CATEGORIES

Just Around The Corner

From castles to coppersmiths, bunkers and buildings made of seashells, a walking tour of Guernsey is full of surprises

I'll Drink To That

With sterling dedication, James Fisher visited as many Guernsey pubs as possible–here are his recommendations

How To Make A Move

Some dream, others make it happen. Holly Kirkwood talks to two families who have relocated to Guernsey to see how they made it work

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

THE sweet, black dessert grapes that flourish on The Great Vine at Hampton Court Palace must have delighted the palate of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, who planted the impressive specimen 250 years ago, during the reign of George III.

Living National Treasure

PHILIP REED describes his need to build model ships as an obsession. ‘At best, it provides total, meditative absorption—at worst, total frustration,’ he discloses.

Summer Leaving

AS the Isley Brothers almost said, summer leaves make me feel fine. As much as I love barbecued delights, sunny weather makes me crave clean, fresh leaves to go with them or redress the balance—some as plain and crisp as frost, others lively and bold as brass. Dedicating a small space to growing your own salads and other embellishments will keep you in money can’t-buy flavours and combinations and takes little effort or outlay.

The Secret Life Of An Heirloom

Matthew Dennison uncovers the remarkable travels of some of the world’s greatest artworks, often lost, hidden and rediscovered.

The Play's The Thing

Is it a play within a play or a ploy within a ploy? Two works, written centuries apart, prove thought-provoking.

Shooting From The Hip

For centuries, the sporting bond has been sealed by a sip or a slugfrom a shared hip flask. Flora Watkins salutes this most convivial of traditions and recommends three spirit-lifting concoctions

Jumping's The Name Of The Game

For many racegoers, the changing of the clocks signals the start of the National Hunt season proper. MarcusArmytagereveals his top horses, trainersandjockeys

Cult Status

ET me now praise Emmenopterys henryi. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t have an English name, which isn’t surprising because you don’t often see it in European gardens.

The Future Is Now

Canada has got a head start on exciting property industry technology, as Carla Passino explains

Bathing In Beauty - The Roman Baths, Bath, Somerset

In the late 19th century, the eponymous hot baths of this city were recast in their modern form. Clive Aslet describes this fascinating transformation

High On A Hill Lived A Lonely Laird

IN direst January, the lovelorn laird from the west threw in the towel and fled south.

A Passion For Pattern

The textile designer Molly Mahon is sharing her enthusiasm for block printing through teaching, says Arabella Youens

Currying Favour

Pulses have long been the base of stews, curries and soups. Julie Harding meets the man who brought lentils back to grow in the UK

Our Friends Electric

We all know we should be driving electric-powered cars, but what are the practicalities of owning one? Charles Rangeley-Wilson considers the best models for a trip down electric avenue in the countryside

At Bagatelle, Admire ‘The Best The World Has Seen'

THE market for roses is driven by novelty—and always has been since French nurserymen started large-scale rose-breeding 200 years ago.

The Wide Blue Yonder

Santa Marina, Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

Zen And The Art Of Zoning

When designing an an open-plan apartment, the secret to success lies in creating distinct zones

The Designer's Room

A versatile living space created by Bunny Turner for a London apartment

Oh, For The Wings Of A Butterfly!

A display of orchids at this year’s Chatsworth Flower Show is a chance to glimpse the sort of ‘orchidmania’ that gripped 19th-century plant collectors

Lights, Camera, Action!

Welcoming a film crew into your home can bring fame and a little fortune

Explore All Avenues

Far from bringing Nature to heel, Britain’s finest avenues of trees awe us with their powers

Why We Lead The World In Watercolours

From Turner’s luminous paintings on a grand scale to Towne’s meticulous landscapes and Ravilious’s soft evocations of the South Downs, Huon Mallalieu applauds the enduring legacy of the great British watercolour.

In Praise Of A Cult Classic

The hyacinth was one of the most celebrated flowers in the Classical world, but later, like its compatriot the tulip, it ‘went from cult, to craze, to commonplace’. Mark Griffiths traces the rise, fall and rise again of an anciently revered bloom and Jacky Hobbs visits a remarkable National Collection.

Not Such A New Boy Now

The headmaster of Summer Fields on a political and educational legacy

Prepare To Be Amazed

Clive Aslet unravels the remarkable story of Randoll Coate, maker of extraordinary mazes for a range of distinguished clients

Preserved To Perfection

Lyddington Palace, Rutland In the care of English Heritage. A residence of the Bishop of Lincoln, converted into an almshouse, offers a unique insight into the realities of grand domestic life in England in about 1500.

It's Not All Black and White

From Wonderland to Hogwarts, the battle between pawns, knights and kings has raged for centuries. Matthew Dennison discovers how chess won a place in British culture.