The BBC's Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo
Michael Portillo has helped rekindle public interest in UK rail heritage in his popular series of Great British Railway Journeys, broadcast on BBC2 and BBC HD. The former MP makes his way around the British Isles by train on routes detailed in the Victorian Railway Guidebook, originally written by Lancashire-born cartographer and printer George Bradshaw in the 19th century.
Many Rail Discoveries customers often contact us to discuss which of our train tours travel on the routes presented in the Great British Railway Journeys programme. To help interested customers, we have produced a list of episodes shown so far that feature trains, or areas visited, on Rail Discoveries holidays.
Series of Great British Railway Journeys
Series 6
| Route | Description | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Greenock to Larkhall | From Greenock, Michael Portillo sets sail in the world's last seagoing paddle steamer. | |
| St Andrew's to Edinburgh | In St Andrews, Michael Portillo pays homage to the birthplace of golf. |
Series 5
| Journey | Episode details | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Haworth to Huddersfield | Michael visits the home of the Bronte sisters in Worth Valley and Oakworth, with its heritage railway | Yorkshire by Steam |
| Cheltenham to Wolverhampton | Michael discovers a very early locomotive carriage in Cheltenham, which ran on the road | Worcester & the Severn Valley |
Series 4
| Journey | Episode details | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Welshpool to Aberystwyth | Michael Portillo has a traditional Victorian trip to the Welsh seaside. | Railways of Wales |
Series 3
| Journey | Episode details | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Heysham to Snaefell | Michael Portillo takes the ferry from England to the enchanting Isle of Man | The Isle of Man |
Series 2
| Journey | Episode details | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Dereham to Cromer | Michael Portillo has the privilege of driving a heritage diesel train | Norwich & Norfolk |
| Llanwrst to Porthmadog | Michael Portillo visits the Conwy Valley and its former slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog | Railways of Wales |
| Llanberis to Holyhead | Michael Portillo climbs to the top of Wales, Mount Snowdon, by train | Railways of Wales |
| Durham to Grosmont | Michael Portillo explores the history of breathtaking Durham Cathedral and experiences the legacy of Dracula in Whitby | |
| York to Saltaire | Michael Portillo takes a Turkish Bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate | |
| Dumbarton to Tyndrum | Michael explores the Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark | |
| Oban to Corrour | Michael discovers how trains spread the word about Oban Whisky | |
| Roybridge to Glenfinnan | Michael investigates one of the great geological mysteries of the 19th century | |
| Lochailort to Skye | Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II |
Series 1
| Journey | Episode details | Similar Rail Discoveries tour |
| Todmorden to York | Michael is introduced to the Roman heritage of the City of York | Yorkshire by Steam |
| Settle to Garsdale | Bradshaw's book takes Michael along the Settle-Carlisle Line to mighty Ribblehead Viaduct | Yorkshire & Durham |
| St Pancras to Westminster | Michael completes the first stage of his Great British Railway Journeys at one of the grandest stations in the UK | Most of our European tours depart St Pancras |