England

The cast of Downton Abbey in front of Highclere Castle. (Image by Alamy)

The upstairs/downstairs world of Downton Abbey: how true to life is it?

Fatima Manji talks about objects and landmarks that are often obscured by the traditional stories told in many heritage sites. (Photographed by Sophie Davidson)

The history hidden in British heritage sites

Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles I

Henrietta Maria: Charles I’s warrior queen

Dr Rory Naismith answers listener questions on Britain in the early Middle Ages. (Image from Getty Images)

Early Medieval Britain: everything you wanted to know

Portraits of Anne, Thomas and Mary Boleyn.

Why do the Boleyns continue to fascinate us?

The British Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the day of George VI's coronation

Britain’s May Queen: your guide to Queen Mary of Teck

Anne of Denmark, wife of James I of England

Anne of Denmark: a killer queen?

Mary, Queen of Scots during her trial at Fotheringhay Castle – where she was also executed for her alleged role in the Babington Plot

What if... The Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I had succeeded?

Lucy Bland discusses the childhood experiences of babies fathered by African-American GIs stationed in Britain during the Second World War. (Image from Getty Images)

Second World War

Wartime Britain’s mixed-race babies

Women munition workers stacking a reserve of shell castings during WWI

First World War

Young guns: the women and children of WW1 munitions factories

Portrait Of Edward Seymour (Colorized)

Edward Seymour: the fall of the dithering dictator

Ronald Hutton discusses Oliver Cromwell’s early life and career, exploring the brilliance and cruelty of the future Lord Protector. (Image by Getty Images)

Oliver Cromwell’s remarkable rise to power

Norman Davies introduces a long-maligned and overlooked monarch, George II, and reveals that there are in fact many reasons to remember his reign. (Image from Getty Images)

George II: reassessing a much-forgotten monarch

Nick Hayes discusses the contested history of land ownership in England, from William the Conqueror to the Kinder trespass. (Image from Getty Images)

A hard-fought history of trespass

Crown Prince Olav on his ice yacht (Getty Images)

From Hollywood to war heroes: 10 Olympians who were more famous outside sport