Great Coastal Railway Journeys

Great Coastal Railway Journeys is a TV show on BBC2. Michael Portillo travels around the British Isles by train. The program has been available since 2024. A total of 65 episodes have been broadcast, most recently in April 2025.
Last broadcast:23/04/2025 at 21:30
Last episode
30:00


Great Coastal Railway Journeys
The final leg of Michael Portillo's South Coast adventure begins in Fishbourne. He also visits Brighton, and the South Downs.
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Michael Portillo explores Lee on the Solent in Hampshire, the maritime city of Portsmouth, and Chichester's vast, natural harbour.


Michael Portillo heads from Southampton to the Isle of Wight, where he rides the island's railway, made up of recycled London Underground trains.


Michael Portillo visits Dorset's Jurassic Coast. He heads through Swanage, Poole and Sandbanks, before ending his journey on Brownsea Island.


Michael Portillo travels across Dorset, beginning in Portland Harbour, the location for the 2012 Olympic sailing events.


Michael Portillo travels from the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, on the DART suburban railway to the harbour town of Dun Laoghaire.


Michael Portillo makes his way from the vast beaches of the Carlingford Peninsula to the capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin.


Michael Portillo makes his way from Bangor to Belfast, along the way enjoying live music on a boat and visiting the parliament building at Stormont.


Michael Portillo visits a museum in Belfast Lough telling the story of Ireland's railway heritage and learns of the important role of Carrickfergus.


Michael Portillo heads to Northern Ireland's Causeway coast beginning a new journey along the north and east coasts through Ulster and Leinster.


Michael Portillo reaches Lincolnshire, where his coastal railway journey ends. In Grimsby Town, he investigates a new stage in the town's history.


Michael Portillo travels from the seaside resort of Hornsea, to Spurn Point, where he learns about a life-saving 19th-century invention.


Michael Portillo is in the North Yorkshire seaside resort of Scarborough to explore one of the greatest royal fortresses in England.


Michael Portillo travels from Whitby, where he explores the port's shipbuilding and seafaring heritage, to Robin Hood's Bay, a former smuggling haven.


Michael Portillo hunts for dark matter in the deepest mine in Britain in Boulby, North Yorkshire, then visits Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge.


Michael Portillo embarks on the last leg of his railway journey around the north-west coast of England, visiting the childhood home of William Wordsworth.


Michael Portillo travels though Cumbria, setting sail in a small craft on Lake Windermere.


Michael Portillo continues his journey across the vast and beautiful Morecambe Bay, where he joins one of the town's last shrimpers.


Michael Portillo journeys to Liverpool's historic waterfront, where he visits the International Slavery Museum, before heading north towards Blackpool.


Michael Portillo returns to travel by train to more places around the British Isles, beginning by heading to the Isle of Man - a paradise for rail lovers.