Routes

Restaurant critic, author and Kitchen Cabinet host Jay Rayner joins Jenni on Routes from LNER as they travel to Newcastle, trading stories about food, trains and life on the road. Jay explains how decades of criss-crossing the country by rail earned him a surprising nickname on set, and looks back on the eccentric childhood holidays that shaped his love of travel. He revisits a legendary summer spent Interrailing across Europe, and shares the personal rules he lives by as one of Britain's most read restaurant critics... including why he always turns down a freebie. Plus: the secret to a stress-free dinner party, a picnic that caused an unlikely stir online, cooking with a Hollywood star, and the philosophy that's guided his search for great food across the country.lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/

Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps her moving, the food that keeps her fuelled, and the mindset that keeps her calm on the road.From a lifelong love affair with one very special destination to the packing habits of a self-confessed "overactive venture scout," it's a warm, wide-ranging chat about what travel really means to her. Victoria opens up about how her tastes shift depending on the moment, one playlist for pushing hard, another for switching off completely, and the small rituals and essentials she never leaves home without, honed over years of life on the move.She also reflects on the restlessness that keeps her chasing the next adventure rather than sitting still, and why, wherever she ends up, she's learned not to sweat the delays. It's a relaxed, honest conversation about finding balance between drive and downtime, on and off the track.lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/

Double Olympic gold medallist and nine-time world champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton joins Jenni on Routes from LNER to talk about a life built on chasing new challenges. Victoria traces her journey from touring the UK on the back of her dad's tandem to racing across five continents, and reflects on the surprising imposter syndrome that shadowed her right up to becoming world champion.She opens up about two of her boldest post-cycling pursuits — training to become an amateur jump jockey at Cheltenham in under a year, and an attempt on Everest that tested her in ways she didn't expect.Victoria also shares how writing her new book, The Fear Opportunity, became an unexpected form of therapy following the loss of her twin brother, and why she believes stepping outside our comfort zones is one of the most important things we can do.Plus: skydiving on her first holiday as a couple, surfing in the Algarve, and the story of the day her dad accidentally ended up on a train to Peterborough.lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/

Race Across the World winner and self-confessed adventurer Alfie Watts joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, tracks and hacks that fuel his life on the move.Expect a firm stance on the age-old Pringles-versus-Haribo debate, a very specific idea of what his 100th country needs to be, and the truth behind a passport story that isn't quite what it first seems.Alfie also opens up about the song that instantly takes him back to the trip that changed everything, plus a heartfelt reflection on why, after 3,500 miles by tuk tuk for mental health charity YoungMinds, nothing beats coming home to the UK. lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/

At just 23, Alfie Watts has visited 96 countries, become the youngest ever winner of BBC's Race Across the World, and driven a tuk-tuk over 3,500 miles from London to Norway's North Cape for charity. He joins Jenni to talk about how travel transformed his life, from a disastrous first flight to Barcelona at 13, to a life-changing trip to Croatia that opened his eyes to how accessible the world could be.Alfie shares stories from his tuk-tuk adventure, including being challenged to a race by a Dutch police officer, and reflects on his time on Race Across the World with best friend Owen. He also opens up about his work with mental health charity YoungMinds, and why he's now touring UK schools to show young people that travel is more attainable than they think.From Petra at sunrise to a surprisingly pink sunset in Aruba, Alfie takes Jenni through some of his most unforgettable travel moments, plus a surprising confession about his secret love for Tenerife. Adventurous, honest and full of energy, this is a conversation about chasing the unknown and finding home in unexpected places.lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/