Lexus RX 450h L: The car that 'Buzz Lightyear would drive to get to infinity and beyond'
Lexus RX 450h L is just as floaty and absurdly comfortable as the five-seater, says Charles Rangeley-Wilson.
The Finer Things
When it comes to treating yourself to a new party dress or a pair of cufflinks, or if you want to buy a brilliant present for a loved one, look no further than our High Life section. From the most inspiring travel trips to the latest news in luxury watches, and beautiful jewellery, let Country Life guide you to the very best in beautiful things.
Plus, read articles from our brilliant Gentleman’s Life magazine, including the 39 steps to being a gentleman.
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Finale, 1887–88, by Sir John Lavery (1856–1941), 34in by 44in, private collection. Credit: Courtesy of Richard Green Gallery, London My Favourite Painting: Aileen Ribeiro
'Does Finale mean the last notes of the music or the end of an affair?'
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Hamish Shephard on his wedding day after marrying his wife Rosie. Credit: Hamish Shephard Wedding dos and don'ts: Nine tips to hold the perfect wedding reception
Hamish Shephard, founder of Bridebrook and owner of wedding venue Hedsor House, shares his expert tips how to ensure your wedding reception goes with a bang.
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Bagpipe player in silhouette against dramatic sunset sky Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The bagpipe-maker: 'The older customers want me to make their pipes sharpish; they want to be sure they’re not dead before they get to play them!'
Hours of intricate work are needed to craft a set of bagpipes. Kate Lovell spoke to bagpipe-maker Dave Shaw to find out how it's done.
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Credit: Getty Curious Questions: Why do brides throw their bouquets? And wear white? And wear something old, new, borrowed and blue?
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Credit: Foyle Fireworks The Utterly Inessential Wedding Shopping List: From beautiful bouquets to romantic getaways
As the excitement of last night begins to fade into memory, we hold dear in our hearts those who are about to embark on months and months of careful planning, menu tasting and reckless spending. Alexandra Fraser presents to you everything you (may or may not) need to get through the wedding planning season and your special day.
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Henry Treffry Dunn's 'Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Theodore Watts-Dunton at Tudor House', at the Watts Gallery show. Credit: National Portrait Gallery London In Focus: How Christina Rossetti's poetry spilled over into the world of art
One of our great Victorian poets had an impact far beyond the words she committed to paper. Jeremy Musson takes a look at a new exhibition looking at Christina Rossetti's influence on the world of art.
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Credit: Bentley Bentley Continental GT review: 100 years on, Bentley still making the ultimate hybrid of sports car and limousine
Over the past decade and a half the Bentley Continental GT has become the most-successful model in the company's history. As the Crewe-based firm hit their centenary, Toby Keel takes a look at the latest iteration of their flagship model.
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Study of Feet and Hands, c.1818-19 (oil on canvas) by Gericault, Theodore (1791-1824); 52x64 cm. Musee Fabre, Montpellier, France My Favourite Painting: Caro Howell
'There’s something tender and protective about the way the severed arm cradles the dismembered foot.'
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'The Death of Columbus', depicted in an 1893 lithograph print by The Prang Educational Company. Credit: Alamy Curious Questions: Why does nobody know where Christopher Columbus is buried?
He's one of the most famous human beings ever to walk the planet, but the final resting place of the Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus remains shrouded in mystery. Martin Fone, author of 50 Curious Questions, investigates.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: A bag good enough to ride, a golden fountain pen and a doghouse to die for
There's nothing quite as good as something you absolutely don't need, but still want anyway. Because really, assuming you have food, water and a safe place to sleep, what really is essential? Alexandra Fraser takes her regular look at some of life's little luxuries.
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Real Gold, 1949, by Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005). Printed papers on paper, 28.2 x 41cm. Collection: Tate, presented by the artist 1995 Credit: ©Trustees of the Paolozzi Foundation, Licensed by DACS 2018 In Focus: Paolozzi, Warhol and the promise and fears of the mechanised world
The uncanny connections between Scottish artists Eduardo Paolozzi and his American contemporary Andy Warhol are the subject of a fascinating new exhibition in Edinburgh. Lilias Wigan paid a visit.
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Orangutan - Ruskin Spear - Height 90cm/35.5inches - Width 69.5cm/27.5 Inches. Owner is Mark Coreth, the painting is affectionately known as "Fred" to his familly. Credit: Andrew Sydenham/Country Life My Favourite Painting: Mark Coreth
'As a wildlife sculptor, I feel a huge affinity to my wild world and a closeness to Fred for that reason, too, although he’s evidently not swinging through the trees.’
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Credit: Boundary Project The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Gifts to make him fall at your feet, a delightful decanter and all the Valentine's experiences a happy heart could hope for
The chill of February is ill-fated to be accompanied by a day dedicated to those lucky few among us who succeeded in surviving the stress of the festive season. It is for this group of people that we present a collection of utterly inessential products and experiences with which to say "I love you". For the rest of you, we recommend gin.
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John Singer Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, Circa 1885, Oil on canvas, Tate Britain, London, England. Credit: Alamy In Focus: Mark Griffiths on the history and revival of Sargent’s 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'
Mark Griffiths describes how a dinner-party question led to the uncovering of the true identities of the lilies in Sargent’s Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose and the extraordinary history of their use and current revival.
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Credit: Jeremy Taylor A tour of Italy in a classic Alfa Romeo Spider, the classic 60s car promising romance and adventure
It's half a century since the Alfa Romeo Spider's cameo role in one of the defining films of the 1960s. Jeremy Taylor took one for a spin round Italy, taking in Lake Como and Tuscany, to see if it still cuts a dash.
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Queen Elizabeth II (‘Lightness of Being’), 2007, by Chris Levine (b.1960), 45¼in by 45in, lenticular print on lightbox, National Portrait Gallery, London. Credit: Chris Levine My Favourite Painting: Anya Hindmarch
'It’s such a fresh depiction of The Queen and deservedly has become iconic. To see an image of her with her eyes closed would once have been unheard of.'
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Credit: Alun Callender The willow weaver: 'I like to let the host structure feed the form'
With such romantic names as Dicky Meadows, Flanders Red and Noir de Verlaine, willow is one of Nature’s most versatile materials. Jane Wheatley meet Laura Ellen Bacon, who crafts works of art from twisted stems of Salix.
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Scarves aplenty, whisky candles and some charitable cushions
In a world infested with 'must-have', 'don't miss' and 'buy now', one list stands alone as the voice of reason: this list, where everything is both entirely marvellous and completely unnecessary. Welcome, dear friends, to Utterly Inessential.
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Bird Superior: Portrait of Max Ernst by Leonora Carrington, c.1939. National Galleries of Scotland; purchased with assistance from the Henry and Sula Walton Fund and the Art Fund, 2018 © The Estate of Leonora Carrington Credit: National Galleries of Scotland/The Estate of Leonora Carrington In Focus: Leonora Carrington's extraordinary portrayal of Max Ernst, the surrealist pioneer who inspired Dalí
A stunning portrait of Max Ernst, one of the key figures in 20th century art, is at the heart of an exhibition of creative couples at the Barbican's exhibition – but be quick if you want to see it, warns Lilias Wigan.
