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General - The Geffrye Museum (London)
Each room in this museum is furnished to show how a British family would have lived at different times.
General - British Museum (London)
Houses collections of historical objects from Britain and the rest of the world.
General - Museum of London (London)
See how London has changed, from 450 million years ago to the present.
General - National Museums Scotland
Explore the history and the origins of the Scottish people.
General - National Museum Wales (Cardiff)
Learn all about the history and culture of Wales.
General - Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
A fantastic collection of costumes, furnishings and decorative arts from across the centuries.
General - The National Trust
A charity that maintains hundreds of sites across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, including castles, houses and gardens.
General - Historic Scotland
A body that cares for historic sites in Scotland.
General - Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments
Maintains and protects Welsh historic sites.
General - English Heritage
An organization that protects historical buildings and sites throughout England.
Prehistoric Britain - Creswell Crags (Nottinghamshire)
Take a tour around ancient caves, and come face-to-face with art carved by their Ice Age residents.
Prehistoric Britain - Grime's Graves (Norfolk)
One of the oldest mines opened to the public in Britain, where flint was mined 5,000 years ago.
Prehistoric Britain - Stonehenge (Wiltshire)
Take a look around this massive, beautifully preserved ancient stone circle. (Click on "Virtual tour – inside the Stones" to see an all-around image.)
Prehistoric Britain - Great Orme Mines (Conwy)
One of the largest known prehistoric mines, with tunnels and shafts made over 4,000 years ago.
Prehistoric Britain - Jarlshof (Shetland Islands)
Ancient buildings dating as far back as the Iron and Bronze Ages.
Prehistoric Britain - Maiden Castle (Dorset)
A huge hillfort first built in the Iron Age to protect its inhabitants from attacks.
Prehistoric Britain - Skara Brae (Orkney Islands)
A village of stone houses that were built over 4,000 years ago. (Click on "Skara Brae".)
Prehistoric Britain - Butser Ancient Farm (Hampshire)
Find out how the early Britons lived at this working reconstruction of an ancient farm.
Roman Britain - Housesteads (Northumberland)
One of the finest remaining Roman forts, positioned along the remains of Hadrian's Wall.
Roman Britain - Vindolanda (Northumberland)
Another excellent Roman fort museum on the remains of Hadrian's Wall.
Roman Britain - Caerleon (near Newport)
A massive Roman fortress and army base, with barracks, baths and an amphitheatre.
Roman Britain - Roman Baths (Bath)
Explore these superbly preserved Roman baths, then visit the pump room and taste the spa water.
Roman Britain - Dover Lighthouse (Kent)
A 2,000 year old lighthouse, built by the Romans is located at Dover Castle.
Roman Britain - Portchester Castle (Hampshire)
A towering Roman castle built to defend the coastline against Saxon invaders.
Roman Britain - Hull and East Riding Museum
Exhibits include Roman mosaics taken from the nearby villa at Rudston.
Early Middle Ages - Sutton Hoo (Suffolk)
Visit a recreation of the Anglo-Saxon ship burial, and explore the area where it was found.
Early Middle Ages - Tintagel Castle (Cornwall)
The site of this 13th-century castle ruins is linked with King Arthur.
Early Middle Ages - Lindisfarne Priory (Northumberland)
Explore the ruins of the ancient church on the island of Lindisfarne.
Early Middle Ages - Iona Abbey (Isle of Iona)
This abbey was founded in the 6th century by St. Columba. Early Scottish kings are buried nearby.
Early Middle Ages - Offa's Dyke Centre (Powys)
Exhibition about the 9th-century ditch built to separate England from Wales, and how it looks today.
Early Middle Ages - Ashmolean Museum (Oxford)
Among this museum's many exhibits are Anglo-Saxon coins, and the famous Alfred Jewel.
Early Middle Ages - Jorvik Viking Centre (York)
Experience the sights and smells of life in Viking York.
Early Middle Ages - Westminster Abbey (London)
A magnificent church founded by Edward the Confessor, in the heart of London.
Middle Ages - Durham Cathedral
Beautiful 11th-century cathedral, with much of its original Norman architecture preserved.
Middle Ages - Tower of London (London)
A fortress built by William the Conqueror and now home to the Crown Jewels.
Middle Ages - Windsor Castle (London)
This is the largest castle in England, and has been a royal residence for over 900 years.
Middle Ages - Caernarfon Castle (Gwynedd)
Built by Edward I on the Welsh shoreline to protect the country from invaders.
Middle Ages - Canterbury Cathedral
Pilgrims flocked to this cathedral for centuries after Thomas Becket was murdered here.
Middle Ages - Edinburgh Castle
Imposing medieval castle perched on an extinct volcano in the heart of the Scottish capital.
Middle Ages - Kenilworth Castle (Warwickshire)
A huge ruined castle dating from the 12th century.
Middle Ages - York Minster
It took 250 years to build this cathedral. Go inside to look at the beautiful stained glass windows.
Middle Ages - Stirling Castle (Scotland)
Overlooks the sites of the Battles of Bannockburn and Stirling Bridge.
Middle Ages - Royal Armouries Museum (Leeds)
An exhibition showing a range of objects used in battles, dating back to medieval times and earlier.
Middle Ages - Chepstow Castle (Monmouthshire)
See a reconstruction of Chepstow Castle, one of the oldest surviving stone castles in Britain. (For visitor information, type "Chepstow Castle" into the search box.)
Tudors and Stuarts- Hampton Court (Surrey)
Henry VIII's magnificent red brick palace. Visit the Tudor kitchens and get lost in the maze.
Tudors and Stuarts - Deal Castle (Kent)
A coastal fort built on Henry VIII's orders to protect against possible naval attacks.
Tudors and Stuarts - Holyrood House (Edinburgh)
This Scottish palace was home to Mary, Queen of Scots in the 16th century.
Tudors and Stuarts - St. Paul's Cathedral (London)
A magnificent church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the original burned down.
Tudors and Stuarts - Globe Theatre (London)
Watch Shakespeare's plays in a reconstruction of his famous open air theatre.
Tudors and Stuarts - Kentwell (Suffolk)
Volunteer to live as a Tudor for a weekend, and find out how a Tudor house was run.
Tudors and Stuarts - Mary Rose (Portsmouth)
Learn about life on board a Tudor warship, with exhibits including tools, clothes and weapons. (Scroll down and click on the picture under Explore the Mary Rose or Dive in on the right of the screen).
Tudors and Stuarts - National Maritime Museum (London)
Find out about explorers and the history of exploration.
Tudors and Stuarts - Cromwell Museum (Cambridgeshire)
Learn more about Oliver Cromwell in this museum, housed in what was once his old school.
Tudors and Stuarts - Hardwick Hall (Derbyshire)
A magnificent mansion built for one of the richest ladies of the era, surrounded by parks and gardens.
Georgians - Buckingham Palace (London)
Explore the magnificent state rooms, learn about the kings and queens who lived here and find out how the monarchy works today. (Click on "Video Gallery" and "Virtual Rooms" in the menu on the left.)
Georgians - Jane Austen's House Museum (Hampshire)
The house where Jane Austen wrote several of her novels is now a museum dedicated to her life.
Georgians - Maritime Museum (Liverpool)
This museum has a section on the slave trade that developed in the 18th century.
Georgians - HMS Victory (Portsmouth)
Take a tour around this historic warship that played a key role in the Battle of Trafalgar.
Georgians - The Royal Pavilion (Brighton)
Built for George IV when he was Prince Regent, this palace is filled with exotic decorations.
Georgians - Trafalgar Square (London)
In this famous square, a huge column raises a statue of Lord Nelson into the air.
Georgians - Culloden (near Inverness)
Walk where the Jacobites took their final stand, and learn more about the battle in the nearby museum.
Georgians - Burn's National Heritage Park (Ayr)
See the cottage where Robert Burns was born, and see the first copies of some of his poems.
Georgians - Dr. Johnson's House (London)
Samuel Johnson wrote the first proper English dictionary in this house.
Georgians - Fashion Museum (Bath)
Find out about Georgian fashions with this collection of clothing.
Victorians - Darlington Railway Museum
This museum stands on the site of the world's first public steam railway in County Durham.
Victorians - Ironbridge Gorge Museums (Shropshire)
A collection of museums dedicated to the Industrial Revolution, based around the world's first iron bridge.
Victorians - Ragged School Museum (London)
Find out what it was like to be a pupil at an East End school in Victoria's reign.
Victorians - Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Learn about the history of Irish railways and everyday life in 19th-century Ireland.
Victorians - York Castle Museum (York)
Get a taste for everyday life at times throughout history, including a walk down a Victorian street.
Victorians - National Motor Museum (Hampshire)
This museum houses antique cars, including some of the first cars to be built.
Victorians - Osborne House (Isle of Wight)
See the house where Victoria and Albert spent time relaxing with their children.
Victorians - Beamish Open Air Museum (County Durham)
Discover the practical effects of the Industrial Revolution on life in 19th- and 20th-century northern England.
Victorians - Balmoral Castle (Aberdeenshire)
A royal estate, first purchased by Queen Victoria, set in the midst of the Highlands.
Victorians - Crystal Palace (London)
A museum dedicated to the history of the Crystal Palace, which burned down in 1936.
Victorians - Brunel's SS Great Britain (Bristol)
Explore the world's first iron-hulled steamship, designed and built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Victorians - Sherlock Holmes Museum (London)
Visit the recreated Baker Street house of one of the best-loved fictional detectives ever created.
20th century - Discovery Point (Dundee)
Tour the RRS Discovery, the ship on which Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton first voyaged to Antarctica.
20th century - National Media Museum (Bradford)
Learn about the origins of cinematography, and view some of the earliest cameras and projectors.
20th century - Imperial War Museum
Museum with branches around the country, packed with information on 20th- and 21st-century wars involving Britain.
20th century - HMS Belfast (London)
A ship that took part in the D-Day landings.
20th century - National Army Museum (London)
Explore the history of the British army, from the Norman invasion to the present day.
20th century - Fleet Air Arm Museum (Somerset)
See a wide range of aircraft, including fighter aircraft and the first British Concorde.
20th century - Bletchley Park (Buckinghamshire)
Find out about the work of British code-breakers during the Second World War.
20th century - Beatles Story (Liverpool)
Learn about one of the most successful rock bands in history, and what life was like in the 1960s.
20th century - National Coal Mining Museum (Wakefield)
A museum about the history of coal mining in Britain, built around the oldest mine shaft still in daily use in Britain.
20th century - The Big Pit (Torfaen)
Take an underground tour of a coal mine, and learn more about mining in the adjacent museum.
20th century - Glasgow Science Centre (Glasgow)
See exhibits on science and technology this futuristic centre, built for the Millennium.
- Other topics:
- Prehistoric Britain
- Roman Britain
- Anglo-Saxons and Vikings (Early Middle Ages)
- The Norman conquest
- Knights and castles
- Religion in the Middle Ages
- Key battles and events
- Everyday life in the Middle Ages
- Tudors and Stuarts
- The Georgians
- The Victorians
- The early 20th century
- The First World War
- The Second World War
- Britain since the War
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About this book
History of Britain
The Usborne History of Britain
- Britain’s long and varied history comes to life with intriguing facts, stunning illustrations, photographs, detailed reconstructions, paintings, maps and family trees.
- Includes a factfile with places to visit and internet links to recommended websites via the Usborne Quicklinks Website.
- Beautifully presented with a cloth cover, dust jacket and ribbon marker.
From the Ice Age to the dawn of the 21st century, this book tells the story of Britain, its people and the events that have shaped their lives. It charts the dramatic developments and twists and turns of Britain's history, and describes characters from all walks of life, from conquering kings, revolting peasants and troublesome priests, to intrepid explorers, cunning inventors and outrageous artists. Contents: The people of Britain Prehistoric Britain Roman Britain The early Middle Ages The Middle Ages Tudors and Stuarts The Georgians The Victorians The early 20th century The Second World War Post War Britain Factfile
“A covetable resource.”
Education Guardian
Ruth Brocklehurst
When she wasn’t out riding her bike or making things out of loo rolls and scraps of fabric, Ruth Brocklehurst spent much of her childhood reading – especially historical novels and whodunits. Since joining Usborne in 2000, she has written and edited countless books on everything from craft activities and history, to creative writing, space exploration and dinosaurs. If she could go back in time she’d like to meet Mary Queen of Scots.
Press Reviews
Beautifully jacketed, this compendium of British history has a cloth binding and a ribbon marker. Encompassing each period from the pre-historic to the new millennium, information is delivered in digestible chunks, complemented by carefully selected illustrations in a fluid style that changes to reflect a sense of each era.
Bookseller - Back to School reviews
The most immediately striking feature of this substantial history of Britain is, without a doubt, its sumptuous design. Across double-page spreads, muted pastel-colour backgrounds are used to offset a stunning range of illustrative material: a Victorian railway poster hangs above a reproduction of Turner's Rain, Steam and Speed: a medieval manuscript is superimposed against a photograph of Beaumaris Castle; each page turn brings new and yet more exciting visual treats. A covetable resource.
The contents are straightforwardly split into easily accessible chronological sections, which unhampered by the limitations of the curriculum - explore aspects of everyday life, encouraging readers to make links between social, economic and political developments, and intellectual and cultural history.
Extensive supplementary material is contained in an imaginative and wide-ranging "factfile", which includes details of Usborne's useful Quicklinks website plus suggestions for places to visit, and annotated lists of historical fiction, films and TV series.
The text is lucid and readable. This is a book no school library should be without.
Kate Agnew, Education Guardian
From hairy caveman to The Iron Lady, this book tells the complete history of Britain, taking in regal Romans, noble knights and revolting peasants along the way. Bright images, cartoons and quirky fact boxes make the pages burst with life. At the back, a snaking timeline provides a neat historical overview. It might look like a hefty tome, but it's actually a fun first reader in British history.
Junior Magazine
From the Ice Age to the 21st century, this book tells the story of Britain, its people and the events that have shaped their lives. It's a treasure trove of information written in an enlightening and entertaining way and will arouse a passion and enthusiasm for the past. Follow the dramatic developments and twists and turns of Britain's history, and find out about characters from all walks of life - from conquering kings, revolting peasants and troublesome priests, to intrepid explorers, cunning inventors and outrageous artists. This book is a classic that no family bookshelf should be without.
Love Reading for Kids Website
Covering British history from pre-historic times to the millennium celebrations in 2000, this 500 page reference book is packed with illustrations and interesting facts. Although dates are given where necessary, the emphasis is on events and social history - an approach which makes the book very readable and fun to dip into. The book has a section for each of the historical periods (Roman Britain, Early Middle Ages, etc) and the end material includes places to visit, novels and films with historical backgrounds and a timeline. This is a good choice for the family bookshelf as it will interest a wide range of ages, including adults
www.wordpool.co.uk
'sumptuously designed and well illustrated, sets everyday life of ordinary people against significant political, cultural and royal events of their time.'
Lesley Agnew - Ham and High
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