S2 E17 ∙ Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells ∙
Michael Portillo takes to the tracks in this first-class travelogue. Learn all about Maidstone's paper industry and how cricket became a national sport.
All episodes for series 2 of Great British Railway Journeys
S2 E1 · Brighton to Crystal Palace
Michael finds out about Brighton's aquarium and discovers the Crystal Palace's wonders.
S2 E2 · Waterloo to Canary Wharf
Michael Portillo explores the changing fortunes of London's docks.
S2 E3 · Enfield to Cambridge
Michael Portillo discovers how the trains transformed Newmarket's races.
S2 E4 · Ely to King's Lynn
Michael goes fishing with the last eel trapper on the Fens at Ely.
S2 E5 · Dereham to Cromer
Michael gets a rare chance to drive a heritage diesel train and samples some Cromer crab.
S2 E6 · Ledbury to Shrewsbury
Michael Portillo visits the world's first iron-framed building in Shrewsbury.
S2 E7 · Telford to Wrexham
Michael explores historic Chirk Castle and has a go at making traditional Cheshire cheese.
S2 E8 · Chester to Conwy
Michael Portillo visits Chester's Roman remains and goes mussel fishing in north Wales.
S2 E9 · Llanwrst to Porthmadog
Michael Portillo visits the Victorian slate capital of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
S2 E10 · Llanberis to Holyhead
Michael Portillo takes the train to the top of Wales's highest peak, Mount Snowdon.
S2 E11 · Newcastle to Chester-le-Street
Michael Portillo visits the first locomotive factory in the world.
S2 E12 · Durham to Grosmont
Michael Portillo visits the historic Durham Cathedral and takes a Dracula tour in Whitby.
S2 E13 · York to Saltaire
Michael Portillo takes a Turkish bath in the famous spa town of Harrogate.
S2 E14 · Batley to Sheffield
Michael Portillo finds out about shoddy, a successful 19th-century recycling industry.
S2 E15 · Langley Mill to Melton Mowbray
Michael finds out how trains transformed the traditional British sport of fox hunting.
S2 E16 · London Bridge to Chatham
Michael Portillo takes a walk through the world's first underwater tunnel at Rotherhithe.
S2 E17 · Aylesford to Tunbridge Wells
Michael Portillo discovers how the railways turned cricket into a national sport.
S2 E18 · Canterbury to Margate
Michael goes whelk fishing in Whitstable.
S2 E19 · Sandwich to Folkestone
Michael discovers how the Victorians initiated the building of the Channel Tunnel.
S2 E20 · Hythe to Hastings
Michael explores Kent's sparkling wine industry.
S2 E21 · Ayr to Paisley
Michael visits the hometown of Robbie Burns and finds out how to make haggis.
S2 E22 · Dumbarton to Tyndrum
Michael Portillo explores the Dumbarton shipyards that built the Cutty Sark.
S2 E23 · Oban to Corrour
Michael Portillo discovers how trains spread the word about Oban whisky.
S2 E24 · Roybridge to Glenfinnan
Michael travels up the west coast of Scotland and looks at the parallel roads of Glenroy.
S2 E25 · Lochailort to Skye
Michael discovers how the railways helped train commandos at Lochailort in World War II.
