Culture
Omens of doom, arrows in eyes and Nazi heists – amazing Bayeux Tapestry facts you (probably) didn't know
As the Bayeux Tapestry returns to Britain for the first time in 900 years, we reveal some of the most surprising facts about the 11th-century masterpiece.
The world's greatest folk songs: 14 timeless melodies that will make your spine tingle
From Scotland's lochs and Japan's cherry blossoms to sea shanties and ballads passed down though generations, these are the world's most enduring folk songs
13 fantastical beasts and where to find them – the mythical sea creatures that inspired Rowling and Tolkien (number 11 is terrifying)
Who knew there was so many mythical creatures swimming in UK waters? Meet these 13 strange and supernatural beasts
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7 iconic songs and albums that took their names from British countryside places, from Pink Floyd to Paul McCartney and Kate Bush
From folk-inspired tributes and responses to literature to atmospheric ambient soundscapes, let's dive into the music of the British countryside
"Summer’s lease hath all too short a date." These stunning quotes encompass all that we love about summer
Long days, golden evenings, and a warm glow on your skin – summer is just around the corner and promises a season of light, life and endless possibilities. From classic to modern literature, these book quotes encompass the beauty of summer...
Aliens on the Moon, spaghetti grown in trees, a telegram from Churchill: Here are 10 of the most epic April Fools' Day hoaxes in history
We explore some of the greatest and most curious April Fools' Day jokes ever created
Why do we celebrate April Fools’ Day? Discover the hard-to-believe history behind the pranks
From bathing lions to paper fish, we take a deep dive into the wacky origins of this prank-filled day.
The clocks change next weekend – but what's the point of it?
British Summer Time is almost upon us! Find out when the clocks change in March and why we change them.
From a time when the world wobbled on its axis: These are the 11 best folk songs from the 1970s
From fractured love affairs to maritime tragedy, the 1970s pushed folk music far beyond its acoustic roots
10 greatest folk songs of the 1960s that defined a generation
Featuring Dylan, Baez, Cohen and more, here are the timeless folk classics from the decade that changed music forever.
What’s the coldest temperature ever recorded in the UK? Why the barometer dropped so low an elephant could be walked over the River Thames
While Scotland often has the coldest temperatures today, the River Thames used to freeze over – resulting in a bizarre tradition
10 darkest nursery rhymes ever: The chilling stories and eerie hidden messages behind some of our most popular children's songs
Listen to archive footage from the longest-running radio soap opera in the world: The Archers
The Archers is celebrating its 75th anniversary, with a range of special events to mark the occasion
Drunken feasts, role reversals and sacrifice: Before Christmas there was this Roman party in December – and it was absolutely out of control
Our Yuletide has its roots in Saturnalia, an ancient and sometimes raucous festival
held to honour the Roman god of agriculture, reveals Pat Kinsella
Witches, dragons and giants – we hunt for history's most terrifying beasts with a monster expert
Britain is a land populated by dragons, giants, selkies and supernatural beings – or so the legends go. Kevin Parr meets Monsterland author Nicholas Jubber to hunt for otherworldly creatures
“It cost me my eyebrows.” This thrilling and ‘anarchic’ blazing barrel event may be Britain’s craziest festival
Once a year, in a thrilling spectacle, the Devon town of Ottery St Mary is set aglow
by flaming tar barrels carried through the streets. Pat Kinsella joins the fiery festivities
Screaming banshees, horse skulls and faery trees: 6 eerie and downright creepy rituals and superstitions
You'll find plenty of rural beliefs and superstitions across Britain – with some still being honoured today
18 famous rock star graves: Iconic pilgrimages every true rock 'n' roll fan should make
From Bowie to Bolan, Mercury to Winehouse, experience the UK’s poignant pilgrimages to its most beloved musical visionaries
“Might the builders of Stonehenge have been inspired by visions triggered by magic mushrooms?” The influence of psilocybin on UK culture – and what its future could look like
Is it time to reconsider the role of psychoactive fungi? Joe Pontin explores the history, cultural impact and possible future of liberty cap or ‘magic’ mushrooms
Discover England’s best folk songs: 9 evocative, nostalgic melodies of wanderers, workers and lost lovers
From Yorkshire moorland ballads to Lancashire mill laments, England’s folk songs offer a window into centuries of rural life, love and labour
9 best Scottish folk songs: Beautifully haunting melodies that will transport you to the the land of the brave
Across mountains, lochs and islands, Scottish folk music tells stories that speak to histories of grand battles and small communities and romances
"Melancholy were the sounds on a winter's night": These quotes capture the quiet beauty of the winter season
Winter is a season of contrasts – harsh yet beautiful, cold yet comforting. These quotes from the great authors capture the essence of the colder months in all their wonder and melancholy
The world’s largest Highland Games isn’t actually in Scotland… How rival clan traditions became global and even influenced the modern Olympics
Reputedly inspiring the modern Olympics, Highland Games are strenuous, centuries-old sporting celebrations of Scottish culture
Why is the poppy a symbol of remembrance – and how did it come to represent sacrifice?
How did the poppy become a symbol of remembrance? We recount how this pretty red flower came to represent the fallen.
