History's Greatest Cities
Episodes
Kyoto
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kyoto stands as Japan’s thousand-year imperial heart, in which courtly ritual, Buddhist thought, and architectural artistry crystallised into the na...
Boston
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston played a pivotal role in the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, as well as the signi...
Siena
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Siena stands as a brick-and-marble time capsule of the Middle Ages, where banking ambition, artistic revolution, and fierce civic identity fused into ...
Glasgow
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Glasgow, once the beating heart of Scotland’s industry and trade, forged a legacy of innovation and culture that still shapes the modern nation. In ...
Samarkand
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield is joined by author Bradley Mayhew to explore Samarkand, the ancient Uzbek city and major hub on the Si...
Kraków
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Serving as a medieval royal capital, Kraków was a vibrant historical centre of culture, learning and commerce, symbolising the region’s political a...
2026’s must-visit historical destinations
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about booking a big historical trip in 2026? In this bonus episode of History’s Greatest Cities, travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomf...
Bath
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth unfold, we're exploring one of the places she called home: Bath. In this special epis...
Marrakech
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From medieval Islamic roots and conquest by successive dynasties, to French colonial rule and a modern evolution, Marrakech has a rich heritage – an...
Sydney
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield and historian Laila Ellmoos explore the history of an iconic Australian tourist destination – Sydney....
Beijing
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beijing’s history stretches back many centuries, so how has it survived and become the rapidly changing capital of one of the world's fastest-growin...
Kingston
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From early Taino inhabitants to Spanish colonisation and capture by the British, through the era of the transatlantic slave trade up to independence a...
Buenos Aires
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buenos Aires is a diverse and multinational city with a short but vibrant history. In this episode, academic Jason Wilson leads travel writer and hist...
New York City
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Kara Schlichting leads travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield through the diverse stories of the city which we now know as the ‘Fi...
Antwerp
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Pye roams the streets of the Belgian city dominated by a medieval fortress and graced by Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance monuments Renowned f...
Barcelona
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Barcelona may be well known for the bustling La Rambla, Gaudi's soaring Sagrada Família and, of course, its lively bars and restaurants, but that’s...
History's Greatest Cities | Season 4
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did the world’s greatest cities become just that – great? Was it location, determination or simple serendipity? This is the question behind Hi...
Introducing History's Greatest Battles | New Podcast
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vicious civil wars. Gruelling sieges. Rebellious provinces, galling betrayals and tribes seeking revenge… Join us for the first series of History’...
Edinburgh
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How was Edinburgh transformed from an ancient defensive site on top of a volcanic crag into a major centre of power, faith, commerce, and learning? In...
Munich
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Munich may be well-known for its sparkling, aromatic Christmas markets. But beyond the foaming steins of beer and the wafting aroma of glühwein, it’...
History's Greatest Cities | Festive Specials
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The festive period is upon us, so we’re bringing you two special bonus episodes of History’s Greatest Cities to mark the season, visiting cities w...
Introducing History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Was the moon landing faked? Did Shakespeare actually pen the works he’s credited with? And were the pyramids really built by aliens? In History's Gr...
Delhi
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode eight of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined...
Cape Town
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode seven of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined...
Cairo
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode six of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined b...
Granada
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode five of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined ...
Québec City
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode four of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined ...
Mexico City
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode three of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined...
Tokyo
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode two of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined b...
Venice
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In episode one of our series exploring the great historical cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined b...
History's greatest cities | Season 3
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How have the world’s great cities responded to centuries of exploration, conquest and increasing globalisation? That’s the question driving series...
Warsaw
09 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Alexandra Richie takes a deep dive into the pivotal his...
Split
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Marcus Tanner guides listeners through the rich heritag...
York
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Pragya Vohra shares the story of a British city that ha...
Lisbon
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Barry Hatton charts the tumultuous ups and downs of the...
Amsterdam
11 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Russell Shorto explores the Dutch capital famed as a ce...
Dublin
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Gillian O’Brien delves back through twelve centuries ...
Budapest
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Thomas Lorman guides us through the ancient, turbulent ...
Florence
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most fascinating historic cities, Catherine Fletcher shares new perspective on the Italia...
History's greatest cities | Season 2
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some settlements become great centres of international influence, while others languish and ebb away? And how have Europe’s most important ur...
Athens
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most historic cities, Paul Cartledge delves back through thousands of years to unearth t...
Oslo
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most historic cities, Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough leads an expedition through the Norwe...
Paris
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode six of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Pau...
Istanbul
25 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode five of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Pa...
Madrid
18 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode four of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Pa...
Rome
11 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode three of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist P...
Prague
04 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode two of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Pau...
Berlin
25 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode one of this new series exploring the sights and stories of Europe’s most beautiful, intriguing and historic cities, travel journalist Pau...
History's greatest cities | Trailer
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what hidden history hotspots lie within your favourite tourist destinations? This brand new HistoryExtra series explores Europe’s most...