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A mesmerising portrait in the eerie country house that inspired Charlotte Brontë to write 'Jane Eyre'
A dark episode in the family history of Norton Conyers inspired a young Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre — but the hidden attic is just one of many treasures in this grand Yorkshire house.
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The monk strap: Where did the shoe with sole and sophistication come from?
Amie Elizabeth White charts the history of the monk strap shoe — beloved by Clark Gable, Cary Grant and James Bond.
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Wealthy Boomers collected blue-chip paintings. Gen Z is opting for collectibles. Who will come up trumps?
Handbags, jewellery and luxury vehicles are the aesthetic investments of choice for today’s high-net-worth youth, says a report by Art Basel.
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The best preparation for a half marathon is a long drive in the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Nick Hendrix heads to the south coast for a long run. He felt it was important to arrive in style.
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Sin, deceit, art, education: The secret history of playing cards explained
From China, through Persia, India, Europe and now in most of our homes. The humble hearts, clubs, spades and jacks have quite the story to tell.
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What do Taylor Swift, Guy Ritchie and The King have in common? They all love a 200-year-old fabric born in Scotland’s textile mills
Lovat Mill, the last tweed producer in the Scottish Borders, has fans in Madonna, Taylor Swift and The King — and they’re releasing 15 new designs to celebrate the fabric’s 200 year anniversary.
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The Glovebox: Fashion that's fast and five of our favourite Concours for 2026
Plus, a sneak peek into what we're planning for the new year.
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The 'micro mosaic' at Holkham Hall that uses a fascinating, unusual technique pioneered by the Vatican
John Goodall speaks to the Earl of Leicester about one of the most unusual and beautiful objects at Holkham Hall in Norfolk.
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Tate-à-tête: The National Gallery’s promise to grow its modern-art collection risks reopening old wounds
The National Gallery's announcement of a new wing and more modern art promises to reignite a historic rivalry with Tate.
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Volvo ES90: If you want the world's finest interiors for less than £100,000, ask the Swedes
There are cars you want to drive, and there are cars you want to be driven in. The ES90 is that car.
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‘Live in the country (or, failing that, Kensington Square) and wear navy’: A brief history of the colour that never goes out of style
Deborah Nicholls-Lee takes a look at how the colour navy got its name — and why its still a safe bet, centuries on.
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Tickled pink: Jewellery designers are united in their love for colourful gemstones
Felix Bischof talks to six jewellery designers and auctioneers about their standout pieces of colourful jewellery from 2025.
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Forget Bond, the understated George Smiley is fiction's greatest spy
As 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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A very unofficial list of cars that Country Life liked this year
As we head into 2026, James Fisher looks back on a year in cars for Country Life.
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‘I wasn’t really sure that I wanted to be a ballet dancer’: The English National Ballet's prima ballerina on playing Clara in The Nutcracker and her consuming passions
Lotte Brundle meets Ivana Bueno, who is dancing the role of Clara in The Nutcracker this year at the London Coliseum.
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A short history of all the must-have toys for Christmas
Today’s queues may be digital, but the fight to secure that must-have present and avoid small, disappointed faces is timeless. Tom Howells looks at the toys topping recent (and less recent) Christmas wish lists.
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The policeman turned goat-herder turned beautician, whose goats' milk soap became a sensation
Beautiful soaps always make a wonderful gift, and that's why the goats' milk soap-maker Nick King is one of our heroes of Christmas.
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How the spirit of Andy Warhol lives on through Christmas
Andy Warhol found Christmas a tricky time, yet threw himself into the festivities and, when he decided to illustrate his series on American myths, he had no doubt he should include the jolly old man in the bright red suit.
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Just can't get enough of the muff? The history of the furry handwarmer with the funny name
Deborah Nicholls-Lee goes diving into the history of the muff.
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The exquisite Christmas decorations that spark childhood joy, and the decoration-maker who creates them
Elizabeth Harbour's irresistibly pretty Christmas decorations earn her a place as one of our heroes of Christmas.
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'There were 900 people in the queue and I waited three hours, but it was worth it': The Christmas cracker-maker who supplies Britain's most exclusive shops
Hannah Bidmead of Nancy & Betty is the luxury Christmas cracker maker who makes the list of our heroes of Christmas.
