Great British Railway Journeys

Using a nineteenth century Bradshaw’s Descriptive Railway Guide, Michael Portillo sets off on three new railway journeys which will take him across Britain and Ireland. Each journey plays out over five episodes: King’s Cross to Edinburgh, Blackpool to Harwich and Wexford to Wicklow. Michael follows the guidebook’s recommendations for places to visit and things to do and investigates the characters, industries, locations and hotels suggested. Along the way he meets fellow passengers and local people from whom he gains a unique insight into the history of Victorian Britain and Ireland. The series also provides a snapshot of the nation’s today – the people, stories, scenery, architecture, customs and history of these islands and how their lives and landscape have changed during the 150 years since Bradshaw became a household name.