Listen to more episodes
Hear the stories behind the places and collections in our care with our podcast episodes, series and playlists.
Back When history podcast
Our past is all around us. In Back When, our new history podcast, you'll be able to experience the Great Stink of London; make an entrance onto the Georgian dating scene; find out if you'd survive a medieval battle; and unlock the secrets of Britain's space race.
Join historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby as they take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
Take your pick of our latest episodes, or follow Back When on your favourite podcast app for when you're on the go.
HG Wells | The Father of Science Fiction
Time travel, free love and Martian invasions all have one thing in common: HG Wells. Discover how Wells brought science fiction to the masses, drawing inspiration from a network of underground tunnels and a telescope in an attic room.
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The Great Stink | London's Smelly History
It's the height of summer in 1858 and something rotten is lurking in the River Thames. Join Historian James Grasby as he unravels a pungent problem in Victorian London – hear how politicians scrambled to keep the Great Stink out of parliament and find out what the smell meant for the working classes.
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Black Arrow Rocket | When Britain joined the space race
Britain's space race efforts were bold but short-lived. By the 1970s, the British had one last chance to get into space with the ambitious Black Arrow Rocket – but was it a success?
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24:09
Introducing Back When
Discover Back When, our new history podcast launching on 2 April. Get transported back to the times of castles, dance halls, Second World War bunkers and workhouses, and discover the people whose stories have shaped who we are today.
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Our partners
Back When is sponsored by CEWE, Europe's leading photo printing company. We've teamed up with them to share more stories from the thousands of photographs in our collections.
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LGBTQ podcast series with Clare Balding
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History
Learn about people from the past, discover remarkable works of art and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.