What is the best UK family history software?
We consider the advantages of using family history software to start your family tree, and the pros and cons of RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Family Historian, Heredis, Legacy 10 and MacFamily Tree 10
RootsTech: What is it, and when is it taking place in 2026?
Everything you need to know about RootsTech, the world’s largest online and in person family history conference
Get 50% off AncestryDNA tests with this week's special offers roundup
Don't miss the best special offers of the year on DNA tests
Irish Chancery bill books: How to use them in family history
Discover how you can use the surviving records of Ireland's Court of Chancery in family history
What is a lunatic asylum?
We look at the history of lunatic asylums, and how to trace records of your ancestors who were held in them
Tribunal upholds ‘catastrophic’ Ancestry request to access Scottish family history records
The General Regulatory Chamber has upheld efforts by Ancestry to access National Records of Scotland family history records
The birth of Britain's railways 200 years on
To mark the 200th anniversary of Britain's railways, we look at the experiences of our ancestors who worked and travelled on the railway
The best genealogy courses available now
Discover how to learn family history skills with our pick of the best online and correspondence genealogy courses
Michael Portillo's 200 Years of the Railways: What is it, and when is it on TV?
Michael Portillo's new BBC documentary marks the 200th anniversary of the British railways
The real Downton Abbey: The stories of the servants who kept Britain's country houses running
As Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale comes out in cinemas, discover the true stories of Britain's country house servants
Getting started
How to start a family tree
Who Do You Think You Are? family history expert Laura Berry shares her tips on how to start a family tree
How to find birth, marriage and death records
We explain how to easily find birth, marriage and death records in the UK for family history research
What UK census records are available?
UK census records are a crucial family history resource, but when was the census taken and where can you find census records including free census websites?
Trending articles
18th century history: What was life like in Britain in the 18th century?
Trace your family in 18th century England and discover what their lives were like with these history websites
Tribunal upholds ‘catastrophic’ Ancestry request to access Scottish family history records
The General Regulatory Chamber has upheld efforts by Ancestry to access National Records of Scotland family history records
Gypsy surnames: How to tell if you have Gypsy ancestry
What are the most common Gypsy surnames and first names, and how can you tell if you have Gypsy ancestry? Find out with our guide
What are tithe maps?
Tithe maps are an invaluable family history resource if your ancestors owned land – here’s how to find the old maps online
Find old photos of your house online
Jonathan Scott shares some of the best websites for finding old photographs of your house or street including aerial photographs
How to find First World War nurses' records
How you can use free online records from The National Archives to trace the pioneering women who served as nurses in the First World War
Scottish names for boys A-Z: meanings, history and clan links
34 old Scottish names for boys rooted in history with connection to Highland and Lowland clans
Victorian wars: What wars took place during the Victorian era, and how can you research them?
Jonathan Scott reveals how to trace ancestors who fought in Victorian wars
Irish census records and census substitutes: Where to find them
Although many have been destroyed, Irish census records and their substitutes are still essential tools for anyone researching their Irish roots