Sir Simon David Jenkins has spent more than five decades examining British politics, cities, history and public life. A former editor of two major newspapers, he remains a familiar voice through his Guardian columns and bestselling books. His work connects everyday political decisions with the buildings, streets and communities they affect. At 83, he continues to write about the country he has observed for much of his life.
Early Life and Education of Simon Jenkins
Simon Jenkins Born on 10 June 1943 in Birmingham, England, Jenkins grew up during a period of deep change in Britain. His father, Daniel Thomas Jenkins, was a Welsh theologian who taught at Princeton Theological Seminary and served as a minister. This academic family background placed education and debate close to his early life. He attended Mill Hill School before entering St John’s College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics. At Oxford, he contributed to student journalism. The subjects he studied would later shape his work on government, culture and the balance between national and local power.
How Simon Jenkins Built His Newspaper Career
From Magazines to the Evening Standard
Simon Jenkins professional journey began at Country Life, a magazine closely linked to Britain’s countryside and historic buildings. He then worked for the Times Educational Supplement before moving into newspaper features and editorial work. These early positions gave him experience across education, public affairs and the changing character of British towns.
In 1976, he became editor of London’s Evening Standard. The job placed him at the centre of reporting on the capital’s politics, transport and daily concerns. He led the newspaper until 1978, later becoming political editor of The Economist from 1979 to 1986.
Editing The Times
In 1990, Jenkins took charge of The Times, one of the country’s oldest national newspapers. He held its editorship until 1992, during a period of major political and media change. He continued as a columnist after leaving the editor’s chair, developing a style that combined sharp arguments with an interest in history and civic life. His work also included senior editorial duties at The Sunday Times. Rather than remaining solely a newspaper manager, he built a long career as an independent commentator.
Simon Jenkins and The Guardian
Simon Jenkins moved to The Guardian in 2005 after a lengthy association with The Times. His columns range from Westminster politics to housing, transport, education and international conflict. A common theme is that decisions taken far from a community can damage the people living there. During 2026, he has written about Heathrow expansion, cultural heritage, local democracy and Britain’s place in the world. He often questions large public projects and argues that local authorities should have greater control over their communities. His opinions can attract disagreement, particularly when he challenges popular political plans. That willingness to question accepted ideas has remained part of his writing for decades.
Books by Simon Jenkins
Making History Easy to Understand
Simon Jenkins books often explain broad historical events through clear stories and memorable places. A Short History of England, published in 2011, follows the country’s development across centuries. A Short History of Europe, released in 2018, covers the struggles and changes that shaped the continent.
A Short History of London, published in 2019, explores the capital’s changing identity. The Celts: A Sceptical History, from 2022, considers how Celtic identities developed and how they have been presented. In A Short History of America, published in 2025, he examines the United States from its origins to modern political divisions.
Architecture, Churches and Railway Stations
Simon Jenkins passion for buildings runs through England’s Thousand Best Churches (1999) and England’s Thousand Best Houses (2003). Both celebrate places whose value can be missed in debates about development. England’s Cathedrals (2016) and Britain’s 100 Best Railway Stations (2017) extend that interest to landmarks used and admired by many people. Later titles include Europe’s 100 Best Cathedrals (2021) and A Short History of British Architecture (2024).
The Village in Britain: And Why Place Matters
The new book is scheduled for November 2026. It examines why villages and neighbourhoods remain important, even as modern life changes.
Protecting Britain’s Heritage
Simon Jenkins has not limited his concern for old buildings and landscapes to his writing. He served as deputy chairman of English Heritage between 1985 and 1990. He also held positions connected with transport, arts and conservation, including roles on the boards of British Rail and London Transport.
From 2008 to 2014, he chaired the National Trust, the charity responsible for protecting many historic houses, landscapes and cultural places. His leadership reflected a belief that heritage belongs in ordinary life rather than being treated as a luxury. He also chaired the judging panel for the Booker Prize in 2000, showing how his interests extend beyond newspapers and architecture to literature.
Simon Jenkins Wife and Family
Jenkins married American actress Gayle Hunnicutt in 1978. She worked in television and film and became known for performances in Dallas and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Their son, Edward Jenkins, was born during the marriage. He was also stepfather to Nolan Hemmings, Hunnicutt’s son from an earlier marriage.
The couple divorced in 2009. Hunnicutt died in August 2023, aged 80. In 2014, Jenkins married Hannah Kaye, who had worked as an events producer for Intelligence Squared. Although his opinions and professional appointments are widely discussed, he has generally kept the everyday details of family life separate from his public work.
Age, Honours and Recognition
Simon Jenkins Born on 10 June 1943, the journalist turned 83 in June 2026. He will celebrate his 84th birthday in June 2027. He was knighted in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to journalism, giving him the title Sir. He received the What the Papers Say Journalist of the Year award in 1998 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Society of Antiquaries of London. These honours reflect a career that has crossed journalism, public debate, historical writing and cultural preservation.
Political Views and Public Debate
Much of his commentary challenges excessive government control and argues for stronger local decision-making. He has criticised major infrastructure spending and questioned the aims and effects of Western military intervention. His book Mission Accomplished? examines the problems involved in foreign military campaigns. His political arguments do not fit neatly into one party tradition. On Brexit, for example, he has discussed how his views of European cooperation changed over time. Whether people agree with him or not, his writing asks them to consider costs, consequences and the value of local identity.
Net Worth and Life Today
There is no reliable, independently confirmed figure for his personal wealth. His income over the years has included work in newspapers, broadcasting and book publishing, but those activities do not establish a precise net worth. Still active as a columnist and author in 2026, he remains interested in the relationship between place, history and political power. Rather than separating past and present, he treats both as part of the same story, especially when public decisions reshape familiar places. His career shows how journalism can move beyond the day’s headlines to examine what societies choose to protect, rebuild or leave behind.
