Simon Jenkins

Simon Jenkins is one of Britain's most distinguished journalists and authors, a commentator on politics, architecture, and heritage whose career spans over five decades. Born in 1943, he studied Politics and Economics at Oxford, and has served as editor of both the Evening Standard and The Times. He was chairman of the National Trust from 2008 to 2014 and has been a columnist for the Guardian. Jenkins's books include England's Thousand Best Churches, England's Thousand Best Houses, A Short History of England, A Short History of London, and The Celts: A Sceptical History, which challenges romantic myths about Celtic identity while exploring what the evidence actually tells us about these ancient peoples. His architectural books are considered essential guides to English heritage, combining expert knowledge with accessible, opinionated writing. He was knighted in 2004 for services to journalism. His audiobooks and books offer listeners and readers authoritative, elegantly written explorations of British history, architecture, and identity from a writer who combines deep knowledge with strong opinions and the confidence to challenge received wisdom.