Hythe to Hastings
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, as his journey goes through Kent, from London Bridge around the scenic south coast 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.
Sandwich to Folkestone
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, as his journey goes through Kent, from London Bridge around the scenic south coast to Hastings.
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.
Canterbury to Margate
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, as his journey goes through Kent, from London Bridge around the scenic south coast to Hastings.
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.
Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells
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, as his journey goes through Kent, from London Bridge around the scenic south coast to Hastings.
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.
London Bridge to Chatham
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, as his journey goes through Kent, from London Bridge around the scenic south coast to Hastings.
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.
Newcastle to Chester-le-Street
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray.
In this episode, 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.
Durham to Grosmont
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray.
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.
York to Saltaire
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray.
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.
Batley to Sheffield
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle to Melton Mowbray.
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.
Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. He travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains, as his journey follows some of the earliest railways in the country from Newcastle 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.