Venice is one of the most visited cities in the world, but there’s a nearby Italian city that’s just as beautiful and historic – and without the crowds of tourists
The historic city is just 25 miles from Venice(Image: GETTY-STOCK)
Venice – the jewel of Italy‘s lagoon – draws in millions of tourists each year.
However, its immense global appeal is causing a strain on both the locals and the city’s infrastructure, leading to the local government implementing a series of measures in recent months to mitigate the effects of overtourism.
Despite the temporary entry fee imposed on day-trippers this summer and restrictions on group tours, tourists continue to flock to Venice. But for those seeking to dodge the crowds, there are plenty of alternative destinations nearby.
Padua, or Padova as it’s known to Italians, is a historic city just 25 miles west of Venice. Situated in the same region as the lagoon, Veneto, Padua boasts two UNESCO World Heritage List entries.
The first, the botanical garden – Orto Botanico di Padova – is the world’s oldest still in its original location, dating back to 1545. Covering approximately 240,000 square feet, the Orto Botanico is renowned for its collections, including one of insectivorous plants and another of medicinal and poisonous species.
The second UNESCO-listed site in Padua is the Scrovegni Chapel, an awe-inspiring church adorned by Italian artist Giotto at the start of the 14th century. Padua also houses one of the world’s oldest universities, where history-making figures such as Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus Copernicus either studied or taught.
Padua is an ideal spot for those who enjoy city centre strolls, with Piazza delle Erbe, one of its main squares, being a hub of local activity since medieval times.
Much like its famous neighbour Venice, it boasts its own canals, including a petite one that meanders through the breathtaking Prato della Valle square.
Padua also serves as an excellent base for exploring the wider region, reports the Express. With train tickets to Venice costing as little as £4.21, tourists can experience the lagoon city, just half an hour away, while saving on accommodation costs.
Likewise, holidaymakers in the area can take a trip to Verona, internationally renowned due to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The journey ranges from 45 to 90 minutes, depending on the chosen train service.
The spa town beat the likes of Stratford-upon-Avon and Anglesey to the top spot of best staycations in the UK, and it’s not hard to see why.
Nicola Roy Spare Time writer and Astha Saxena
11:02, 06 Oct 2025
There is so much to see and do in Harrogate(Image: Teamjackson via Getty Images)
If you’re keen to get away this autumn but don’t want to venture too far, there are so many beautiful spots in the UK to choose from – with one in particular being very worth a visit.
Harrogate, a picturesque town in North Yorkshire, was crowned the best staycation spot in the UK. Just a two-hour drive from Greater Manchester, Harrogate beat out competition from Stratford-upon-Avon and Anglesey to claim the top spot.
Staycations have surged in popularity as Brits discover the wealth of beauty spots on their doorstep. With this in mind, AA experts analysed the top staycation destinations that are perfect for a road trip.
They considered factors such as accommodation options, local happiness ratings, availability of car parking spaces, petrol stations, and EV chargers to compile the “ultimate top 10 locations for the perfect staycation”.
The spa town of Harrogate came out on top, boasting the highest ‘happiness rating’, 7.8 out of 10, and the most activities (62), reports the Express.
The town is famed for its stunning architecture, the renowned Betty’s Cafe and Tea Rooms, RHS Harlow Carr gardens and much more. Surrounded by breathtaking countryside, there’s plenty to explore nearby, including the Brimham Rocks beauty spot. This year, it was also named as the third poshest town in the UK by The Telegraph.
Harrogate gained popularity in the 19th century as a health resort thanks to its mineral-rich spring waters.
Today, Harrogate seamlessly blends historic charm with modern touches, making it a favourite destination for visitors and residents alike.
Valley Gardens is a must-see in the town, boasting a beautiful park filled with a variety of flowers, walking paths, and remnants of the town’s renowned spa waters.
Another highlight is the Royal Pump Room Museum, which provides a glimpse into Harrogate’s spa history, showcasing the town’s evolution as a health resort.
Not to be overlooked, Stratford-upon-Avon came in second place with a happiness rating of 7.6, over 6,000 parking spaces, and more than 60 attractions.
Famed as Shakespeare’s birthplace, it offers pretty walks and historical sites such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Cornwall’s Newquay clinched third place, offering 326 AA-approved accommodations, over 3,500 parking spots, and a happiness rating of 7.5.
The BBC series initially appeared on television screens in 2012 before making its comeback in 2016 for a second run, drawing inspiration from William Shakespeare’s theatrical works.
One perfect 10/10 review on IMDb bore the headline “Superb production” with the viewer revealing: “When I was at school, Shakespeare was as dry as the pages it was written on.
“To watch it, performed by actors who really know and understand Shakespeare, and can convey that in their work, is to enter a world of majesty, of subtle innuendo, of humour and of total understanding of the work of the Shakespeare who used his gift to allow ‘the common man’ to discuss and understand the goings-on and political machinations of his age.
“There are no ‘spoilers’ when it comes to Shakespeare – the work is out there in a myriad of forms and interpretations, waiting to be read. This production is one of the best available.”
Dame Judi Dench starred in the historical epic(Image: BBC)
Another glowing 10/10 review headlined “Shakespeare Taken to Another Level” saw the fan confess they weren’t “expecting this level of pure brilliance” and declared they were “totally immersed” in the programme. Adding: “Somehow this production has defied all the odds and managed to tick all the boxes.
“And can I say, I’m loving the portrayal of the women as strong, intelligent individuals, who, more often than not, appear to be better at scheming and deceiving than any of their male counterparts. I hope some day, all Shakespeare will be made this way.”
A third viewer praised the programme for featuring “the flower of British acting” thanks to its stellar ensemble and remarked: “Arguably one of the very best screen adaptations of Shakespeare ever produced.
“They have pulled off what many have tried and failed to do: make good cinema out of the plays. The necessary realism is there, without detracting in any way from the source material.”
Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville appeared in the drama(Image: BBC)
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The Hollow Crown served as a BBC interpretation of Shakespeare’s historical dramas Richard II; Henry IV, Part 1; Henry IV, Part 2; Henry V, Henry VI, Part 1; Henry VI, Part 2; and Richard III.
The programme was split into seven episodes across two series, with each chapter focusing on one of the Bard’s works.
The Hollow Crown brought to life the scheming and political battles of numerous medieval monarchs, featuring more backstabbing and manipulation than a Game of Thrones episode.
Additional performers who featured in the production included The Walking Dead’s David Morrisey, Dame Judi Dench, Sophie Okenedo, Julie Walters, Tom Hiddleston, Anton Lesser, John Hurt, Tom Sturridge, Sally Hawkins, Keeley Hawes and Adrian Dunbar, amongst many others.
The Hollow Crown is streaming on Prime Video for a fee
Everyone can use an editor, and Shakespeare is no exception. Fortunately, he married one.
Tired of being cooped up with the kids in Stratford-upon-Avon, Anne (Teal Wicks), wife of the great playwright, pops down to London to see the first performance of “Romeo and Juliet.” The new tragic ending that Shakespeare (Corey Mach) proudly previews to the company strikes her as completely wrongheaded.
“What if … Juliet doesn’t kill herself?” she proposes. As strong-willed as her husband, she doesn’t wish to argue the point. She merely wants to put her idea to the test.
Behold the premise of “& Juliet,” the euphoric dance party of a musical that updates Shakespeare with a dose of 21st century female empowerment. The production, which opened Friday at the Ahmanson Theatre under the fizzy direction of Luke Sheppard, reimagines a new post-Romeo life for Juliet while riding a magic carpet of chart-toppers from juggernaut Swedish producer Max Martin, who has spun gold with Katy Perry, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, among other pop titans.
Teal Wicks, left, and Rachel Webb in the North American Tour of “& Juliet.”
(Matthew Murphy)
This good-time jukebox musical relies as much on its wit as on its catalog of pop hits. The show’s music and lyrics are credited to Max Martin and friends — which sounds like a low-key cool table at the Grammy Awards. The clever book by Emmy winner David West Read (“Schitt’s Creek”) creates a world that can contain the show’s musical riches without having to shoehorn in songs in the shameless fashion of “Mamma Mia!”
Take, for instance, one of the early numbers, “I Want It That Way,” a pop ballad made famous by the Backstreet Boys. Anne starts singing the song when Shakespeare initially resists her idea of giving Juliet back her life. She wants him to go along with her suggested changes not because she’s sure she’s right but because she wants him to trust her as an equal partner. The song is redeployed in a way that has little bearing on the lyrics but somehow feels coherent with the original emotion.
Obviously, this is a commercial musical and not a literary masterpiece on par with Shakespeare’s tragedy of ill-starred lovers. “& Juliet” would have trouble withstanding detailed scrutiny of its plot or probing interrogation of Juliet’s character arc. But Read smartly establishes just the right party atmosphere.
Juliet (a vibrant Rachel Webb), having survived the tragedy once scripted for her, travels from Verona to Paris with an entourage to escape her parents, who want to send her to a nunnery for having married Romeo behind their backs. Her clique includes Angélique (Kathryn Allison), her nurse and confidant; May (Nick Drake), her nonbinary bestie; and April, her newbie sidekick out for fun who Anne plays in disguise. Shakespeare casts himself as the carriage driver, allowing him to tag along and keep tabs on the cockeyed direction his play is going.
In Paris, the crew heads directly to the Renaissance Ball, which has the look and feel of a modern-day mega-club. Entry is barred to Juliet, but not because she’s ridiculously underage. Her name isn’t on the exclusive guest list. So through the back door, Juliet and her traveling companions sashay as the production erupts in “Blow,” the Kesha song that encourages everyone to get their drink on and let loose.
Rachel Webb and the North American Tour Company of “& Juliet.”
(Matthew Murphy)
The dance setting — kinetically envisioned by scenic designer Soutra Gilmour, lighting designer Howard Hudson, sound designer Gareth Owen and video and projection designer Andrzej Goulding into a Dionysian video paradise — provides the all-purpose license for Martin’s music. It’s the atmosphere and the energy that matter most. Paloma Young’s extravagant costumes raise the level of decadent hedonism.
In this welcoming new context — imagine “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” suffused with girl power — there’s never anything odd about the characters grinding and wailing like karaoke superstars. The ecstatic motion of Jennifer Weber’s choreography renders dramatic logic irrelevant.
But love is the name of the game, and both Juliet and May fall for François (Mateus Leite Cardoso), a young musician with a geeky sense of humor who’s still figuring out his identity. May doesn’t expect romance to be part of their fate. In the Spears song “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman,” they give powerful expression to an inner confusion this musical romance is determined to sort out with an appropriate partner.
Unlike for the original characters, a happy ending is no longer off-limits. Shakespeare and Anne wrestle to get the upper hand of a plot that seems to have a mind of its own. Shakespeare pulls a coup at the end of the first act that I won’t spoil except to say that what’s good for the goose proves dramaturgically viable for the gander.
Teal Wicks, left, Rachel Webb, Nick Drake and Kathryn Allison in the North American Tour of “& Juliet.”
(Matthew Murphy)
This spirited competition stays in the background, but their marital happiness matters to us. Mach’s Shakespeare has the cocky strut of a rapper-producer with a long list of colossal hits. Wicks gives Anne the heartfelt complexity of one of her husband’s bright comic heroines. There’s a quality of intelligent feeling redolent of Rosalind in “As You Like It” in Wicks’ affecting characterization and luscious singing.
But the musical belongs to Juliet, and Webb has the vocal prowess to hijack the stage whenever she’s soaring in song. If Juliet’s character is still a work in progress, Webb endows her with a maturity beyond her years. She makes us grateful that the Capulet daughter is getting another crack at life. When the big musical guns are brought out late in the second act (“Stronger,” “Roar”), she delivers them as emancipatory anthems, fueled by hard-won epiphanies.
Allison’s Angélique is just as much a standout, renewing the bawdy earthiness of Shakespeare’s nurse with contemporary sass and rousing singing. If the supporting cast of men doesn’t make as deep an impression, the festive comic universe is nonetheless boldly brought to life.
“& Juliet” bestows the alternative ending everyone wishes they could script for themselves — a second chance to get it right. This feel-good musical is just what the doctor ordered in these far less carefree times.
‘& Juliet’
Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A.
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Ends Sept. 7
Stratford in Ontario, Canada, may seem like a world away from the UK but it is filled with nods to British history – and is actually the birthplace of one of the biggest stars of the 21st century
Stratford in Ontario, Canada
This unassuming town in Ontario, Canada, might not feature on your travel bucket list but it boasts some rather remarkable credentials.
Stratford is positioned along the River Avon in Ontario, Canada, having been established by European settlers in 1832 and endearingly christened after Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace in England.
Ever since, the life and literary works of the figure many consider the English language’s finest writer have become woven into the community’s very fabric.
Located just a two-hour journey from Toronto, this frequently overlooked small city offers plenty for visitors seeking an alternative Canadian experience, reports the Mirror US.
The town is filled with the arts
Situated inland and encircled by lush landscapes save for the tranquil river flowing through its centre, it provides a perfect retreat for those eager to delve into both heritage and theatre.
The Stratford Festival, ranked as the area’s top attraction, generates the most excitement by presenting a diverse programme of stage productions honouring Shakespeare’s masterpieces.
One TripAdvisor reviewer said: “Not a bad seat in the house. It was full, but you never really got the feeling that it was overcrowded.
“Beautiful scenery all around the theater as well. We’d recommend giving it a try, and we’re already looking forward to our next show.”
Another essential destination for arts enthusiasts is the Avon Theatre, which dates back to 1901. Today, outside its famous steps sits a golden star plaque honouring pop sensation Justin Bieber, who used to busk on those exact steps as a youngster.
Footage of the singer playing his guitar and performing passionately on those steps became an internet sensation and, amongst other factors, helped catch the attention of Scooter Braun in 2008. He remains incredibly proud of his Ontario heritage and serves as a major source of inspiration for aspiring musicians in the region.
Justin Bieber was born in the town
Beyond the arts scene, Stratford boasts an array of excellent watering holes. Whilst the city has traditionally been celebrated for its thriving food culture, this has expanded considerably in recent times with the arrival of artisan breweries and independent distilleries.
With green spaces to discover, visitors can relax amidst the charming Shakespeare Gardens during their stay. One guest said on TripAdvisor: “The gardens along the water are lovely, and it’s so peaceful. During the summer, you can rent paddle boats, and I think that would be a wonderful experience!”.
Another reviewer added: “It is very small, but there is a fabulous bench hidden away with a great view of the river-perfect to sit and meditate or read a book.”
Whether you’re a Belieber seeking to indulge your fandom, or just in search of a tranquil retreat, Stratford is certainly a destination to consider. Immersing yourself in the works of Shakespeare in a town that echoes his Warwickshire origins, albeit on a different continent, promises a unique and artistic experience.
A must-watch romantic comedy has just landed on BBC iPlayer.
The 1998 romantic comedy bagged seven Academy Awards(Image: Miramax )
An Academy Award-winning period drama starring an unrecognisable A-lister is now streaming for free.
BBC iPlayer has just added Shakespeare in Love to its library, ready for theatre and romcom lovers to devour.
Released in 1998, the star-studded film features Oscar winners Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth and Ben Affleck. It also stars Dame Judi Dench in a role that almost completely disguises the acclaimed actress.
For those who missed the hit romantic drama, it follows young playwright William Shakespeare (played by Joseph Fiennes) as he is battling writer’s block.
While looking for a new muse, William meets his ideal woman, Viola (Paltrow), and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet.
Dame Judi Dench is almost unrecognisable in her Oscar-winning role (Image: Miramax/Laurie Sparham)
Dame Dench plays Queen Elizabeth I, donning the hair, makeup and 16th century garments to fit the royal part. Despite being on screen for around eight minutes, Dench’s performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The drama’s accolades didn’t stop there, as Shakespeare in Love also took home the Best Picture prize, alongside the Best Costume; Best Original Music; Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction awards. Paltrow also bagged the Best Leading Actress gong, which remains her only Oscar win to date.
Directed by John Madden, the period drama has an impressive 92% Rotten Tomatoes score. The critics’ consensus reads: “Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.”
Shakespeare in Love is streaming now on iPlayer (Image: Miramax )
Casual moviegoers similarly rave about the nineties hit, with one viewer writing: “Incredibly heart-warming and wildly entertaining, this movie has something for everybody, and it is so much fun to watch. I definitely recommend it for romance and comedy fans!”
A second said: “I absolutely love this movie, it’s a timeless classic and an absolute must see. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll fall in love with the characters.
“It’s quoted almost daily in my household, and rightfully so! If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend this movie!”
Meanwhile, a third penned: “Simply put, this is a fun film that never lacks for comedy. Everyone in this film portrays their parts with elegance. And as if to top the entire film off, Dame Judi Dench plays a rather fantastically entertaining Queen Elizabeth I.”
Shakespeare in Love is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
ROMEO and Juliet has been hit with a trigger warning — with audiences informed it featured violent scenes and death.
Shakespeare’s classic 16th-century love story has been “retold” as a modern ballet.
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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been hit with a bizarfre trigger warningCredit: Alamy
But London’s Royal Opera House deemed it necessary to warn potential visitors the production includes themes of “violence and death”.
Sir Ian McKellen, who has appeared in Romeo and Juliet productions throughout his career, previously hit out at “ludicrous” warnings.
He said: “I quite like to be surprised by loud noises and outrageous behaviour on stage.”
It comes four years after The Globe in London warned of “upsetting” themes in the play, and provided a number for The Samaritans.
They were even provided a number for the Samaritans for after the show.
Actor Christopher Biggins said: “Do we have to have signs for everything under the sun?
“It’s a joke. What they are trying to do is insulting to the mentality of theatre-goers.”
The Globe has also warned about themes of “violence, sexual references, misogyny and racism” in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as “anti-semitism” in The Merchant of Venice.
In February, the University of the West of England slapped over 200 trigger warnings on Shakespeare’s work – including “bad weather” in The Tempest.
The Royal Opera House was asked to comment.
Celeb Millionaire contestant forced to use lifeline on tricky Shakespeare question – but could you get it right-
The Pop Idol winner discovered on this week’s episode of BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? that he is related to King Edward I and William the Conquerer – so Mirror man Matt decided to dig into his ancestors too
Will Young discovered King Edward I is his 20-times great-grandfather(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Wall to Wall / Stephen Perry)
As if Will Young didn’t already have reason to be smug, the Pop Idol and two-time Brit Award winner now has something else he can boast about – he’s related to royalty.
Specifically, King Edward I, his 20-times great-grandfather. Oh, and William the Conquerer too.
The singer found out about his kingly lineage filming this week’s episode of BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? And he’s not the only celebrity who, besides being blessed with success, can also add royal blood to their claims to fame.
Josh Widdecombe is another, having learned he’s also directly descended from Edward I. Before him there was Danny Dyer, who discovered his ancestors include King Edward III, William the Conquerer and French king Louis IX.
Will Young discovered he is related to William the Conquerer
Then there’s Matthew Pinsent – four-time Olympic gold medallist and, it turns out, also related to Edward I, William the Conqueror and one of Henry VIII’s wives.
What is it about being a celebrity, I wondered, that makes you more likely to have royal relatives? Knowing Will was going to be the latest to fill me with jealousy, I set out to find out if mere mortals like me had any remotely interesting ancestors.
In my case, the chances of even finding anyone slightly aristocratic in my family tree seemed pretty bleak. Will was already born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a boarding school boy whose dad was a company director and whose grandad was an RAF flight lieutenant.
Matt’s grandfather Henry Roper, was a painter, and his great-great-grandfather Frederick was a coal miner
Most of the relatives I knew about, on the other hand, were proud yet poor Nottinghamshire coal miners and their wives.
Still, I set up an account on FindMyPast and added the names of the relatives I knew about over the last 150 years. As the site suggested potential matches based on birth, marriage, baptism and census records, I gradually worked my way back around 12 generations to the mid-1600s.
Alas, what I discovered only confirmed my suspicions. My family were paupers, not princes – grafters who toiled for centuries in coal mines, stables, forges and along canals.
My great-grandfather, I discovered, was a coal miner loader who had worked his way up to coal hewer – hacking coal from the mine bed by hand, hundreds of metres underground – just like his father and grandfather before him.
Matt was shocked to discover a connection to Queen Elizabeth I(Image: Daily Record)
Earlier still were nailmakers, boatmen, stonemasons and stablemen. Almost all lived and died in Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Lancashire. We were clearly the servants, not the masters. I had more in common with Baldrick than Blackadder.
But just as I was about to give up, I stumbled on something unexpected. In the late 1500s, Derbyshire man William Gilbert, my 13th great-grandfather, married Anne Clere – and into a well-known family.
The Cleres, it turned out, were an ancient family from Norfolk whose patriarch, Sir Robert Clere, was the High Sheriff of Norfolk and known for his great wealth.
Anne’s father, Sir Edward Clere, was an MP, but apparently not a very articulate one when speaking in the House of Commons. One diarist wrote how he made “”a staggering [stumbling] speech… I could not understand what reason he made.”
He was knighted in 1578 after having Queen Elizabeth I stay over at his home in Thetford, Norfolk, when he entertained her with a theatrical performance and jousting.
Josh Widdecombe found out he’s a direct descendent of King Edward III(Image: BBC/Wall to Wall Media Ltd/Stephen Perry)
Fascinated that my family was at least good friends with royalty, I kept digging. Edward’s father was Sir John Clere, an MP and naval commander who drowned in August 1557 when his fleet tried to conquer the Orkney Islands, but was beaten back to sea by 3,000 angry islanders.
But it was her mother, Alice Boleyn, my 14th great-grandmother, whose name jumped out at me. Sure enough, as I followed the tree, her niece was none other than Anne Boleyn, Queen of England until she was beheaded in 1533 by Henry VIII – and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
I was astounded – that makes me Elizabeth I’s first cousin, 16 times removed.
On the other side of the Clere family, however, things were taking a more sinister – but no less fascinating – turn.
Sir John Clere’s wife, Anne Tyrell, also had royal connections, it turned out, but ones that probably changed the line of succession forever.
On her father’s side, her grandfather was Sir James Tyrell, a trusted servant of Richard III, who allegedly confessed to the murders of the Princes in the Tower under Richard’s orders.
Sir James Tyrrell was depicted in Shakespeare’s William III
James is also portrayed in Shakespeare’s Richard III. I was astounded – I studied the play at school and had no idea I was reading about my 17th great-grandfather.
Treason and treachery, it seems, ran in the family. His father William was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1462 for plotting against King Edward IV.
William’s father, Sir John Tyrell of Heron, was High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire and knight of Essex, and three times Speaker of the House of Commons. That my 19th great-grandfather basically once ruled Essex is something I won’t be letting people forget in Stansted, where I now live.
But it was also through Anne Tyrell’s mother’s side that I found something even more astonishing. As I followed her line, the names began to get more and more aristocratic, through the Willoughbys, De Welles, Greystokes and Longsprees, until I found…. My 26th great-grandfather, King Henry II.
His father was Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou and his grandfather, King Henry I. And Henry’s father? No other than William the Conquerer – my 29th great-grandfather.
And perhaps even more bizarrely, that would make Will Young my 9th cousin, 9 times removed. I’ll be inviting him round for tea next week.
King Henry I is Matt’s 28th great-grandfather
Genealogists will tell me to calm down – apparently there are about five million people who are descended from William the Conquerer. Establishing myself as the true heir to the British throne could certainly be tricky.
But just being as special as Will, Danny Dyer and Matthew Pinsent is enough for me. And not bad for the son of Nottinghamshire nailmakers, stablemen and coal miners.
How to trace your family tree on Findmypast:
Register for a free Findmypast account and create your tree.
Add your own information, then details about your parents, grandparents and other relatives that you know. You don’t need every detail such as date or place of birth, but the more you have the better.
Findmypast then searches its records and provides hints about your ancestors, helping you expand your tree. To access the records you’ll need to pay a subscription.
Most of the records go back to the 1700s, but family trees created by other people can help you trace back even further.
Use the internet to search some of the key names – you might find more clues and other historical connections.
