York

Standing proudly in North Yorkshire, the city of York is a living testament to nearly ten millennia of British history: Anglo-Saxon camp, Roman fortress, Viking town, medieval city, model of Victorian industry, centre of chocolate and railways, tourist destination. York has been at the centre of some of Britain's most pivotal moments.

But why? Why did just about everyone who invaded Britain throughout history want to occupy this surprisingly small city? And how did it become the centre of chocolate in the UK?

To answer those questions, we go on a journey through the history of York over the last few thousand years, exploring the major milestones that have shaped the city:

It's a fascinating story with a few surprising twists along the way, such as how a chance meeting in a seaside town made York the centre of the nation's railways. At each stage of this journey through time, we take a look at a fictionalised family to get a sense of what it was like to live and work in this city as its people tried to survive the often dangerous shifts in power and religion.