
From Father Christmas to gingerbread houses, the origins of beloved childhood Christmas traditions
Caroline Roope looks at our ancestors' favourite childhood Christmas activities

Titanic Sinks Tonight: What is it, when is it on TV and who are the characters?
BBC Two's new docudrama Titanic Sinks Tonight recreates the sinking of the Titanic

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This DNA test kit is a gamechanger — and it's 63% off
Don't miss out on MyHeritage's whole genome sequencing DNA test for just £27

My father was adopted - I tracked down his long-lost half brother
Jennifer Wallig reveals how she tracked down the uncle she never knew

I research celebrities' family trees for Who Do You Think You Are? - here's what I want you to know about tracing your family history
Who Do You Think You Are? genealogist Sara Khan shares behind-the-scenes tips on how to research your family history

The best Christmas gifts for family historians from DNA test kits to historic newspapers
The best family tree gifts for the family historian or genealogist in your life

Substantial new cost announced for WW2 service record access
The National Archives has announced a new ordering system for Second World War service records

‘Britain’s first letter to Santa’ discovered
Old newspapers online reveal the long history of children's letters to Santa

Who were the Huguenots?
Kathy Chater explains how to trace Huguenot ancestors - Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecution in France - in your family history

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 online?
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?
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I research celebrities' family trees for Who Do You Think You Are? - here's what I want you to know about tracing your family history
Who Do You Think You Are? genealogist Sara Khan shares behind-the-scenes tips on how to research your family history

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

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

100 cool British last names: From Anguish to Wildblood
Look no further for 100 cool British last names and their sometimes surprising origins from Alefounder and Sexey to Twelvetrees and Wildblood

Substantial new cost announced for WW2 service record access
The National Archives has announced a new ordering system for Second World War service records

Scottish ancestry: How to find free Scottish records online
Discover your Scottish ancestry with the help of these free Scottish ancestry records online

Who were the Huguenots?
Kathy Chater explains how to trace Huguenot ancestors - Protestant refugees fleeing religious persecution in France - in your family history

Yorkshire surnames: How to tell if your surname comes from Yorkshire
If you have one of these unusual surnames in your family tree, it's a sign that your family came from God's own country

The best DNA test kits for 2025 tried and tested
DNA expert Debbie Kennett reviews the leading commercial DNA tests on the market