16 Best British Empire Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

The rise and fall of empires and the events that shaped world history.William Dalrymple and Anita Anand explore the intricate stories of revolutions, imperial wars, and the people who built and lost empires.From the British Empire to the Ottomans to Ancient India, history is shaped by power struggles and territorial conquests. How does it continue to affect the world today?Empire Club: Become a member of the Empire Club to receive early access to miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to live show tickets, bonus episodes, book discounts, and access to our members' chatroom on Discord! Head to empirepoduk.com to sign up.For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. more

Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today the Empire's loot sits in museums, galleries, private collections and burial sites with polite plaques. But its history is often messier than the plaques suggest.In each episode of this global smash hit podcast, Walkley award-winning journalist, author and genetic potluck, Marc Fennell, takes you on the wild, evocative, sometimes funny, often tragic adventure of how these stolen treasures got to where they live today. These objects will ultimately help us see the modern world — and ourselves — in a different light.This is a co-production between the ABC and CBC Canada. more

Pax Britannica is a narrative history podcast covering the empire upon which the sun never set. Shortlisted for the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards, Pax Britannica follows the events which created an empire that dominated the globe. Hosted by Dr Samuel Hume, a historian of British Imperial history, Pax Britannica aims to explain the rise and eventual fall of the largest empire in history. After all, how peaceful was the 'British Peace'? more

The Victorians were the first truly world wide, high speed, high tech civilisation, but they are often misunderstood. Your host, Chris Fernandez-Packham, will bust popular myths, cover events around the world, and focus on a people centric history. You will see how the Victorians shaped the world, changing it from the age of horse, musket, cannon and sail to the age of steam, rifle and iron in this monthly podcast with regular special episodes and bonus content. You will learn about Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, Volcanoes, Famines, great art, geography and so much more.You will discover how the Victorians changed our landscapes, and mastered new energy forms that have led us to move from being a part of the natural world to shapers of it. You will learn how the modern world was created by the actions of the Victorians. You will learn how the Victorians gave birth to our modern understanding of weather, climate, history and even time and space. more

Worlds Turned Upside Down tells the story of the American Revolution as a transatlantic crisis and imperial civil war through the lives of people who experienced it. For many modern citizens of the United States, 'the cause of America' that gave birth to a new nation in 1776 and the heroic stories we tell ourselves about its founding remains 'in great measure the cause of all mankind.' But for the people who lived through it, the revolutionary era upended their lives in ways they could have never imagined. The crisis that engulfed the Atlantic world in the late eighteenth century inspired British Americans, Indigenous nations, enslaved Africans and African Americans, Europeans, and other peoples to question their loyalties, challenge authority, seek freedom, and resist revolutionary change.Worlds Turned Upside Down is narrated and written by Dr. Jim Ambuske. more

The podcast for military history geeks and people with a passion for good stories. We focus on British and Commonwealth military history from the birth of the redcoat era through to modern warfare. more

Partition is an historical podcast that will discuss the 1947 Partition of India and the formation of Pakistan as told by me, Neha Aziz. I was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1990, and always knew that Pakistan used to be a part of India. However, it wasn't until my first trip back to my home country in 2017 that I found out the devastating truth at an exhibit at the mall. Learning about partition inspired me to dig into the subject more, especially because I have no recollection of learning about it in school, and neither my parents or relatives ever spoke to me about it. It all started when Britain decided they could no longer afford to control India.They granted them independence and announced that a new country, Pakistan would also be formed. They severed the country in such a way that friends and neighbors became enemies and murderers. All facts said in the podcast are true and accurate, but I will be providing anecdotes and commentary as they relate to my discovery and research of Partition. This year marks the 75th anniversary, and it is high time that this story is revealed to the masses.  more

'The best history podcast I've heard in years.' - The Sunday Times 'Three million is great radio... and needs to be heard.' - The Observer. During the Second World War, at least three million Indian people, who were British subjects, died in the Bengal Famine. It was one of the largest losses of civilian life on the Allied side. But there is no memorial to them anywhere in the world - not even a plaque. Can three million people disappear from public memory? From the award-winning creator and presenter of Partition Voices and Three Pounds in My Pocket, this is the story of the 1943 Bengal Famine in British India - the forgotten story of World War Two. For the first time it is told by those who were there - farmers and fishermen, artists and writers, colonial British and everyday citizens. Nearly all of the testimony in the series has never been broadcast before. Eighty years on, those who lived through it are a vanishing generation. Time is running out to record their memories. more

This podcast series is meant to give a very brief introduction to the British Empire for a general audience. It is brought to you by Uncomfortable Oxford, an academic initiative that raises questions about the legacy of the British Empire through public engagement activities. Full transcripts and reading lists are available on our website at www.uncomfortableoxford.co.uk.The perfect resource for schools, teachers, and interested listeners who simply want to expand their general knowledge of the history of the British Empire. more

The Sun Never Set on the British Empire... until it did. Dr Samuel Hume explores the history of Indian Independence with captivating narrative and joined by expert guests. If you love learning about the past, and discovering why the world is the way it is, then listen to Winds of Change. more

From workhouse girls to colonial Governors, and from Tangiers to Tasmania, Kate O'Malley and Abie Philbin Bowman uncover the fascinating stories of Irish people whose lives were shaped by their service in, or agitation against, the British Empire. more

Join Chris Green - The History Chap - as he explores the stories behind British history - the great events, the forgotten stories and the downright bizarre!Chris is a historian by training, and has a way of bringing history to life by making it relevant, interesting and entertaining.www.thehistorychap.com more

Bring Out Your Dead: Latin America vs. the British Empire, the only podcast telling the complex history of British Imperialism in Latin America. Join Gruff and Chris in an auditory picture painting of a forgotten history. In this podcast we will unpack the deep-rooted history of European colonialists and resistance figures as they fight for control and influence across South and Central America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

A deep dive into the rear guard actions of the British Empire, beginning at the beaches and jungles of Malaya

Delve into the intricate tapestry of the British Empire during its formative years, as suggested by the compelling title. This podcast invites listeners to explore the multifaceted dimensions of imperial expansion, governance, and the interplay of power that defined an era. Each episode features a new complete audiobook, offering a rotating collection that reflects the complexities of British colonial ambitions from 1714 to 1832. Through tales of military conquests, political maneuvering, and cultural exchanges, listeners will encounter a rich array of narratives that illuminate the empire's unparalleled growth and the challenges it faced. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations designed to deepen understanding of a pivotal period in history. Join us on this auditory journey and discover a new book with every episode, expanding your perspective on the making of the British Empire. This show includes AI-generated content. more

The Proper British History Podcast explores the kings, queens, wars, revolutions, politics, empires, scandals, inventions, cultural movements, and extraordinary personalities that shaped the history of Great Britain. From ancient Britain, Roman occupation, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Viking invasions, and the Norman Conquest to the Tudors, Stuarts, Georgian era, Victorian age, world wars, and modern Britain, each episode examines the events and decisions that transformed the British Isles and influenced the wider world.Episodes dive into royal dynasties, political struggles, military campaigns, religious conflicts, parliamentary power, colonial expansion, industrialization, social change, science, literature, class, crime, exploration, and the rise and decline of the British Empire. The podcast explores figures such as William the Conqueror, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Oliver Cromwell, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill, and many others, while also looking beyond famous leaders to the soldiers, workers, rebels, inventors, writers, merchants, and ordinary people whose lives reveal what Britain was really like in different eras.The Proper British History Podcast connects dramatic events with the larger forces behind them, examining how monarchy, Parliament, religion, trade, warfare, technology, migration, and changing ideas about identity shaped Great Britain over time. From medieval castles and royal intrigue to imperial expansion, industrial cities, political reform, two world wars, decolonization, and the emergence of modern Britain, the show offers an entertaining and detailed journey through one of the richest and most influential histories in the world. more