Discover Britain

Celebrating the best of our nation, every issue of Discover Britain is packed with features from history to travel. Read about the events that changed history, as well as British traditions and their origins, or be inspired for your next trip with great ideas for where to go and what to see. Whether you’re planning a weekend city break or an escape to the countryside, Discover Britain is your essential guide to getting the most out of your stay.

Welcome!

Letters

Discover Britain

Wish you were here... • Inspiring postcards from around the British Isles

King of the Castles • Preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, King Edward I’s castles in the Welsh county of Gwynedd give a fascinating insight into medieval life, as Natalie Marchant discovers

DISCOVER THE GWYNEDD

LAND OF HOPE & GLORY • Alexander Larman conducts a tour in the footsteps of Britain’s best-loved composers, visiting the homes, landscapes and cathedral cities that inspired their most rousing works

MY BRITAIN • Hannah Button Horticulturist, Kew Gardens

A Brief History of Time • From the Greenwich Meridian Line to Big Ben, Nancy Alsop tours the many timepieces and horological discoveries that have kept Britain running like clockwork

The rise of BLOODY MARY • Against all odds, Mary I was crowned queen at the height of the Tudor dynasty. Anthony Ruggiero charts the fascinating struggles of her early years.

A Day in the Life • As Strawberry Field re-opens and fans celebrate 50 years since The Beatles’ final recordings, David Atkinson visits Liverpool for a magical history tour of the band’s legacy

WIN a luxury Cotswold break • Enter our competition for the chance to enjoy a two-night country house hotel stay in Gloucestershire

DISCOVER LONDON • Tudor palaces and houses Explore elegant Islington Historic music venues

Hidden Tudor Gems • Away from the popular destinations, the capital’s lesser-known Tudor palaces and houses paint a more vivid portrait of this fascinating era, as Nicola Rayner explains

Little Angel • Once frequented by farmers and founding fathers, this desirable corner of North London has plenty to offer history buffs and culture vultures alike, as Steve Pill discovers

Palaces of Sound • Continuing our music special, Steve Pill uncovers the stories behind London’s historic concert venues which continue to thrive and celebrate their legacy today

24 hours in… Manchester • Make the most of a stay in the industrious heart of England’s northwest

ENGLAND’S LAST CASTLE • Completed in 1930, Castle Drogo was the last of its kind to be built in England. As a six-year restoration project nears its end, Gilly Pickup explores this fascinating mix of old and new

THE MONUMENT • Facts, figures and stories about the Great Fire of London landmark

IN NUMBERS

WILD FRONTIER • From wild heather moorlands and rugged cliffs to sandy beaches and picture postcard seaside towns, the Yorkshire Coast is as diverse as it is beautiful, as Zara Gaspar discovers

Cotswold cottages • Five comfy retreats nestled in England’s honey-coloured villages

BOOK REVIEWS • Read your way around the UK with these latest titles

The Proms • As the 125th season of this classical concert series approaches, Steve Pill celebrates a very patriotic event