Here are some sites you may find helpful for your own research. I’ve split them into different areas. If you have any suggestions to add please let me know.

English Research

There are family history societies for most counties in England. e.g. Kent Family History Society or Sussex Family History Group. Most will have a website and local researchers.

The Family History Federation has a searchable list on its website here. This can also be viewed as a map.

Forebears is a directory with listings which take you to other places. It can be filtered by county and will tell you where the relevant records are held.

GENUKI also has a directory of lots of different societies here. This includes Jewish records, Romany records, the Quakers and some societies in other countries.

FREEBMD offers free births marriages and death records.

British Newspaper Archives is a subscription service which has all sort of information within it, including family notices and news stories.

Military Records

An individual’s military record can be requested directly from the UK government here.

You will need a copy of their death certificate which can be requested here and you will need to supply the correct information regarding the registration of the death.

Graham Bandy of Living Military History is a highly experienced researcher who specialises in WWI and WWII history.

Sophie Shrubsole runs Sophie’s Great War Tours and takes you on a journey following in your ancestors footsteps in France and Belgium.

Scottish Research

Scotlands People is the official government site with 1000s of records. You will need to sign up for an account and buy credits to view the records themselves however you can view the search results for free and these give lots of details in themselves.

The Scottish Genealogy Society have lots of records including the original microfilms for every parish in Scotland. Plus a comprehensive library and a collection of donated family histories, pedigrees and research notes and lots more. You can also visit the society at the Library & Family History Centre in Edinburgh. They also host talks and run courses.

French/Huguenot Research

For anyone with Huguenot ancestors the Huguenot Society is a good starting place. There is an online library (hosted by UCL) and you can visit the Society in its London headquarters.

Irish Research

There are a couple of good starting points for tracing Irish ancestry:

Irish Genealogy

Irish Genealogy host church and civil records (I found some of my missing ancestors on here). There are Births, Marriages and Deaths from the General Register Office and the Indexes to the historic records of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Ireland.  The records are free to view online.

Roots Ireland

Roots Ireland is a subscription service containing Catholic records. A subscription can be as little as one day.

Recording your family story

Sas Huntwood of The Storytellers will help you record and capture your family story and create a personalised book.