Articles

Curious Questions: Did mince pies really once contain meat?

Martin Fone investigates the most traditional seasonal food of all: mince pies.

Tess Newall: 'People working from home want to feel that they are in a place that is inspiring and thoughtful'

Tess Newall has taken time off from painting murals to design a collection of wallpaper and lampshades, finds Eleanor Doughty. Photographs by Alun Callender.

Wild swimming in Scotland: Where to swim — and stay — in the Cairngorms

My Favourite Painting: Dr Fitzroy Morrissey

The author of 'A Short History of Islamic Thought' chooses a fascinating image from half a millennium ago.

James Bond's London: Where to see 007's haunts around the British capital

Carla Passino treads in the footsteps of James Bond and his creator, author Ian Fleming.

How to make a blackcurrant and quark cake to make the most of this succulent summer berry

Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson shares a mouthwatering blackcurrant cake recipe.

What you'll find in Country Life's 125th anniversary special issue, from houses and gardens to girls in pearls

Take a look inside Country Life 11 May 2022, our very special issue commemorating the magazine's 125th anniversary.

New looks for the Spring 2022 season, from dark dining rooms to fresh, bright living spaces

New furniture, wallpaper, rugs and accessories to enjoy, selected by Amelia Thorpe.

Effortlessly beautiful conservatory ideas for your home

As we tentatively start to believe that Spring might be here — or at least not too far away — Amelia Thorpe makes her pick of some of the best conservatories and conservatory furniture.

Barry Cryer: An anecdotal stroll through decades of comedic performance on stage, radio and TV

The peerless Barry Cryer on self-obsessed humour, an eczema cure and Boris Johnson.

Recipe: How to make wobbly cheesecake with clementines

In Focus: Dame Laura Knight, the genius written off by the snobs of the art world, finally getting recognition for her vibrancy and expression

She was a brilliant observer of boxers, ballet dancers, gypsies, horses, coastlines and women at war. To overlook the vitality of Dame Laura Knight’s work is nothing short of snobbery, argues Ian Collins.

The 10 types of cloud you'll see in Britain (and what they tell us about the weather)

How Bloomsbury became the cradle of British culture

For centuries before literary greats and intellectuals borrowed its name, Bloomsbury was a bucolic slice of countryside. Carla Passino takes a look at its history.

An Arts-and-Crafts mansion in Hampshire set in 50 acres of spectacular, rolling grounds

Penny Churchill takes a look at Conford Park House, a beautiful Arts-and-Crafts home in Hampshire that's been extensively modernised.

In Focus: The extraordinary William Morris, the man for whom the word polymath was coined

Famous for urging us to have nothing in our homes that is not useful or beautiful, William Morris’s masterful command of pattern and Arts-and-Crafts design masked a deeply unhappy marriage, says Michael Montagu.

'Ballooning has a beauty to it, a magic and a mystery — you are defying gravity and you never quite know where you will end up'

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Thomas the Tank Engine, van Gogh’s head, a pair of Levi’s and a Tyrannosaurus Rex... Julie Harding enters the weird world of Cameron Balloons.

What you need to know before trying to save a crumbling country pile

What resources are needed to save a country house on the brink? Lucy Denton investigates.

The finest outdoor kitchens and grills

The smartest kit for outdoor cooks, chosen by Amelia Thorpe.

Why cauliflowers forced me to break every rule about what I grow in my garden

Mark Diacono has three strict guidelines for what he will and won't cultivate himself — yet cauliflower has forced his hand. He explains why.