Brits wish they’d witnessed these top 25 moments in history

The 1966 World Cup victory of England, the Beatles’ live performances, and the construction of Stonehenge have emerged as the top historical moments Brits wish they could have witnessed.

A survey of 2,000 adults unveiled the top 25 events they would have loved to be a part of. The list includes entertainment milestones such as England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, the Beatles’ live concerts, and Queen’s iconic Live Aid performance in 1985.

Other significant moments include the granting of voting rights to women in 1918, the departure of the RMS Titanic from Southampton in 1912, and the inaugural performance of Romeo and Juliet at the Globe Theatre in 1595.

As for landmarks, 16% of respondents wished they could have visited the Roman Baths between 60 and 70 CE, while 12% longed to witness the construction of Hadrian’s Wall.

The poll was conducted by London Museum Docklands in anticipation of their new exhibition on mudlarking, a hobby that involves scouring the riverbanks for intriguing historical artefacts.

“The study underlines the nation’s fascination with history and desire to understand what life was like in the past,” said Kate Sumnall, the curator of the exhibition. “The artefacts discovered while mudlarking provide an important glimpse into the everyday lives of people who lived and worked here throughout history.”

Jason Sandy, a passionate mudlark whose Thames discoveries will feature in the exhibition, added: “Every object found is like a time portal to a different part of British history.”

“You never know what you’re going to find,” he said talking about his passoin for mudlarking. “That’s what gets you out of bed at five in the morning to search the dark, cold foreshore because you find these incredible artefacts that transport you back in time.”

“The Thames churns things up and spits them out on the foreshore as the tide recedes – you can find an array of things from an ancient Roman artefact to a simple McDonald’s toy,” he said. “It’s 2000 years of history that the river brings together to tell stories about London’s history.”

A recent survey revealed that nine out of ten people believe learning about history is crucial for understanding the present, with 62% admitting they enjoy learning about the past more now than they did as a child.

One-third even have a history-based hobby, such as researching their ancestry or collecting antiques and coins.

The discoveries of another avid mudlark, Monika Buttling-Smith, will also be showcased at the London Museum Docklands exhibition.

Discussing a recent find, a medieval jetton, Monika added: “When I first saw it, just a tiny sliver of gold-coloured metal was eroding from the mud. It only took one swipe with my tool to lift it out and it was in my hand. It’s made of copper, but it shines like gold.”

“I rinsed it in the Thames and it was absolutely beautiful – looked like it was made yesterday, but it was minted in Nuremburg, Germany over five hundred years ago,” she added.

“History right in my hand.”