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Artwork for History's Greatest Cities

History's Greatest Cities

History Extra
Venice
Delhi
Roman Empire
Lisbon
Edinburgh
New York City
Bath
Immigration
World War II
Mughal Empire
Amsterdam
Portugal
Jane Austen
British Raj
Munich
Slavery
Beijing
Marco Polo
Aldus Manutius
The Fourth Crusade

Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield will be joining expert guides with rich local and historical knowledge. Venturing to the great cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, they'll explore centuries-long stories of foundation and growth, and examine how contact between continents shaped these far-flung places. Along the way, they'll introduce the colourful characters who played p... more

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Artwork for History's Greatest Cities

Latest Episodes

To delve into the history of Tunis – and the ancient city of Carthage that preceded the modern Tunisian capital – travel writer Paul Bloomfield is joined by classicist and archaeologist Dr Eve MacDonald. Together, they explore theatres, mosques and m... more

Vienna has long been a pivotal location in European history, shaping imperial politics, hosting landmark diplomatic negotiations, and nurturing artistic, cultural and intellectual movements that spread throughout the continent. In this episode of His... more

Kyoto stands as Japan’s thousand-year imperial heart, in which courtly ritual, Buddhist thought, and architectural artistry crystallised into the nation’s cultural centre. In this episode, travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield is joined by h... more

As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston played a pivotal role in the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, as well as the signing of the Declaration of Independence that followed. In this episode of History’s Greatest Cities, P... more

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Recent Guests

Eve MacDonald
Senior lecturer in Ancient History at Cardiff University with a focus on the social history and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly North Africa
Cardiff University
Episode: Tunis
Florian Pollock
Head of Communications and Development at Vienna Museum
Vienna Museum
Episode: Vienna
Lesley Downer
Historian and author, expert on Japan and Kyoto
Historian, author
Episode: Kyoto
John Bell
Historian and Boston expert
Author and Boston historian
Episode: Boston
Lucy Shipley
Archaeologist and researcher; author of The Etruscans Lost Civilizations
Independent scholar/author
Episode: Siena
Craig Lamont
Lecturer in Scottish Studies at the University of Glasgow; expert in the cultural history of Glasgow in the long 18th century
University of Glasgow
Episode: Glasgow
Bradley Mayhew
Author and travel guide expert featured as the host's guide for Samarkand
Episode: Samarkand
Natalia Nowakowska
Professor of European History at Somerville College, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Kraków
Tom Hall
Vice President at Lonely Planet with over 25 years of experience in writing about diverse destinations
Lonely Planet
Episode: 2026’s must-visit historical destinations

Host

Paul Bloomfield
Host of History's Greatest Cities; travel writer and historian; guides interviews and city tours.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 307 ratings
  • Informative

    I just started listening and I’m glad to see that the podcast is now also including non European cities.

    I was struck by one very stark absence though, Moscow isn’t anywhere in the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3675()
    United States8 months ago
  • Next city

    When will London be added?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AllIn72847
    United Statesa year ago
  • One of the BBC’s best history podcast offerings… usually!

    This show is excellent in concept and typically good fun. Paul Bloomfield is a good host and most of the time, the guests are good too. The episodes manage to tell unfamiliar stories even about familiar places, but it also does a good job in picking cities which British audiences probably know about but don’t know all that well (personally I’m always hoping for some more East-Central Europe coverage!). I love all the different questions that get asked at the end in the more recent series- major ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Daniel Ostrowski
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Another great podcast from History Extra

    I just finished listening to the excellent episode about NewYork and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I knew the history. I must say, though. The thing you simply must try here is a freshly made bagel - boiled, baked, and hand rolled. You'll never taste one like it anywhere else. Thanks for the great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RAKGB
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great to learn about cities.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    OSCAR ORO
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Mixed feedback on euro-centric focus; fans want broader global coverage.
Listeners appreciate the expert guests and vivid city storytelling, though some feel newer episodes rush through content.
Audience values practical travel tips and authentic, deep-dive histories for planning visits.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#93
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#201
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#209
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#68
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#82
Argentina/History
Apple Podcasts
#99
Austria/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tunis
Q: You've mentioned a number of places that visitors can see today in Tunis that relate to its history. Could you pick five more sites with historical significance to visit and explain why they're worth seeing today?
Sites like the Medina and Zaituna Mosque, the Kasbah, the Bardo Museum, Sidi Bou Said, the Mahadiya Shipwreck exhibit, and the coastal viewpoints around Carthage all offer tangible links to Tunisia's Punic, Roman, Islamic, and Ottoman past, while also revealing how the modern city sits on top of those layers.
Tunis
Q: Could you tell us about one key figure from Tunis and a little more about their story?
Ibn Khaldun, a 14th-century Arab thinker and diplomat who grew up in Tunis, embodies the city's medieval sophistication and offers deep insights into the social and political life of the period, often described as a Muslim Thomas Aquinas for his broad influence.
Tunis
Q: First of all, can you give listeners the brief headlines of Tunis' story? Tell us why someone with an interest in history should visit.
Tunis has a layered history from its early mentions beside Carthage, through Greek and Roman influences, the Arab conquest, medieval Hafsid rule, Ottoman period, and colonial and modern nation-building, with a vibrant Medina, monumental mosques, and a coastline that reflects centuries of cross-cultural exchange.
Vienna
Q: What are five places in Vienna that history lovers should visit to feel this history?
Visitors should bike the Ringstrasse to see the city's architectural evolution; explore Volksgarten and Its/Theisewss Temple; visit Otto Wagner's church and the surrounding park to appreciate innovations in public space and design; stop at Carmelita Markt for a sense of historic Jewish Vienna in daily life; and visit the Wien Museum, which offers free permanent collection access and displays Vienna's long, layered story.
Vienna
Q: Could you pick five key moments in Vienna's history and explain why they mattered?
Key moments include the Roman origins leading to a fortress that became Vienna, the 1683 Ottoman siege shaping Europe's balance of power, the 1873 waterworks and Ringstrasse urban transformation that boosted hygiene and livability, the post–World War I socialist era that built a modern welfare city, and the postwar reckoning with the past that redefined national identity and memory, all of which left a lasting imprint on Vienna's architecture, social fabric, and international role.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About History's Greatest Cities

What is History's Greatest Cities about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A travel-history series that journeys through iconic cities around the world, hosted by a knowledgeable guide and supplemented by expert local historians, archaeologists, and travel writers. Each episode blends chronological threads with vivid site-level storytelling, practical travel tips, and colorfully told anecdotes about pivotal figures, landmarks, and cultural movements. Recent episodes emphasize long urban histories—from ancient Carthage and Tunis to Vienna, Kyoto, and Kraków—while balancing rigorous context with accessible, on-the-ground guidance for visitors. The format often highlights five key moments or themes per city, practical tips for sightseers, and current-day reflections on how history informs modern urban life. Noteworth... more

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Which podcasts are similar to History's Greatest Cities?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History's Greatest Cities:

1. HistoryExtra podcast
2. Dan Snow's History Hit
3. Gone Medieval
4. HistoryExtra Long Reads
5. Not Just the Tudors

How many episodes of History's Greatest Cities are there?

History's Greatest Cities launched 3 years ago and published 52 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on History's Greatest Cities?

Recent guests on History's Greatest Cities include:

1. Eve MacDonald
2. Florian Pollock
3. Lesley Downer
4. John Bell
5. Lucy Shipley
6. Craig Lamont
7. Bradley Mayhew
8. Natalia Nowakowska

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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