FamilySearch
The biggest and best of all free family history websites, FamilySearch is a must-visit site whether or not you’re watching the pennies. Although its strength lies in its parish register transcriptions (with the option of viewing microfilms of the original registers at Family History Centres worldwide), the site is starting to add other datasets from census records to First World War service records. It doesn’t just host transcriptions either as the site is beginning to add record images. FamilySearch is also great for overseas records and has an impressive ‘ Wiki’ section with advice on all kinds of resources and areas of family history research.