Britain's Most Historic Towns

Seasons

2018

UK

7.7

Professor Alice Roberts explores the UK's past, focusing on six key eras by exploring the stories of towns which best illustrate each.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Roman Chester

In Chester, Britain's most Roman city, Alice enjoys a Roman feast, checks out an extraordinary archaeological find deep underground and explores a radical theory on the Romans' plans for the city.

S1 • E2

Viking York

Alice Roberts tells the story of Viking England by studying the history of York. She takes part in a Viking battle, meets the metal detectorists who made an amazing discovery and handles a 1,000-year-old poo.

S1 • E3

Norman Winchester

Alice explores the Norman period of British history by examining events that occurred in Winchester, Hampshire. She attempts to storm a castle wearing chain mail, investigates the origins of modern surgery and samples eel pie.

S1 • E4

Tudor Norwich

Alice tells the story of Tudor England by studying the history of Norwich, learning the harsh realities of religious intolerance and uncovering the origins of Norwich City FC's canary emblem.

S1 • E5

Regency Cheltenham

Alice explores the Regency period by studying the history of Cheltenham. She attends a period society ball, investigates the rigid social hierarchy of the age and learns about the Regency fondness for enemas.

S1 • E6

Victorian Belfast

In Britain's most Victorian city, Belfast, Alice visits the shipyards that built the Titanic, gets locked up in the notorious Crumlin Road gaol and takes a crash course in 19th-century female etiquette.