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Great Continental Railway Journeys
Great Continental Railway Journeys Episodes
Series 7: 6. Stockholm To The Arctic Circle
Michael Portillo embarks on a scenic, thousand-mile rail journey from the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to Abisko in the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle. Steered by his 1936 ...
19-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 7: 5. Linz To Bratislava
Michael Portillo travels by train through Austria and the Czech Republic, following his Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide, published in 1936. Michael’s journey ta ...
18-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 7: 4. Palermo To Mt Etna
Michael Portillo’s 1936 Bradshaw’s Guide brings him to the Italian 'treasure island' of Sicily, full of natural beauty and 'scenery of the greatest charm'. But the i ...
14-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 7: 3. Berlin To Stuttgart
Michael Portillo embarks on a rail journey through Germany, steered by a Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide published in 1936. His unique window on Europe between the wo ...
13-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 7: 2. Orleans To Reims
Michael Portillo travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of the Champagne region at Reims.\n\nBeginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaw&rsqu ...
12-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 7: 1. Salamanca To Canfranc
Michael Portillo sports a strikingly modern edition of his Bradshaw’s Continental Handbook, dated 1936. His destination lies close to his heart: the ancient kingdom of Spa ...
11-03-2024
BBC 2
Series 6: 2. Batumi To Baku
Steered by his 1913 Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo travels one of the most stunning rail routes of the world, through the former Russian empire from the Black Sea t ...
04-02-2023
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 10
Michael Portillo continues his scenic thousand-mile rail journey from the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to Abisko in the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle, steered by his 1936 ...
03-01-2023
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 9
Michael Portillo embarks on a scenic thousand-mile rail journey from the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to Abisko in the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle, steered by his 1936 ...
03-01-2023
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 8
Michael continues his railway journey from Sicily’s capital, Palermo, through the ancient town of Agrigento and the port of Siracusa to Europe’s largest volcano, Mou ...
02-01-2023
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 7
Michael Portillo’s 1936 Bradshaw’s Continental Railways Guide brings him to the Italian 'treasure island' of Sicily, full of natural beauty and 'scenery of the great ...
29-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 6
Michael Portillo continues his journey through Germany, guided by his 1936 Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide.\n\nAt the birthplace of Germany’s first democracy, W ...
28-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 5
Michael embarks on a rail journey through Germany, steered by a Bradshaw’s Continental Railway Guide published in 1936.\n\nHis unique window on Europe between the world wa ...
27-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 4
Arriving in Paris at the Champs de Mars station, Michael takes in an epic view of the city from the top of the Arc de Triomphe before heading for Montparnasse, where wildly crea ...
26-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 3
Michael Portillo travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of the Champagne region at Reims.\n\nBeginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaw&rsqu ...
15-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 2
Michael continues his rail journey through Spain with his 1930s Bradshaw’s guide. At the Museo Reina Sofia, Michael hears how the bombing of a small town in the Basque reg ...
14-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 7 (shortened Versions): Episode 1
Michael Portillo sports a strikingly modern edition of his Bradshaw’s Continental Handbook, dated 1936. His destination lies close to his heart: the ancient kingdom of Sp ...
13-12-2022
BBC 2
Series 6: 1. Kiev To Odessa
With his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures east to a land which a century ago was part of the Russian Empire and today is the independ ...
07-12-2019
BBC 2
Series 6 - Reversions: 4. Batumi To Baku Part 2
Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide Michael Portillo resumes his rail journey through the former Russian empire from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, takin ...
17-05-2018
BBC 2
Series 6 - Reversions: 3. Batumi To Baku Part 1
Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo travels one of the most stunning rail routes of the world, the historic Trans-Caucasus Railway, throug ...
16-05-2018
BBC 2
Series 6 - Reversions: 2. Kiev To Odessa Part 2
His 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guidebook under his arm, Michael Portillo continues his journey through the borderland where Europe meets Asia and fulfils a personal lif ...
15-05-2018
BBC 2
Series 6 - Reversions: 1. Kiev To Odessa Part 1
With his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures east to a land which a century ago was part of the Russian Empire and today is the independ ...
14-05-2018
BBC 2
Series 2 - Bordeaux To Bilbao
Michael Portillo samples the delights of the French and Spanish Atlantic coast and learns how Britain's 'railway king' Edward VII made the region popular.
20-09-2014
BBC 2
Series 2 - Prague To Munich
Michael Portillo explores Bohemia and Bavaria, sampling the sulphurous waters of Marianske Lazne and riding a piece of German railway history made in Britain.
22-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 2 - Copenhagen To Oslo
Michael Portillo explores Scandinavia, braving one of the world's oldest rollercoasters, sampling a smorgasbord and test driving a vintage Volvo.
21-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 2 - Dresden To Kiel
Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo explores Germany and learns how tourists in the early 20th century would have been visiting quite a new country.
20-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 2 - Turin To Venice
Michael Portillo takes the train from Turin to Venice. Along the way, he recreates the Italian Job, follows fashion in Milan and visits Shakespearean Verona.
19-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 2 - Madrid To Gibraltar
Michael Portillo returns to his native Spain as he follows the railway lines travelled by the intrepid tourists of the Belle Epoque.
18-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 1 - Reversions - Amsterdam To Northern France Part 2
Michael Portillo visits the forest of Compiegne to hear how, after four years of conflict, the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage.
17-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 1 - Reversions - Amsterdam To Northern France Part 1
Michael Portillo experiences the cities of the pre-war Low Countries and tastes the delicacies of Brussels, he then travels to the Western Front.
15-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 1 - Switzerland
Michael Portillo explores Switzerland, taking in Basel, Zurich and Lake Lucerne before making a spectacular ascent by train to Europe's highest station.
14-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 1 - Berlin To The Rhein
Armed with his 1913 guide, Michael Portillo travels from Berlin, through the picturesque Harz Mountains and on to Rheingau, renowned for its age-old vineyards.
13-08-2014
BBC 2
Series 1 - Hungary To Austria
With his 1913 guide, Michael Portillo explores the former Austro-Hungarian empire, domain of the famed Habsburg monarchs, visiting Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg.
12-08-2014
BBC 2