In partnership with local historians, geographers, and archaeologists, The British Historic Towns trust researches how and why our settlements developed in the way they did. They publish the results in volumes of the British Historic Towns Atlas, and historical maps in the Town & City Historical Maps series.

Their atlases and historical maps are part of an international programme with the highest scholarly standards. They promote greater understanding and sharing of our urban past. They are used by individuals, in schools and universities, and by community groups. They support the many people interested in their history, as well as promoting the awareness needed for restoration, sympathetic new development and urban regeneration.

Since their foundation, they have covered a range of towns and cities. Their ambition is to have a representative national coverage that will provide at least one volume of the British Historic Towns Atlas for every historic county or regional authority in Britain by 2050.