Great British Railway Journeys
Great British Railway Journeys is a TV show on BBC4. Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train. The program has been available since 2024. A total of 189 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in April 2025.
Last episode
30:00
30:00Great British Railway Journeys
An epic tour of Britain by rail. Michael Portillo visits the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, walks the Thames Tunnel and explores Chatham Historic Dockyard.
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30:00Michael Portillo learns how trains shaped the controversial sport of fox hunting in another journey inspired by Victorian cartographer George Bradshaw.
30:00More tales from a train. Michael Portillo hears about a Victorian recycling industry in Batley and meets a relative of the inspirational George Bradshaw himself.
30:00How did rail travel shape Britain? Michael Portillo takes a Turkish bath in Harrogate, explores the Victorian model village of Saltaire and encounters some alpacas.
30:00Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. A visit to the historic Durham Cathedral and a Dracula tour of Whitby.
30:00Travels by train with the ex-Tory. Host Michael Portillo visits the world's first locomotive factory and searches for the lost pit village of Marsden.
30:00Michael Portillo explores Britain by rail. Michael takes the train to the top of Mount Snowdon and discovers how the railways changed the tiny port of Holyhead.
30:00Nostalgic series in which Michael Portillo retraces George Bradshaw's travels by train. Michael combs the Conwy valley and rides a steam train to Porthmadog.
30:00Train travels with the ex-Tory. Michael Portillo explores Chester's Roman remains and discovers a secret World War II chemical weapons plant at Rhydymwyn in Wales.
30:00Fascinating history travelogue. Michael Portillo sees the world's first iron bridge at Coalbrookdale, explores Chirk Castle and has a go at making Cheshire cheese.
30:00Michael Portillo sets out on another trek, following the route of the Irish mail from Ledbury. Michael samples Victorian perry and encounters a Hereford bull.
30:00Informative travels by train. Michael Portillo is in his element as he gets to drive a heritage diesel train. The ex-politician also samples some Cromer crab.
30:00Michael Portillo hits the tracks to see how the railways have shaped Britain. Michael meets the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely and visits the Denver Sluice.
30:00Travels by train with Michael Portillo, who here visits the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield and discovers how the railways transformed Newmarket's races.
30:00Michael Portillo is a happy man on a train. The ex-Tory MP learns about the changing fortunes of London's docks and a rail service that transported coffins.
30:00Michael Portillo embarks on another epic quest by track, accompanied by George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Michael visits Brighton's aquarium.
Series 1
30:00
30:00Ex-MP Michael Portillo begins his epic trip from Buxton to London, visiting the Duke of Devonshire's stables and hopping on the historic steam railway to Rowsley.
30:00Travels by train. Michael Portillo searches for the lost church of St Piran, explores a working tin mine in Cornwall and harvests oysters on the Helford River.
30:00Epic rail journeys inspired by cartographer George Bradshaw. Michael Portillo visits the largest clay mine in the world near St Austell and goes pilchard fishing.
30:00Series 2, Episode 20 - Hythe to Hastings
Expected on
Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of Britain by train. Hastings and Romney Marsh are on today's itinerary and Michael samples Kent's sparkling wine.