Great British Railway Journeys
Travel
Station:
BBC iPlayer (GB)
Status:
Running
Start:
2010-01-04
Rating:
8.5/10 from 2 users
Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country by train.
Great British Railway Journeys Next Episode Air Date
Next Episode is 'Loughton to Audley End' (Season 16 Episode 16) and airs on 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT).
Great British Railway Journeys Images
List of episodes
S16E11 - Shrewsbury to Telford
Michael Portillo re-enacts the Battle of Shrewsbury, explores the town's beautiful Gothic cathedral and rides the Telford Steam Railway's flagship locomotive.
Air Date: 21 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E12 - Ironbridge to Coseley
Michael Portillo is in Ironbridge Gorge on the River Severn, a hotbed of 18th-century innovation which features the world's first coke blast iron furnace
Air Date: 21 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E13 - Dudley to West Bromwich
Michael Portillo boards a barge on the Dudley Canal, discovers an ancient seabed and explores racial tension in 1960s Smethwick.
Air Date: 21 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E14 - Birmingham New Street to Wednesbury
Arriving in Birmingham, Michael Portillo heads to Curzon Street for a tour of the HS2 terminus still under construction. In the Newtown area, he visits the oldest private manufacturing firm in the UK.
Air Date: 21 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E15 - Solihull to Birmingham International
On the final leg of his Midlands tour, Michael Portillo travels to Solihull, the home of iconic British brand Land Rover. Later, he visits the childhood neighbourhood of JRR Tolkien.
Air Date: 21 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E16 - Loughton to Audley End
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.
Air Date: 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E17 - Romford to the Blackwater Estuary
Michael's exploration of Essex continues in Romford, where he visits a state-of-the-art rail operating centre. On the River Blackwater, he visits the Ross Revenge, home of Radio Caroline.
Air Date: 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E18 - Chelmsford to Tollesbury
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.
Air Date: 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E19 - Witham to Saffron Walden
Arriving in the Essex market town of Witham, Michael heads into the countryside to visit one of the county's great country houses, Terling Place.
Air Date: 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)
S16E20 - Colchester to Chappel and Wakes Colne
Michael's exploration of Essex is drawing to a close. He visits Colchester, which was first mentioned in AD77 and proudly claims to be Britain's oldest recorded town.
Air Date: 28 Apr 2025 00:00 (CDT)