A rich archive of Britain’s amazing history and culture.
So much here for you to explore and enjoy!
Welcome to our unique collection of hundreds of interesting and entertaining images and the stories behind them about Britain's heritage, culture, buildings, wildlife, people, myths & legends, events, and other things that make up the country's rich and fascinating character and history.
Fantastic visit opportunities and themes. All in bite-sized and succinctly written form.
This Week’s Selected Theme
18 Nov - 24 Nov 2024
Take a look at some lesser known but quirky buildings of London ...
These days the police service has rationalised its police stations, and not been particularly concerned about its physical presence on the street. But in the past, the police were very keen to show their face right in the centre of things. Hence a tiny police building in Trafalgar Square.
23 and 24 Leinster Gardens in Bayswater, central London, may look very grand desirable houses to live in, but it's all a facade. Literally, they are clever fakes — built in the 19th century to hide the train tracks of the Metropolitan Railway that run beneath them.
Anyone who has visited or worked in the Soho area of central London will be aware of the welcome patch of greeney that is Soho Square, together with its charming "Tudor" hut. A mock-Tudor gardener's hut, one might think?
London's smallest house, 10 Hyde Park Place, Marble Arch, is only three feet wide at its narrowest point - just wider than its own front door. One theory is that it owes its existence to an attempt to block access by bodysnatchers to the graveyard beyond.
Up until 2017, if you found yourself searching for a cashpoint whilst walking in the Aldwych area in central London, you may have popped into the nearest Lloyds and found yourself within an unexpected architectural treasure. Once an opulent restaurant, it might soon be reopening in the same role again.
In a fast-changing London street scene, there are a number of mysterious ancient-looking green huts still dotted around, including the one at Russell Square pictured above. These are refreshment kiosks created for cab drivers, and started appearing from 1875.
Continue Exploring
Britain's theatrical heritage is well known - from Shakespeare to Lloyd-Webber. Here are a few of the places, people and history that make our performance culture the envy of the world.
Our wealthiest men and women seem also to have been the world's most eccentric. Take a look at some of the stories about their mad but marvellous buildings.
A few places in Britain where one might encounter a ghostie or ghoulie.
This week we're going underground - with a theme of tunnels and caves around the country.
This week's zesty theme is the history of our fruit growing industry. Did you know that Ribena was invented during World War Two?
Discover more about Exmoor with this week's theme.
Get started on a journey of discovery about Britain…
High on a hill in mid-Wales, the Spaceguard Centre near Knighton is an independent observatory which monitors the potential threat to our planet posed by 'near earth objects'.
