The Name's Bond, James Bond

When Ian Fleming first sat down on a Caribbean beach to write his ‘spy story to end all spy stories’, could he ever have imagined how successful it would be? Daniel Pembrey delves deeper into the inspiration behind 007

Passage To Parliament

A recently restored town house in the shadow of Ripon Minster offered its owner a voice in Parliamentary elections. James Legard unravels its development.

Leave It To The Imagination

An enterprising production of C. S. Lewis’s enduring story and the clever staging of a famous mountaineering drama prove captivating

Jon Snow: ‘The Environment Should Be The Backdrop To Everything We Do'

The Channel 4 news presenter and tree champion on how he woke up to climate change.

Brains, Beauty And Bird Sense

Developed by the 4th Duke of Gordon, the handsome black-and-tan Gordon setter has fallen out of fashion as a gundog, but deserves our attention as a potential pet, discovers Matthew Dennison.

Bohemian Paradise

From John Keats to Dame Judi Dench–Hampstead has long been the home of Britain’s best, with good reason, discovers Carla Passino

Just A Spoonful Of Sugar

’Tis the season for a treat. The musical is vying with the pantomime as the traditional Christmas outing, but the main thing is that hearts are warmed and spirits cheered

In A World Of Pure Imagination

There may not be any Oompa Loompas, but The Chocolate Libertine’s mesmerising confections are more than a little reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s wares. Mark Palmer dives in

They're Justified And They're Ancient

There are many things that improve with age: firewood, wine, friends and most certainly cigars

The Squire And The Rectors

Two Georgian-era properties, one created by a noted hound breeder, the other by a series of clergymen, make rare appearances on the market

In The Library With The Lipstick

Agatha Christie set many of her murder mysteries in country houses. With the help of specially commissioned drawings by Matthew Rice, Jeremy Musson looks at the architecture of the buildings she knew and imagined

Holy Smoke!

Are much-derided kippers the new avocado on toast? Emma Hughes finds out

Halls Of Festive Cheer

Royal florist Shane Connolly tells Jacky Hobbs how garden evergreens and hedgerow clippings can make beautiful Christmas decorations

Going Round The Bend

From Stonehenge to modern apartment blocks, Nicola Venning explores the undying appeal of architectural curves

Doing It By The Book

Sir Quentin Blake reveals the inspiration behind his new exhibition, ‘Anthology of Readers’, in which he affectionately caricatures the bookish among us

A Blaze Of Northern Lights

The Scottish Colourists are enjoying a rare outing in the north and south of England. Mary Miers visits a pair of shows that dispel the winter gloom

Restoration Of The Decade

COUNTRY LIFE has asked a group of leading commentators and professionals to name their favourite restoration project– undertaken by somebody else–over the past decade. They reveal a rich, impressive and varied field of recent work

The Prince And The Park

A rare opportunity for London buyers can be found in the startling reinvention of John Nash’s Regent’s Crescent, finds Holly Kirkwood

The Beauty Of British Stone

Stone that’s home grown (and hewn) is best, says Artorius Faber’s creative director Nikki Chee

Glorifying Gardens

Celebrating the publication of her new book English Gardens, illustrated from the archives of COUNTRY LIFE, Kathryn Bradley-Hole charts the magazine’s extraordinary influence on our gardens

Lighting Conductor

Nick Trend enjoys an experimental new exhibition that explores the Dutch master’s use of light for dramatic effect

Pages Through The Ages

She has access to ancient texts, cares for private libraries around the world and has read the footnotes of Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West. Matthew Dennison meets library conservator Caroline Bendix

Down The Dell The Brooklet Softly Flows

Three hidden treasures– a house amid Hampshire water meadows, a Victorian schoolhouse in Cheshire and a Thames-side Georgian cottage–come to the market

A Penny-Farthing For Your Thoughts

The dinosaur of the bicycle world is back in the spotlight with the help of the Penny Farthing Club and its intrepid members, finds Madeleine Silver

An Architectural Self-Portrait

Following a boldly conceived restoration, the interest and quality of Sir John Soane’s Ealing villa shines out again.

A Bat And Ball Game

A life-long cricket fanatic who finds the game a cruel mistress, James Fisher heads to the MCC Academy at Lord’s to brush up on his skills

‘We Urgently Need A Fresh, Positive And Practical Vision For The Countryside'

In his birthday message, The Prince of Wales applauds efforts to combat climate change and acknowledges the urgent need to explain the value of the food our farmers produce

Slim Pickings

All hail the queen! The new El Rey del Mundo La Reina, which harks back to the days of long, slender cigars, could mark a turning point

Show Me The Way To Go Home

Gas lamps might sound like relics belonging to the past or the land of Narnia, but look closely and they are still illuminating our streets with their warm glow, reveals Harry Wallop

Make Britain Green Again

COUNTRYSIDE bodies have been jumping in early with their manifestos in a bid to put eco-friendly agriculture and better environmental protections at the heart of the preelection political discourse.