The final was held at the Vicar’s Hall at Windsor Castle on 29 March 2025, and attended by 20 finalists from across the UK. This year, each finalist needed to have taken part in a regional competition and one of three semi-final stages.

The competition question for this year was: How can your local history tell a global story?

Students do not use props or slides of any kind and rely entirely upon how well they present their argument, demonstrating their research and full understanding of their chosen topic and its wider impact. The judges ask at least one relevant question of the students at the end of each talk. 

The standard of all the talks was outstanding and the judges deliberated at length over the winners.

The judges this year were:

Professor Alexandra Walsham, Professor of Modern History, Cambridge and President of the Historical Association
Professor Yasmin Kahn, University of Oxford
Dr Mark Roodhouse, The University of York