Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of five epic journeys, Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

His journey takes him coast to coast from Brighton to Cromer. Michael finds out about Brighton’s Victorian aquarium, the largest in the world at the time; explores the underground quarries of Godstone, and discovers the wonders of the Crystal Palace in suburban south London.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of five epic journeys, Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

Michael finds out about the Stiff’s express, a funeral service running coffins from Waterloo to Brookwood cemetery. He discovers how London’s west end became a great 19th century shopping destination and explores the changing fortunes of London’s docks.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of five epic journeys, Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

Michael visits the Government Arms Factory at Enfield, the largest machine shop in Europe in Bradshaw’s day; discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket’s races and finds out why Cambridge could be considered the birthplace of modern football.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of five epic journeys, Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

Michael goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely and visits one of the great triumphs of 19th century engineering, the Denver Sluice. He ends his journey in King’s Lynn, where he uncovers an ambitious plan to reclaim the Wash in Bradshaw’s day.

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw’s Victorian Railway Guidebook. In a series of five epic journeys, Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways changed us, and what of Bradshaw’s Britain remains.

Michael gets the rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train, finds out why Norfolk black turkeys appeared on the Christmas menu in Bradshaw’s day, and samples some classic Cromer crab.

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 he follows the route of the Irish mail from Ledbury to Holyhead.

Michael tastes the Victorian drink perry, a kind of pear cider, gets up close and personal with a pedigree Hereford bull and visits the grandfather of all skyscrapers, the world’s first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.

Dear Mark
Many thanks for your positive response to the railway series. I am glad that you enjoyed it. I am delighted that the BBC has asked us to make a second series. I am hoping that it might repeat the first and I am discussing whether we could bring out a book in time for the second series. It could be a good thing since copies of Bradshaw’s are very hard to find! We were lucky to get one from an antiquarian bookshop.
Michael

Thanks for that Mark..