Historical figures
Celebrate St Piran's Day: when it is and the legend behind the Cornish saint
Celebrate the Cornish day with our guide to St Piran's Day which looks at the patron saint of Cornwall and popular traditions.
Who were the real Durrells – and what on earth happened to them all? Was it all guns, goats and Greek sunshine?
We're all familiar with the hit ITV drama The Durrells, but who were the Durrells and how true to life is the show?
From exploding corpses to fatal feasts, which English monarch had the most gruesome death?
Kings and queens might lead glamorous lives, but their deaths aren't always so dignified. From bizarre accidents to truly gruesome ends, history is full of monarchs who met a fate stranger than fiction
"To travel by train is to see nature": The best Agatha Christie quotes from the Queen of Crime
Discover quotes that capture the beauty of country living from the best-selling fiction writer of all time, Agatha Christie
Celebrate St David's Day: history and traditions
Celebrate Wales' national day with our guide to St David's Day which looks at the history of the patron saint of Wales and popular Welsh traditions.
Who were England's most murderous monarchs? Discover the kings and queens who had the most blood on their hands...
From bloody battles to brutal purges, some of history’s most famous monarchs were defined by their deadly actions. But which ruler truly earned the title of the deadliest of all?
"I resented the injustice of English policy" – a new immersive attraction in Cornwall shines light on anti-war activist Emily Hobhouse
A visit to the Story of Emily in Cornwall is a great way to mark International Women's Day on 8 March.
These may be the finest earliest landscape photographs of England you’ve ever seen
The images have been released as part of Historic England's acquisition of a renowned photographic collection.
"Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” 12 best Charles Dickens quotes from the eminent Victorian master storyteller
Discover these words of wisdom from one of the world's most famous authors, Charles Dickens
Medieval toilet helps uncover lost home of England’s last Anglo-Saxon King
Archaeologists believe they've found the West Sussex residence used by King Harold during the Norman Conquest, thanks partly to the location of a loo
Burns Night 2025: what and when it is, and how to celebrate this Scottish tradition
Celebrate Burns Night with our guide to the Scottish poet Robert Burns, including the best Scottish walks, traditions and recipes
"We are all fools in love": The best Jane Austen quotes, one of our literary greats, that capture her sharp wit and humour
Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble: the real story of Britain's witch trials
Learn more about some of Britains most famous witches and wise men and the fate that befell them
Who was the real James Herriot? Meet the man who became the world's most famous - and beloved - vet
Uncover the blend of fact and fiction in his narratives and learn about James Herriot's lasting impact on veterinary medicine and literature.
Where did the Easter bunny come from - and which came first, the rabbit or the egg?
Why are rabbits associated with Easter? Any why are eggs involved? We take a look...
Just who Britain's eerie Green Man really is, is one of the country's biggest mysteries, but could this ancient spirit of mischief be the hidden guardian of nature?
He appears in pub names, May Day festivals and ancient folklore, but who is the Green Man? Jo Tinsley tracks down the mysterious country character
The terrifying tale of the Lantern Men, evil pixies who would lead unwary souls to their death
Discover the haunting legend of evil pixies luring innocent people to their deaths
Druids guide: who are they and what do they believe in?
What do the druids of today believe in and how do they compare to their ancient counterparts
When did humans arrive in Britain? Uncovering the mysteries of the early Brits, from Neanderthals to the Stone Age
Our resilient hunter-gatherer ancestors contended with wild animals, tsunamis and the watery separation of Britain from mainland Europe says Mike Pitts. Discover what life was like for the first humans in Britain
From isolation to icon: How Hannah Hauxwell's life in the Yorkshire Dales became a worldwide sensation
Yorkshire farmer and recluse, Hannah Hauxwell lived a hard life, alone on her small Pennine farm – until she became an unlikely TV star in the 1970s. Here we look back on her extraordinary life...
Who were the Knights Templar? Discover the ancient organisation that's shrouded in mystery and legend
Clouded by mystery and legend the Knights Templar were once a powerful force in Britain. Helen Nicholson is your guide to these secret medieval warriors
Meet the brave, but inevitably doomed, Jacobites and discover the trail of blood, war and historical battles
Learn about the legendary Jacobites - their origins, key figures and the bloody battles that defined their quest for power.
Loathed school PE? Then you have this man to thank as he invented it - oh and he also had a large hand in launching a small event called the Olympics...
The Olympic Games would not be alive today, said Olympic founder Pierre de Coubertin, if it hadn't been for Dr William Penny Brookes.
Was 'M' in James Bond real? Meet the real-life secret spy called 'M', who would have rubbed shoulders with Ian Fleming
Meet the animal-loving David Attenborough of the 1950s who had a secret life as a spy called M and the likely inspiration for ‘M’, James Bond’s spy chief.