Start your journey of discovery
Delve into history, get tips from our experts, learn a new skill and go behind the scenes of your favourite places.
History
Find out more about people from the past, discover remarkable art and collections and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.
Art and collections
Delve into one of the world's greatest collections of art and historical objects. From paintings to sculptures, there’s something for every art lover to discover.
Autumn scenes and stories in our collections
With its bright colours, natural spectacles and abundant harvests, autumn has inspired artists for generations. From paintings and tapestries to ceramics, discover autumn through the collections in our care.
Spectacular skies: dawns and dusks in the collections we care for
Explore the artworks in our collections that capture the beauty of sunrise and sunset. See how artists have used seascapes and sunlight to bring to life peaceful scenes and industrial backdrops alike.
Great books in our collections
Explore a selection from more than half a million books and manuscripts in the collections we care for. Libraries Curator Tim Pye takes a closer look at some of the most significant works.
Ceramics highlights
Discover highlights from our collection of around 75,000 ceramic objects, from an early Ming dynasty dish to an ancient Greek hydria.
People
Read the stories of people from history and learn about their connections to the historic places in our care, from Beatrix Potter to the Beatles.
South Asian histories at the places in our care
Some of the places and collections we care for reveal stories from and connections to South Asian history, reflecting the UK's diverse heritage and cultural links to South Asia. Learn more about the people and pieces behind these connections from princesses to a peacock dress.
Who was Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown?
Lancelot 'Capability' Brown was one of the UK's most celebrated landscape gardeners. Find out how this Georgian gentleman created the quintessential English landscapes that we see at many of the places in our care today.
Places where people helped change the world
From the first woman MP to sit in Parliament to the rural retreat of a wartime prime minister and the Liverpool terraces that changed music for ever, discover the places in our care where people made history.
Architecture
Read up on architecture with in-depth articles about architectural styles, interior design through history and architectural structures.
Interior design through the ages
As fashions change over the eras, so do our homes. Explore the history of British interior design and learn about the centuries of design innovation at the places we care for.
War memorials in our care
We care for around 170 war memorials, with about 70 of those from the First World War. Discover the stories behind the monuments and find out where you can find them.
What is Gothic Revival?
Learn how the Gothic style became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries to style literature, architecture, art, music and more after the features of the late medieval Gothic period.
Gardens and landscapes
Discover the history of the natural landscapes around you. From glasshouses to sunken lanes, understand more about how these gardens and green spaces were formed.
The history of dahlias
Uncover the horticultural history of the dahlia, from its origins in Central America to becoming an inspiration for legendary crime writer Agatha Christie.
Garden design through the ages
Explore how changing tastes influenced the style of gardens over the centuries and discover where you can find the best examples from each period at the places we care for.
What is the picturesque?
Find out more about the picturesque aesthetic style and how it became a fashionable choice for wealthy estates in the 18th century. Learn more about the people who influenced the movement.
