History

spring traditions

From Easter to May Day, Henrietta Easton explores some of our more unusual spring traditions… Words by Henrietta Easton

facts about st patrick

St Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland – is steeped in mythology. Here are 10 things we think we know about the man, known as the "Apostle of Ireland".

Suffragists in 1908

To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we unearth Britain’s pioneering women and celebrate their legacy Powerful women have driven British history. From Queen Elizabeth I’s golden...

Discover some fascinating facts about St David, Wales’ patron saint.

things to do in York

Few cities wear their past with as much pride as York, says Sally Coffey. Here is our guide to the best things...

king robert the bruce

Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce did what few imagined possible and freed Scotland from its English overlords, for a while at least,...

tudors in love

Love in the Tudor era was not for the faint-hearted, says Nancy Alsop Courtly love in the time of...

Despite the buttoned-up stereotype, Britons are responsible for some of the world’s greatest love affairs in history. Martha Alexander presents her top six, for...

British towns and villages often have their own quirky traditions, and few display them quite as ardently as Olney on Pancake Day,...

Taking a journey back to the golden age of travel, Clare White enjoys the night train to Oxford and back again