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Durham Cathedral and Castle: 'The Normans at their most audacious and expansive'The view of Durham from the train is epic and defiant: the great central tower of the cathedral rising as if it were its own unconquerable cliff, a symbol of Christian civilisation that has endured centuries of hostile waves to stand triumphant.
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![Henry II', 1935. Henry II, King of England, circa 1860. Henry II (1133-89), the first Plantagenet king of England, ruled from 1154. From Kings & Queens of England - A Series of 50. [John Player & Sons, London, 1935] Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzWTXTSVJ7fZVeKtDmx8fk-230-80.jpg)
Dover Castle, Kent: England's strongest castleJack Watkins looks at the story and impact of The Great Tower at Dover Castle, the imposing creation of Henry II that still stands strong almost 900 years later.
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The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: Thomas Telford's 'ribbon of water in the sky'The magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the great testaments to Industrial Revolution ingenuity — and as beautiful as it is impressive. Jack Watkins takes a look.
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In Focus: The enduring appeal of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera'Jack Watkins tells the tale of one of the West End's most iconic musicals, and how The Phantom of the Opera evolved from an obscure novel and largely forgotten films to become a global sensation.
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The seagrass meadows that lie beneath the waters of Britain are 'one of the most valuable and biodiverse habitats on the planet'The UK’s seagrass meadows are an important wildlife habitat and fundamental to combating climate change, but they’re disappearing at a rapid rate. Jack Watkins finds out more about the ongoing fight to save them.
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In Focus: The enduring beauty of Thomas Gray's Elegy Written In A Country ChurchyardJack Watkins considers the timeless brilliance of Thomas Gray's 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.'
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In Focus: Tarka the Otter, Henry Williamson's great masterpiece of Nature writingJack Watkins tells the tale of what might have been a simple tale of nature, but which became a phenomenon both on page and on screen.
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The true mark of genius of Jane Austen's Persuasion? Even when its bad, it's still pretty goodEven costume drama fatigue can't rob Jane Austen's Persuasion of its power, says Jack Watkins
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The great houses of The Strand, 'London's Golden Mile' that 'helped shape England’s architectural identity’A scheme to pedestrianise parts of The Strand is throwing light on the road’s gilded history, finds Jack Watkins.
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Kenwood House: How one of London's most famous landmarks was saved from destructionIt’s almost inconceivable nowadays to think that one of London’s most famous landmarks was once destined for redevelopment. A century on from the fight to save it, Jack Watkins finds out what happened
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In Focus: Mallard, the steam locomotive that's a true British masterpieceSir Nigel Gresley's Mallard steam locomotive is one of the great pieces of 20th century engineering. Jack Watkins tells its tale.
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Mind your step: The world's biggest slugs are alive, well and thriving in EnglandProwl the wilds of Dartmoor at night and you just might stumble upon Limax cinereoniger, the world's largest land slug. Jack Watkins gets a closer look.
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In Focus: The lions of Trafalgar Square by Sir Edwin LandseerThe famous bronze lions that stand guard at Trafalgar Square are among the world's most famous sculptures. Jack Watkins takes a look and pays tribute to their creator, Sir Edwin Landseer.
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Curious Questions: What was the first OS Map?Jack Watkins traces through the history of Ordnance Survey maps, going way past the 'official' first OS map — which was of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight — to find the tale of the extraordinary William Roy, whose cartographic concepts have barely changed in almost three centuries.
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In Focus: Gerald Durrell, the 'pioneer with a marvellous sense of humour'The author, conservationist and avid nature-lover describes his childhood in Corfu with the 'recollections of a child in a kind of earthy paradise,' in his book, My Family and Other Animals, finds Jack Watkins.
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Paddington Station: The everyday masterpiece, still a marvel 165 years onJack Watkins discusses Isambard Kingdom Brunel's much-revered Paddington Station, and how it has adapted with the changing times — with help from a little bear in a red hat.
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Blackcaps: The small garden birds with a big voiceSmall, shy and chubby with a neat black cap, this effervescent bird sings its heart out in spring. Jack Watkins meets the blackcap, also known as the March nightingale.
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The Cheltenham Gold Cup: Everything you need to know about the week's big raceIt is 90 years since Golden Miller won the first of a record-breaking five victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Jack Watkins looks back at other equine heroes of the race and assesses the Irish raider Al Boum Photo’s chances of making history at this year’s Festival.
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The story of the red telephone box, one of the iconic emblems of 20th century BritainThe red telephone box has been part of the landscape of Britain for a century. Jack Watkins takes a look at its history and impact — and worries for its continued survival.
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Barry Cryer: An anecdotal stroll through decades of comedic performance on stage, radio and TVThe peerless Barry Cryer on self-obsessed humour, an eczema cure and Boris Johnson.
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How London's Grade-I listed 'Victorian Jurassic Park' ended up on Historic England's at-risk listThe dinosaurs of Crystal Palace Park and the beleagured Gunnersbury Park are under threat. We must work to save them, says Jack Watkins.
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In Focus: T.S. Eliot's Journey of the Magi, the masterpiece that was dashed off in 45 minutesFar from a celebration, the poem is a metaphor for the voyage Eliot believed the human spirit must make to experience Christ.
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In Focus: Handel's Messiah, the Christmas music that was created for EasterHandel's Messiah
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The Forth Bridge: A masterpiece that's 1.5 miles long, 360ft high, made of 54,000 tonnes of steel and all set on granite piers sunk 90ft deepThe Forth Bridge, designed by Sir Benjamin Baker and Sir John Fowler, is one of the great masterpieces of Victorian engineering. Jack Watkins tells its story.
![Henry II', 1935. Henry II, King of England, circa 1860. Henry II (1133-89), the first Plantagenet king of England, ruled from 1154. From Kings & Queens of England - A Series of 50. [John Player & Sons, London, 1935] Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzWTXTSVJ7fZVeKtDmx8fk-800-80.jpg.webp)
