Spectral and rotational properties of radio pulsars

This thesis focusses on radio pulsars, rapidly rotating and highly magnetised neutron stars that emit electromagnetic radiation from their magnetic poles. Large-scale observational projects were performed to improve our understanding of the fundamental physics of these unique objects. An extensive survey of 441 pulsars, the largest to date, was conducted to characterise their radio emission, identifying many that show unusual spectral behaviour. In another programme, the rotation of over 400 pulsars was measured precisely for up to 3 years, resulting in updated models for 205, measurements of their motions in the sky and the discoveries of several sudden spin-up events.