Journey 12: Windsor to Weymouth

A glorious insight into the history, landscape and people of Britain, from The Sunday Times bestseller.


Although not initially a fan of rail travel, Queen Victoria was soon converted and pronounced herself 'quite charmed with it', and railway companies provided sumptuous royal carriages for her use. The railway route from Windsor to Weymouth transported her to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, her favourite royal residence. Michael Portillo also discovers one of Brunel's most graceful bridges at Maidenhead, biscuit-making, watercress farming, the ancient glories of Winchester and the popular resorts of Bournemouth and Weymouth.


Places visited: Windsor, Slough, Maidenhead, Reading, Basingstoke, Hampshire, London, Eastleigh, Isle of Wight, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Portland.


This individual journey is one of a series taken from the bestselling books Great British Railway Journeys and Great Victorian Railway Journeys that accompany the highly successful BBC Two series. Michael Portillo follows the famous George Bradshaw railway guides in railway journeys across the length and breadth of the country, discovering spectacular scenery and stunning architecture and exploring local history and industry.