Michael Portillo embarks on another leg of his railway journey through southeast England, this time traveling from the bustling international hub of Gatwick Airport to the historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. This Thursday’s episode of “Great British Railway Journeys” is filled with historical tidbits, scenic views, and encounters with British aristocracy.
Portillo’s adventure begins with a ride on the Gatwick Express, where he learns about the surprising origins of the airport’s name, which derives from the Old English for “goat farm.” Leaving the modern marvel of Gatwick behind, he travels back in time on the Bluebell Line, a preserved heritage railway, even getting a chance to ride on the footplate of a vintage 1957 locomotive.
At Buckhurst Park, the ancestral seat of the Sackville family, Michael meets the Earl and Countess De La Warr and their impressive herd of Sussex cattle. “Great British Railway Journeys” airs Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 PM on BBC Two. It’s a journey through time and across the beautiful English countryside, exploring the history, culture, and quirky details that make Britain so unique.
