Sometimes it can become easy to despair of finding a beautiful house with charm and outdoor space at an affordable price, yet still within striking distance of London. These five…
Country Life
Curious Questions: Is there any future for Encyclopedia Britannica?
Once the first set of books required in any home library, encyclopedias have long since been superseded by the internet. But rather extraordinarily there is still a market for them,…
The best books to give this Christmas
Emily Rhodes suggests eight books that would make the ideal literary stocking filler.
Petworth: What to do, where to stay and what to eat in one of Sussex’s most charming towns
Melanie Bryant spent a weekend in Petworth, the picture-perfect market town in the South Downs that boasts superb shopping, food and one of Britain's greatest country houses.
The utterly inessential shopping list: Christmas jumpers for two, and a rare chance to witness the £210 pencil sharpener
Forget about the big things. You can keep the necessities. Don't tell us about the must-haves. Alexandra Fraser takes a look at a few little luxuries which, in a world…
A home with fine architecture, delightful gardens and spectacular views of St Catherine’s Valley
Just a few minutes from Bath yet with its toes also in the Cotswolds, this Grade II*-listed home is the archetype of the liveable country house.
In Focus: A silent cellist, blazing with pleasure, by Klimt’s great young protégé Schiele
When he first came on to the Vienna art scene, Egon Schiele hero-worshipped Gustav Klimt. Once they met the two became friends, forming a bond and inspiring each other's work,…
Sporting Life: The joys of Fen skating, the great 19th century sport that you’ve probably never heard of
The near-forgotten sport of Fen skating was once a huge draw, with thousands of spectators and making celebrities of the fastest men on the ice.
A picture-perfect rectory just outside Bath where sense and sensibility have held sway
This fine country rectory just outside Bath has had half a million pounds trimmed from its asking price – a realistic sign of the times, as Penny Churchill reports.
How to make cranberry scones for a cream tea with a Christmas twist
You might think of scones as something for sunny summer afternoons – this recipe will change that.
Christmas gift ideas for around the house and garden
For the newly married couple, decor enthusiast or the person who has just about everything else, here is a collection of wonderful gifts for the whole household to enjoy.
Christmas gift ideas for children
A collection of adorable gifts, perfect for that special toddler or precocious young person.
A superb Marlborough townhouse which shows the incredible patience needed to save a fine old home
The restoration of a glorious townhouse in Marlborough has required extraordinary attention to detail – something which, thankfully, the owner had in spades.
How Country Life helped track down a lost masterpiece by Gainsborough
Five years of fruitless searching had left the National Portrait Gallery almost abandoning hope of finding a lost Gainsborough painting, but the letters page of Country Life came to the…
Growing your own Christmas tree: Alan Titchmarsh on what to plant and where to plant it
Why buy your Christmas tree when you can grow your own and enjoy these handsome, statuesque trees all year round? Alan Titchmarsh offers his tips.
Retirement living and how an individual can make smart investment decisions
Promotional feature: How the U.K care and retirement property sectors could provide diversity of income.
Country Life 5 December 2018
Country Life 5 December 2018 features Britain’s best wildlife photography, our top choices for Christmas wines and why house plants are making a return. Find out more here: SPELLBINDING: Paula…
Christmas gift ideas for ladies
From mothers and sisters to wives and girlfriends, these 12 gifts are sure to bring a smile to the face of the special lady in your life.
The Coral Room review: A touch of the Twenties in the heart of Bloomsbury
The recently-refurbished bar at The Bloomsbury has added a touch of glamour to an area once full of chains and tourist traps. Rosie Paterson paid a visit.
Six of the finest and most liveable cathedral cities and towns in Britain
Britain’s cathedral towns and cities are beautiful to look at, great to live in and well worthy of investment. Eleanor Doughty and Toby Keel pick out some of the best.…