History
7 epic breathtaking natural wonders in the British Isles that have been forged by time and shaped by wonder
Neil Coates reveals seven stunning locations, away from the usual tourist hotspots
The fairytale fortress you've spotted from the M4: Inside Castell Coch, Cardiff's castle of eccentric opulence
What do you get when the dreams of a Victorian architect meet those of the richest man in the world? Clue: it's visible from the M4
From simple livestock enclosure to Europe’s most complex hillfort – step inside Maiden Castle, Dorset’s archaeological mystery
Explore 6,000 years of British history at Maiden Castle – a vast Iron Age fortress where sheep now graze, skylarks sing, and echoes of ancient battles linger in the ramparts
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The story Bayeux Tapestry stitched into legend: walk the blood-soaked Hastings ridge where England lost its crown
Explore the site of the most famous battle – and date – in English history. Just be sure to keep an eye out for flying arrows…
From Robin Hood's hideout to a tree that's worth nearly one million pounds, here are the UK's most famous trees
A selection of the strangest, most significant and best-known ancient trees growing in the UK’s forests, parks and gardens.
Is this Scotland’s most colourful castle? Why the Earl of Glasgow let Brazilian graffiti artists loose on his turrets
With a thrilling array of trails, grottos, waterfalls and secret forests, the riotous colour of Ayrshire’s Kelburn Castle is just the beginning of the attractions…
What looks like a crumbling ruin was once the nerve centre of England’s bloodiest war: How Warkworth Castle and its hidden hermitage shaped a nation’s history
Explore a mighty hill-top castle that Shakespeare once wrote into a play, and then follow a gentle riverside path that holds enchantments of its own: a mystical hermitage
Ghosts, grief and grandeur in Cumbria: Is Muncaster Castle Britain's most haunted castle?
Become a ghostbuster and try to uncover the paranormal at Muncaster, one of Britain’s most haunted castles
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.
Britain's worst storms: from 1607 to 2024
Our guide looks at the worst storms to hit the UK since records began, from the 1607 Bristol Channel floods to the nationwide floods of 2013 and the recent storms of 2024
Final and bloody clash of the Monmouth Rebellion: The Battle of Sedgemoor marks the last armed uprising on English soil
Retrace the unfortunate steps of a band of rebellious locals who got lost on the Somerset Levels in the last battle on English soil.
Brutal massacre at Battle of Culloden. The bloody final clash that crushed the Jacobite Rebellion
Hundreds of Highlanders were slain in the Battle of Culloden. Buried in mass graves, their souls are said to haunt the moor.
Britain's rudest and funniest place names
From Bitchfield to the River Piddle, Wetwang to Nether Wallop, the UK is full of places bearing unusual, amusing and sometimes downright rude names. But where do these names come from?
Britain's best history festivals and events
Experience the British countryside as our forebears would have done at a history event or festival which takes you back in time with our pick of the best historical re-enactments and events in the UK.
UK treasure guide: famous historic finds and how to hunt for precious artefacts
From Roman coins to fossils and priceless gems, stones and metals, there is a wealth of hidden heritage and natural history in the British countryside, which is just waiting to be discovered. Our expert guide reveals how to encounter these and some of the UK's most famous historic finds.
Podcast: Hear the ancient stories of Britain with historian Amy Jeffs on the Avalon Marshes
Wander the wild marshes of the Somerset Levels with historian and storyteller Amy Jeffs who has written a new mythology of the British Isles and its peoples. Find out more in episode 18, season 10 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast
Podcast: Uncovering the secrets of a graveyard in Gloucestershire
Discover the forgotten stories, local history and family secrets hidden in a graveyard. Join Who Do You Think You Are's Sarah Williams on an autumn ramble in episode 11, season 10 of the Countryfile Magazine Podcast
Gallows Down tales of nature and protest with writer Nicola Chester
Author Nicola Chester reveals her love for the downland of north Wessex and the battles she's been involved with to protect precious wild places from development. Plus, hear wonderful local tales of wildlife and wilder people – in episode 10 of the Countryfile Magazine podcast
Podcast: Exploring the sacred isle of Iona off the west coast of Scotland
Discover history and mystery of Iona, birthplace of the Book of Kells and resting place for Scottish monarchs – with poet Kenneth Steven in episode 7, season 10 of the Countryfile Magazine podcast
Discovering history and mystery in Kingley Vale in the South Downs
Explore the yew forests, wildflower meadows and hidden history of Kingley Vale, West Sussex. Poet Hugh Dunkerley hosts episode 6 of season 10 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast
Podcast: Exploring the lost town of Old Sarum in Wiltshire with writer Christopher Somerville
Podcast: The mystery of Knowlton Circles with Mary-Ann Ochota, Part one
In the first of a new series of podcasts – Histories and Mysteries of the Countryside – broadcaster and archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota wanders ancient landscapes in Dorset to unravel the enigma of Knowlton Circles
Walk: Rievaulx Abbey, North Yorkshire
Walk from the market town of Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park to one of the most important monastic centres in Britain.
Long barrows in Britain: history and best to visit
Here is our guide to the best long barrows to visit in Britain, including a brief look at the history of each ancient site.