Early Modern Britain

05: The Battle of Naseby | Battlefield Britain

Peter and Dan Snow take an in-depth look at the battles that shaped our nation using state-of-the-art graphics. They go back t...

04: Cromwell | Great Britons (2002)

Monarchist and military historian Richard Holmes proposes Oliver Cromwell, the reluctant republican and revolutionary who helped establis...

S10E03: Witchfinder General | Secret History

Documentary account, drawn from court records and testimonies, of how Matthew Hopkins and John Stern convicted hundreds of men, ...

Cromwell (1970)

Epic retelling of the clash between two great historical figures in the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell and the enigmatic, forceful Charles I fought in ca...

S02E02: The Gunpowder Plot | Lucy Worsley Investigates

On 5 November 1605, a group of conspirators planned to blow up parliament. Lucy Worsley investigates the Gunpowder Plo...

The Making of the United Kingdom: 04: Oliver Cromwell: Hero or Villain? | History File

A look at the career of Cromwell, plus an analysis of how different interpretations of...

S02E01: The British Wars | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

Simon Schama looks beyond the romantic stories of Cavaliers and Roundheads to the real story of the English C...

Oliver Cromwell: Warts and All

Charles I has been executed and an East Anglian farmer is about to become leader of all England. Using drama and documentary this film tells t...

06: Castles and the English Civil War | Castle

Marc Morris reveals how during the civil war the castle re-emerged for one last stand, as an important instrument of policy an...

04: Age of Revolution | Seven Ages of Britain

In the 17th century the people of Britain learned to question everything, resulting in the Civil War.

03: The Cromwell: New Model Englishman | Plague, Fire, War and Treason

How did this non-descript East Anglian gentleman emerge from the Fens to prove himself a military geni...

S01E11: HHTV News: English Civil War | Horrible Histories

The English Civil War breaks out.

01: The Making of Britain | Union with David Olusoga

David Olusoga tells the story of attempts to form a united Britain in the 17th and early 18th centuries, a period define...

S03E01: The Return of the King | Monarchy By David Starkey

The remarkable story of King Charles II, who secured the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660.

04: Gunpowder, Treason and Plot | Plague, Fire, War and Treason

In 1605 conspirators plotted to blow up Parliament and kill King James I. This film seeks out the truth behin...

S01E04: War | The Battle for Britain's Soul

This edition looks at the English Civil War and how much it was a war of conflicting religious beliefs.

S02E03: Battle of Naseby | War Walks

Richard Holmes visits Britain's historical sites. He travels to Naseby, where, in 1645, King Charles I lost the decisive battle of the E...

01: Two Worlds Collide | Charles I: Downfall of a King

Following a Catholic uprising in Ireland, in which thousands of Protestants are killed, Parliament passes a vote of no...

Charles I's Treasure Reunited

Brenda Emmanus explores the art collection of Charles I, much of which is being reunited for a unique exhibition for the first time since his e...

Charles is Executed | Charles I's Treasure Reunited

Brenda Emmanus discusses the execution of Charles I.

Episode 1 | Elizabeth I's Secret Agents

A look at the world's first secret service. When the pope declares Queen Elizabeth I a heretic, spymaster William Cecil must stop the...

S01E01: The Reformation | Royal History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

Lucy Worsley discovers how the history of the English Reformation has been manipulated and mythologi...

S01E06: Burning Convictions | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

Simon Schama tells the story of the Reformation, from Henry VIII's love for Anne Boleyn to Bloody Mary's u...

Episode 3 | Saints and Sinners: Britain's Millennium of Monasteries

Dr Janina Ramirez discovers how the immensely rich and powerful monasteries that had dominated British so...

S01E03: Reformation | The Battle for Britain's Soul

Rev Peter Owen-Jones discusses the chaotic 30 years that followed Henry VIII's purely political decision to break with th...

Thomas Cromwell's fall | Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell

This clip describes the reasons for Thomas Cromwell's fall from power and execution.

Part 1 | Reformation

Five hundred years ago a revolutionary priest named Martin Luther changed the face of Christendom and the path of European civilization forever.

Henry VIII's Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell

Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch argues that rather than being a thug, Thomas Cromwell was a principled and pioneeri...

Episode 2 | Henry VIII: Patron or Plunderer?

Jonathan Foyle looks for clues in Henry VIII's art to glimpse what was going on inside the king's head as he faced his darkest d...

The Making of the United Kingdom: 02: The Religious Divide | History File

Starting with the problems of the 1630s and examining the religious tensions in England.

England's Reformation: Three Books That Changed a Nation

Janina Ramirez tells the story of three books that defined the Reformation in England - Tyndale's New Testament, Cra...

Part 2 | Reformation

1521, and the Catholic church has excommunicated Luther and condemned him as a heretic, but the Reformation can no longer be stopped.

05: Court and Kirk | In Search of Scotland

Fiona Watson examines how the emergence of Protestantism changed Scottish society and opened new political divides.

S01E08: Georgian Dentist | Horrible Histories

A Georgian dentist prepares to replace a tooth.

S01E01: Twisted Fairytales: The Three Little Pigs | Horrible Histories

Meera Syal is the storyteller of ''The Three Little Pigs'' which is applied to the Georgian ''window t...

S01E13: HHTV Sport: Lice Racing | Horrible Histories

Georgian Lice Races

S01E13: Earl of Sandwich | Horrible Histories

John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, ''invents'' the sandwich.

S01E08: This is Georgian Food | Horrible Histories

A parody of Marks & Spencer advertisements; features the finest of mouldy rotten food.

S01E06: Historical Wife Swap: Georgians | Horrible Histories

Lord & Lady Posh from the Manor swap with the Peasant family of Poorville.

S01E06: A Gorgeous Georgian Lady (Song) | Horrible Histories

In this song, a Georgian woman gives a step-by-step tutorial on doing Georgian makeup.

S01E05: Historical Hospital: Montague Fuzzlepeck, Georgian Doctor | Horrible Histories

Master of medicaments' Montague Fuzzlepeck diagnoses a patient.

S01E05: Georgian Navy | Horrible Histories

Join the Georgian Navy! (advertisement).

S01E01: Georgian elections | Horrible Histories

How to vote in Georgian elections.

The Great Plague

The Great Plague of 1665 killed 100,000 Londoners - one in three of the people living in the city. While kept diaries have provided terrifying testaments to...

02: The Glorious Revolution | British History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

Lucy explores how British history is a concoction of fibs. She debunks the 'Glorious Revolutio...

The Supersizers Go...2: Restoration | The Supersizers

Restaurant critic Giles Coren and writer and performer Sue Perkins try the food of Restoration Britain in the 1660s, a ...

02: Bad Blood: Stuarts to Hanoverians | Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History

Lucy Worsley explores how the health of monarchs has shaped the nation. She looks at t...

The Best King We Never Had

Documentary in which Paul Murton investigates the disappearance from history of Henry Fredrick Stuart, the forgotten Scottish prince and maybe the...

02: Queen Anne | Queens that Changed the World

Queen Anne took the throne in 1702. As the last Stuart monarch and the first queen of Great Britain, she united Scotland and E...

S02E04: Boyne | War Walks

Richard Holmes visits the site of the Battle of the Boyne, the defeat of James II by William III in 1690, and shows how the battle could have been ...

05: Marlborough | Great Britons (1990)

Military historian Corelli Barnett presents a program on John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, covering his military career and per...

S01E03: Queen Anne and the Union | Royal History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

Lucy Worsley explores how Queen Anne's legacy has been marred by historical fibs.

S02E04: Grand Heist: The Theft of the Crown Jewels | Days That Shook the World

The theft of the Crown Jewels on May 9, 1671.

James II | Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History

The birth of James II's son triggered a Protestant coup from William of Orange.

Was the Glorious Revolution glorious? | The Battle for Britain's Soul

A discussion about how the Glorious Revolution had a number of unexpected consequences

Episode 1 | Charles II: The Power and the Passion

In 1660 after years in exile, Charles II is restored to the throne of England but is abandoned by his friend, the Duke of B...

08: Charles II | Landmarks

This programme looks at the life of Charles II.

S01E09: HHTV News: Plague | Horrible Histories

Mike Peabody reports on efforts to cope with the Great Plague of London.

07: Charles I | Landmarks

This programme looks at the life of Charles I.

01: Act One: At Court | Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls

Lucy Worsley explores the lives of Charles II's mistresses at the royal court, inc...

03: Act Three: At Work and At Play | Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls

Lucy Worsley looks at some remarkable women of the Restoration period...

06: Sweet England's Pride | Elizabeth R

An elderly Elizabeth instructs the Earl of Essex to quell the threat of an Irish uprising, but will she have to deal with a rebellion...

S01E01: Pirate Rules | Horrible Histories

Captain Black Bart lists off his rules to the new recruits.

The Making of the United Kingdom: 05: The Settlement | History File

This week looks at Charles II and constitutional struggle between the King, Parliament and the land-ownin...

S01E09: Ye Sun: Plague | Horrible Histories

Ye Sun newspaper: Plague Special.(Parody of The Sun newspaper).

S01E03: Historical Wife Swap: Stuarts | Horrible Histories

Historical Wife Swap'': The Miserables, a Puritan family, swap with Cavalier family the Merrys post-Restoration (p...

S01E03: Witchfinders direct | Horrible Histories

Let a random old lady take the blame for your bad luck with Witchfinder's Direct (infomercial).

The Making of the United Kingdom: 03: The Political Divide | History File

Programme shows how relations between Charles I and Parliament deteriorated, with dramatised adapta...

The Glencoe Massacre

Documentary examining the Glencoe massacre, one of the most famous and emotive legends in Scottish history, yet one of the most misunderstood.

02: Act Two: At Home | Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls

Lucy Worsley explores the ordinary and the extraordinary lives of women in the home...

03: Shadow in the Sun | Elizabeth R

Elizabeth meets an interesting suitor, the Duke of Anjou, much to the Puritans' disapproval. Now Elizabeth must decide whether to follow ...

Episode 4 | Charles II: The Power and the Passion

As Protestant dissent rises, the king tries to silence his enemies once and for all.

Queen James: Passion, Plots and Power in the Court of Britain's First King

Gareth Russell reveals the story of King James VI and I, his fondness for male favourites and a sc...

04: Newe Worldes | What the Stuarts Did for Us

Hart-Davis travels around Britain to introduce the idea and inventions of the Stuart Period in science and science-fiction.

03: The Organysed Isle | What the Stuarts Did for Us

Hart-Davis travels around Britain to introduce the idea and inventions of the Stuart Period in economics and politics.

04: The Battle Against the Spanish Armada | Battlefield Britain

Peter and Dan Snow take a look at the battles that shaped our nation. Drake's unlikely sea victory against th...

01: Elizabeth I | Queens that Changed the World

Elizabeth I pacified a divided nation, and foiled multiple plots against her. English culture flourished under her reign, and...

Episode 1 | Elizabeth I's Secret Agents

A look at the world's first secret service. When the pope declares Queen Elizabeth I a heretic, spymaster William Cecil must stop the...

Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary

Drama revealing the intimate and ultimately deadly relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, using the words of the ...

02: The Battle for England | Armada: 12 Days to Save England

Dan Snow relives fierce sea battles and looks behind the scenes in the court of Elizabeth I as the Spanish fleet...

01: Day One | Armada: 12 Days to Save England

Anita Dobson stars as Elizabeth I, and Dan Snow tells the story of how England came within a whisker of disaster in summer 1588.

Episode 1 | Edward and Mary: The Unknown Tudors

The story of two of Henry VIII's most extraordinary children, Mary 1st and Edward VI - England's fundamentalists.

S02E04: Bloody Mary | Lucy Worsley Investigates

Does 'Bloody Mary', England’s first crowned queen, deserve her reputation? Lucy Worsley investigates, asking whether Mary sho...

01: The Common People | Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England

Dr. Ian Mortimer undertakes a present-tense journey through the world of Queen Elizabeth the First. Thi...

S01E02: The Spanish Armada | Royal History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley

Lucy Worsley discovers how the history of the Spanish Armada has been manipulated and mythologise...

What Caused the Spanish Armada? | Armada: 12 Days to Save England

Dan Snow discusses the foundations of what caused the Spanish Armada.

S01E02: The Virgin Queen | David Starkey's Elizabeth

David Starkey explores the tensions created by Elizabeth I's reluctance to marry,which strained the political and religi...

07: Elizabeth I | Great Britons (2002)

Michael Portillo champions Elizabeth I, arguing that she fought religious fanaticism, established Britain's tradition of tolerance, an...

Religious reform under Edward VI | A History of Britain by Simon Schama

Simon Schama discusses the religious reform under Edward VI.

01: Seeying the Worlde | What The Tudors Did For Us

The development of scientific instruments gave the Tudors new worlds to explore, both on land and on sea. And did the Eng...

04: Peasants' Revolt to Tudors | Michael Wood's Story of England

A portrait of one village through the whole of English history. Amazing finds in the school archive help tra...

Episode 1 | Six Wives with Lucy Worsley

Documentary series featuring dramatic reconstruction in which Lucy Worsley delves into the personal lives of Henry VIII's wives, begi...

S01E04: Gloriana | David Starkey's Elizabeth

After the Armada was defeated Elizabeth I ushered in a golden age in English society. With a flourishing of literature,an age of...

03: Endgame | Armada: 12 Days to Save England

Newly discovered documents reveal a remarkable web of misunderstandings that stopped the Spanish from invading.

Fireships | Armada: 12 Days to Save England

Dan Snow explores the English use of fireships against the Spanish Armada.