Michael visits one of the grandest railway stations and hotels in the country - St Pancras. He also rides the world's first tube line to Smithfield market.

Michael Portillo relives the Coventry Blitz and finds out how the trains helped to evacuate millions of children during World War II.

Series in which Michael Portillo travels the country by train. He meets the Queen's saddler in Walsall and learns how to cook an Indian curry in Birmingham.

Michael Portillo visits the oldest working factory in the world at Cromford and explores the country's first public park in Derby.

Michael Portillo helps to repair the ancient peat landscape of the Peak District and travels on the historic steam railway to Rowsley.

Michael Portillo searches for the lost church of St Piran, explores the last working tin mine in Cornwall and harvests oysters on the Helford River.

Michael Portillo visits the largest clay mine in the world, goes pilchard fishing in Mevagissey and finds out how the estate of Heligan shaped British gardens.

Michael Portillo finds out about Torquay's microclimate, goes salmon fishing on the Dart estuary and spends some of Totnes's new local currency.

Michael samples Cheddar strawberries, explores Cheddar Gorge and the famous caves, and visits one of the country's oldest piers at Weston-super-Mare.

Michael Portillo finds out about free holiday trains for the GWR workers in Swindon, samples the spa in Bath and tries his hand at glass blowing in Bristol.

Michael Portillo makes apple juice in the Clyde Valley orchards, scales the Forth Rail Bridge and relives childhood memories in Kirkcaldy.

Michael Portillo meets the wild Border Reivers clansmen, witnesses a wedding in Gretna Green and visits a World War I munitions factory.

Michael Portillo takes a steamboat tour of Lake Windermere, visits Wordsworth's home village of Grasmere and makes sausages with a local Herdwick sheep farmer.

Michael Portillo revisits the Settle-Carlisle line, explores the Ribblehead viaduct and learns about the navvies who helped to build it.

Michael Portillo explores the temperance movement's origins in Preston, visits Blackpool and meets Morecambe Bay's keeper of the sands.

Michael Portillo learns to decipher traditional knitting patterns in Filey and meets Scarborough's 4,000-year-old Gristhorpe Man.

Michael searches for the last liquorice grower in Pontefract and goes fishing for sea bass in Bridlington.

Michael travels back in time on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and sees the latest Roman discoveries in York.

Michael Portillo travels around Britain by train. He is fitted for a trilby in Denton and discovers the role the railways had in the creation of fish and chips.

Michael Portillo journeys around Britain by train. He learns to speak Scouse in Liverpool and finds out about the first railway fatality.