Michael Portillo uncovers the unsettling history of grave robbery in Great Yarmouth, and then attempts to master the operation of a Victorian swing bridge in Reedham.

Michael Portillo explores the Victorian era’s captivated interest in a submerged British Atlantis, his journey leading him to Dunwich and uncovering the rich history of the Port of Felixstowe.

Michael Portillo encounters a figure from the medieval political landscape, journeys by train through locations famed for Victorian-era spectacles, and experiences travel aboard one of the first electrified railways.

Michael Portillo explores the legacy of Waltham Cross’s gunpowder mills, revealing how their output powered a burgeoning empire. He then journeys to Hackney, where he investigates the unsettling circumstances surrounding the first recorded …

Join Michael Portillo as he explores a clandestine miniature railway concealed deep below the streets of London, then continues his journey to ring the bells of Bow Church, a landmark steeped in history.

Michael Portillo journeys to Windsor, exploring a station befitting royalty, and then travels onward to witness Brunel’s remarkable feat of engineering – a bridge soaring across the River Thames at Maidenhead.

In Alton, Michael Portillo samples aVictorian-era delicacy considered a nutritional powerhouse, then takes the controls to drive a steam train along the demanding Watercress Line.

Michael Portillo explores the grandeur of Winchester Cathedral’s remarkable Victorian pipe organ, then journeys to Eastleigh to witness a nineteenth-century railway works that remains in operation today.

Following the path of a Victorian snake charmer, Michael journeys into the New Forest in search of elusive adders, discovers a hidden library in Wimborne holding exceptionally rare volumes, and explores the Poole potteries, established in t…

Michael reveals astonishing oil fields concealed beneath England’s tranquil coastal towns, unearths Weymouth’s vital contribution to the D-Day operations, and journeys to Portland, the source of the stone that shaped Victorian Britain’s gra…

Following the directions of a nineteenth-century guidebook, Michael is led to an exceptional vantage point overlooking the city of Oxford. He then tastes a traditional drink brewed by steam power – a recipe favored by Victorian canal worker…

On the second stage of his journey from Oxford towards the south Wales coastline, Michael Portillo arrives in Hartlebury, a Worcestershire village once notable as the residence of a bishop who intrigued Queen Victoria. His explorations also…

Michael explores a forgotten network of tiny mines nestled deep within the Forest of Dean, understands the allure that drew Victorians to the evocative remains of Tintern Abbey, and reveals the ingenious railway engineering that made Newpor…

Michael uncovers the Victorian legacy of coal mining, a history that forged Cardiff into the vibrant city it stands as today. He investigates the 19th-century engineering feat responsible for Barry Island’s unusual connection to the mainlan…

Michael investigates the enduring impact of the Victorian railway era on Port Talbot’s industrial landscape, traces the routes once followed by 19th-century enthusiasts seeking out waterfalls in Neath, and reveals the captivating history of…

Michael uncovers Berwick-Upon-Tweed’s remarkable, shared past with Scotland, learns the compelling tale of the Pitman Painters of Ashington, and witnesses the very real dangers faced by railway workers during the Victorian era.

Michael immerses himself in fieldwork, emulating the methods of Victorian archaeologists excavating Hadrian’s Wall, uncovering how the introduction of the ticket machine significantly improved the experience for 19th-century railway passeng…

Michael savors a traditional drink made with water sourced directly from Cockermouth, then enters the secretive realm of nuclear reprocessing at Sellafield, before wandering through the enchanting beauty of a garden styled after Japan, yet …

Michael uncovers the mysteries surrounding Kirkby’s renowned blue slate, delves into the clandestine realm of submarine construction in Barrow, and explores the grim fascination that once compelled throngs of Victorians to witness the hangi…

From Heysham, Michael embarked for the Isle of Man, a journey that led him to discover Douglas’s charming horse trams, the hidden histories of the colossal Laxey Wheel—a relic of the nineteenth century—and the captivating Victorian heritage…

Today, Michael witnesses the remarkable ingenuity behind the construction of the railway that hugs Dublin’s perilous eastern coastline. He delves into the world of nineteenth-century crime and its consequences within the walls of a Victoria…

Today, Michael journeys through the sprawling railway lines that crisscross the Bog of Allen, unearths the Victorian history woven into the remarkable Boyne Viaduct, and descends below ground to explore the immense Irish Zinc mines.

Today, Michael delves into the Victorians’ enduring captivation with ancient times, beginning with a visit to the remarkable Cromlech stones near Dundalk. He then looks towards the heavens at the Portadown Observatory and journeys with eleg…

Today, Michael delves into the captivating history of Belfast’s Victorian docks, uncovers time-honored Irish spade-making traditions that have endured for more than 150 years, and ventures along Whitehead’s dramatic Victorian coastal pathwa…

Today, Michael ventures across the thrilling Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, traces the paths taken by Victorian travelers to savor the wonders of the Giant’s Causeway, and delves into the layered history of Londonderry.