From Cromer to Cambridge His initial journey mirrors that of the new century’s monarch, King Edward VII, tracing a path from Norfolk’s stately homes to a temporary encampment on Brownsea Island. In this opening chapter, Michael attempts …

From Letchworth Garden City to Herne Hill Michael attends a garden party and encounters a fourth-generation resident of Letchworth, who shares with him the city’s strong sense of community. Journeying towards London, Michael stumbles upo…

Following his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo arrives in west Croydon and unearths a once-renowned, now largely forgotten, mixed-race composer bearing an unexpectedly familiar name. With the modern British rail network diminish…

With a well-worn copy of Bradshaw’s guide from the early 1900s, Michael Portillo begins in Chichester, West Sussex. There, he meets an Edwardian pair of motoring enthusiasts who once enjoyed royal patronage from King Edward VII. Following a…

Following his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo sets out for Brownsea Island, determined to explore the place where Robert Baden Powell launched the Scout movement in the early 1900s. He joins a troop of contemporary Scouts and l…

Clad in the colours of the Welsh flag and clutching a newly acquired Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo begins his railway journey, travelling from the coalfields of south Wales around the Bristol Channel to Cornwall’s southernmos…

Following his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael found an unexpected treasure at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, eventually gaining entry to its inner vaults after a thorough search. At Cardiff Arms Park, he recalled a celebrated Welsh vict…

Following his well-worn Bradshaw’s guide from the early twentieth century, Michael traces a route from Newport to Clevedon, Yatton, and Bristol Channel. He finds himself amidst the genesis of British aviation in Bristol, overseeing preparat…

Purple, green, and yellow ribbons fluttered as Michael Portillo, accompanied by the cheerful chime of ankle bells, found himself swept into a lively celebration in Stogumber – a local tradition honoring fertility. He then explored the renow…

Purple, green, and yellow ribbons fluttered as Michael Portillo, accompanied by the cheerful chime of ankle bells, found himself swept into a lively celebration in Stogumber – a ritual honoring fertility. He then explored the renowned Edwar…

Michael Portillo’s travels across Britain are guided by his Edwardian railway guide, beginning in Hull, an East Yorkshire port. He makes for the docks, through which countless migrants flowed at the dawn of the 20th century and that now pul…

Following his Edwardian Bradshaw’s guide, Michael Portillo undertakes detailed investigations, beginning in a historic York tea room constructed by an immigrant from the Edwardian era. His research then takes a more serious turn as he explo…

With his Edwardian railway guidebook clasped beneath his arm, Michael Portillo finds himself in Sheffield, the steel city, where he encounters an enormous and remarkably preserved steam engine from the early twentieth century. Weighing 400 …

Michael Portillo’s journey through Edwardian Britain leads him to Liverpool, where King Edward VII had recently commenced construction on an imposing Anglican cathedral atop St James's Mount. The competition for its design had been won by G…

With Bradshaw’s railway guide from the Edwardian era clasped beneath his arm, Michael Portillo commences the final stretch of his journey, travelling from Hull to Caernarfon. Amidst the scenic landscapes of Snowdonia, he experiences a thril…