Episode 1
Great Yarmouth to Beccles
30m
Michael Portillo discovers the grave robbing history of Great Yarmouth and tries his hand at working a Victorian swing bridge in Reedham.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
TV series
Great British Railway Journeys
201016 seasons7.4 / 10
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.
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Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
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Synopsis
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Victorian Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.
Season 3 episodes
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Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 2
Darsham to Felixstowe
30m
Michael Portillo follows the Victorians' fascination with Britain's own Atlantis to Dunwich and discovers the history of the Port of Felixstowe.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 3
Sudbury to Southend
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 4
Epping to Hackney
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 5
Fenchurch to Embankment
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 6
Windsor to Didcot
30m
Michael Portillo visits a station fit for royalty in Windsor and views an engineering triumph built by Brunel to span the Thames at Maidenhead.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 7
Reading to Alton
30m
Michael Portillo tastes a Victorian superfood in Alton and tries his hand at driving a steam train on the challenging Watercress Line.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 8
Winchester to Isle of Wight
30m
Michael Portillo experiences the magnificent Victorian organ at Winchester Cathedral and visits a 19th-century rail works still running in Eastleigh.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 9
Brockenhurst to Poole
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 10
Wareham to Portland
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 11
Oxford to Pershore
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 12
Hartlebury to Great Malvern
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 13
Lydney to Newport
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 14
Cardiff to Brecon
30m
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.
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Episode 15
Port Talbot to Milford Haven
30m
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.
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Episode 16
Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Morpeth
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 17
Bardon Mill to Wigton
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 18
Cockermouth to Eskdale
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 19
Kirkby-in-Furness to Lancaster
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 20
Heysham to Snaefell
30m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Cassie Farrell
Episode 21
Bray to Dublin
30m
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.
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Episode 22
Enfield to Drogheda
30m
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.
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Episode 23
Dundalk to Portadown
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 24
Belfast to Whitehead
30m
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway Journeys
Episode 25
Ballymoney to Londonderry
30mfinale
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.
Where to watch Great British Railway JourneysEpisode information updated Jul 24, 2026
More about Great British Railway Journeys
Cast
Michael PortilloSelf - PresenterProduction details
- Status
- Returning Series
- Series type
- Documentary
- Episodes
- 290
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
Talkback ThamesUnited Kingdom
Fremantle UKUnited Kingdom
Themes
railroad
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