<p>We often think of the 16th century as an era of hard work and strict social rules – but leisure and entertainment played a bigger role in daily life than you might expect. In episode one of <em>Tudor Life,</em> Ruth Goodman explains just how much time people really had for leisure, why Sunday was the key day for recreation, and which pastimes were most popular among both commoners and even Henry VIII himself…</p>
<a href="https://www.historyextra.com/membership/ruth-goodman-episode-one-tudor-leisure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View Green Video on the source website</a>
<p><strong>Enjoyed this video? Ruth is hosting a live Q&A for HistoryExtra members on 19 November 2025 at 7pm (GMT). Find out more <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/membership/ask-ruth/">here</a></strong></p><p><strong>Want more from Ruth? Find more episodes of Tudor life <a href="https://www.historyextra.com/academy/ruth-goodman-2/">here</a></strong></p><p><strong>Ruth Goodman is a historian of the social and domestic life of Britain. She has advised the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Globe Theatre and presented a number of BBC television series, including <em>Victorian Farm</em></strong></p>
