The BEST episodes of Great British Railway Journeys season 2

Every episode of Great British Railway Journeys season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Great British Railway Journeys season 2!

Michael Portillo takes to the tracks with a copy of George Bradshaw's Railway Guidebook. Portillo travels the length and breadth of the country to see how the railways have changed it, and what of Bradshaw's Britain remains.

Last Updated: 4/20/2024Network: BBC TwoStatus: Continuing
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Brighton to Crystal Palace
star
8.41
63 votes

#1 - Brighton to Crystal Palace

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/2011

Michael finds out about Brighton's Victorian aquarium

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Dereham to Cromer
star
7.91
35 votes

#2 - Dereham to Cromer

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/7/2011

Michael gets the rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train.

Oban to Corrour
star
7.80
5 votes

#3 - Oban to Corrour

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/2/2011

Michael discovers how trains spread the word about Oban whisky, hears about the heroic struggle to build a railway across the desolate Rannoch Moor, and visits Corrour, one of the favourite shooting estates of the Victorian political elite

Roybridge to Glenfinnan
star
7.75
8 votes

#4 - Roybridge to Glenfinnan

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 2/3/2011

Michael investigates one of the great geological mysteries of the 19th Century, the parallel roads of Glenroy. Plus, he finds out how the Victorians put a weather observatory on the top of Ben Nevis and takes a steam train across one of the most spectacular viaducts in Britain at Glenfinnan

Dumbarton to Tyndrum
star
7.57
7 votes

#5 - Dumbarton to Tyndrum

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/1/2011

Michael explores the historic Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark, visits one of Queen Victoria's favourite haunts, Loch Lomond, and goes hunting for gold in Scotland's mountains

Canterbury to Margate
star
7.50
6 votes

#6 - Canterbury to Margate

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/26/2011

Michael finds out how Canterbury Cathedral was saved during the Baedecker raids of World War II, goes whelk fishing in Whitstable and explores the origins of a seaside swim in Margate.

Ayr to Paisley
star
7.50
4 votes

#7 - Ayr to Paisley

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 1/31/2011

Michael visits the hometown of Robbie Burns and finds out how to make haggis, discovers how the railways transformed the game of golf in Prestwick, and uncovers the story of the great Victorian tartan hoax in Paisley

Sandwich to Folkestone
star
7.43
7 votes

#8 - Sandwich to Folkestone

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/27/2011

Michael explores a secret port that ran the first train ferries to France carrying vital supplies during World War I, visits Walmer castle, the home of the Duke of Wellington and discovers how the Victorians initiated the building of the Channel tunnel

Lochailort to Skye
star
7.43
7 votes

#9 - Lochailort to Skye

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 2/4/2011

Michael discovers how the railways helped train the first generation of commandos at Lochailort in World War II, finds out why langoustines have replaced herrings as the top catch in the fishing port of Mallaig, and sails across the sea to Skye to explore the history of the highland crofters

Hythe to Hastings
star
7.38
8 votes

#10 - Hythe to Hastings

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 1/28/2011

Michael discovers a hardy breed of sheep on the atmospheric Romney Marsh, explores Kent's new sparkling wine industry and finds out why the Victorians went mad for ferns in Hastings

Telford to Wrexham
star
7.24
33 votes

#11 - Telford to Wrexham

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/11/2011

Michael explores historic Chirk castle and has a go at making traditional Cheshire cheese.

Chester to Conwy
star
7.23
35 votes

#12 - Chester to Conwy

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/12/2011

Michael visits Chester's Roman remains and goes mussel fishing on the Conwy estuary.

Llanberis to Holyhead
star
7.22
32 votes

#13 - Llanberis to Holyhead

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/14/2011

Michael takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon.

York to Saltaire
star
7.19
31 votes

#14 - York to Saltaire

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/2011

Michael Portillo takes a Turkish bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate.

Waterloo to Canary Wharf
star
7.18
38 votes

#15 - Waterloo to Canary Wharf

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/4/2011

2/25. Michael explores the changing fortunes of London's docks.

Durham to Grosmont
star
7.18
33 votes

#16 - Durham to Grosmont

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2011

Michael Portillo visits the historic Durham Cathedral and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby.

Ely to King's Lynn
star
7.17
35 votes

#17 - Ely to King's Lynn

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/6/2011

Michael goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely.

Ledbury to Shrewsbury
star
7.15
33 votes

#18 - Ledbury to Shrewsbury

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/10/2011

Michael visits the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.

Llanrwst to Porthmadog
star
7.15
33 votes

#19 - Llanrwst to Porthmadog

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/13/2011

Michael visits the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog in the Conwy valley.

Batley to Sheffield
star
7.15
34 votes

#20 - Batley to Sheffield

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/20/2011

Michael Portillo finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry.

London Bridge to Chatham
star
7.15
34 votes

#21 - London Bridge to Chatham

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/2011

Michael visits the Royal Observatory at Greenwich to see how the railways standardised time, takes a walk through the world's first underwater tunnel at Rotherhithe and explores the historic Dockyards at Chatham

Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells
star
7.15
34 votes

#22 - Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/25/2011

Michael explores the life of Victorian hop pickers, finds out about Maidstone's revolutionary paper industry and discovers how the railways turned cricket into a national sport

Enfield to Cambridge
star
7.14
37 votes

#23 - Enfield to Cambridge

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/5/2011

Michael Portillo visits the Government Arms Factory at Enfield, the largest machine shop in Europe in George Bradshaw's day; discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket's races and finds out why Cambridge could be considered the birthplace of modern football.

Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray
star
7.13
32 votes

#24 - Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/2011

Michael finds out how trains transformed the traditional British sport of fox hunting.

Newcastle to Chester-le-Street
star
7.09
32 votes

#25 - Newcastle to Chester-le-Street

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/17/2011

Michael Portillo visits the first locomotive factory in the world.