The BBC's Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo

Series six of the BBC's Great British Railway Journeys television series sees its presenter, Michael Portillo, continue his travel around Britain by train, re-discovering many of the sights and locations featured in George Bradshaw's book, the Victorian Railway Guidebook. The series is popular with many of our customers, who frequently get in touch to enquire whether our tours include any of the routes and railways featured on the programme. We have therefore compiled a list of all of the Great British Railway Journeys episodes shown to date which have a corresponding GRJ tour - and these are listed on this page.

You can also view the BBC's Great Continental Railway Journeys series 4 and series 5 here, and associated tours.

See also Portillo's Great Indian Railway Journeys.

Find out all about Channel 4's Coastal Railways with Julie Walters.

 

GREAT BRITISH RAILWAY JOURNEYS BY SERIES
SERIES 6

Greenock to Larkhall

From Greenock, Michael Portillo sets sail in the world's last seagoing paddle steamer.

Our similar tours:
Grand Tour of the UK
Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands
Edinburgh Tattoo

Stirling to Pitlochry

In Stirling, Michael Portillo visits the scene of a bloody battle at Bannockburn.

Our similar tours:
Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands
Western Highlands and Hebrides

St Andrew's to Edinburgh

In St Andrews, Michael Portillo pays homage to the birthplace of golf.

Our similar tours:
Grand Tour of the UK
Western Highlands and Hebrides
Edinburgh, the Highlands and Islands
Scottish Islands and Lochs Cruise

SERIES 5

Haworth to Huddersfield

Michael visits the home of the Bronte sisters in Worth Valley and Oakworth, with its heritage railway

Our similar tours:
The Harrogate Flower Show

SERIES 4

Welshpool to Aberystwyth

Michael journeys on an authentically Victorian outing to the Welsh coast.

Our similar tours:
Railways and Castles of Wales

Dundee to Aberdeen

Michael continues his rail tour of industrial Scotland.

Our similar tours:
Orkney, Shetland and the Highlands

Dufftown to Aviemore

Michael learns about Victorian whisky train bandits.

Our similar tours:
Scottish Islands and Faroes
Highland Adventure

Inverness to Plockton

Michael rides one of the most scenic railways in Scotland and visit the country's smallest station.

Our similar tours:
Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands
Highland Adventure

Killarney to Cobh

Michael explores the charming Irish Midlands.

Our similar tours:
The Enchanting Emerald Isle

Athlone to Galway

Michael ends his fourth series of railway journeys in the grand Irish city of Galway.

Our similar tours:
The Enchanting Emerald Isle

SERIES 3

Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Morpeth

Michael Portillo discovers Berwick-Upon-Tweed before travelling via Lindisfarne down the
Northumbrian coast.

Our similar tours:
Yorkshire & Northumberland

Heysham to Snaefell

Michael Portillo sets sail from Heysham to the Isle of Man

Our similar tours:
Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man

Bray to Dublin

Michael Portillo explores a Victorian jail and finds out about the lions of Dublin Zoo

Our similar tours:
The Enchanting Emerald Isle

SERIES 2

Dereham to Cromer

Michael gets the rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train

Our similar tours:
Norwich & the Norfolk Broads

Llanwrst to Porthmadog

Michael visits the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog in the Conwy Valley

Our similar tours:
Railways & Castles of Wales

Llanberis to Holyhead

Michael takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon

Our similar tours:
Railways & Castles of Wales

Durham to Grosmont

Michael Portillo visits the historic Durham Cathedral and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby

Our similar tours:
Yorkshire & Northumberland

York to Saltaire

Michael Portillo takes a Turkish Bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate
Yorkshire & Northumberland

Canterbury to Margate

Michael goes whelk fishing in Whitstable

Our similar tours:
Canterbury & the Railways of Kent

Dumbarton to Tyndrum

Michael explores the Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark

Our similar tours:
Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands
Western Highlands & the Hebrides
Scottish Islands & Lochs Cruise
Edinburgh Tattoo

Oban to Corrour
Michael discovers how trains spread the word about Oban Whisky

Our similar tours:
Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands
Western Highlands & the Hebrides
Scottish Islands & Lochs Cruise
Edinburgh Tattoo

Roybridge to Glenfinnan
Michael investigates one of the great geological mysteries of the 19th century

Our similar tours:
Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands
Western Highlands & the Hebrides
Scottish Islands & Lochs Cruise
Highland Adventure
The Highlands & Inner Hebrides Cruise

Lochailort to Skye
Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II

Our similar tours:
Edinburgh, the Highlands & Islands
Western Highlands & the Hebrides
Highland Adventure
The Highlands & Inner Hebrides Cruise

 

SERIES 1

Todmorden to York

Michael Portillo travels back in time on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Our similar tours:
Yorkshire and Northumberland

Settle to Garsdale

Michael Portillo revisits the Settle-Carlisle line and explores the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct

Our similar tours:
Yorkshire & Northumberland
Yorkshire and the Lake District

Windermere to Kendal

Michael Portillo takes a Lake Windermere steamboat tour and visits Wordsworth's home town, Grasmere

Our similar tours:
Yorkshire and the Lake District

Torquay to Totnes

Michael Portillo finds out about Torquay's microclimate and spends some of Totnes's local currency

Our similar tours:
Torquay & the Eden Project

St Pancras to Westminster

Michael Portillo climbs up the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament to hear Big Ben chime

Most of GRJ's European tours depart St Pancras