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.

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Discover Britain

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

Relax like a Roman • The Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD taught an uptight nation how to unwind. From spas to theatres, Diana Wright explores the empire’s lazy legacy

HEALING WATERS • In the 17th century, royal approval and scientific research combined to create a whole new tourism industry, as Britain’s spa towns developed around natural springs, as Florence Sheward discovers

MY BRITAIN

BY THE BOOK • Adrian Mourby takes us on a literary tour of Edinburgh, the city that gave us Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Treasure Island and countless other fictional greats

AT A GLANCE…

THE FIRST LADY • A century on from Nancy Astor becoming Britain’s first female MP to sit in the House of Commons, Adrian Mourby reveals the story behind her pioneering spirit

MAIDENHEAD VOYAGE

Notes from a SMALL ISLAND • The British Isles is comprised of more than 180 inhabited islands, each with its own unique landscape, history and heritage. Martha Alexander explores six lesser-known gems

DISCOVER LONDON • Forgotten tube stations Royal Kensington Gardens Your London 2020 planner

By Royal Appointment • Developed from a modest mansion, Kensington Palace and its surrounding gardens became a hotbed for royal life for more than 300 years, as Steve Pill discovers

AT A GLANCE…

Action stations • When Winston Churchill swapped Downing Street for Down Street, he ensured the disused tube station’s valuable place in wartime history, as Steve Pill discovers

The London Year • Sample the wonderful and eccentric traditions that take place in the British capital with our guide to 12 months’worth of ceremonies, parades and grand events

24 hours in… BIRMINGHAM • Second city highlights from a golden hoard to the silver screen

The Other Princes • As The Auckland Project unearths stories of the Prince Bishops, Jenny Rowe reveals how these alternative monarchs established a seat of power in the northeast of England

THE IRON BRIDGE • Facts, figures and stories about the world’s first major cast-iron bridge

IN NUMBERS

OPENING THE LOCH • With serene waters and more than 40 peaks, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a charming introduction to highland life, says Jenny Rowe

Winter Warmers • Five of the best hotels and B&Bs in which to hibernate

Fish and chips • This deep-fried delicacy is a national dish with a salty history