British & Irish History
Courses Online & In London

Although inextricably linked to Britain, Ireland’s history, identity, and nationhood has equally been shaped by its relationship with Europe. This course traces Ireland’s the influence of European and American politics. 

Following the attempt by James II to re-establish Catholicism in Britain his daughter and son-in-law were invited to oust him to protect the Protestant church.  To do so they had to grant more power to Parliament.

The course examines the causes, events, reporting and presentation, the consequences, the significance and legacy of the Miners’ Strike in Britain 1984-85.  

Whether you enjoyed reading the novels or simply want to blag your way through life without reading them, this day school is for you.

Explore how the Tudors cultivated the art of magnificence through jewellery, clothes, painting and tapestries to detract from what was essentially a weak dynasty.

The course examines the main developments in British politics, economy and society between 1929 and 1945 from the Great Depression to the 1945 Labour landslide.

Queen Anne was the last of the Stuarts and suffered much personal tragedy but she ruled over an increasingly prosperous nation that had unprecedented military success in Europe under the Duke of Marlborough

The history of Ireland from The Famine to creation of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884..

Although inextricably linked to Britain, Ireland’s history, identity, and nationhood has equally been shaped by its relationship with Europe and America. 

From two World Wars to a welfare state; consensus to Thatcherism; trace the upheavals that reshaped 20th-Century Britain. Explore politics, culture, and identity in a nation remade by conflict, decolonisation, affluence, and diversity.

Who was responsible for the death of the princes in the Tower has to be the most publicised debate in British history.  Does being a nice guy in the North mean you can’t be ruthless when the opportunity arises?

The comedy and music of the Savoy Operas has ensured they remain popular to this day. This course explores the social and political history of Nineteenth Century Britain through the comic operas of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Discover the witty commentary on contemporary Victorian society woven into the libretti. Uncover the thinly veiled satire of some of the plots. Learn what motivated Gilbert to write the operas, and unmask the characters which were deliberate parodies of specific Victorian politicians and notables. 

This course does not simply provide context to the operas, but gives an insight into British society, culture, and world view in the Victorian era. Key themes include class structure, gender roles, the Empire, bureaucracy, the justice system, and the rise of popular culture. The operas' satirical treatment of institutions such as the navy and army, the legal profession, the aristocracy, and the political establishment offers a deeper understanding of the dynamics that shaped Britain. The course critically engages with the operas - such as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Iolanthe and The Pirates of Penzance - examining how these works both reflected and challenged dominant ideologies of the age. If you enjoy Gilbert & Sullivan or are interested in Nineteenth Century British history – this course is for you.

Explore the history of Ireland from 1884 until War of Independence and the creation of Northern Ireland in 1922