Historical figures
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.
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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
“The stag night out was interesting, as we also did that in period kit!” I spent a day with re-enactors and this is what I learned
Music, muskets and gunfire! Matt Baird joins the Worcester Re-enactors for a day of historical role play at the city’s Living History event
Wit is like caviar - it should be served in small portions and not spread about like marmalade": 8 best quotes from famous playwright Noel Coward, the master of wit
Words of wisdom from one of Britain most eminent playwrights, Noel Coward
Who is Noel Coward, the enigmatic playwright who makes a surprise appearance in the new Downton Abbey film?
Noël Coward was the toast of London's West End during the 1920s and 30s
Are you descended from one of Ireland’s most powerful and infamous families? We look at the top 6 clans including O’Neill, MacCarthy, Kavanagh...
These six clans have historic tales full of battle and betrayal – with violent scraps against each other, as well as invading forces
Think you don't quote Shakespeare? Think again as he's given us a whopping 1700 words and phrases we now use. Here are just a few of them – Thanks Will!
More than 400 years on, Shakespeare’s inventive wordplay continues to echo in our conversations. The Bard coined many more words and phrases than you might think.
He scaled Tibetan peaks, braved wild jungles and helped Darwin shake up science — all in a day’s work for this globe-trotting Victorian plant hunter
Celebrate the life of the greatest botanist of the Victorian era, Joseph Dalton Hooker, born 200 years ago this summer and who sailed the world seeking new forms of plant life
The Nine Years’ War: Henry VIII’s destructive conquest against Ireland’s clans was one of the largest (and most expensive) in Tudor England
In response to Henry VIII's ongoing Tudor conquest of Ireland, the Nine Years' War erupted, leading to the collapse of Ireland's clans
Tax evasion, grave curses and made-up words: 8 weird and wonderful facts about Shakespeare you (probably) won’t expect
From graveyard curses to tax evasion, here are the strangest, funniest and most unexpected facts about the Bard
Who were the Normans? From Vikings to conquerors, here's how the Normans shaped medieval Europe through war, faith, and ambition
Where did the Normans originally come from? vWe take a look at their roots
How historically accurate is The Gilded Age? Did Britain’s aristocracy go to America to find wives?
Lavish balls, fierce social rivalries, and transatlantic ambition, HBO’s The Gilded Age brings to life a dazzling yet divided era. But how much of it is true?
Did the Romans bring lions to England to maul criminals and prisoners of war to death for gruesome entertainment?
Lions are for their presence at the Roman colosseum, but did they ever make it to Roman Britain?
Plague, pox and pain: The deadliest medieval diseases that changed history forever
From the Black Death to dysentery, we explore the most gruesome and lethal diseases of the medieval period – and how they shaped the course of history
10 celebrities related to British royalty – the surprising connection between Beyonce, Hugh Grant and Queen Elizabeth II
Celebrities from both sides of the Atlantic can claim a connection to British royalty, including Courteney Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch – and Danny Dyer.
The real Vikings: Beyond pillage and plunder - coastal treasures reveal their untold story
Historian Eleanor Barraclough reveals what the ancient artefacts found on Britain’s shores tell us about our formidable forebears
Who was Capability Brown? Meet the landscape gardener who transformed Britain's country houses
Capability Brown helped design the buildings and parklands of iconic estates throughout the UK – but who is he and which gardens did he design?
Georgian era guide: When was it and the best historic places to visit in Britain
The Georgian era was regarded as the age of elegance as vast stately houses and estates changed the the rural landscape. Our expert guide on Georgian Britain looks at the history of this elegant period and features a selection best Georgian places to visit in the UK.