The digital station was launched in June 2016 as Thames Radio with a line-up of former BBC and Capital presenters such as breakfast host Neil Fox, Dean Martin, Tony Blackburn, Alex Lester, Pat Sharp and Neil Francis, with all presenters broadcasting from 'virtual studios' (as Thames Radio had no physical studio premises of its own).

[citation needed] In 2021, DJs broadcasting on Nation Radio UK included Russ Williams and Neil Francis, with Mike Read broadcasting The Heritage Chart every Sunday at 5pm.

[3][4][5] In May 2022, broadcaster Greg Burns joined Nation Radio UK.

Burns presents the weekday drive programme and weekend breakfast.

[6] As of September 2024, the station broadcasts to a weekly audience of 171,000, according to RAJAR.