Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train.

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train.

Carlisle to Penrith Joining the cracker packers of Carlisle on the factory floor, Michael really takes the biscuit as he investigates the Victorian...

Windermere to Carnforth Michael continues his journey through the Lake District where he discovers a magical world of talking rabbits, ducks,...

Preston to Swinton Michael reads the riot act in Preston, where he discovers four mill workers were shot dead by soldiers at a protest in 1842. In...

St Helens to Knutsford Steered by his Bradshaw's guide, Michael begins this leg of his journey in Merseyside, where he feels the heat of modern...

Ashley to Alton On the last leg of his journey through north west England, Michael makes a clean sweep in Ashley, where, in Victorian times, the new...

Dover to Lewes Michael embarks on a railway journey along the south coast of Britain. Beginning in the port of Dover, he is inspired by a brave...

Newhaven to Worthing Following his Bradshaw's handbook, Michael examines the nation's hidden defences against potential invaders, beginning in the...

Littlehampton to Beaulieu Michael arrives in Littlehampton, where he discovers how Victorian engineers dug deep to defend the town's residents from...

Lymington Town to Exmouth Armed with his Bradshaw's Handbook, Michael arrives in the sailing haven of Lymington where he makes a lifesaving...

Plymouth to Porthcurno In Plymouth, Michael finds out about the Royal Navy's fighting spirit and mixes his own blend of ruin. Crossing into...

Birmingham to Worcester Every train ride begins with a whistle and Michael's new railway journey is no exception, blasting off from Birmingham's...

Redditch to Gloucester Michael heads for the sharp end of the Victorian industrial revolution at a needle manufactory in Redditch. The Freemasons of...

Stroud to Bath Michael takes pot luck on the snooker table as he investigates the Victorian origins of the game and finds out what it takes to...

Bristol to Glastonbury Armed with his Bradshaw's guidebook, Michael enters the foul-smelling world of a Victorian tannery. In Nailsea, he discovers...

Bridgwater to Dartmoor Following his Bradshaw's Guidebook, Michael stands trial at the Bloody Assizes in Taunton and feels the full force of the...

Ashford to Sevenoaks Michael begins a new journey through the home counties in Ashford, Kent, lending a hand at a state-of-the-art train maintenance...

East Grinstead to Guildford At East Grinstead, Michael dons a boiler suit and takes to the footplate of a loco on the Bluebell Railway, Britain's...

Woking to Walton-on-Thames Michael's journey through the home counties continues at Woking, Surrey, where Michael uncovers the story of Britain's...

Hampton Court to Teddington A royal residence beckons for Michael as he is treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the world's longest vine at...

Egham to Henley-on-Thames Michael begins the final leg of this journey through the home counties at Egham, where a perfectly preserved, historic...