The Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) sees many changes in the environment, encompassing several glacial and interglacial periods that greatly affect human settlement.

In addition to populations in Europe expanding from southern refugia (especially the Franco-Cantabrian region) after the last glacial maximum, evidence also exists for various northern refugia.

Southern and eastern Britain are linked to continental Europe at this time by a wide land bridge allowing bands of hunter-gatherers to move freely, following herds of animals, or supporting themselves by fishing.

The current position of the English Channel is a large river flowing westwards and fed by tributaries that will later become the Thames and Seine.