History as entertainment can be consumed without you knowing it. The popularity of historical dramas, Downton Abbey, Jamaica Inn, Jamestown, The Crown and Victoria, to name a few, help educate the public, albeit passively, and at the risk of the odd inaccuracy if an historical advisor has not been consulted.

Traditionally, history was consumed through reading text books and learning dates by rote – I have never forgotten 1066, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 – other dates I have to work at remembering. But that was in the days of the dry textbook.

In the twenty-first century there are more ways for the public to consume history. I’ve listed many below along with the ways that I have consumed them recently.

Apps – e.g. English Heritage Trust – Blue Plaques of London

Archives – I use archives both online and in the non-virtual world

I subscribe to the British Newspaper Archive – free resources include Old Bailey Online and Historic Hospital Admissions Records Project (HHARP)

I subscribe to the British Newspaper Archive – free resources include Old Bailey Online and Historic Hospital Admissions Records Project (HHARP) Blogs and Blogging – I follow several history blogs and research my posts via means listed in this article

Books – I have a large personal history book library that is sorted chronologically and also thematically – also see historic fiction and historic non-fiction

Costume Dramas – I’m not a huge fan but watch an occasional one. I did enjoy The Lost Prince about the youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary

Documentaries – I always watch history documentaries narrated by a plethora of notable historians – anything presented by Lucy Worsley, Helen Castor and Janina Ramirez is a must-see for me

Exhibitions – I do enjoy a well-curated exhibition – recent exhibitions I have written about on my blog include Royal Women, Diana: Her Fashion Story and Harry Potter: History of Magic

Films – I’m not a huge film watcher but watched Titanic and A Night to Remember recently for my post – Titanic: The Hero Musicians

Genealogy – researching my family history gave me the passion to study for a history degree. Read my first family history post here.

Heritage/Historic Houses – I visited Hampton Court Palace recently. Places I have previously visited include Kensington Palace, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Leeds Castle, Alnwick Castle, Blair Castle, Ham House and Brighton Pavilion

Historic fiction – as a teenager and well into my twenties I loved historic fiction, Lyn Andrews and Maureen Lee were favourite authors who wrote about Liverpool and I just adored books by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – I read The Flame and the Flower in one sitting

Historic non-fiction – at the moment I’m reading Diane Atkinson’s The Criminal Conversation of Mrs Norton. I’m also a huge fan of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser

Internet – I’m forever Googling any random vague event that I can’t quite recall, furthermore, YouTube was a boon for Titanic documentaries and research on Hollywood history for my post on the Fatty Arbuckle scandal

Lectures – institutions often offer free entrance to many lectures. I recently enjoyed a lecture about Richmond upon Thames’ Workhouse. Kingston University’s, history department had a free lecture last week with a British political history theme that they advertised on their blog

Magazines – I subscribe to BBC History Magazine and buy others ad hoc

Museums – museums don’t have to be about ancient Egyptians, Romans or broken potsherds – I visited The Fashion Museum, Bath earlier this month, see my post here, I visited The Shoe Museum in Northampton a couple of years ago and visited The Bruce Castle Museum in London to see rare Victorian post boxes

Monuments – walk around any city and you’ll see plenty of monuments that can be conduits into history

Podcasts – here is the link to BBC History Magazine’s podcasts

Postcards – I own a small collection of old postcards, most are pre-1940 and are centred around my family tree research. A favourite is of the altar in the church where my mum was baptised

Radio – you can listen to ‘In our Time’ with Melvin Bragg – he has a huge archive covering history and pre-history and you can download and listen at your leisure

Social Media – have you heard of #Twitterstorians? Facebook also has pages dedicated to local and national history – I’ve attended several events that were advertised on Facebook or Twitter

Television – Blackadder series 1 – 4 is always worth a watch, it’s a comedy for those that don’t know, featuring the great and the good of British film and TV! As is Who do you Think you Are? the popular genealogy programme

Websites – you’re not really established if you don’t have a website of some sorts these days. Here are links to the National Trust Collections, the Letter Box Study Group if you are interested in postal history and Heritage Open Days which can be great fun for all the family

How do you consume history? Can you think of any more ways to enjoy public history?