British history

A county that changed British history more than once—yet is barely remembered. Leicestershire, in the heart of England, appears tranquil, its landscape dotted with green fields and market towns. Yet beneath its surface lies a...

Ancient summer festivals continue across England, from Derbyshire's flower garlands to Gloucestershire's cheese-rolling. Discover these centuries-old customs before summer ends. Many associate English summer with large festivals and muddy fields, overlooking a parallel calendar of...

In the 1530s, Henry VIII dissolved over 800 monasteries. North Yorkshire was particularly affected. For centuries, abbeys influenced North Yorkshire's spiritual, economic, and social life. Cistercians farmed sheep, Augustinians ran hospitals and schools, and Carthusians...

Before churches, before Christianity, before any written record of this land, the springs were already being used. Somerset has more named holy wells than most English counties. Many have been buried, piped, forgotten, or built...

On 8 May 2026, Sir David Attenborough turns 100. Britain has produced many great broadcasters. It has produced only one David Attenborough. There is a generation of people in this country who grew up watching...

In 1986, Halley's Comet last swept through the inner solar system. It won't return until 2061. But right now, what it left behind is lighting up Britain's skies. Most people alive today will never see...

Three hundred and fifty thousand visitors each year come for the Major Oak. Almost none discover what else awaits here. Sherwood Forest, globally renowned yet rarely explored, beckons adventurers. Each year, hundreds of thousands arrive...

Skip York and Whitby—these six North Yorkshire market towns offer a quieter, more authentic experience. The dales, moors, abbeys, and coastline draw visitors, but North Yorkshire’s market towns showcase centuries-old history and offer rare opportunities...