Historical figures
Think you’re Gaelic at heart? Here’s how to trace your Scottish and Irish roots
From clan lands to famine ships, uncover the stories that shaped your Scottish and Irish ancestry –and learn how to start tracing your Gaelic roots today
The remarkable tale of Owain Lawgoch, the rebel Welsh prince who took up arms for France
Mercenary captain, exile and would-be Prince of Wales, he became such a threat that the English crown paid to have him killed
Is this the world’s most haunted chair? The chilling legend of the Dead Man’s Seat
Said to have been cursed by a condemned murderer in 1702, the Dead Man’s Chair has inspired centuries of eerie tales, but how much truth lies behind the legend?
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Farmhouses, ex-council houses and country cottages: Step inside the childhood homes of music legends
While some are open to visitors, others are frozen in time – look inside the childhood homes of some of Britain's greatest ever rockstars
Rugged moors and imagined worlds: How real are the landscapes of the Brontë novels?
How did a quiet Yorkshire parsonage produce three of Britain’s greatest writers? We explore the moorlands and villages that inspired Charlotte, Emily and Anne – and how much of Brontë Country made its way into their novels
How tall was Jane Austen? Her lofty height may surprise you
Would Jane Austen have cut an imposing figure in a ballroom? She might well have, according to a dress historian
How tall was William Shakespeare? And how did he stack up against his rivals?
Shakespeare's words are studied by school children across the UK, but surprisingly little is known about his appearance
Researchers uncover new threat to Roman Army troops stationed at Hadrian’s Wall: intestinal parasites
The universities of Cambridge and Oxford analysed sediment samples from a Roman fort – and discovered something interesting
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
“I’ve wandered into an oil painting.” Walk in the unspoiled English landscapes that inspired John Constable
Few artists are as synonymous with a place as John Constable. To celebrate a major Tate Britain exhibition marking 250 years since his birth, Ben Lerwill ventures to the open skies and slow waters of the idyllic Essex-Suffolk border
He gave us Auld Lang Syne and was known for passionate love affairs and bold, radical politics – just who was Robert Burns?
From humble Ayrshire beginnings to worldwide annual celebrations, we take a look at the life of Robert Burns, Scotland's favourite poet.
Crowned before their first birthday, ruling for just 9 days before being executed – discover the record-breaking royals who have made the history books
Discover the extraordinary extremes that make some royals unforgettable
He falsely claimed an Indigenous identity to gain fame in America, despite being from the UK: Should he be remembered as a fraud or a conservation hero?
He was a Native American trapper-turned-conservationist, who helped to save the beaver from extinction. Or was he? Roly Smith tracks down the unlikely true story of Archibald Belaney
Beloved children's author, artist, scientist, sheep farmer – 10 things you didn't know about Beatrix Potter
Our guide to the children's author, writer, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist Beatrix Potter, looking at her life, her works and best places to visit in the Lake District.
6 best royal period dramas set in the glorious British countryside, which you'll want watch again and again
Celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the country's kings and queens with these regal films showcasing Britain's majestic estates and landscapes
He lived on the streets – then became one of Britain’s most beloved poets: the journey from tramp to literary legend...
Poet and wanderer WH Davies (1873–1940) elevated idleness to an art form, urging a busy world to embrace the freedom of the great outdoors and
take time to appreciate the small wonders of nature.
Why do we say 'sent to Coventry' - and just where did this rather brutal saying come from? And why on Earth was poor Coventry picked on?
Where does the saying 'sent to Coventry' come from? We take a look at its possible roots
Why does the US have a Manchester, Boston and Salisbury? The surprising origins of the English towns and cities that you’ll also find in America
Britain's place names offer clues into local history and landscape – and have been influenced by groups such as the Romans and Normans
In 1864, one pioneering woman changed mountaineering forever – armed only with grit, a skirt, and champagne
Leaving behind a quiet life of croquet and cream teas, Lucy Walker became one of Britain’s finest early mountain climbers. Clare Roche tells her extraordinary story.
Are you descended from one of Scotland's most powerful, infamous and violent clans?
Six clans that shaped modern Scotland
Forget William the Conqueror, this forgotten hero was the first REAL King of England, says expert
A new biography shines a light on a forgotten king of England, and makes a case for his name to be better cemented in the nation's psyche
Who were the druids? The mysterious beliefs of an ancient order revealed
What do the druids of today believe in and how do they compare to their ancient counterparts
Sutherland Clearances: How brutal and ruthless evictions changed the landscape of the Scottish Highlands forever
The Highland Clearances was a time when people were forced from their homes – with the Sutherland Clearances being some of the most infamous.
From the duke who lived in underground tunnels to the jester who farted for a fortune: Discover history’s hidden eccentrics and oddballs
Five of the weirdest lives in history
