CATEGORIES

History set in stone

Four extraordinary country houses new to the market include an original 'West Country Ziggurat' and a manor once part of the Highgrove estate

Long to reign over us

What are the origins of our national anthem? John Goodall investigates the extraordinary story behind both the tune and the words, as well as their influence on other nations

Fit for a monarch

Platinum is one of the world's rarest metals and fiendishly difficult to master. Sarah Royce-Greensill looks back at its discovery and meets the jewellers brave enough to use it

'It was spine tingling'

The choristers at the Coronation are now in their eighties, but recall vividly the day they sang for The Queen, as Andrew Green discovers

Kitchen garden cook - Cherries

Melanie Johnson makes a showstopping pavlova

The fairest of them all

From ancient châteaux to sweeping vineyard views, Carolyn Boyd has the pick of France's most beautiful villages

Trade up

From a Moroccan hideaway to a romantic Italian tower, these spectacular properties are all for sale at the price of a one-bedroom flat in Putney, finds Holly Kirkwood

In a league of its own

Letitia Clark embraces Sardinia's distinctive culture, bold colours and pared-down cooking

Half the size, triple the fun

Headstrong little characters that turn heads wherever they go, Welsh terriers might look like miniature Airedales, but they have a personality entirely of their own, finds Katy Birchall

The houses of contentment

The need for diversification to keep estates afloat is nothing new-but be it Irish whiskey or Welsh gin, country-house brews look like the next big thing, believes Matthew Dennison

Life's a beach

From towering sea stacks to endangered penguins, the world's most interesting beaches offer more than pristine sand and crystalline waters, finds Antonia Windsor

Food, glorious food

Three grand gourmands reveal their ideal place to live abroad to Eleanor Doughty

Here's looking at ewe, kid

Tasked with shearing his neighbour's sheep late on a warm June night, the clickety-click of John Lewis-Stempel's metal hand-shears is accompanied by a vociferous twilight chorus of crickets, birds and bats

A spark of genius

Living abroad proved inspirational for four great British minds, as Carla Passino discovers

A winning combination

A clean, green structure balanced by romantic billowy planting is the key to this beautifully judged garden, reveals Non Morris

Capturing the royal gaze

Over the course of her reign, more than 1,000 artists have been invited to paint Her Majesty. Charlotte Mullins reveals some of the secrets behind seven of the most recognisable

To honour our Queen

The Household Cavalry faces the busiest season in its 360-year history, but its dedicated men and women are ready for the challenge, reports Octavia Pollock

A fine mess

Former military buildings sold off as the armed forces modernise can be architectural gold dust to discerning developers, finds

The plants are the thing

Flower Show was much better than I expected

Land of dreams

Three large farming estates in some of the prettiest corners of England come to market

One ring to rule them all

A man of many obsessions, Jonathan Self was recently inspired to commission a new signet ring to add to his collection–this one representing his own life, in the style of those worn by medieval merchants

Powell-Cotton Museum dioramas

DIGITAL technology has expanded the range of ways via which museums convey stories to the public, but you can’t beat a diorama for inciting a sense of awe in Nature. Those at the Powell-Cotton Museum in Quex Park, Kent, reawaken the feelings of wonder and exhilaration from childhood, when first going to a zoo or opening a vividly illustrated book of exotic beasts.

Ollie Dabbous

The Michelin-starred chef-patron of Hide talks to Flora Watkins about cooking up a storm for Royal Ascot and why Holland Park is home

If you can't beat them, hire them

England look to emulate their opponents, New Zealand, to lay the foundations for future success. Will it succeed, asks James Fisher

Access all areas

On June 11 and 12, hundreds of private and hidden gardens will open their gates to the public for London Square Open Gardens Weekend. Natasha Goodfellow enjoys a preview

A lot on their plate

Lord Byron chose his coat of arms, Sigmund Freud the riddle of the sphinx and Walt Disney Mickey Mouse, but, be they miniature works of art or merely a chance to show off, John F. Mueller finds all bookplates to be fascinating

A taste of honey

Aphids might be the bane of gardeners' lives, but they act as pastry chefs to yellow meadow ants and are the favoured snack of both ladybirds and lacewings, finds Ian Morton

‘Believe nothing to be impossible'

‘No harder than dancing the Charleston’, according to Lady Heath, flying planes was all the rage for the women of the 1930s, explains Charles Harris

With a spring in its step

Kathryn Bradley-Hole selects some of the many highlights of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which at long last returns to its traditional May slot

To ring a nightingale

On a cold spring morning, Patrick Galbraith held a nightingale in the palm of his hand. Yet, by the time he has grandchildren, this amazing little bird may have sung its last