Deep in the foothills of southern Austria lies a quiet town as-of-yet undiscovered by British holiday goers, a fact which a selection of newly-built luxury chalets are hoping to change. Alexandra Fraser paid a visit.
Amid steams and waterfalls, Rose Cottage boasts a stunning tea garden perfect for hosting a few friends – or 185 neighbours.
As the excitement of last night begins to fade into memory, we hold dear in our hearts those who are about to embark on months and months of careful planning, menu tasting and reckless spending. Alexandra Fraser presents to you everything you (may or may not) need to get through the wedding planning season and your special day.
Highfield House hides behind its high walls but slopes down to a garden which reveals views of Totnes, Dartmoor and beyond.
93 Southmoor Road provides the perfect combination of city living and country lifestyle, ideal for those wanting to move out of the city but not let go of the excitement just yet.
There's nothing quite as good as something you absolutely don't need, but still want anyway. Because really, assuming you have food, water and a safe place to sleep, what really is essential? Alexandra Fraser takes her regular look at some of life's little luxuries.
With the chill of winter comes misty mornings and mountainous snowdrifts... a host of elements which combine to create the perfect landscape for beautiful nature photography.
Sphinx, one house of a small community built on Pharoah's Island, is set on half an acre of land and accompanied by not a small amount of history.
The chill of February is ill-fated to be accompanied by a day dedicated to those lucky few among us who succeeded in surviving the stress of the festive season. It is for this group of people that we present a collection of utterly inessential products and experiences with which to say "I love you". For the rest of you, we recommend gin.
In a world infested with 'must-have', 'don't miss' and 'buy now', one list stands alone as the voice of reason: this list, where everything is both entirely marvellous and completely unnecessary. Welcome, dear friends, to Utterly Inessential.
These stunning highlights from the 11th annual International Garden Photographer of the Year competition will be on display at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew for a month from early February.
In the wake of Strictly Come Dancing, Alexandra Fraser convinced her partner to join her on a seven-week ballroom dancing course in London to discover how hard it really is to pick up what is fast becoming a dying art.
We’ve all heard the famous old wives' tale – but is there any truth to it, or is it merely a ploy to keep small fingers away from snapping beaks? Alexandra Fraser finds out.
With the Crossrail predicted to open later this year, homes in Berkshire are more attractive to city commuters than ever. This is certainly the case with this 15th century family home, beautifully finished and ready for a new owner.
Country Life 9 January 2019 celebrates the happy accidents of the canine world, visits our country's stunning snowdrops and showcases crumble recipes sure to warm your heart.
Battling through the devastating fires of 2017 and 2018, Sonoma County still perseveres as a beautiful tourism location, overflowing with delicious vineyards, spellbinding redwoods and famous residents, each of which have made their own unique mark on the area. Alexandra Fraser paid a visit.
A new year, a new you and a new list of utterly inessentials to purchase. Alexandra Fraser takes a look at a few little luxuries which, in a world too full of strife and woe, will help ease your way through life with a smile on your face.
This year has been a stunning one for Country Life photography and we're lucky to have been able to share so many with you on our Instagram feed. From the queen and her gorgeous labradors to the rolling landscapes of this stunning country, we hope you enjoy the 20 best-loved posts of 2018. To see our entire gallery of photographs, follow @countrylifemagazine on Instagram.
2018 saw us travel to Mauritius and back, to the finest hotels in the Alps and to some of our classically British country manor hotels, just a short drive from home. See our best stories from this year for some inspiration: where will you go next year?
