Weekends away
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The Treehouses at The Fish Hotel: Spending a weekend as the Cotswolds Family Robinson
The Fish is a lovely Cotswolds hotel where you can can stay in normal rooms, shepherds' huts or treehouses. And while the latter aren't quite the same as living in the Ewok Village, they're plush, delightful — and you won't have to battle Stormtroopers while foraging for your dinner.
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Istanbul, Turkey: Full of eastern promise, perfect for a weekend mini break
Sarah Freeman visits the wonders of Istanbul, only four short hours from our shores and immortal in its beauty.
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How to do a long weekend in the Hamptons, from where to stay and eat to the best place to brush up your surfing
A long weekend in the USA? Yes, it can be done, says Country Life's travel editor Rosie Paterson, who headed to Long Island and returned almost before anyone noticed she'd escaped from the office.
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Curious Questions: Does Amsterdam really have the most bridges in the world?
Everywhere you look in Amsterdam there seems to be a way of traversing the waterways of the city. But are there really more bridges here than anywhere else in the world? Martin Fone investigates.
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The Utterly Inessential Beach Shopping List: From ocean-inspired drinks to a Dragon paddleboard for the entire family to enjoy
Bored of being in the office? Well, this weekend is your chance to drop everything and jump on a train down to our gleaming coastline. Alexandra Fraser rounds up a few of the utterly inessential things that you should probably, potentially, but definitely not absolutely, bring with you.
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Longlands, Devon: A magical glamping site perched in the perfect hills of the Exmoor, just a stone's throw from the sea
Longlands is an idyllic haven from the busy world, with a boating lake, a sunset hot tub and a village of safari lodges that make camping the height of luxury. Alexandra Fraser didn't want to leave; here's what she thought when she finally did.
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Lygon Arms, Broadway: A Cotswolds inn with history notched in its ancient wooden beams and hand-hewn stonework
In the heart of picture-perfect Broadway, gateway to the Cotswolds, the Lygon Arms has been a favourite getaway for centuries. James Elwes finds out why.
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Tel Aviv, Israel: A city of surprises, from electric bicycles and 13th-century fortress walls to the best hummus in the world
A magical mixture of modern and ancient, Tel Aviv combines inovation with preservation, in a city that bows to its ancient traditions while celebrating its modern atributes. Hetty Lintell paid a visit.
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Ireland's Wild Atlantic coast: Spectacular clifftops, dramatic castles and world-class golf
The coast of Ireland near Shannon and Limerick is unbearably beautiful and dramatic, whether you pack your golf clubs or not. Toby Keel paid a visit.
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A day aboard the Dartmouth Express: 'You half expect Hercule Poirot to hurry along the corridor with Captain Hastings in tow'
Heritage railway trips offer a slice of 1930s glamour in an era, as Toby Keel found out on a trip on the Dartmouth Express.
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How cruising went from your grandparents' favourite holiday to an escape for explorers, foodies and music lovers
The idea of going on a cruise once conjured up images of old boys snoozing in armchairs while elderly guests play deck quoits around him — but times have changed. We sent Martin Fone, a cruise virgin, on a long weekend to Amsterdam to discover what all the fuss is about.
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Fingal, Edinburgh: A floating hotel with royal connection, run by the trust who look after HMY Britannia
The Royal Yacht Britannia was long ago decommissioned but has now become a top attraction in Edinburgh — and now the boat has a sister craft, Fingal, for those who want to stay nearby. Adam Hay-Nicholls paid a visit.
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Walking Exmoor: 'The views open out and there's just me, a lone figure in an immense, almost featureless landscape'
Fiona Reynolds walks in the footsteps of Lorna Doone and finds that there’s still a feeling of wilderness out on Exmoor.
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Four fine spas for a bit of pampering this spring
Looking for a treat this Easter? Country Life has taken a look at some of the best spas to visit around England this spring, from pregnancy massages in London to moonlit jacuzzis in the New Forest.
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Adare Manor: The golf course that dreams of being the Irish Augusta
Augusta National Golf Club is one of the sporting world's greatest treasures. It's also the model on which Adare Manor, near the charming Irish city of Limerick, is being recreated – and a very fine job they're doing, says Toby Keel.
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10 lovely hotels for a family-friendly break in Britain
If you're looking for a place to take the family in the holidays, Bonnie Friend of the Good Hotel Guide has ten wonderful suggestions across the country.
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The beautifully-lit interior which gives a Surrey spa the undeniable feeling of being in church
Artist Brian Clarke was hired to make the spa at the Beaverbrook Hotel something a little special – here's what he came up with.
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York's finest hotel, a state-of-the-art cookery school and the secret to throwing the perfect dinner party
Newly opened this month, The Grand's state-of-the-art cookery school, spearheaded by the charasmatic Andrew Dixon, teaches aspiring culinary connoisseurs everything from bubble and squeak to thai green fish curry. Alexandra Fraser paid a visit.
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Hartwell House review: Bourbons, Roman gods and unbeatable luxury
Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire, where the exiled Louis XVIII took refuge in the early 19th century, has now become a grand country house hotel. Annunciata Elwes paid a visit.
