Themes - Bite Sized Britain - Britain’s amazing history and culture

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 ....

25 Dec - 31 Dec 2023

Merry Christmas!

Our weekly delve into our extensive library of fascinating facts and interesting stories has a Christmassy theme.

18 Dec - 24 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.

11 Dec - 17 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 ...

4 Dec - 10 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.

27 Nov - 3 Dec 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.

20 Nov - 26 Nov 2023

London's oddest buildings

Take a look at some lesser known but quirky buildings of London ...

13 Nov - 19 Nov 2023

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.

6 Nov - 12 Nov 2023

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.

30 Oct - 5 Nov 2023

Spooky Spots

A few places in Britain where one might encounter a ghostie or ghoulie.

23 Oct - 29 Oct 2023

Going Underground

This week we're going underground - with a theme of tunnels and caves around the country.

16 Oct - 22 Oct 2023

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?

9 Oct - 15 Oct 2023

Celebrating Exmoor

Discover more about Exmoor with this week's theme.

2 Oct - 8 Oct 2023

Interesting churches

This week, we have selected some of Britain's most intriguing churches.

25 Sep - 1 Oct 2023

The Romans in Britain

This week we look at the places and characters of Roman Britain

18 Sep - 24 Sep 2023

Down on the farm

The week's compilation of stories has a livestock and farming theme.

11 Sep - 17 Sep 2023

For the love of dogs

A canine theme this week ...

4 Sep - 10 Sep 2023

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.

28 Aug - 3 Sep 2023

Lighthouse stories

This week we shine a light on Britain's sea beacons - their history and their place in the landscape.

21 Aug - 27 Aug 2023

Medicine and Disease

This week, our theme is medicine - and the practitioners and discoveries that saved so many lives.

14 Aug - 20 Aug 2023

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.

7 Aug - 13 Aug 2023

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.

31 Jul - 6 Aug 2023

Waterfalls

This week we present some of the loveliest waterfalls in Britain.

24 Jul - 30 Jul 2023

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 ...

17 Jul - 23 Jul 2023

Botanic Gardens and Conservatories

The stories we've gathered this week are on the theme of botanic gardens and glasshouses around the country.

10 Jul - 16 Jul 2023

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.

3 Jul - 9 Jul 2023

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.

26 Jun - 2 Jul 2023

More Cornish treasures

Another look at the delights of Cornwall.

19 Jun - 25 Jun 2023

Cornish Treasures

This week we take a closer look at Cornwall.

12 Jun - 18 Jun 2023

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.

5 Jun - 11 Jun 2023

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.