Introduction -- First steps (How to begin ; Family photographs ; A basic family tree ; Names ; Research skills ; Keeping records ; Interviewing people)

Back to the early 1800s (Certificates after 1837 ; Other indexes at ... National Archives ; Censuses ; The International Genealogical Index and other indexes ; Published material ; Using the Internet ; Wills, administrations and death duties ; Inquests ; Newspapers and periodicals)

Going back to 1538 (Record offices, history centres and libraries ; Births, christenings, marriages and burials in parish registers ; Other parish records ; The poor of the parish ; Orphans and foundlings ; Records for other Christian denominations ; Maps)

Other countries in the British Isles (Welsh records ; Scottish records ; Irish records ; Channel Islands records ; Isle of Man records)

Working lives (Education ; Apprenticeships ; Guilds and freemen ; The professions ; Other occupations ; Licences ; Elections, poll books and electoral registers ; Trade unions, and friendly societies ; Bankruptcy and insolvency ; Physical and mental fitness)

For Crown and country (Members of the armed forces ; Army records ; Royal Air Force records ; The militia, posse comitatis and volunteers ; Royal Navy records ; Merchant Navy records ; Other maritime occupations ; Lifecycle checklist)

Law and property (Reseraching legal records ; Church courts ; Manorial records ; Crime and punishment ; Transportation records ; Equity law: property and money ; Land ownership and wealth ; Taxes ; Customs and excise and the Coastguard ; Rich man, poor man checklist)

Migrant ancestors (Researching migrant ancestors ; Jewish ancestors ; French ancestors ; German and Dutch ancestors ; Black ancestors ; Indian ancestors ; Other overseas ancestors ; Gypsies and other travellers)

Emigrants (Researching emigrant ancestors ; India and the Far East ; North America ; Canada ; The Caribbean ; Australia ; New Zealand ; Africa ; Other British territories ; British communities overseas)

Appendices (Sources for pre-1538 research ; Paleography ; Latin ; Name changes and important dates ; Heraldry ; Dates, money and measurements ; Writing family history ; Timeline ; Specialist museums and libraries ; Directories and ratebooks)