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It has been hard to keep track of the cascade of good news about the Arts, so we've done it for you2026 is shaping up to be a bumper year.
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Don’t old towns need saving?Out with the old and in with the new isn't always a good thing, this week's Athena argues.
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‘They don’t just fling themselves at you — they choose you’: Everything you need to know about the Scottish terrierFrom Queen Victoria and Franklin D. Roosevelt to Rudyard Kipling and Humphrey Bogart — the Scottish terrier has been winning admirers for centuries, but it is a breed that chooses its people carefully.
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Jazz music has always made a case for revolution, and we're falling back in love againThere’s more than a whiff of swing in the air–and on the airwaves. Will Hosie explores the resurrection of one of music’s most exciting genres
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Make sure you don't skip these South of England art and history highlightsIn our final instalment of Charlotte Mullins' fifty treasures series she journeys to the South of England and the Isle of White.
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The seven artistic wonders of the Midlands to put on your bucket listIn the latest instalment of her fifty treasures of the British Isles series, Charlotte Mullins takes a look at what's to be found in the Midlands.
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Top arts and culture things to see in Wales — that give you a real sense of our shared historyIn our series, Charlotte Mullins continues her list of the fifty most important cultural and historical things to see in the British Isles – this time in Wales.
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The ultimate guide to London in the rain, from the best cosy pubs and restaurants to spas, saunas and cinemas, and what to wearHere's how to make the most of the British capital — even when its at its worst. Illustrations by Tom Jennings.
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What to see in the North of England if you want to learn more about the artistic history of our countryCharlotte Mullins journeys to the North of England for the fourth instalment of our series which highlights the 50 treasure's of the British Isle's which best encompass our artistic history.
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London is teeming with things that define our artistic history — here's how you can visit themOur capital is full of interesting sights and objects, finds Charlotte Mullins in the latest instalment of her list of fifty treasure that encapsulate the visual history of the British Isles.
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From a spectacular funerary monument to a victory Armada portrait: Here are our must-see treasures in the East of EnglandIn our new series, Charlotte Mullins explores the visual history of the British Isles in 50 treasures. Her second instalment looks at the treasures to be found in the East of England.
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The artistic and historical treasures in Ireland that you must visit at least once in a lifetimeIn our new series, Charlotte Mullins explores the visual history of the British Isles in 50 treasures, from Ice Age caves to Sutton Hoo. Her first instalment looks at the treasures to be found in Ireland.
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The good, the bad and the overblown: Michael Billington looks back at the year on stageThe best, worst, most underrated and most irritating performances of 2025.
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'Herod’s catapult has been confiscated': The Nativity play that might be alright on the nightNever work with animals and children, they say, but surely it isn’t a proper Nativity without them?
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Two turtle doves: Why the endearing bird is an animal for all seasons, not just ChristmasThe beautiful, soft-voiced turtle dove is a symbol of courtship and love and must be saved, urges Mark Cocker.
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A lifelong Londoner on how to beat the throngs and make the most of the city this ChristmasToo few people know how to do Christmas right, says Will Hosie. Here are his tips and tricks for navigating the capital this festive season.
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What on earth is the person who comes up with Annabels's otherworldly facade displays on? London's most magical Christmas shop displaysPhotographs by Greg Funnell.
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In search of London’s earliest pintEarly houses — pubs open in the early hours to feed and water the market trade — have been a cornerstone of London for centuries. Yet, as Will Hosie finds, they aren’t stuck in the past.
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Better than Ozempic? 50 years of the Brompton bicycleOwen Wilson, James May and most of the middle-aged men and condescending hipsters you know love them. As the iconic folding bike turns 50 Lotte Brundle hops on one with the company's CEO.
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No more froths, no more foams, no more tweezers. Classic dining is making a comeback. Thank godFrom prawn cocktail and Arctic roll to starched tablecloths and ‘nicotine cream’ on the walls, it’s out with the new and in with the old in the restaurant world
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'It is hard to beat the excitement of watching a peregrine you have trained stoop from 1,000ft, going more than 100mph' — the complicated world of falconryA combination of spellbinding sport and profound empathetic connection, falconry–a partnership in which the bird maintains the upper hand–offers a window into ‘the deeper magic’.
