Book description
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. 'A colourful insight into Britain over the last
150 years' - National Geographic Traveller Karen is an author, editor
and researcher, specialising in modern history and biographies.
