Big boys’ toys, trips & tips

No Mr Bond, I expect you to drive: The Rolls-Royce dripping in gold created to celebrate 60 years since Goldfinger

The story of how 007 creator Ian Fleming came to write Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang

Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, our fine four-fendered friend, turns 60 on October 22nd. Mary Miers relives the adventures of the magical flying car and reveals the little-known story of its creation by Ian Fleming, as the writer turned his attention from the world of 007 to a children's tale.

More Champagne, madam? The beautiful train journeys that bring back the Golden Age of travel

The romance and glamour of taking a trip on an original steam train is hard to resist, and all the more so when paired with fine dining and opulent surroundings. Octavia Pollock took a trip to find out more.

'Where new money transforms into old, via a century’s worth of luxury automobiles': A report from Monterey Car Week

Vintage Mercedes, classic Porsches, and a best-in-show Bugatti, combined with cravats and Stetsons. The only thing more interesting than the cars is the people, writes Adam Hay Nicholls.

Cooking baked beans in an Aston Martin, rubbing shoulders with Beyoncé and sneaking onto yachts at Monaco, with Adam Hay-Nicholls

The motoring and travel journalist Adam Hay-Nicholls joins James Fisher on the Country Life Podcast this week.

Getting off-grid on wheels and in luxury — a tour of Scotland's western coast

Scotland's West Coast is one of the world's great natural wonders. What better way to explore it than in one of Wingbeat Escape's luxurious campervans?

‘We nearly drowned a couple of times. I loved it': Meet the royal boat builder who's spent 45 years chasing perfection

Spending his days working with traditional techniques and timber as Old Father Thames flows by only feet away, boatbuilder Mark Edwards’s career is steeped in history, Hollywood and royalty, discovers Ben Lerwill.

The £20,000 watch made from the wing of a Spitfire shot down in the Second World War

The ultimate enthusiast's timepiece?

Tanks, tulips and taxidermy: The strange lives of Britain's most eccentric collectors

Five collectors of unusual things, from taxidermy to tanks, tulips to teddies, explain their passions to Country Life. Interviews by Agnes Stamp, Tiffany Daneff, Kate Green and Octavia Pollock. Photographs by Millie Pilkington, Mark Williamson and Richard Cannon.

Perfect Father’s Day gifts for dads who deserve it

There are many ways to show your dad that you love and appreciate him. There's breakfast in bed, an offer to mow the lawn, a big hug and the offer of the last biscuit. Or you could just buy him something that he definitely doesn't need, but we're pretty sure he'll want.

The Aston Martin Vantage review: A fusion of love, joy and metal

The 2024 Aston Martin Vantage is the two seater sports car of your dreams. Or it is, if you're Toby Keel.

Curious Questions: When — and why — did we stop wearing hats?

The hat was once as essential for leaving the house as a pair of trousers, but the sight of a dapper gent sporting one is now all too rare, laments John F. Mueller, while Toby Keel takes a look at the reasons we stopped wearing them.

'One of the most amazing things in terms of food in this country' — How a tower of thorns makes salt

Made with wind, sea and thorns on the wild west coast of Scotland, Blackthorn Salt brings surprising health benefits, as well as being a unique example of sustainable craftsmanship.

My week surviving on an uninhabited Scottish island

Patrick Galbraith joins the Country Life podcast to talk about his week living on the uninhabited island of Scarba, off the west coast of Scotland.

Six perfect Christmas gifts for gadget lovers

Dreaming of a tech-filled Christmas? Here are six gadgets to hit the spot.

The penny-farthing rider who made a 400-mile trek across war-torn Ukraine

Is it still possible to use a penny-farthing today? The answer is an emphatic yes, at least if you're former Special Forces officer and adventurer Neil Laughton. He rode his Victorian high wheeler for 400 miles across war-torn Ukraine, doing everything from making pizza for local children to raising money for charity. Here he tells his tale.

The traditional British toy makers still crafting wooden tops, rocking-horses and teddy bears

From automata to wooden dogs with jointed legs, members of the British Toymakers Guild have crafted a cornucopia of intriguing playthings that are not only for children, says Claire Jackson.

The 21st century sword maker: 'There’s something appealing about getting metal hot and smacking it with a hammer'

Practising ancient techniques to craft modern heirlooms, bladesmith Owen Bush handmakes both decorative and practical knives or weaponry, each with their own personalities, says Claire Jackson — with some of his swords celebrities in their own right. Photographs by Richard Cannon for Country Life.

In Focus: Mallard, the steam locomotive that's a true British masterpiece

Sir Nigel Gresley's Mallard steam locomotive is one of the great pieces of 20th century engineering. Jack Watkins tells its tale.

Best Christmas gifts for gadget lovers, from iPads and headphones to tablets and keyboards

We take a look at the gadgety gifts your loved ones will love, from Apple's lovely AirPods to the latest tablets.