History Revealed’s HQ in Bristol is surrounded by evidence of the way the world was transformed in the reign of Queen Victoria. Brunel’s triumphs are the most obvious, with the Clifton Suspension Bridge being one of the city’s proudest attractions. His railway connected Bristol to London in the east, and ships such as the SS Great Britain – today an award-winning museum in the harbour – joined Britain to America in the west. And the Victorians revolutionised not just our transportation, but also science, medicine, communication and how we viewed the world. The journey begins on page 26.
We decided to continue the celebration of all things British elsewhere this issue. To mark the Queen becoming our longest-reigning monarch when she passes her great-great-grandmother Victoria’s record on 9 September, we take a look back through history and ask ‘who is our greatest-ever queen?’ (p69). There’s a whole bunch more British history too, just look for the Union flag.