate at Penrhyn quarry and was built in 1893. Now beautifully restored, she takes Michael on a memorable ride on the oldest narrow-gauge line in the world, the Ffestiniog Railway. In the harbour town of Porthmadog, Michael investigates the Welsh origins of a man forever associated with the Middle East, Lawrence of Arabia.

2021-05-14T17:30:00Z

12x15 aberystwyth to newtown.

  • 2021-05-14T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his 1930s Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo travels from Aberystwyth into the Cambrian Mountains at Devil's Bridge and finishes in Newtown, Powys. Michael's 250-mile tour of North Wales draws to a close in style at the birthplace of the nation's first classical music festival, Gregynog Hall, near Newtown. Michael is intrigued to discover that its founders, sisters Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, used the fortune they inherited from their grandfather, a noted Welsh railway builder, to establish the country estate as a centre for art and music from 1933. In the glorious music room, a Welsh harpist helps to evoke the spirit of festivals past and present.

2021-05-17T17:30:00Z

13x01 biggin hill to ashdown forest.

  • 2021-05-17T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo experiences a terrifying ‘victory roll’ in a World War II Spitfire, high above the most famous aerodrome of the Battle of Britain, Biggin Hill. The 80-year-old aircraft, in which so many young men risked their lives for the nation, is one of a fleet intensively maintained by a dedicated team of technicians, and Michael is privileged to be flown by an ex-Royal Navy pilot. Michael learns of the strategic importance of the sector airfield to the defence of the capital and the country. Back on terra firma, Michael takes the train to East Grinstead on the trail of a bear with very little brain. In Ashdown Forest, he meets a biographer of A.A. Milne to find out about the author’s much-loved character, Winnie the Pooh. Michael plays a game of Pooh Sticks, then treats himself to a ‘little something’ at Pooh Corner.

2021-05-18T17:30:00Z

13x02 hassocks to benenden.

  • 2021-05-18T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Starting in Hassocks, Michael makes his way to the beautiful Sussex village of Ditchling, where, between the wars, a Roman Catholic community of artists made their home. Michael finds out how they made their mark on the village, the capital and the nation’s railways. In the seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, Michael hears of the work of the wartime air raid precautions wardens, immortalised in the BBC series Dad’s Army. He discovers Bexhill was heavily bombed from the air and became a target of the Nazi invasion plan, Operation Sealion. Michael takes the train north to the village of Burwash, where he finds a magnificent Jacobean house called Bateman’s. Its occupant - until 1936, when Michael’s guidebook was published - was the most famous writer in the country, Rudyard Kipling, author of the Jungle Book. Michael learns about his life and work. The delightful Kent and East Sussex heritage railway conveys Michael from Bodiam Castle through the scenic Rother Valley to Tenterden.

2021-05-19T17:30:00Z

13x03 rye to dungeness.

  • 2021-05-19T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo follows his 1930s Bradshaw’s guide to the unspoilt East Sussex port of Rye, where he learns about the loss of a generation of lifeboatmen in 1928 and explores a wartime pillbox. On the beaches at Rye, Michael explores one of 28,000 pillboxes constructed around the British coastline during World War II and hears from a military historian about how the nation prepared for an expected German invasion. Train heaven beckons as Michael boards the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway to cross Romney Marsh en route to Dungeness. Along the way, he hears about the eccentric inventor of the railway, Count Louis Zborowski. From Dungeness, Michael heads to the former RAF base of Denge, where he discovers a cluster of giant concrete structures with an intriguing name, Sound Mirrors. The RSPB warden in whose nature reserve they stand explains their history to Michael.

2021-05-20T17:30:00Z

13x04 deal to margate.

  • 2021-05-20T17:30:00Z — 30 m

From the Kent Cinque Port of Deal, Michael heads to the splendid Walmer Castle, home during the 1920s to a Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord Beauchamp. Michael’s guide, the founder of the LGBTQ working group for English Heritage, tells Michael of the lavish homosexual parties Lord Beauchamp held at the castle and how his openly hedonistic lifestyle, at a time when homosexuality was illegal, resulted in his exile from the country. Tracking the east Kent coast, Michael reaches the Royal Harbour of Ramsgate, where he remembers the courage of the little ships that evacuated men from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. Michael goes deep underground to see where the town’s residents sheltered from enemy bombs in a two-and-a-half mile long disused railway tunnel, some for up to five years. Next stop is Margate, 'an exuberant resort' according to Bradshaw’s and the holiday destination of choice for Londoners drawn by the town’s pioneering amusement park, Dreamland.

2021-05-21T17:30:00Z

13x05 herne bay to leeds castle, kent.

  • 2021-05-21T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his interwar copy of Bradshaw’s Guide to the Railways, Michael reaches the Kent seaside resort of Herne Bay, where he learns about a pioneering aviatrix who began her working life as a typist in Hull but whose epic achievements made her an international celebrity. Michael takes the train five miles west along the coast before heading offshore into the entrance to the Thames Estuary. He is amazed by seven enormous steel sea forts, which loom out of the water 90 feet above the seabed. The engineering involved in constructing these impressive structures is awe-inspiring, as is their role in protecting the nation from enemy bombing during the Second World War. In the seaside town of Whitstable, Michael tucks into its famous staple, oysters. He then crosses the North Downs to Lenham, from which he visits Leeds Castle, the 'loveliest castle in the world' and home between the wars to the visionary Lady Olive Bailey.

2021-05-24T17:30:00Z

13x06 chislehurst to kennington.

  • 2021-05-24T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael continues his journeys in greater London. Beginning on its southeastern fringe in the leafy and historic village of Chislehurst, Michael finds surprising imperial connections and a dark labyrinth beneath. Michael discovers that during the years between the wars, a mushroom farm thrived in the 22 miles of man-made passages and tunnels. Once war broke out, however, he finds that the caves became one of the largest public air raid shelters in the land, offering refuge to up to 15,000 people. Next stop is Eltham, boyhood haunt of Henry VIII, who grew up in its grand royal palace. Michael investigates how, in the early 1930s, a wealthy couple rescued it from dereliction and created their own 'grand design' of the day. Stephen and Virginia Courtauld restored the magnificent great hall and added a vast new mansion, which embraced the art deco style and mod cons of the period. Michael marvels at the opulent design and the glamorous cocktail parties hosted by the pair.

2021-05-25T17:30:00Z

13x07 hackney wick to oxford circus.

  • 2021-05-25T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael continues his travels through the capital in the heart of London’s East End. Michael explores Hackney Wick, today transformed from the time of his 1930s Bradshaw’s guide, when factories belched smoke and the Communist Party of Great Britain launched The Daily Worker. Michael hears about the newspaper’s origins and aims from the editor of its modern incarnation, The Morning Star. A bout in the ring at Repton Boxing Club has Michael floating like a butterfly - if not stinging like a bee - as he discovers one of Britain’s greatest fighters, Ted 'Kid' Lewis. Michael is captivated by the story of the Jewish refugee from the Russian pogroms, who twice became welterweight champion of the world. A night at one of the earliest railway hotels, the Great Northern, sets the scene for Michael to explore the railway revolution of the interwar years, when around 150 companies were rationalised into the 'big four', heralding a golden age of glamour, speed and style.

2021-05-26T17:30:00Z

13x08 hampstead to islington.

  • 2021-05-26T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael’s Bradshaw’s-inspired rail tour of London continues in Hampstead, where shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, a groundbreaking Jewish doctor found refuge. Sigmund Freud fled the Austrian capital of Vienna by train to escape the Nazis, who branded his work degenerate. Michael hears how the father of psychoanalysis was warmly welcomed in London and sees the famous couch, upon which patients would lie to recount their dreams. In St John’s Wood, Michael discovers how Britain went on record between the wars at the Abbey Road Studios. He is amazed by the cavernous space in which Sir Edward Elgar and the London Symphony Orchestra played at the grand opening ceremony in 1931, and he's awed by the list of famous names to follow their lead, topped by the Beatles, who immortalised Abbey Road on an album cover. A young violinist brings Studio 2 to life with a tribute to Elgar.

2021-05-27T17:30:00Z

13x09 dagenham to battersea.

  • 2021-05-27T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Armed with his 1930s Bradshaw’s guide, Michael is in London, where he tracks the River Thames from east to west. Michael is drawn to the industrial eastern suburb by the unexpected sound of pipes. He finds their origins in a Sunday school band for girls begun by a cleric in the 1930s. Still going strong, the Dagenham Girl Pipers explain their history and success, as well as treating Michael to a performance of Tipperary. Aboard a Thames Rocket boat, Michael finds out how the river is both the lifeblood of and an existential threat to the capital. He hears how a great flood claimed 14 lives in 1928 and investigates how London is protected today on a visit to the Thames Barrier. Michael finishes this leg of his tour at one of London’s most iconic buildings, Battersea Power Station, built during the 1930s by Giles Gilbert Scott.

2021-05-29T17:30:00Z

13x10 park royal to westminster.

  • 2021-05-29T17:30:00Z — 30 m

Michael Portillo discovers the origins of Harry Beck's map of the London Underground, learns about a shocking surrealist show in 1930s Piccadilly and explores the headquarters of Churchill's war cabinet.

2023-06-19T17:30:00Z

14x01 preston to rawtenstall.

  • 2023-06-19T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo strikes out to explore the Britain of his youth. He’s a 'boomer', born in the decade after the end of the Second World War, and he recalls the optimism and excitement of rebuilding a nation exhausted by conflict. He relives the agony and the ecstasy of British Rail and marvels at the new society and culture that emerged in postwar Britain. At Preston’s Fulwood Barracks in Lancashire, Michael is called up for National Service but fails to impress the drill sergeant. Two veterans share their memories of postwar military action. At the Preston Bypass, he hears how the pioneering project aimed to tackle congestion and link the north of England to the south. In Blackburn, he investigates the town’s political heritage and its fiery red-headed MP, Barbara Castle. At Bury Bolton Street station, Michael meets the volunteers who operate the fabulously preserved East Lancashire Heritage Railway and learns how the Beeching cuts affected rail services in the area.

2023-06-20T17:30:00Z

14x02 urmston to new islington.

  • 2023-06-20T17:30:00Z — 29 m

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through north west England from Preston to Hebden Bridge reaches Greater Manchester, where Michael celebrates new beginnings for the nation in the years after the Second World War. At Trafford General Hospital, he investigates the birth of the National Health Service. William Roache, star of the nation’s longest-running soap, Coronation Street, meets Michael to tell him about the first episode, broadcast in 1960. At the city’s Science and Industry Museum, Michael encounters a fellow post-war 'Baby', a replica of the first computer in the world to run a stored programme and the forerunner of all modern computers. Close by at Manchester University, Michael is introduced to the latest supercomputer, a million times more powerful than Baby, the SpiNNaker machine. The tram takes Michael east to New Islington, where he admires a fresh new look for an old textile mill.

2023-06-21T17:30:00Z

14x03 oldham to wakefield.

  • 2023-06-21T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram delivers Michael to the former cotton town of Oldham on the edge of the Peak District. In the stalls of the Oldham Coliseum, the town’s Victorian repertory theatre, Michael hears how the lifting of censorship allowed theatres to stage risqué productions from playwrights such as Tennessee Williams. Michael takes the Hope Valley Line to Edale in the Peak District with a hiking guide, who is encouraging black women to enjoy the national park. Next stop is Sheffield, where Michael visits Cutlers’ Hall and sharpens his skills at a knife-making workshop. Michael ends this part of his journey by admiring the striking postwar sculptures of Barbara Hepworth in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

2023-06-22T17:30:00Z

14x04 wakefield to leeds.

  • 2023-06-22T17:30:00Z — 28 m

From Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Michael visits the National Coal Mining Museum for England at Caphouse Colliery. He pauses to admire the tall spire of Wakefield Cathedral and its resident peregrine falcons before heading to the banks of the River Calder. In a vast factory, he finds the headquarters of a shirt manufacturer, Double Two, a pioneering wartime business co-founded by a Jewish refugee from Austria. In Leeds, Michael heads for the Chapeltown area to investigate the origins of the Leeds West Indian Carnival in 1967 and try his hand on the steel drums. In the city's Harehills district, he admires the back-to-back houses once condemned as slums but now highly prized for their character and community.

2023-06-24T17:30:00Z

14x05 bradford to hebden bridge.

  • 2023-06-24T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo continues his postwar exploration of north west England in Bradford, Shipley and Hebden Bridge. In Centenary Square in Bradford, Michael encounters Bradford’s literary giant JB Priestley, author of An Inspector Calls. In the Bradford Royal Infirmary, Michael traces the hospital's pioneering history of chemotherapy and learns how new drugs to impede the spread of cancer are being developed at Bradford’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. Just north of Bradford, at Shipley station, Michael discovers a nature reserve in the middle of a car park that's home to more than 14 species of butterfly and moth. And the Calder Valley Line delivers Michael to the pretty station at Hebden Bridge, once a mill town in decline but today popular with many same-sex couples.

2023-06-26T17:30:00Z

14x06 tilbury to barbican.

  • 2023-06-26T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo travels through the Britain of his youth from London’s Docklands and East End to the ‘city within a city’, the Barbican. At Tilbury, he traces the arrival in 1948 of the Empire Windrush, bringing over a thousand passengers from the Caribbean to work in Britain. Taking the Docklands Light Railway to the Royal Docks, he visit one of the capital’s oldest industrial sites: Tate and Lyle’s huge sugar refinery. In Limehouse, Michael recalls the Labour Party’s landslide victory at the post-war general election of 1945 and hears what drove prime minister Clement Attlee to strive for social change. Michael heads next to what was one of the largest bomb sites in London. The 40-acre mound of rubble was transformed during the 1960s and 1970s into the Barbican, a huge residential estate with schools, shops and an arts centre.

2023-06-27T17:30:00Z

14x07 waterloo to regent's park.

  • 2023-06-27T17:30:00Z — 29 m

Michael Portillo continues his railway exploration of the post-war Britain of his youth on a journey from London to Cambridge. He begins on the capital’s South Bank, where during 1951 a Festival of Britain drew more than eight and a half million visitors to admire fantastical buildings designed to inspire and celebrate the best of British in art, science and industry. After a spin on the London Eye, built to celebrate the millennium, Michael takes the London Underground to Chelsea to find out about one of the most influential cookery writers of the 20th century, Elizabeth David. In Covent Garden, he learns how Vidal Sassoon’s classic bob hairstyle took the fashion world by storm. Finally, in Regent’s Park, Michael visits a long-awaited mosque, first mooted in 1900 and completed in 1977 to a modernist design by architect Frederick Gibberd.

2023-06-28T17:30:00Z

14x08 paddington to ongar.

  • 2023-06-28T17:30:00Z — 29 m

Michael Portillo ventures deep underground onto London’s newest railway: the Elizabeth Line. Emerging into the sunshine in Bedford Square, he recalls the choking smogs which plagued the capital during the 1950s. Back on the Elizabeth Line, Michael travels east to Stratford to visit the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, where pioneering director Joan Littlewood produced groundbreaking plays such as Oh! What a Lovely War. At Shenfield, Michael transfers to the Epping Ongar Heritage Railway. His destination is a nondescript 1950s bungalow, which hides the entrance to an underground bunker designed for use in the event of nuclear war.

2023-06-29T17:30:00Z

14x09 felixstowe to norwich.

  • 2023-06-29T17:30:00Z — 29 m

Michael Portillo continues his rail exploration of the east of England, beginning with the seafront at Felixstowe, where in January 1953, the town was engulfed in the worst flooding to hit England in the 20th century. In Ipswich, Michael inspects new flood defences and is invited to operate the barrier which protects the town centre. From Orford, Michael makes tracks for what was Britain’s most secret military complex during World War II, Orford Ness. He hears how researchers stress tested nuclear bombs during the Cold War. In Norwich, Michael admires the Norman cathedral before heading to the city’s mail centre, where he traces the history of the postcode. At the city’s plate glass University of East Anglia, Michael investigates a master's degree course which launched many creative writers to stardom.

2023-06-30T17:30:00Z

14x10 brandon to cambridge.

  • 2023-06-30T17:30:00Z — 29 m

Michael Portillo completes his railway journey through the east of England during the post-war period. At RAF Lakenheath, he discovers a slice of America dropped into the British countryside, watching the US Air Force's Strike Eagles as they climb 10,000 feet per minute in an almost vertical trajectory. In the market town of Brandon, Michael visits Quorn Foods to find how a seemingly modern meat substitute emerged out of a post-war food crisis. Meanwhile, at Wild Ken Hill, Michael meets a visionary farmer committed to regenerating his land. Michael ends his journey in Cambridge to learn about how, just after World War II, James Watson and Francis Crick made the most important discovery in biology since Darwin.

2023-07-17T17:30:00Z

14x11 derby to hinckley.

  • 2023-07-17T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo explores the postwar Britain of his youth on a railway journey from the Midlands to the West Country. Beginning in Derby's famous 19th-century railway works, Michael hears how the Victorian sheds now house some of the most up to date assembly lines in Britain for building electric trains. In Leicester, Michael looks back to the early 1970s, when around 10,000 Asians arrived in the city after being expelled from Uganda by the dictator Idi Amin. On the outskirts of the city, Michael discovers a factory where, shortly after the Second World War, an entrepreneurial butcher turned his hand to something completely different - with the company he founded, Walkers, now producing 11 million bags of crisps a day. And from Hinkley Station, Michael heads for Stoney Cove, where a submerged quarry proved an ideal place to train divers in the 60s and 70s.

2023-07-18T17:30:00Z

14x12 coventry to leamington spa.

  • 2023-07-18T17:30:00Z — 28 m

In Coventry, Michael recalls the destruction by the German Luftwaffe of the city’s gothic cathedral in November 1940. He hears how architect Basil Spence won a competition to build it anew and tours the breathtakingly modernist concrete structure built alongside the medieval ruin. And from the city's recently redeveloped station, he heads to the factory of the London Electric Vehicle Company, manufacturers of the iconic London taxi. Heading south to Royal Leamington Spa, Michael visits the Guide Dogs for the Blind National Centre, established in the town in 1941. Michael learns how the organisation was founded and how dogs are bred today.

2023-07-19T17:30:00Z

14x13 long itchington to moseley.

  • 2023-07-19T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo’s railway journey reaches the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, where work is underway on a section of the biggest project of new railway infrastructure in Britain for a hundred years: HS2. In the Tudor town of Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, Michael visits the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, home since 1961 to the Royal Shakespeare Company. In Birmingham, Michael recalls the redevelopment of the whole city centre during the 1960s and the arrival of black and Asian communities in areas where he once tried to enter parliament. In the Prince of Wales pub in Handsworth, he investigates the fusion of Asian and British cultural influences which produced modern Bhangra music. Michael finishes this leg of his railway journey in the leafy suburb of Moseley, where in order to combat the housing shortage after the Second World War, prefabricated houses were put up - and, in some cases, remain to this day.

2023-07-20T17:30:00Z

14x14 wolverhampton to cheltenham.

  • 2023-07-20T17:30:00Z — 28 m

At the African and Caribbean Heritage Centre in Wolverhampton, Michael finds out about the impact of Enoch Powell's 1968 speech on immigration in Wolverhampton and across the nation. In Kidderminster, he discovers the site of a secret wartime enterprise: a subterranean world of shafts, workshops and offices known as the Drakelow Tunnels. In the cathedral city of Worcester, Michael joins pupils of King’s Hawford School to hear about their chosen sport, pigeon racing. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway transports Michael back to the 1950s and on to Cheltenham, on the edge of the Cotswolds, where the town’s splendid jazz festival is gearing up for its 25th anniversary.

2023-07-21T17:30:00Z

14x15 tewkesbury to filton.

  • 2023-07-21T17:30:00Z — 28 m

Michael Portillo is on the last leg of his railway journey from the train-building city of Derby to the aircraft manufacturing base of Filton. From Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, he heads to the fairy-tale castle of Eastnor at the foot of the Malvern Hills. At a factory in Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Michael recalls his childhood screen debut in an advertisement for a fruity cordial and discovers it remains popular today. At Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, Michael heads for the wetlands of the Severn Estuary, where the postwar conservation movement in Britain began with the opening of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Michael’s last stop is Filton, where he investigates the centre of Britain’s postwar aviation industry and the manufacturing base for the fastest passenger plane on earth, Concorde.

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15 Episodes

S10 e1 - warrington to preston, s10 e2 - blackburn to manchester, s10 e3 - manchester to elsecar, s10 e4 - maltby to hinckley, s10 e5 - birmingham to the potteries, s10 e6 - newry to portadown, s10 e7 - belfast to portrush, s10 e8 - larne to dumfries, s10 e9 - glasgow to cumbrae, s10 e10 - glasgow to connel ferry, s10 e11 - warwick to radley, s10 e12 - reading to cookham, s10 e13 - ealing broadway to south kensington, s10 e14 - piccadilly circus to gravesend, s10 e15 - east malling to rye, where does great british railway journeys rank today the justwatch daily streaming charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. this includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. this includes data from ~1.3 million movie & tv show fans per day..

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Great British Railway Journeys is 15113 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The TV show has moved up the charts by 16201 places since yesterday. In Australia, it is currently more popular than Eden but less popular than Timon & Pumbaa.

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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Great British Railway Journeys

Presenter Michael Portillo, a British journalist, travels the railways throughout England using George Bradshaw's maps to compare 1840s-era Britain to modern-day Britain.

Oxford to Abingdon

great british railway journeys season 10

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Great British Railway Journeys - Series 14: 10. Brandon to Cambridge

Michael Portillo completes his railway journey through the east of England during the post-war period, heading from RAF Lakenheath to the city of Cambridge.   More

  • Duration 29 mins
  • First shown 26 Jun 2023
  • Available for 4 months

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Michael Portillo in Great British Railway Journeys (2010)

S11.E1 ∙ Newcastle to County Durham

S11.e2 ∙ kielder forest to edinburgh, s11.e3 ∙ falkirk to dundee, s11.e4 ∙ dundee to aberdeen, s11.e5 ∙ elgin to loch ness, s11.e6 ∙ st ives to st day, s11.e7 ∙ truro to st mawgan, s11.e8 ∙ bodmin to totnes, s11.e9 ∙ paignton to tiverton, s11.e10 ∙ taunton to salisbury plain, s11.e11 ∙ canterbury to alexandra palace, s11.e12 ∙ limehouse to rochford, s11.e13 ∙ witham to felixstowe, s11.e14 ∙ saxmundham to norwich, s11.e15 ∙ attleborough to skegness, contribute to this page.

Michael Portillo in Great British Railway Journeys (2010)

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Great British Railway Journeys – Season 4, Episode 10

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Great British Railway Journeys — Season 4, Episode 10

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COMMENTS

  1. Great British Railway Journeys, Series 10

    Back up to: Great British Railway Journeys. East Malling to Rye. 15 / 15 Michael hears how Folkestone coped with an influx of refugees from Belgium in 1914. Piccadilly Circus to Gravesend.

  2. Great British Railway Journeys

    Michael Portillo during filming at Taunton station in 2017. Great British Railway Journeys is a 2010-present BBC documentary series presented by Michael Portillo, a former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister who was instrumental in saving the Settle to Carlisle line from closure in 1989. The documentary was first broadcast in 2010 on BBC Two and has returned annually for a current total of ...

  3. Great British Railway Journeys (TV Series 2010- )

    Great British Railway Journeys. Top-rated. Mon, Jan 2, 2017. S8.E1. The Flying Scotsman. Michael takes a once in a lifetime trip aboard the world famous train. He is up before dawn to catch The Flying Scotsman at London's King's Cross station and takes the opportunity to get his hands on the hallowed controls. 9.3/10.

  4. BBC Two

    Great British Railway Journeys Episodes Episode guide. All; Available now (15) Next on (0) Series 14 View episodes. Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train. ...

  5. Great British Railway Journeys Season 10

    Synopsis:Explore Great British Railway Journeys's Season 10 critics' insights and audience ratings. Dive into the drama, excitement, and fun. Read reviews now!

  6. Great British Railway Journeys (TV Series 2010- )

    Great British Railway Journeys: With Michael Portillo, Alex Hutchinson, Nicholas Owen, Robert Hulse. Michael Portillo travels along the railway networks of Great Britain and Ireland, referring to a Victorian guidebook written by George Bradshaw as he describes how the destinations have changed.

  7. Watch Great British Railway Journeys Series & Episodes Online

    Series Selector for Great British Railway Journeys. Series 2. Series 4. Series 5. Series 6. Series 13. All episodes for series 2 of Great British Railway Journeys. S2 E25 · Lochailort to Skye. Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II.

  8. Great British Railway Journeys

    Great British Railway Journeys - Season 10, Episode 11 Warwick to Radley Aired Feb 18, 2019 Documentary Travel. Reviews Michael Portillo journeys the country by train.

  9. Great British Railway Journeys

    Great British Railway Journeys - Season 10, Episode 10 Hillhead to Connel Ferry Aired Feb 15, 2019 Documentary Travel. Reviews Michael Portillo journeys the country by train.

  10. Great British Railway Journeys

    EPISODE 1. Liverpool. This week's journey sees Michael travel coast to coast from Liverpool to Scarborough. His first stop is at the great port of Liverpool where he meets local author Peter Grant. Peter gives Michael a lesson in how to speak Scouse as they explore the impact of immigration on the city and its famous accent.

  11. Great British Railway Journeys

    Streaming charts last updated: 13:26:10, 25/02/2024 . Great British Railway Journeys is 2524 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The TV show has moved up the charts by 909 places since yesterday. In the United Kingdom, it is currently more popular than Malpractice but less popular than Fingersmith.

  12. BBC's Great Railway Journeys

    A collection of episodes from BBC's Great Continental Railway Journeys. 20+ videos to binge watch on Youtube

  13. Great British Railway Journeys · Season 10

    Michael Portillo makes various railway journeys across the UK, using a 150-year-old Bradshaw's Guide (a collection of railway timetables and a guidebook). He looks at the history, culture and industry of the towns that he passes through, and the way that things have changed since Bradshaw wrote his Guide.

  14. Great British Railway Journeys: All Episodes

    283 378 15.1k 3. Newcastle to Melton Mowbray - Ep 14. Batley to Sheffield. Michael finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry in the textile town of Batley, discovers how the railways boosted Yorkshire's forced rhubarb trade, and meets the great-great-granddaughter of George Bradshaw himself.

  15. Great British Railway Journeys

    Great British Railway Journeys - Season 10, Episode 1 Warrington to Preston Air Date: Feb 4, 2019 Documentary Travel. Reviews Ratings Michael Portillo journeys the country by train.

  16. Great British Railway Journeys Season 10

    Currently you are able to watch "Great British Railway Journeys - Season 10" streaming on BINGE, Foxtel Now. Where can I watch Great British Railway Journeys for free? There are no options to watch Great British Railway Journeys for free online today in Australia. You can select 'Free' and hit the notification bell to be notified when season is ...

  17. Great British Railway Journeys (TV Series 2010- )

    Great British Railway Journeys. Top-rated. Mon, Jan 2, 2017. S8.E1. The Flying Scotsman. Michael takes a once in a lifetime trip aboard the world famous train. He is up before dawn to catch The Flying Scotsman at London's King's Cross station and takes the opportunity to get his hands on the hallowed controls. 9.3/10.

  18. Watch Great British Railway Journeys

    Blaenau Ffestiniog to Barmouth. 29m. 15. Aberystwyth to Newtown. 29m. Watch Great British Railway Journeys for free with SBS On Demand, your ultimate destination for diverse entertainment. Stream now!

  19. Great British Railway Journeys, Series 14

    11 / 15 Michael Portillo begins a railway journey from the Midlands to the West Country. Brandon to Cambridge 10 / 15 Michael Portillo completes his railway journey through the east of England.

  20. Great British Railway Journeys

    S12, Ep1. 26 Apr. 2021. Oxford to Abingdon. 7.3 (6) Rate. Michael embarks upon a series of railway journeys, this time through the Britain of the inter-war period. He begins with a tour of the Home Counties, starting in the city of dreaming spires, Oxford. He visits the home of MG Sports Cars.

  21. Great British Railway Journeys

    Series 14: 10. Brandon to Cambridge Michael Portillo completes his railway journey through the east of England during the post-war period, heading from RAF Lakenheath to the city of Cambridge.

  22. Great British Railway Journeys (TV Series 2010- )

    Great British Railway Journeys. Top-rated. Mon, Jan 2, 2017. S8.E1. The Flying Scotsman. Michael takes a once in a lifetime trip aboard the world famous train. He is up before dawn to catch The Flying Scotsman at London's King's Cross station and takes the opportunity to get his hands on the hallowed controls. 9.3/10.

  23. Great British Railway Journeys

    Michael Portillo journeys the country by train.