18 Nov - 24 Nov 2024
London's oddest buildings
Take a look at some lesser known but quirky buildings of London ...
Our Selected Themes
Here you’ll find a selection of entries from the Bite Sized Britain archive, specially selected and grouped into fascinating themes.
Simply select a theme from the drop down below, search for a specific theme or browse our archive.
Or browse our archive of themes below.
11 Nov - 17 Nov 2024
No Business Like Show Business
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.
4 Nov - 10 Nov 2024
Remarkable British follies
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.
28 Oct - 3 Nov 2024
Spooky Spots
A few places in Britain where one might encounter a ghostie or ghoulie.
21 Oct - 27 Oct 2024
Going Underground
This week we're going underground - with a theme of tunnels and caves around the country.
14 Oct - 20 Oct 2024
Time to get a little fruity
This week's zesty theme is the history of our fruit growing industry. Did you know that Ribena was invented during World War Two?
7 Oct - 13 Oct 2024
Celebrating Exmoor
Discover more about Exmoor with this week's theme.
30 Sep - 6 Oct 2024
Interesting churches
This week, we have selected some of Britain's most intriguing churches.
23 Sep - 29 Sep 2024
The Romans in Britain
This week we look at the places and characters of Roman Britain
16 Sep - 22 Sep 2024
Down on the farm
The week's compilation of stories has a livestock and farming theme.
9 Sep - 15 Sep 2024
For the love of dogs
A canine theme this week ...
2 Sep - 8 Sep 2024
A nation of gardeners
The British are known for their love of gardens large or small. This week we bring you an eclectic mix of stories on a gardening theme.
26 Aug - 1 Sep 2024
Lighthouse stories
This week we shine a light on Britain's sea beacons - their history and their place in the landscape.
19 Aug - 25 Aug 2024
Medicine and Disease
This week, our theme is medicine - and the practitioners and discoveries that saved so many lives.
12 Aug - 18 Aug 2024
Incredible insects
Few people in Britain pay much attention to insects, but they are an important part of our native natural history - and in some cases have played their part in human history as well. This week, we take a closer look at some of our more fascinating insects - plus that insect-borne disease that we've half-forgotten.
5 Aug - 11 Aug 2024
The world of Isaac Newton
This week's theme centres on the world of one of our greatest scientists - Sir Isaac Newton. Discover more about his life and times, his creations, and some of the places he would have known.
29 Jul - 4 Aug 2024
Waterfalls
This week we present some of the loveliest waterfalls in Britain.
22 Jul - 28 Jul 2024
The British love affair with all things sweet
The Belgians might have fancy chocolates, the French might have petit-fours, but we British have proved adept in producing everyday affordable sweet treats. Here are a few of our stories about these delights and their history ...
15 Jul - 21 Jul 2024
Botanic Gardens and Conservatories
The stories we've gathered this week are on the theme of botanic gardens and glasshouses around the country.
8 Jul - 14 Jul 2024
Making a splash
With cold water swimming currently in fashion, we dive into some of our stories on the theme of communal bathing and taking the waters.
1 Jul - 7 Jul 2024
Unpopular plants
This week we take a look at some of our less loved plants - but they all have their place and their own beauty.
24 Jun - 30 Jun 2024
More Cornish treasures
Another look at the delights of Cornwall.
17 Jun - 23 Jun 2024
Cornish Treasures
This week we take a closer look at Cornwall.
10 Jun - 16 Jun 2024
Next stop - the stars!
This week we have a truly stellar theme - stories about the stars and planets. Read about some places in Britain associated with astronomy, as well as how Pluto got its name, and the company that had a hand in the exploration of Mars.
3 Jun - 9 Jun 2024
Some Seaside Delights
From the time that Brighton attracted Royal attention and the concept of the great British seaside holiday first began, resorts have competed to offer something special. Here is a sample of six special seaside attractions from around the country.
27 May - 2 Jun 2024
Garden birds of Britain
The week, a closer look at some of our garden birds
20 May - 26 May 2024
Scottish castles
Scotland has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to castles. Here are some of the most dramatic to visit ...
13 May - 19 May 2024
Tales from the riverbank
This week our selected stories are a varied bunch on the loose theme of rivers.
6 May - 12 May 2024
Spotlight on Northumberland
This week we round up some of our stories about the beauty and heritage of Northumberland.
29 Apr - 5 May 2024
Up, up and away!
We look to the skies this week. Is it a bird, is it a plane, or is it a flying monk?
22 Apr - 28 Apr 2024
Into the Woods
This week, enjoy some of our many stories about our forests and trees.
15 Apr - 21 Apr 2024
Great Pretenders
This week's theme is fraudsters and frauds - from the relatively benign to the decidedly mercenary.
8 Apr - 14 Apr 2024
British cats
We love cats in Britain. Read about the distinctive Manx cat, a couple of expeditionary cats, the traditional theatre cat, and a couple of wilder cousins.
1 Apr - 7 Apr 2024
Tales from the Orkney Isles
Take a visit to the Orkney Islands this week - a landscape with a surprising number of ancient artefacts.
25 Mar - 31 Mar 2024
The Plantagenets - interestingly ruthless
This week we focus on the Plantagenet dynasty, with three stories from their early days and three from the end of their time on the British throne. Find out about real buried treasure, a woman who should have been queen of England, and that chap that memorably died in a vat of Malmsey wine.
18 Mar - 24 Mar 2024
Charming harbours
Some of our stories hightlighting the delights of six of our many pretty fishing villages.
11 Mar - 17 Mar 2024
Gnomes and the little people
Stories this week that focus on the "little people". We feared them long ago, but now relegate them to the pages of children's books and the corners of our gardens.
4 Mar - 10 Mar 2024
Natural Wonders of Scotland
Scotland is well known for its dramatic beauty. Here are some of our many stories of Scotland's natural wonders.
26 Feb - 3 Mar 2024
Of ships and shipping
As an island nation, ships and seafaring have been an important part of our history. This week, enjoy some of our varied stories on a sea-going theme ...
19 Feb - 25 Feb 2024
Getting the message out
This week our selected stories have the theme of long distance communication.
12 Feb - 18 Feb 2024
Wonders of Northern Ireland
Recent television dramas such as "Game of Thrones" have brought Northern Ireland's magnificent scenery to the nation's attention. Here are a few places to visit.
5 Feb - 11 Feb 2024
Time Travel Interiors
Many of our castles and stately homes display the interior fashions of the past - but this week we round up a few places that are especially redolent of a particular era - plus a museum that's all about domestic interiors.
29 Jan - 4 Feb 2024
Practitioners of the Dark Arts
This week we take a look at some very shady figures ....
22 Jan - 28 Jan 2024
Some remarkable British inventions
The British are known for their inventiveness. The steam train, telephone, television and world wide web are famous British inventions. But this week, we took a look through our library of articles and found some more surprising things that British brains have given the world ...
15 Jan - 21 Jan 2024
Pushing the boundaries of knowledge
Britain has been home to science innovation since at least Newton's day. Here are several places associated with cutting edge discoveries in physics and astronomy.
8 Jan - 14 Jan 2024
Of Spies and Bunkers ....
The nooks and crannies of Britain include a surprising number of formerly secret Cold War underground hide-outs which can now be visited. We round up a few of them here, as well as some other stories of places associated with espionage and wartime secrets - plus the story of MI9 - lesser-known stablemate of MI5 and MI6.
1 Jan - 7 Jan 2024
A Winter's Tale
Some stories suitable for the chillier season ....
18 Dec - 24 Dec 2023
Merry Christmas!
Our weekly delve into our extensive library of fascinating facts and interesting stories has a Christmassy theme.
11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023
Ancient Britain
This week we take a look at the Neolithic. These places and byways were already thousands of years old when the Romans came to Britain.
4 Dec - 10 Dec 2023
Keeping it Clean - how Britain led the way on sanitation
A surprising number of our articles have covered the history of sanitation and keeping oneself clean. So take a water sample of a few of our articles on this theme - including a rather odd London lamp ...
27 Nov - 3 Dec 2023
Horse Tales
Since the Ancient British stole horses from the Romans, or perhaps even before, we've had a fondness for horses. They hold a prominent place in British culture as can be seen in the stories below - both of native breeds and equine icons.
20 Nov - 26 Nov 2023
Childhood favourites
This week's theme picks out some of our stories about several of the wonderful British writers and illustrators that have added to the joys of childhood in Britain and beyond.