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Meals on wheels: How the railways transformed how we eatFrom fashionable dining cars to hauling fresh produce across Britain, the train has left a permanent mark on British cuisine, argues Emma Hughes.
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Tickled pink: Fill up your glass this summer because English rosé wine is a revelationEmma Hughes suggests a selection of delicious wines grown in local vineyards.
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From Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to T.S Eliot: London Library's most literary members go digitalMembers of the public can now browse the institution's collection online, thanks to the recent digitisation of their membership records.
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Riding a wave: is the tide turning for seaside heritage?Britain's coastal areas aren't totally washed up just yet, finds Emma Hughes, who discovers how lidos, piers and promenades are riding a new wave of regeneration.
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What do brogues, Barbours, crumpets and foldable bicycles have in common? They’re all the best you can buy — and they’re all EnglishEmma Hughes rounds up 35 home-grown delights — big and small — worth investing in.
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How to have the perfect picnic in a pinch, according to Country LifeShort of time or inclination to prep a proper picnic? Follow our cheat's guide to alfresco success on sunny days.
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Where to eat, where to drink and where to shop in Chelsea, according to the Country Life teamThere's more to Chelsea than just the Flower Show so we've rounded up some of the best places to eat, stay and shop.
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'Rocco knows that the four-hours-on, two-hours-off routine of an Atlantic crossing is nothing to the sleep deprivation of Cowes Week': A spotter's guide to the SeasonAs hats and morning coats are brushed off, picnic hampers are packed and shoes are polished, we pick some of our favourite characters from the Season's milieu.
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Is there anything more sensuous than the little sigh that escapes when you give the atomiser a squeeze? Where perfumes are concerned, the scent itself is only a part of the storyThe scent is just the beginning; its container is everything. Emma Hughes finds out why we’re so entranced by perfume bottles and what makes them stand the test of time.
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Country Life picks the biggest, boldest and best of this year’s clutch of luxury Easter eggsPick up an edible work of art before they sell out.
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Here’s where to go for a really interesting and, dare we say it, cool drink in London's Zone OneThe pub is out and the wine bar is in. These hidden gems are pouring some of the capital’s most interesting and delicious vintages — and you don’t have to go to Hackney for any of them.
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The 'chef's table' is off the ick listWhat was once an interesting concept became tired and annoying, but restaurants are now figuring out the perfect balance between a 'peak behind the curtain' and a great meal.
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'We're not looking to make two dodos. We're looking to make thousands': Bringing the world's most famous bird back to lifeEmma Hughes separates fact from fiction in the tale of the dodo.
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The Seaside Boarding House review: The cosy gourmet getaway on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast with a proper sense of placeSupremely comfortable rooms, sparklingly fresh seafood and scones for breakfast — what’s not to love?
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AI is now reaching into every corner of our lives — we can, and must, carefully choose how to engage with itEmma Hughes, a key part of Country Life magazine's features team, is also a novelist. She reflects on the expanding reach of AI after finding out that her work had been 'scraped' in order to train Meta's new AI assistant, Llama 3.
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Forget Bond, the understated George Smiley is fiction's greatest spyAs a new exhibition in Oxford charts John le Carré’s legacy, Emma Hughes takes a closer look at his most enduring creation, George Smiley.
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Eccentric, awe-inspiring and a home-from-home for literary giants: Why the London Library is an institution like no other
The London Library is celebrating 180 years in St James’s Square.
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Guernsey's world-renowned dairy cows churn out the most delicious ice cream, but the best is only available to try on the islandWith its glorious weather, endless beaches and world-famous dairy farms, it’s no wonder that Guernsey is an ice-cream hotspot.
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The 11 best restaurants in London for al fresco diningThere is no shortage of places to dine outside in London, from five-star hotels to canal-side picnic tables.
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Reading al fresco: The best places in London to get lost in the written word, according to the Country Life teamIn London, north, east, south and west, there's a public place suitable for all performative acts of reading.
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Raffles London at The OWO hotel review: How eight years and £1.4 billion transformed the birthplace of BondBut was it worth it? Emma Hughes checks in.
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Eat our local cheeses or lose our local cheeses, warns Neal's Yard DairyEngland has a rich tradition of fine local cheeses. Put down the cheddar, and protect some of our heritage dairy.
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The imperfect science of the perfect martini and where you can get one in LondonDirty, dry, with fries, gin or vodka. There's a lot to think about for such a simple cocktail.
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Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style: A whistle-stop history, from the Roman Baths to Hampstead HeathEmma Hughes dives into swimming's hidden depths at the Design Museum's exhibit in London.
