From the first photograph to the first bicycle, where would we be without the Victorians? We look at some of the most influential inventions

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 and Ireland as…

Unfinished portrait of controversial 16th-century queen Mary Stuart found under painting of Sir John Maitland. The picture may have been painted and then covered up in dangerous times

The life of Mary, Queen of Scots was dramatic. From the day her father died, when she was a week old, to her death at the hands of an English executioner 45 years later, drama,…

Who hasn’t dreamed of living in a castle or a stately home? Each year, thousands of British homes are listed  on Airbnb, making it affordable to live out your historic home fantasy

One of the most pivotal periods in Scottish history, the failed rebellion of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites had widespread repercussions

The monarchy has been at the heart of British life for almost 1,200 years. Whether performing ceremonial duties or ruling absolutely, the Kings and Queens of England and Britain have shaped the direction, character and…

HM The Queen’s sense of duty has made her one of the world’s most respected heads of state. She has been on the throne since 1952

Our timeline traces the history of London from its Roman origins to the Norman Conquest

Mary Sidney was one of the most significant female literary figures of the Renaissance, say Tudor Times