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'Each of my active ancestors had the good sense and taste to purchase or commission the outstanding work of their time': Meet the collecting dynastiesWhether it is adding contemporary paintings to a gallery of Old Masters or branching out into territories as diverse as Modernist chairs, Iranian tiles or Churchill memorabilia, the passion for collecting seems to run in some families.
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Queen Charlotte's Ball is proof that young women still want to be debutantesFounded in the 18th century, Queen Charlotte’s Ball has been revived and modernised for a new generation. Eleanor Doughty finds out what’s changed-and what hasn’t.
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The end of deference: Why using the right title mattersIt might be an 'old-world problem', but using incorrect form when addressing someone is a symptom of laziness and inaccuracy that we should all worry about.
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Great western: The best places to live west of London, from Cirencester and Salisbury to Corsham and BathCommuters, welcome to the West Country (just). Eleanor Doughty explores the best places to buy a house between one and two hours from London in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset
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A light touch: At home with designer Nels Crosthwaite EyreNels Crosthwaite Eyre’s Hampshire house demonstrates her innate ability to create smart, but relaxed interiors that reflect the tastes and needs of a new generation, finds Eleanor Doughty.
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The Timetable for the Coronation of King Charles III, including the order of service and The OathEleanor Doughty takes a look at what's happening over coronation weekend — and explains the changes in the roles of dukes and duchesses, hitherto so important in the ceremony.
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Tess Newall: 'People working from home want to feel that they are in a place that is inspiring and thoughtful'Tess Newall has taken time off from painting murals to design a collection of wallpaper and lampshades, finds Eleanor Doughty. Photographs by Alun Callender.
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Curious Questions: Who is Maris Piper?The Maris Piper has become Britain's best-loved potato (hush, King Edward fans) — but where did it get its curious name? Eleanor Doughty investigates, while Toby Keel takes a look at where King Edward potatoes got their name.
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Britain's oddest place names: How you can visit New York, Hollywood, Jerusalem and New Zealand, all without leaving the countryThe quirky place names of Britain have been borrowed and re-used all across the globe. Eleanor Doughty picks out some of the best.
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How British stone is finally getting the credit and usage it deserves: 'People wonder why we are hauling stone in from abroad when we have home-grown stone'Bringing in stone from overseas has long been commonplace for our interiors, but designers are discovering the pleasures of home-grown stone, says Eleanor Doughty.
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The Museum of the Home, where you'll find 1990s Habitat knick-knacks, a Philippe Starck lemon squeezer and interiors inspiration far beyond the showroomsEstablished a century ago to celebrate domestic interiors, the Geffrye Museum has been reborn as the Museum of the Home, with a Georgian-style kitchen, finds Eleanor Doughty.
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The great sash-window debate: Repair, replace or drag them into the 21st centuryLittle beats the charm of traditional sash windows, but there's no doubt they can be a little leaky. Eleanor Doughty explores the options to bring them into the 21st century.
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The mouthwatering Victorian recipes that made Victorian cook Mrs Crocombe a 21st century phenomenonAudley End’s Victorian cook, Mrs Crocombe, has become a YouTube sensation. Eleanor Doughty signs in for a lesson with her.
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The grand country houses where you can stay for the weekendAn increasing number of sprawling historic houses is available for rent for short stays, finds Eleanor Doughty
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The tale of how London Zoo survived and thrived through lockdownZSL London Zoo is open to the public once again. Eleanor Doughty was first in through the gates to greet some of the residents and go behind the scenes of the charity’s conservation programmes.
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Windmills: England's beautiful remnants of a simpler time — from the outside so scenic, yet mechanical marvels withinOur remaining windmills are unashamedly romantic slices of old England. Last spring, those still working went into overdrive to meet local demand for flour, reports Eleanor Doughty.
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Curious Questions: How do you pronounce Belvoir, Featherstonhaugh and Bagehot?Even simple-looking names like Powell and Coke can trip up the unwary, while Belvoir and Featherstonhaugh are positive linguistic land mines. Eleanor Doughty (Dowty? Dockerty? Dotty?) investigates.
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Why you'll see matching front door and window colours across great swathes of the English countrysideThe colours that estate owners choose to paint their buildings and cottages lend them a highly distinctive feel. Eleanor Doughty finds out how — and why — the different shades are chosen.
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How to buy a home on one of Britain's picturesque tidal islands, from Jersey to NorthumberlandIsland life without needing a ferry? Tidal islands can offer the romance and glamour of living on a charming dot on the map but without many of the problems, as Eleanor Doughty explains.
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Living on a flight path - is saving on price really worth it?Major flight paths criss-cross over plenty of covetable areas of the UK.
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Curious Questions: Why do the numbers in London postcodes make no sense?Gone are the days when postcode snobbery hindered the London housing market, finds Eleanor Doughty. Or are they?
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Where to buy in London right now, from 'hidden gem' conservation areas to the capital's best up-and-coming areasThere’s more to London than prime central — nine zones more, in fact. Eleanor Doughty advises on where in the outskirts to invest.
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How to buy a house where you can be your own beekeeperBeekeeping is on the rise and you needn’t own lots of land. Eleanor Doughty explores the property possibilities.
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Life on Shetland: The peace and security of an island existenceEleanor Doughty explores life on Scotland’s myriad beautiful islands.
