IF HENRY Beck were alive today, it is doubtful he would ever have to buy himself a drink: a long line of grateful London Underground users would get there first. His remarkable foresight saw the Tube map transformed in 1931 from chaotic, wiggly, multicoloured strands of spaghetti, with almost indecipherable station names written at jaunty angles, to the clearer format millions rely on today. However, for all Beck's good work, we wager The Field's Guide to the Underground will present an infinitely more recognisable map of town to readers.
BOND STREET
A visit to Purdey in South Audley Street is essential: not only has the gunmaker been assigned the Royal Warrant by every monarch since Queen Victoria, but the walk from the Tube takes in no end of must-dos while in town. Spot the shrewd wives encouraging husbands into Savile Row tailors knowing it makes the suggestion of 'popping into Burlington Arcade to pick up something soft and sumptuous in N Peal or Pickett hard to refuse, but watch out for those alluringly sparkly Bond Street jewellers. The attraction of this part of town isn't just gun slips and cashmere: Annabel's and 5 Hertford Street are just some of the upper-crust after-dark haunts.
GREEN PARK
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Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.
Fodder
Local fare with the feel-good factor.
Celebrating the game changers
Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross
The first civil engineer
John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever
School spirits
From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure
Top of the pups
Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief
Angling for success
It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help
Talking scents
The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years
Wall-to-wall excitement
Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference
