Millbank Tower from the London Eye. In 1995 New Labour led by Tony Blair built on its modern image by taking space at the bottom of Millbank as a campaign headquarters.

Welcome to InfoBritain, for historical and literary visiting information in the UK. InfoBritain aims to tell you what happened and where it happened. We have visits illuminating all historical periods from prehistoric Britain to recent times, and visits related to the lives of major British authors. You can use our site search, or our History and Author menus to find suggested visits relating to times or people. Alternatively go to the regions menu, find a place to visit in a particular area, and then link back to a description of the history relating to it. We also have a full accommodation booking service for all parts of the mainland UK. We specialise in historic accommodation, but we also have comprehensive lists of hotels of all types and price ranges. See the regional menus on the right.

An alphabetical index is available below.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

A Personal Note (Archive)

Tony Blair's biography, out this week, is called The Journey. The Greek writer Plutarch said of politics "They are wrong who think that politics is like an ocean voyage, or a military campaign, something to be done with a particular end in view, something which leaves off as soon as that end is reached. It is not a public chore to be got over with. It is a way of life". The title of Tony Blair's biography would suggest that he did not see things as Plutarch did. Blair made his name making the Labour Party more moderate, less of a crusading force. But in himself Blair remained a crusader who saw himself on a journey to a great destination. He often seemed to see life in terms of a military campaign, and became involved in a lot of them. Most controversially of all, was the decision to support the invasion of Iraq based on disputed evidence of Iraq's possession of "weapons of mass destruction" which quickly proved an illusion. Perhaps in reading The Journey we should bear the easy going wisdom of Plutarch in mind.

Best wishes

Martin

Historical news for September

Four thousand historic properties in Britain not usually open to the public will open over the weekend of 9th - 12th September as part of a celebration of Europe's cultural heritage. Wales will be holding similar events. Opening days for properties in London will take place 18th - 19th September. For more information see http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk/opendays/ For Wales see http://www.civictrustwales.org/ And for London see http://www.londonopenhouse.org/

Tea provides a very intimate commentary on British history since the seventeenth century. An exhibition running until 24th October at the Millenium Gallery, Sheffield explores the origins of tea drinking in the Far East, and its subsequent history as a drink closely associated with Britain. The exhibition includes historic and contemporary tea ware. Telephone 0114 278 2600.

Imperial War Museum Duxford will be stageing one of the largest Battle of Britain memorial celebrations of the summer on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. The show will feautre aircraft which fought the battle, and will focus particularly on pilots who flew missions from Duxford. Book on line and save 10% on the admission price. Go to http://www.iwm.org.uk/

Why not also go to Professor Richard Overy's lecture at the Cabinet War Rooms called Battle of Britain - Myth and Reality. The Battle of Britain has acquired its own mythology over the years, the idea of overwhelming odds for example - the preparations of previous prime ministers, Baldwin and Chamberlain, actually provided British pilots with enough aircraft to match the Luftwaffe. Richard Overy's lecture would be a good way to explore beyond the myth.This takes place on 28th September, 7pm at the Churchill War Room. For more information go to http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/ Booking on-line opens on 1st September, or tickets will be available on the door.

Anniversaries for September

2nd September 1666 : In the early hours of the morning a fire starts in a baker's shop in Pudding Lane London. This fire would burn for three days and almost completely destroy the old City of London.

6th September 1620 : After a number of false starts, the Mayflower leaves Portsmouth for the New World carrying 102 passengers.

7th September 1940 : September 7th marked a turning point in the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe turned from attacking airfields to bombing cities. London and other major British cities were bombed for forty consecutive nights.

13th September 1814 : During the Anglo American War of 1812 Fort McHenry in Boston is shelled by the Royal Navy. Francis Scott Key who spent the night at Fort McHenry during the attack was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner. This song became the national anthem of the United States.

15th September 1830: A milestone in the history of railways is reached when the Liverpool to Manchester line is opened. Sadly the MP William Huskisson is run over by one of George Stephenson's new locomotives and killed.

22nd September 1880 : Christabel Pankhurst, future leader of the suffragette campaign in Britain is born in old Trafford, Manchester.

26th September 1580: Francis Drake returns to Plymouth after his three year round the world voyage in Golden Hinde. He brought back immense wealth, mainly pirated from the Spanish. Elizabeth I, a major investor in the voyage, doesn't mind where her profit comes from and gives Drake a knighthood.

28th September 1066: William the Conqueror lands at Pevensey with a Norman army. By Christmas he would be crowned King of England.

29th September 1929: Under the direction of home secretary Robert Peel, Britain's first professional police force, the Metropolitan Police is founded. The force is based at Scotland Yard in Westminster.

Enter the InfoBritain Shop via the Royal Opera Arcade, the first shopping arcade built in Britain. Here you will find a range of products and services we've put along side the information offered on InfoBritain.

Click on the image to enter the shop.

Please be aware

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our information, but it is always advisable to check details of any visit beforehand using contact details provided. If you spot a mistake please let us know by contacting us.

Almost all photography on InfoBritain is by InfoBritain or by named contributors. All educational use is permitted, but copyright is reserved for commercial uses. Occasionally we have used copyright free stock images which are available for any use. A note will identify these images.

Thank you to photo contributors Danielle Davis, Jean Edwards, Vicky Eagle of Portsmouth Dockyard, Kevin Edwards, Julian Jones, Richard Jones, Jackie Lewis, Debbie Lowless, Judy Mills of the Corinium Museum, and Susan Stuart of Old Spitalfields Market.