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The Anglotopia Podcast is for people who love all things British. Jonathan Thomas, founder of Anglotopia, talks with historians, authors, curators and fellow Anglophiles about Britain's history, places and culture. Pick a subject below, or begin with the episodes listeners love most.
Listeners' favourites
Did Churchill Know? Unraveling the Myths of the Coventry Blitz and Wartime EspionageHistorian Chris Smith marks 85 years since the Coventry Blitz, debunking the myth that Churchill sacrificed the city to protect Ultra and tracing Coventry's rebirth as a symbol of reconciliation.
Your Travel Guide to Britain in 2026 – Major Events, Exhibitions, Museums, and More!Jonathan previews Britain in 2026, from his Hadrian's Wall walk and Anglotopia plans to Elizabeth 100, the Bayeux Tapestry, new London museums, major exhibitions and West End shows.
Inside the Brontë Parsonage – The Museum, the Moors & the Wuthering Heights MomentTwo Brontë Parsonage Museum staff take listeners inside the Haworth home, its treasures and moors, the Wuthering Heights film moment, and how to plan a visit.
From Downton to Clarkson’s Farm – How TV Shows Are Transforming Cotswolds Tourism with Tom BurdettStayCotswold's Tom Burdett on why visitors love the Cotswolds, self-catering versus hotels, driving tips, Clarkson's Farm and Downton locations, and his must-see villages.
Exploring the Enchantment of the Cotswolds with Tour Guide Roanna Stromberg-SmithCotswolds concierge guide Roanna Stromberg-Smith shares how she builds bespoke tours, her favourite hidden gems from Kelmscott to the Rollright Stones, and why the Cotswolds should be savoured slowly.
Learning The Knowledge – A London Cabbie’s Guide to the City’s Hidden HistoryLondon cabbie and history graduate Billy Cullen explains how he passed the Knowledge, why black cabs beat Uber, and the hidden London he shows visitors on his taxi tours.British history
Codebreakers, Spies, and Secrets – The Truth About Bletchley Park and Alan TuringHistorian Dr Chris Smith separates myth from reality at Bletchley Park: how it was chosen, grew and stayed secret, how Enigma was broken, and Alan Turing's real role.
The Poles – The Royal Family Henry VIII Tried to Erase With Adam PenningtonHistorian Adam Pennington tells how Henry VIII turned on his Plantagenet cousins the Poles, culminating in Margaret Pole's botched 1541 execution, plus his Simply Tudor Tours and upcoming books.
The Tudor Podcast Pioneer – Heather Teysko on Obsession, Community & TudorCon 2026Heather Teysko, host of the Renaissance English History Podcast since 2009, shares how her Tudor obsession began, building a history community, and TudorCon 2026 at Virginia's Agecroft Hall.
Castles, Crime & Cake – A Retired British Copper’s Accidental Guide to HistoryRetired copper John Donoghue on unarmed British policing, absurd 999 calls, breaking Britain's oddest forgotten laws, and accidentally becoming a guide at Pembroke Castle.Winston Churchill
Churchill’s Secret Life as a Painter — Dr. Lucy Davis on a Once-in-a-Lifetime Exhibition at Wallace CollectionCurator Dr Lucy Davis explores Churchill the painter: how he took up the brush after Gallipoli, his mentors, the Marrakesh gift to Roosevelt, and the Wallace Collection's landmark exhibition.
Best British History Books with Brendan Dowd from the History Nerds United PodcastJonathan and History Nerds United host Brendan Dowd trade their favourite British history books, from Alfred the Great and the Tudors to Churchill, Thatcher and the Iranian Embassy siege.
Churchill the Writer – Gary Stiles on My Early Life and the Craft Behind the LegendChurchill scholar Dr. Gary L. Stiles discusses his book A Prelude to Immortality: why and how Churchill wrote My Early Life, his Boer War escape, Nobel Prize and hidden humanity.
From D-Day to the Cold War: The Extraordinary Bond Between Winston Churchill and EisenhowerHistorian and federal judge Jonathan W. Jordan discusses Ike and Winston, his book on the friendship between Eisenhower and Churchill from D-Day through the nuclear age.Royals & Tudors
The Poles – The Royal Family Henry VIII Tried to Erase With Adam PenningtonHistorian Adam Pennington tells how Henry VIII turned on his Plantagenet cousins the Poles, culminating in Margaret Pole's botched 1541 execution, plus his Simply Tudor Tours and upcoming books.The Tudor Podcast Pioneer – Heather Teysko on Obsession, Community & TudorCon 2026Heather Teysko, host of the Renaissance English History Podcast since 2009, shares how her Tudor obsession began, building a history community, and TudorCon 2026 at Virginia's Agecroft Hall.
Tudor 101 – A Complete Crash Course in England’s Most Dramatic Dynasty With Sarah MorrisTudor Travel Guide creator Sarah Morris gives a Tudor 101 crash course, from Henry VII to Elizabeth I and the dissolution, plus the must-visit Tudor sites in Britain.
600 Years in One House – Magnus Throckmorton on Coughton Court & Its Extraordinary HistoryMagnus Throckmorton tours 600 years at Coughton Court: Henry VIII, priest holes, the Gunpowder Plot, Civil War ruin, Mary Queen of Scots' chemise and the family's reopening.War & espionage
Codebreakers, Spies, and Secrets – The Truth About Bletchley Park and Alan TuringHistorian Dr Chris Smith separates myth from reality at Bletchley Park: how it was chosen, grew and stayed secret, how Enigma was broken, and Alan Turing's real role.
The Last Cambridge Spy: Dr. Chris Smith on John Cairncross and the Cambridge FiveHistorian Chris Smith tells the story of the Cambridge Five through John Cairncross, the Scottish outsider who smuggled Bletchley Park decrypts to Moscow and was finally exposed decades later.
Spitfires – The Untold Story of the American Women Who Flew for the British During WWIIBecky Aikman tells the forgotten story of the American women who ferried Spitfires and bombers for Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary in WWII, from crash landings to London nightlife.
Double Agents, Dead Drops & Declassified Files: Inside the MI5 Archive of Official SecretsNational Archives experts Mark Dunton and Stephen Twigge open MI5's declassified files: the lemon spy, Sidney Street, the Double Cross system, Profumo and tapping Edward VIII's phone.Planning a trip to Britain
Tudor 101 – A Complete Crash Course in England’s Most Dramatic Dynasty With Sarah MorrisTudor Travel Guide creator Sarah Morris gives a Tudor 101 crash course, from Henry VII to Elizabeth I and the dissolution, plus the must-visit Tudor sites in Britain.
BritRail 101: The Definitive Guide to Train Travel in Britain for Visitors with Expert Tim RoebuckRail veteran Tim Roebuck explains how train travel in Britain works for visitors: London's terminals, scenic routes, ticket types, and getting the most from a BritRail Pass.
Stonehenge, Druids & Folk Horror: The Myths Behind Britain’s Standing Stones With Paul RobichaudLiterary scholar Paul Robichaud explores the stories told about Britain's standing stones, from Merlin and the Druids to the Romantics and folk horror, plus favourite sites to visit.
The Real Yorkshire – A Blue Badge Guide’s Insider Guide to England’s Biggest CountyBlue Badge guide Tim Barber shares an insider's guide to Yorkshire: York Minster, the Dales versus the Moors, the hidden Wolds, All Creatures Great and Small locations, Haworth and itinerary tips.London
BritRail 101: The Definitive Guide to Train Travel in Britain for Visitors with Expert Tim RoebuckRail veteran Tim Roebuck explains how train travel in Britain works for visitors: London's terminals, scenic routes, ticket types, and getting the most from a BritRail Pass.Churchill’s Secret Life as a Painter — Dr. Lucy Davis on a Once-in-a-Lifetime Exhibition at Wallace CollectionCurator Dr Lucy Davis explores Churchill the painter: how he took up the brush after Gallipoli, his mentors, the Marrakesh gift to Roosevelt, and the Wallace Collection's landmark exhibition.
What’s On in London in August 2026: Notting Hill Carnival, Buckingham Palace & London’s Newest MuseumJonathan's guide to London in August 2026: Notting Hill Carnival, Buckingham Palace's summer opening, the new Trent Park spy museum, exhibitions, festivals and his own trip plans.
How to Do London on a Budget of $100 a DayJonathan shows how to do London on $100 a day: cheap hotels, free museums, Tube and bus fares, budget eating, discount theatre tickets and used bookshops, plus a membership update.Stately homes & castles
Castles, Crime & Cake – A Retired British Copper’s Accidental Guide to HistoryRetired copper John Donoghue on unarmed British policing, absurd 999 calls, breaking Britain's oddest forgotten laws, and accidentally becoming a guide at Pembroke Castle.Tudor 101 – A Complete Crash Course in England’s Most Dramatic Dynasty With Sarah MorrisTudor Travel Guide creator Sarah Morris gives a Tudor 101 crash course, from Henry VII to Elizabeth I and the dissolution, plus the must-visit Tudor sites in Britain.
Jane Austen at 250 – Discussing Jane At Home With Chawton’s Sophie ReynoldsFor Jane Austen's 250th, Sophie Reynolds of Jane Austen's House in Chawton discusses the house's immersive makeover, the famous writing table, Austen's proto-feminism and literary innovations.600 Years in One House – Magnus Throckmorton on Coughton Court & Its Extraordinary HistoryMagnus Throckmorton tours 600 years at Coughton Court: Henry VIII, priest holes, the Gunpowder Plot, Civil War ruin, Mary Queen of Scots' chemise and the family's reopening.Countryside & walking
BritRail 101: The Definitive Guide to Train Travel in Britain for Visitors with Expert Tim RoebuckRail veteran Tim Roebuck explains how train travel in Britain works for visitors: London's terminals, scenic routes, ticket types, and getting the most from a BritRail Pass.
Dragons, Black Hens & Sleeping Warriors: The Legends of England’s Buried Treasure with Jeremy HarteFolklorist Jeremy Harte explores England's buried treasure legends, from dragons and black hens guarding gold to real hoards, cunning folk, cursed digs and today's detectorists.
Craftland – A Journey Through Britain’s Disappearing Crafts with Author James FoxArt historian James Fox discusses his book Craftland, travelling Britain to meet bell-founders, wallers, quilters and watchmakers keeping endangered traditional crafts alive.The Real Yorkshire – A Blue Badge Guide’s Insider Guide to England’s Biggest CountyBlue Badge guide Tim Barber shares an insider's guide to Yorkshire: York Minster, the Dales versus the Moors, the hidden Wolds, All Creatures Great and Small locations, Haworth and itinerary tips.British TV & film
Ian Russell – British Voice Actor – Cultural Insights from an Expat in South CarolinaBritish banker-turned-voice actor Ian Russell talks about building a career on his accent in South Carolina, expat culture shocks, tea disasters, humour and code-switching.The Real Yorkshire – A Blue Badge Guide’s Insider Guide to England’s Biggest CountyBlue Badge guide Tim Barber shares an insider's guide to Yorkshire: York Minster, the Dales versus the Moors, the hidden Wolds, All Creatures Great and Small locations, Haworth and itinerary tips.
Lights, Camera, Britain: A Film Scholar on What Makes British Cinema So Distinctively BritishFilm scholar Spencer Murphy and Jonathan debate what makes a film British, from class, accents and landscape to Harry Potter tourism, Wuthering Heights and their top-five lists.
Great British Telly – Exploring British TV From Monty Python to Downton Abbey and BeyondJonathan launches Anglotopia's book Great British Telly, explaining its TV history, top 50 shows and appendices, reads the introduction, and shares the British shows he's watching now.Books & literature
Codebreakers, Spies, and Secrets – The Truth About Bletchley Park and Alan TuringHistorian Dr Chris Smith separates myth from reality at Bletchley Park: how it was chosen, grew and stayed secret, how Enigma was broken, and Alan Turing's real role.The Poles – The Royal Family Henry VIII Tried to Erase With Adam PenningtonHistorian Adam Pennington tells how Henry VIII turned on his Plantagenet cousins the Poles, culminating in Margaret Pole's botched 1541 execution, plus his Simply Tudor Tours and upcoming books.Castles, Crime & Cake – A Retired British Copper’s Accidental Guide to HistoryRetired copper John Donoghue on unarmed British policing, absurd 999 calls, breaking Britain's oddest forgotten laws, and accidentally becoming a guide at Pembroke Castle.
The Global Dimensions of the American Revolution With Historian John FerlingHistorian John Ferling retells the American Revolution as a global war, covering British dissent, Lord North, French intervention and why Britain ultimately lost.Expat life
Ian Russell – British Voice Actor – Cultural Insights from an Expat in South CarolinaBritish banker-turned-voice actor Ian Russell talks about building a career on his accent in South Carolina, expat culture shocks, tea disasters, humour and code-switching.
Britain, America & Chicago: A Conversation with His Majesty’s Consul General Richard HydeRecorded at the Chicago History Museum on the King's official birthday, British Consul General Richard Hyde discusses diplomacy in the Midwest, America 250 and Chicago's surprising British ties.
Lynne Murphy – The American Linguist Who Has Decoded British English For 25 YearsAmerican linguist Lynne Murphy, author of The Prodigal Tongue, unpicks British versus American English: spelling myths, false friends, embarrassing gaffes and advice for expats.
The Real Hogwarts – The Reality of British Boarding Schools of Expat Naomi KentBritish expat Naomi Kent describes real life at English girls' boarding schools in the 1990s: dorms, tuck boxes, houses, the dreaded San, pranks and expulsion.Family history
Genealogy 201 – Parish Records, Military History & the Secrets Hidden in Old Newspapers and FindmypastFindmypast's Jen Baldwin goes beyond genealogy basics: the 1921 census and 1939 register, old newspapers, name variations, military and parish records, war memorials, and research habits.
Genealogy 101 – Everything You Need to Start Tracing Your British & Irish Family History with FindmypastFindmypast genealogist Jen Baldwin gives beginners a practical guide to tracing British and Irish ancestors: interviewing relatives, civil registration, censuses, criminal records and historic newspapers.
Land’s End to John O’Groats – Bristol to DurhamPart two of Jonathan and Jackie's Land's End to John o' Groats drive, from Bristol via Castle Combe, Hardwick Hall, York and Fountains Abbey to Durham and Northumberland.Never miss an episode
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