700 Years of the Thames

From frozen festivals to royal polar bears, from wartime recovery to medieval merchants.The River Thames has been the stage for some of Britain's most extraordinary moments. In this episode, Sarah Castagnetti explores this rich history—from the 13th-century king who kept a polar bear in the river, to a Dutch naval attack that brought war to London's doorstep, and the legendary Thames frost fairs.Three very different Thames stories, all revealing how central this river has been to London's history. Download the full episode transcript here.