Great British Railway Journeys
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.
- 2010-2025
- 16 seasons
- Documentary
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.
Season 16 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 2025
Episode 1
Paddock Wood to Frant
29 mins
Michael Portillo takes to the rails to explore one of Britain's oldest surviving landscapes, the woods and pasture of the Weald in south-east England. At Bedgebury Pinetum, Michael finds the largest collection of conifers in the world.
Episode 2
Hildenborough to Robertsbridge
Michael Portillo's rail exploration of the historic wooded region of south-east England, known as the Weald, continues from Tonbridge, at the heart of the area's rail network. Michael also gets the lowdown on the Rother Valley Railway project.
Episode 3
Dorking to Lingfield
29 mins
Michael Portillo's railway tour of the Weald reaches the spectacular Surrey countryside, where he finds a surprising connection to the darker reaches of the universe. Michael follows in the footsteps of Victorian ramblers who used the railway.
Episode 4
Gatwick Airport to Royal Tunbridge Wells
29 mins
Michael Portillo's rail exploration continues aboard the Gatwick Express train, which connects the busy airport in the South East of England with the capital, London.
Episode 5
Chichester to Amberley
29 mins
Michael's railway tour of the green and pleasant landscape between the North and South Downs, known as the Weald, nears its conclusion; Michael heads south on the Arun Valley Line to Amberley to visit a magnificent Roman villa of 65 rooms.
Episode 6
Windermere to Sellafield
29 mins
Michael Portillo begins a railway tour of the spectacular border counties of Cumbria and Dumfriesshire, starting in the stunning Lake District National Park, where he discovers the violent geological history of volcanoes and colliding continents.
Episode 7
St Bees to Grange-over-Sands
29 mins
Michael's railway tour continues as he travels along the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line; Michael visits an iron ore mine turned into an arts centre; Michael discovers the cradle of Quakerism.
Episode 8
Maryport to Penrith
29 mins
Michael's railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire heads to the hills as he follows in the footsteps of the Lakeland poets; in Keswick, Michael retraces the adventurous walks of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Episode 9
Aspatria to Carlisle
29 mins
Michael's railway journey through Cumbria and Dumfriesshire takes him to the rolling countryside around Aspatria to meet a couple who swapped their old life for organic dairy farming.
Episode 10
Dumfries to Auchinleck
29 mins
Michael concludes his journey from Cumbria to Dumfriesshire by crossing the Solway Firth into Scotland, where he visits the beautifully preserved last home of Scotland's greatest poet, Robert Burns.
Episode 11
Shrewsbury to Telford
29 mins
Michael re-enacts the Battle of Shrewsbury and explores the town's beautiful gothic cathedral; Michael rides the Telford Steam Railway's flagship locomotive.
Episode 12
Ironbridge to Coseley
29 mins
Michael Portillo is in Ironbridge Gorge on the River Severn, a hotbed of 18th-century innovation that features the world's first coke blast iron furnace.
Episode 13
Dudley to West Bromwich
29 mins
Michael boards a barge on the Dudley Canal, discovers an ancient seabed and explores racial tension in 1960s Smethwick.
Episode 14
Birmingham New Street to Wednesbury
29 mins
Arriving in Birmingham, Michael heads to Curzon Street for a tour of the HS2 terminus still under construction; in the Newtown area, Michael visits the oldest private manufacturing firm in the UK.
Episode 15
Solihull to Birmingham International
29 mins
On the final leg of his Midlands tour, Michael travels to Solihull, the home of iconic British brand Land Rover; Michael visits the childhood neighbourhood of JRR Tolkien.
Episode 16
Loughton to Audley End
29 mins
Michael Portillo embarks on a journey across Essex. He heads to the ancient woodland of Epping Forest and learns of Audley End House's role as a secret wartime military school.
Episode 17
Romford to the Blackwater Estuary
29 mins
Michael's continues to explore Essex in Romford, visiting a state-of-the-art rail operating centre; on the River Blackwater, he visits the Ross Revenge, home of Radio Caroline.
Episode 18
Chelmsford to Tollesbury
29 mins
Michael's exploration of Essex reaches Chelmsford, where the city's bishop relates her story of escape from Iran after the Islamic revolution of 1979.
Episode 19
Witham to Saffron Walden
29 mins
Arriving in the Essex market town of Witham, Michael heads into the countryside to visit one of the great country houses, Terling Place.
Episode 20
Colchester to Chappel and Wakes Colne
29 mins
Michael visits Colchester, which was first mentioned in AD 77 and proudly claims to be Britain's oldest recorded town; Michael finishes his tour of Essex by driving an old Intercity 125 high speed train.