You don’t have to leave the capital far behind to immerse yourself in history. Pay a visit to one of these medieval castles near London for an unforgettable day trip…

King James oversaw a relatively peaceful reign, despite Guy Fawkes trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament. He was King of Scotland as James VI from 1567 and King of England Ireland as James…

Queen Elizabeth I presided over an age of discovery that saw the establishment of the English Protestant church, the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the flourishing of the arts. She reigned from 1558-1603 

King Henry VIII staged six royal weddings, became Ireland’s first English monarch and sowed the seeds for a multicultural Britain. He reigned from 1509-1547

Scotland’s military tattoo is welcoming 1,200 performers from across the globe, including more than 250 piers and drummers, five UK military bands and a performance team from Japan 

Richard III was caricatured by Shakespeare and accused of killing his nephews, while his remains were found under a car park in Leicester. He reigned from 1483-1485

There’s more to Shakespeare’s home county of Warwickshire than Stratford-upon-Avon. Here we take a tour of some of its most splendid gardens, from the grounds of Compton Verney to Anne Hathaway’s cottage

Henry V secured victory at the Battle of Agincourt and helped cement English as Britain’s national language. He reigned from 1413-1422

King Edward I took an aggressive approach to Wales and Scotland – although he was rather fond of his wife. He reigned from 1272-1307

Llywelyn ap Iorwerth was the greatest Welsh statesman of the Middle Ages. He ruled from 1195-1240