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Great British Railway Journeys

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Factual: History

Factual: Travel

Documentary series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train.

All aboard! Armed with his trusty Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo explores the UK the railways made. Uncover hidden gems and fascinating communities from across the nation.

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Great British Railway Journeys: Series 5

Michael Portillo

Alison Kreps

John Comerford

Great British Railway Journeys: Series 5: Episode 15: Cheltenham to Wolverhampton

Episode 15

Episode 15: Cheltenham to Wolverhampton

Series 5

Cheltenham to Wolverhampton

BBC Two - Great British Railway Journeys, Series 5, Cheltenham to Wolverhampton

Michael Portillo joins battle re-enactors in Tewkesbury before heading to Wolverhampton.

On the final leg of his journey, Michael Portillo joins battle re-enactors in Tewkesbury before reaching his destination of Wolverhampton.

On the final leg of his journey from Southampton to Wolverhampton, Michael Portillo's first destination is the elegant spa town of Cheltenham, where he discovers a very early locomotive carriage which ran not on rails but on the road, and he is lucky enough to get behind the wheel. 

His next stop is the medieval town of Tewkesbury, scene of a grisly battle during the Wars of the Roses. Armour-plated and sword at the ready, Michael joins a group of re-enactors for a taste of the action. Mercifully unscathed, he makes tracks for Droitwich to find out about how a lowly boatman became the King of Salt and lived in a beautiful chateau, an unexpected sight in the Midlands countryside.

Michael's journey ends in Wolverhampton, where he hears Queen Victoria made an emotional visit which signalled the end of her exile from public life after mourning her husband, Prince Albert. He learns how the townspeople showed off their talents to the queen, among them the lost art of Japanning, a speciality of Wolverhampton.

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Michael Portillo finds out how railways have impacted on the places they link.

Michael Portillo takes train journeys across Britiain, finding out how railways were used and the impact they have had on the places they link, from the Victorian age of George Bradshaw to now.

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Great British Railway Journeys

Series 5

Episode 15: Cheltenham to Wolverhampton

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