Historic places
Hidden in plain sight: The ingenious deception of World War One's stealth trees
Hidden among desolate, war-ridden landscapes, the lifeless trunks of 'stealth trees' concealed a daring secret. Inside them, silent watchers risked everything in an attempt to turn the tide of the most devastating war Europe had ever seen.
Castles turned into theme parks, 1000-year-old strongholds, picturesque ruins, and ancient royal fortifications – these are Britain's oldest castles
From Roman ruins to towering medieval strongholds, telling a story over a millennium. This list will transport you back centuries...
Unravelling the enigma of the Admiral von Tromp: What really happened to the wayward trawler?
Discover the story behind the modern and frankly mind-boggling mystery that still remains unsolved today
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Hidden in plain sight: The English landscapes where D-Day took shape
Over 80 years ago, the Allies launched Operation Overlord from UK shores. Julian Humphrys reveals the best D-Day sites to visit in Britain...
Discover Europe’s most enchanting historic spa towns, boasting natural hot springs and mineral cures fit for royalty
Here's where you can still to this day take the waters in some of the most restorative and healing locations in Europe
A vast relic of naval history lies just off Scottish shores, and it has a story to tell
This remarkably intact 175m-long German dreadnought can still be glimpsed off Orkney's coast, if you know where to look
Prison ships, German submarines and shallow graves: the terrible tale of Britain's own Dead Man's Island
Pirates? Prison ships? Or something worse? The rotten hulls of old ships on the Medway tell their own tale
Inside Britain's plague churches: the haunting truth behind our loneliest sanctuaries
Many British isolated rural churches are often linked to the Black Death. But were they really abandoned by plague – or is the story more complicated?
Attacked by clans, split in two by lightening, scorched by fire. This 500-year-old castle has a brutal past
The incisor-like mountains and deep, raven waters of Loch Assynt create the perfect atmosphere for one of Scotland's darkest ruins.
This strange-looking hill is riddled with miles of secret tunnels. It's peaceful now – but it wasn't always that way
Explore a dramatic and almost otherworldly landscape, shaped by industry and reclaimed by nature.
Almost 2,000 years old, 73 miles long and once taller than an elephant – this colossal Roman structure spans an entire country
It took 15,000 soldiers around 6 years to build Hadrian's Wall in England. We explore who built this iconic landmark and why – and the best ways to experience it today.
It was the childhood home of Diana, Princess of Wales as well as her final resting place – and you can visit the grounds
Inside Althorp, the country estate with plenty of royal connections
12 eerie, deadly monsters that are supposed to roam the countryside, sometimes with lethal consequences for their chosen victim...
From the Loch Ness Monster to the Grindylow, our guide looks at infamous British mythical beasts and the legends that accompany them, plus the best sites to visit in the UK that have inspired these spooky stories – if you dare!
Each year, a Cornish village switches off its famous Christmas lights. Here's why
Mousehole remembers the 16 people who lost their lives in the Penlee lifeboat disaster of 1981
10 of the most mysterious and impressive Neolithic monuments to visit in Britain and Ireland now
Stone circles, long barrows and sacred sites – Ellie Tennant picks remarkable Stone Age creations to visit in Britain and Ireland
I spent 3 days hiking England's answer to the Salem witch trials. It was as creepy as it sounds
Eerie rock formations, vanishing streams, sinister twists… Vivienne Crow experiences all and more on a
fantastical three-day tour in the Forest
of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales
It has its own king and a population of 3. Discover England’s weirdest island
Dixe Wills ventures to England’s most unusual tiny isle: Piel Island
There's a 2km-wide ring of 'big mysterious holes' near Stonehenge. Experts finally know what made them
Researchers believe it could be the largest known prehistoric structure in Britain.
Why this canal caused BBC Countryfile Magazine’s biggest controversy
The title of Britain's longest set of staircase locks was fiercely fought – but we finally have a winner
“Forget 1066, Agincourt and Waterloo, this is the most important battle in English history”
Hastings, Agincourt and Waterloo are ingrained in our national psyche,
but was a largely forgotten battle in Wiltshire more significant in shaping England and the English? Author Rupert Gavin tells Fergus Collins about King Alfred’s last desperate roll of the dice at Edington
Discover Britain's spellbinding history firsthand at these iconic landmarks and regal houses on your next holiday
Get up to 50% off your next holiday break
Ordered by Edward I in the 13th century, this impressive fortress was designed to quell the Welsh – on the very site Llywelyn the Great is buried
Conwy is exceptionally well preserved and one of the most complete castles in the Wales. Explore the castle in the centre of Conwy town, then head to Conwy Mountain for an aerial view of the fortress.
Could Edinburgh Castle really vanish? 8 iconic landmarks under threat
From coastal erosion to flash floods, a new report reveals how rising temperatures and extreme weather could bring an end to our most treasured cultural sites
Why are some places are more 'thankful' than others? Discover the shameful secret behind the villages with no war memorial
We track down Britain's thankful villages
