The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and the Guilds of York
As in many European cities, the social and commercial life of medieval York was dominated by the trade guilds. And in many ways they are still important today. One of the best ways of discovering the history and influence of the guilds is through a visit to the...
read more
Exploring Roman York
York is better known as a medieval city than for its Roman origins. Yet it was once a very important Roman town. I set out to discover what can still be seen of Roman York today, and to get some clues about how it may have looked in the past. Why Was Roman York So...
read more
Exploring Nautical History at London’s Cutty Sark
Greenwich was busier than usual. The river was full of sailing ships, here for the Tall Ships Festival, and it seemed as if all London had turned out for the event. So I wasn’t sure about visiting the Cutty Sark, a popular visitor attraction at the best of times. But...
read more
Discovering the City of Dickens and Shakespeare with a London Walks Tour
Our guide was loud and theatrical, and had no problem making himself heard by the crowd of people clustered hopefully around him. “It had to happen sometime,” he boomed. “A North American telling you about those two icons of English literature, Dickens and...
read more
Discovering Roman London
London’s long history is one of its many attractions for visitors. Yet less is known of the city’s Roman past than of the Middle Ages or the colourful Tudor period. This is largely due to the fact that most of Roman London has been obliterated or obscured by later...
read more
Kew Gardens: London’s “Lesser Known” UNESCO World Heritage Site
London has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but one – the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew – is less visited than the others. Each of the others – the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, and the Greenwich Museums – attracted more than 2.5m...
read more
A Continuous Tradition: The Roman Spa and Hot Springs of Bath
Over the years I have developed a mild obsession with Roman remains, seeking them out across Europe and elsewhere. But even better than ruins are those Roman sites that are still in use today, giving a sense of direct connection to the past. I’ve written before about...
read more
Reliving Medieval History at Mount Grace Priory, Yorkshire
At first sight, Mount Grace Priory looks more like a Jacobean house than a medieval monastery. You approach a grand façade with a formal stepped garden complete with pond and sculpted bushes. But walk through the house and you will find the most complete Carthusian...
read more
Save Money When You Visit Historic Sites, With English Heritage Membership
One of the pleasures of visiting (or living in) England is the wealth of historic sites, spanning the ages from prehistory to the 20th century. Many of these properties are maintained by English Heritage, and you can save a lot of money by taking out an English...
read more
Ancient Burial Sites on the Isle of Man
I recently wrote about the Celtic and Norse heritage of the Isle of Man. But I was surprised to discover that the island also has lots of prehistoric sites, including one of the largest neolithic sites in the British Isles. And, in keeping with the mysterious history...
read more