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