British history podcast are a good option to start the journey to differentiate languages, learn new vocabulary that really differs quite a lot from one region to another. Getting used to a new accent is not an easy task, but, like everything in life, it is a matter of practice and more practice.
We’ve come a long way from the days of boring history lectures at school, with literally hundreds of great history podcasts available to download for free on your favorite podcast app. By infusing comedy, storytelling, or other engaging methods, many story podcasts turn an otherwise dry topic into must-listen material.
Of course, history is a broad topic, and knowing which podcasts to listen to can be difficult. To help you get started, we’ve picked 10 of our favorite history podcasts, plus a few honorable mentions to round things out.
The best British History podcasts:
- Dan Carlin’s hardcore story
- Revolutions
- You’re dead to me
- 30 by 30 Podcast
- You must remember this
- Slow burn
- The British History Podcast
- Revisionist history
- A history of the world in 100 objects
- More perfect
Dan Carlin’s hardcore story
Topic: History
Frequency: irregular
Duration: 1-6 hours
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast is probably one of the most famous podcasts on this list, and for good reason. Since 2006, each episode delves into a specific theme or moment in history, with episodes typically lasting two hours or more. Carried only by the force of Carlin’s narration without sound effects or music, it’s like listening to an extremely entertaining audiobook packed with detail and insight that you won’t read in any textbook.
Topic: History
Frequency: weekly
Revolution is a fantastic podcast on the history of revolutions around the world. Each season focuses on a single revolution, allowing host Mike Duncan to dig deep and illuminate the details. There have been 10 seasons to date, and the season on the French Revolution featured an impressive 55 episodes. If you like this one, be sure to check out Duncan’s previous podcast titled The History of Rome, which ran for 179 episodes and ended in 2012.
You’re dead to me
Theme: History, comedy
Frequency: irregular
Duration: 45 minutes
You’re Dead To Me is one of the BBC’s many great podcasts, but don’t think it’s limited to the history of England. In each episode, host Greg Jenner works through a specific historical theme from around the world with the help of two guests, one a comedian and the other an accomplished historian. Expect to learn more about people and events from history, and have fun along the way.
30 by 30 Podcast
Theme: Sports, history
Frequency: irregular
Duration: 30-60 minutes
The 30 by 30 podcast Includes some of the best British history podcast, from the creators of ESPN’s acclaimed 30 by 30 documentary series, tells the stories of some of the most fascinating and controversial sports figures in recent history. The previous installments are a combination of one-off shows and short series. Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, you’ll find plenty to enjoy, from the history of Bikram yoga to the shocking 1990 scandal that led to Chile’s temporary ban from the World Cup.
You must remember this
Theme: Hollywood story
Frequency: weekly (seasonal)
Duration: 40-60 minutes
Must Remember This is a podcast about a type of history that you will not learn in school. Host Karina Longworth uncovers some of the craziest stories from the lives of early Hollywood stars like Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. If you can’t get enough classic movies or you love celebrity gossip, this is the history podcast for you.
Slow burn
Topic: News, history, politics
Frequency: weekly (seasonal)
Duration: 30-60 minutes
Part news, part recent history, Slow Burn is a great podcast you don’t want to miss. The first two seasons focus on two key events in recent American history: the Watergate scandal and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. Season 3, which ended in late 2019, was about the fight between rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious BIG in the 1990s. Each season has just eight episodes, making them perfect for long listening.
The British History Podcast
Topic: History
Frequency: irregular
Duration: 20-40 minutes
The British History Podcast is exactly what it says on the tin: a podcast about the history of England, Scotland, and Wales. Host Jamie Jeffers keeps things interesting by focusing on the everyday lives of average people rather than the exploits of kings, knights, and their relatives. Throw in a lot of snark and the result is a great podcast that’s still going strong after more than eight years and 300 episodes.
Revisionist history
Topic: History
Frequency: weekly (seasonal)
Duration: 40-50 minutes
From the mind of The New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell, Revisionist History is a history podcast with a twist. It separates preconceived notions about a wide swath of topics in history, including America’s founding fathers as criminal traffickers, the ambiguity of the semicolon in the Second Amendment, and the decline of McDonald’s fries.
A history of the world in 100 objects
Topic: History
Frequency: finished
Duration: 15 minutes
It’s almost a decade old at the moment, but there’s no history podcast more iconic than the BBC’s A History of the World in 100 Objects. In it, the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, weaves a complex story of world history, one object at a time. The episodes are also short and digestible at just 15 minutes in length. If you enjoy this one, be sure to also check out the 50 Things That Made Modern Economics, which is currently in its second season.
Topic: History, law, politics
Frequency: finished
Duration: 40-60 minutes
More Perfect is a podcast derived from one of the best podcasts, Radiolab. It features the same quirky edition that the show is famous for, but the topic of this podcast focuses on the history of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Here you will learn more about critical rulings from the nation’s highest court, many of which still affect the lives of all Americans today.