Alfie Watts reveals why travel should feel possible for everyone on Routes with Jenni Falconer
Travel creator and Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts joins Jenni Falconer for the latest episode of Routes, the podcast from LNER, where he reflects on the journeys that have transformed his life, from winning the BBC series to travelling to almost 100 countries and using his platform to inspire others to explore the world.
Alfie discusses his passion for making travel feel accessible, why he's determined to keep his content relatable and the extraordinary 3,500-mile tuk tuk challenge he completed to raise money for the mental health charity YoungMinds.
Speaking to Jenni, Alfie opens up about how his own experiences with mental health inspired him to take the tuk tuk challenge in aid of YoungMinds, raising more than £54,000 for the charity.
"I really struggled with my mental health growing up. I wanted to make a difference, but I wanted it to be something around travel because that's my brand. I wanted it to be a meaningful journey."
The conversation also explores the ambitious challenge itself, including the surreal moment Dutch police shut part of a motorway so Alfie's tuk tuk could prove it was capable of reaching the legal speed limit.
"He said, 'I challenge you to a race.' He shut the Dutch motorway and drove alongside me. It was just the most surreal moment."
Episode highlights include:
How Race Across the World changed everything: Alfie reflects on how winning the BBC series transformed his life, taking him from someone who'd travelled very little to visiting almost 100 countries in just six years.
The destination that left him speechless: Alfie shares why the Seychelles remains one of the most breathtaking places he's ever visited, from its dramatic landscapes to an unexpected invitation to compete in a 25km mountain race.
Why London will always be home: Despite spending more than half the year abroad, Alfie reveals why London is still his favourite place in the world and why he feels fiercely protective of the UK.
Inspiring the next generation: As he tours schools across the country, Alfie explains why he wants young people to see that a career in travel isn't out of reach, proving how much can change in just six years.
Why he keeps travel real: The content creator reveals why he rarely accepts business class flights or luxury experiences, saying he wants his adventures to feel achievable for the people watching at home.
Routes with Jenni Falconer sees the broadcaster travel across the LNER network with well-known guests, uncovering the journeys, destinations and memories that have shaped their lives.
The episode featuring Alfie Watts is available NOW on all major podcast platforms.
Notes to editors
Jenni Falconer
Jenni Falconer is a well-known TV and radio presenter with nearly 30 years of experience. She’s hosted shows including ITV’s This Morning, Entertainment Today, GMTV, The National Lottery Show, and Cirque de Celebrité, and is a regular on West End red carpets.
She currently hosts Smooth Breakfast, making her the UK’s only solo female breakfast show host, and previously presented on Heart.
Originally from Glasgow, Jenni began her media career while at university in Leeds, going on to front shows like Holiday, Fantasy Homes by the Sea and How to Holiday.
A passionate runner, she launched the hit podcast RunPod in 2019, with guests ranging from Mo Farah to Amanda Holden. In 2025, she ran her 10th London Marathon and released her first book, Runner’s High.
Jenni is also a keen golfer and hosts the Women’s Golf Show podcast. In 2020, she co-founded the award-winning supplement brand Kollo Health, with her latest launch, MenoSupport, supporting women’s health.
She lives in London with her husband James and daughter Ella.
LNER
LNER is publicly owned by DFTO and connects more than 50 stations between London, West Yorkshire, the North East of England and Scotland along the East Coast Mainline. Through our modern Azuma fleet of trains and our dedicated colleagues, we're focused on delivering safe, reliable and enjoyable journeys for our customers.
Our mission is to transform rail travel. We connect people, businesses and communities, helping the places we serve to grow and thrive while making rail an attractive, sustainable choice for future generations.
Together with our partners at Network Rail East Coast, we're working to create a simpler, better railway for everyone.
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