We're here to help you discover your family story

Whether you're just starting out or trying to break through a stubborn brick wall, Family Tree provides impartial advice to help you build skills, understand DNA, and get more from the major record sites.

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Learn from experts
Trusted advice for every stage of your journey.
Sharpen your skills
Practical tips to help you research smarter.
Make sense of DNA
Clear guidance to help you navigate your results.
Break through brick walls
Find new ways to solve family history challenges.

We’re here to help… with expert guidance to research your ancestors with confidence.

Whether you’re taking your first steps or tackling long-standing brick walls, we’re here to support you. Explore our tailored learning journeys and guides, designed to help you make the most of our expert guidance and keep your research moving forward…

Start Your Family Tree

Perfect for: first-time researchers

New to genealogy? Our comprehensive beginner guides cover everything from interviewing relatives to using birth certificates and building your first family tree.

Featured Content

Using the Family Tree Library for your research
How to use Ancestry (but better)
How to actually do family history
What is a second cousin?
Explore Start Your Family Tree

Next Steps

Perfect for: Expanding your research

Ready to expand your research? Learn to use parish records, military records, wills, and newspapers to uncover more about your ancestors' lives.

Featured Content

Discover Reunion for Mac & iOS
Navigate Your DNA Results: A Live Learn-Along
How to preserve and store old family photos
Reframing roots: how family history helped me heal
Explore Next Steps

Digging Deeper

Perfect for: Breaking through brick walls

Advanced techniques for seasoned researchers. Tackle brick walls, use alternative records, and explore specialized research methods for challenging ancestors.

Featured Content

How to solve brickwalls before 1800
Poor law records for family history
How to read and transcribe old documents
Queen Catherine Court: Investigating Homes of the Poor
Explore Digging Deeper

DNA Testing

Perfect for: All experience levels

Unlock the power of genetic genealogy. Learn to interpret DNA results, understand matches, and use genetic evidence to enhance your traditional research.

Featured Content

Do's & don’ts of DNA testing
DNA Questions Answered: A Live Q&A
Clue tools
BanyanDNA: how & why to use it, with John Cleary
Explore DNA Testing

Expert-led webinars and courses to grow your family history skills

Regular webinars are included in a Family Tree Plus membership, or priced at £10 for non-members. Plus, don't miss our growing library of on-demand courses and webinars and start learning straight away.

Member

11 June 2026 • 13:00

Checking you have your facts straight, part 2

Join us for the June Family Tree Brickwalls Club webinar, at which Mike Gould will be sharing further strategies and tips to help us each assess the accuracy of our family history research. We all make mistakes from time to time – the key is in spotting and correcting them.

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Subscriber

08 June 2026 • 18:30

Booth’s Poverty Maps & the Stepney Union Case Books

Join us for the June Family Tree Study Club meeting, at which Patricia Sears will be speaking on her research into the Charles Booth’s Poverty Maps and the Stepney Union Case Books. Discover how these resources can shed light on the lives of our poorest ancestors in London, and give a voice to the voiceless.

Register Now

17 June 2026 • 12:30

DNA for Scottish brickwalls

Join us for the June Family Tree DNA Club meeting, at which genetic genealogist Michelle Leonard will be speaking about how DNA can be used to help work on, in particular, Scottish brickwalls. This webinar is included with a Family Tree Plus membership.

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Join us for brand new Family Tree Brickwalls Workshop and solve your family history problems

02 June 2026 • 19:30

The Family Tree Brickwalls Workshop, 5-week course

Having studied the select combination of techniques that Dr Sophie Kay will teach on the course, you‘ll be equipped with family history tips to help you tackle research problems and brickwalls with confidence...

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"Just to say how wonderful this webinar was. I learned so much. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Thank you." – Sherenne

View All Webinars & Courses

Don't miss the Family Tree Talk Podcast

Join us for genealogical facts, figures and how-to information, heavily laced with speculation, surmise, stories and waffle as Family Tree's Nathan Ward embarks on his family history journey aided and abetted by Family Tree's Helen Tovey. 99% family history guaranteed.

Weekly Episodes

New episodes every Sunday

Whether you're just starting your family tree or you're a seasoned researcher, Family Tree Talk offers practical advice, inspiring stories, and expert insights to help you uncover your family's past.

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Pick the membership that’s right for you

Everything you need to grow your family tree with confidence – step by step, at your own pace. Activate your free 7-day pass and access exclusive videos and articles.

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Free

Perfect for beginners

  • Access to beginner's guides
  • Free research toolkit download
  • Monthly newsletter with tips
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Magazine subscription

£6.99

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  • Everything in registered
  • Study Club access
  • Study Club recordings archive
  • Magazine delivered to your door
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Family Tree Plus

£9.99

per month

  • Live monthly webinars
  • Growing video library
  • Searchable digital magazine archive
  • Exclusive member newsletter
  • Discounts and offers
Start Free Trial

Family Tree Plus Premium

£11.99

per month

  • Everything in Family Tree Plus
  • Magazine delivered to your door
  • Annual Family History Handbook
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Frequently Asked Questions

Discover more about Family Tree and how the website can help you discover more about your family history. Got another question? Just email: [email protected]

Yes. You can explore the website freely and enjoy selected guides and resources at no cost. Register for a free account and sign up to the Family Tree newsletter to unlock even more content, or join Family Tree Plus for full access to our complete library of premium articles, videos, webinars and downloads.

In short, you unlock the whole site! You'll have access to exclusive webinars and expert talks, in-depth video tutorials, digital magazine back issues, downloadable worksheets and guides, member-only articles and resources, member discounts, and a members' newsletter.

Yes. We offer a free seven-day trial so you can explore the membership and see if it’s right for you before committing. There's no charge, no commitment, and no payment details taken. Just register to activate your account and free pass.

Absolutely. Whether you’re just starting your family tree or researching more advanced topics like DNA and military records, our guides are designed to support every stage of your journey.

Family Tree magazine was first published in 1984. The world, genealogy, and what we do, is a little different now, but one thing hasn't changed: we're still passionate and excited about helping you discover and explore your family history. We provide impartial, trusted and friendly advice in many different ways, including the Family Tree website (you are here!), the weekly Family Tree email newsletter (sign up for free), events, webinars, guides and publications to help you with your research.

No. Family Tree is not a record provider or genealogy database. Instead, we offer impartial expert guidance to help you make the most of all the major family history websites, archives and DNA services. Our articles, videos, webinars and tutorials are designed to help you research more confidently, understand records more clearly, and discover the best tools and techniques for your own family history journey.