Mark Anderson
Are you wanting to learn more about british history? Well you’ve come to the right place. This is a curated list of the best british history podcasts of 2021.
We have selected these podcasts for a variety of reasons, but they are all well worth a listen. We tried to select a variety of podcasts across the spectrum from hosts with a wide breadth of experience.
Best British History Podcasts 2021
With thanks to ListenNotes, Crunchbase, SemRush and Ahrefs for providing the data to create and rank these podcasts.
A History of the World in 100 Objects
- Publisher: BBC Radio 4
- Total Episodes: 101
Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, narrates 100 programmes that retell humanity’s history through the objects we have made
Pax Britannica
- Publisher: Samuel Hume
- Total Episodes: 94
Pax Britannica is a narrative history podcast covering the empire upon which the sun never set. Beginning with the accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of England, Pax Britannica will follow the people and events that created an empire that dominated the globe. Hosted by a PhD candidate in British Imperial history, and based on extensive scholarship and primary sources, along with interviews with experts in their field, Pax Britannica aims to explain the rise and eventual fall of the largest empire in history. After all, how peaceful was the ‘British Peace’?
The British English Podcast
- Publisher: Charlie Baxter
- Total Episodes: 29
Learn British English as well as British culture, history, news and current affairs, and much more with weekly episodes from your host Charlie on The British English Podcast!
British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics
- Publisher: Carol Ann Lloyd
- Total Episodes: 56
Weekly podcast, British History: Royals, Rebels, and Romantics, available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Meet famous and infamous characters, walk with playwrights and peasants, and wander through castles and cathedrals. New episodes every Wednesday. Have a question about British history, something you’ve always wanted to know? Just ask! Let’s explore history together.
Stuff The British Stole
- Publisher: ABC Radio
- Total Episodes: 7
Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today those objects are housed in genteel institutions across the UK and the world. They usually come with polite plaques. This is a series about the not-so-polite history behind those objects.
Froch on Fighting
- Publisher: Left Peg Media
- Total Episodes: 36
Carl Froch was a warrior in the ring. It won him four world titles and made him one of the most popular British boxers in recent history. In this podcast he brings his unique insight into the mind of a fighter – the violence, the pain and the glory – to the current issues in the boxing world. With commentator and presenter Darren Fletcher.
Rippercast- Your Podcast on the Jack the Ripper murders
- Publisher: Rippercast- Jack the Ripper
- Total Episodes: 243
Listen in as Jonathan Menges, joined by a roundtable of co-hosts and special guests discuss topics related to the Whitechapel Murders, Jack the Ripper, Victorian British history, and whatever else suits their fancy. This free and loose discussion is sure to interest everyone involved in the 120 year long hunt for ‘Jack the Ripper’
British Art Talks
- Publisher: Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
- Total Episodes: 13
British Art Talks is the audio series of the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. It features new research and aims to enhance and expand knowledge of British art and architecture. The PMC is an educational charity that champions new ways of understanding British art history and culture. We publish, teach and carry out research, both at the Centre in London and through our online platforms. Our archives, library and lively events programme are open to researchers, students and the public. The Centre was founded in 1970 by the art collector and philanthropist Paul Mellon. It is part of Yale University and a partner to the Yale Center for British Art.
The History of Advertising Podcast
- Publisher: Jack Meggitt-Phillips
- Total Episodes: 23
The golden age of British advertising was more than just Mad Men and liquid lunches. Every week, the History of Advertising podcast reveals the stories behind the nation’s most celebrated adverts.
A Very Brief Introduction to the British Empire Podcast
- Publisher: Uncomfortable Oxford
- Total Episodes: 9
This podcast series is brought to you by Uncomfortable Oxford, a student initiative run by doctoral students at the University of Oxford. With the goal of providing “A Very Brief Introduction to the British Empire,” talks are given by doctoral students in history. They are meant for a non specialist audience, but we provide suggested readings if you want to learn more! An audioscript for each episode is also available on our website at: https://www.uncomfortableoxford.co.uk/podcasts The perfect resource for schools, teachers, and interested listeners who simply want to expand their general knowledge of the history of the British Empire.
The British Museum Podcast
- Publisher: The British Museum
- Total Episodes: 30
The British Museum is famous for its objects, which represent over 2 million years of human history and culture. The objects speak to us thanks to the experts who have helped to tell their stories for well over two centuries. This podcast takes a fresh look at some of the tales that have shaped the Museum’s story – both famous and less well known.
Amazing War Stories
- Publisher: Bruce Crompton
- Total Episodes: 8
Ex-British Paratrooper and history fanatic Bruce Crompton is on a mission and he believes the amazing deeds of forgotten war heroes can help him. Due to the ongoing pandemic, museums all around the world are in danger of closing. If that happens the history contained within them will be lost from the public forever. In this series, inspired by unique museum items and personal artefacts, Bruce narrates incredible tales from the Second World War. He hopes that by telling these true stories, realised in immersive, 3D audio, people will be inspired to visit collections and help preserve their legends for generations to come.To contact the team please email: [email protected] See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
British Scandal
- Publisher: Wondery
- Total Episodes: 5
In a country obsessed with gossip, the great and the good fear one thing more than any other – scandal.British scandals change the course of history. They bring down governments, overthrow the rich and cause the mighty to fall. Some are about sex, others about money. In the end, they’re all about power. But often at the heart of a scandal, there are ordinary human stories, stories of those caught up in the swirl of outrage. Who was really to blame for what happened? Why did they do it? And when all is said and done, did anything really change? From the creators of Business Wars, American Scandal and Even The Rich, comes British Scandal. We tell the stories of the murkier side of the British elite, from Phone Hacking to Saville to Profumo who show us the reality of power, the price of pride and the failings of the great and good. Because sometimes the truth doesn’t set everyone free…
On the Record at The National Archives
- Publisher: The National Archives
- Total Episodes: 29
History is everywhere in popular culture. But the truth is harder to find. On the Record is a podcast by The National Archives of the UK that takes a closer look at the stories you think you know. At The National Archives, we are the guardians of more than 11 million historical government and public records spanning a thousand years of British history. These original documents hold thousands of incredible stories…if you know where to look. Follow us on Twitter @UkNatArchives
Indian History.
- Publisher: Meenakshi Sharan
- Total Episodes: 33
Indian History is not a Myth! The British called it mythology to for conversion & colonization purposes. Time to debunk the false Western narrative.
People’s History of Ideas Podcast
- Publisher: Matthew Rothwell
- Total Episodes: 59
In this podcast, Matthew Rothwell, author of Transpacific Revolutionaries: The Chinese Revolution in Latin America, explores the global history of ideas related to rebellion and revolution. The main focus of this podcast for the near future will be on the history of the Chinese Revolution, going all the way back to its roots in the initial Chinese reactions to British imperialism during the Opium War of 1839-1842, and then following the development of the revolution and many of the ideas that were products of the revolution through to their transnational diffusion in the late 20th century.
Unfinished Business
- Publisher: The British Library
- Total Episodes: 34
The fight for women’s rights is unfinished business. But where do we begin? Join incredible women, including actor and activist Jameela Jamil, Sex Education writer Laurie Nunn, Nubian Skin founder Ade Hassan, Olympic gold medal winner Victoria Pendleton and feminist icon Susie Orbach, as they talk to British Library curator Polly Russell about all things sexual liberation, intersectionality, mental health and more. Find out about the long history of women fighting for justice, discover remarkable characters from the past and hear from women today who are challenging and changing the world for the better. Creating a space for in-depth conversations on issues that matter across the world, this brand new podcast accompanies the British Library’s major new exhibition Unfinished Business: The Fight for Women’s Rights, open in London until 21 February 2021. Unfinished Business podcast series is generously supported by Joanna and Graham Barker and The Eccles Centre for American Studies. A Pixiu production. bl.uk/unfinished-business
Queen Mary History of Emotions
- Publisher: The Centre for the History of the Emotions, QMUL
- Total Episodes: 50
This is a podcast from the Centre for the History of Emotions at Queen Mary, University of London. ‘The Sound of Anger’ won two gold British Podcast Awards in 2020. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts via iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/living-with-feeling/id1186251350?mt=2
The Walkers Switch
- Publisher: Lauren Peters and Augustine Cerf
- Total Episodes: 7
2 out of 3 people remember Walkers switching the colours of their Cheese and Onion and Salt and Vinegar crisp packets. But Walkers deny it ever happened. Are they lying? If so, why? The Walkers Switch investigates the greatest hoax in British crisp history.
Britain and Ireland in the Early Middle Ages
- Publisher: Henry Delap-Smith
- Total Episodes: 70
The Britain and Ireland in the Early Middle Ages podcast (formerly the History of the British Isles) is an in-depth look at the politics of Britain and Ireland before the Normans! Understand why Aethelred was Unready, how Scotland and England were formed and even who the only ever king of Wales was! Twitter: @BritishHistPod
