The inaugural topiary awards are open now
Britain's best topiary artists, both professional and amateur, are being sought out in a new topiary award.
News
The latest property news and countryside & culture news
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The art dealer who bet £500,000 on a hunch, and ended up with a long-lost Old Master worth millions
A seemingly insignificant painting sold in 2022 turned out to be a lost masterpiece — and it's now on display in Britain. Carla Passino tells the tale.
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The RNLI's 200-year journey from being set up in a pub to saving tens of thousands of lives
The brave men and women of the RNLI have been working for two centuries to save the lives of those whose vessels have run in to trouble in the seas around Britain. In 2024 this national institution is celebrating its 200th anniversary in style.
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How much? A baby born today may have to pay more than £500,000 for its first home
Research reveals that if house prices continue to rise at historical rates, those born today may struggle to get on the ladder.
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The buzz is back, says British Beekeepers Association, which celebrates its 150th anniversary
The number of beekeepers and hives has increased since the lows of the early 2000s, but there is still more to be done to protect our pollinators.
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What (not) to wear at the Cheltenham Festival
Tips from an expert stylist on what to wear at one of the highlights of the racing calendar: the Cheltenham Festival.
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Spring Budget 2024: A ‘missed opportunity’ in the housing market
Against a noisy backdrop, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed a series of property tax changes in the Spring Budget. So who were the winners and losers?
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Trafalgar Square celebrates 25 years of Fourth Plinth art — but is it time for a permanent piece?
Seven shortlisted ideas for the next stint on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square are currently on display — but some say it is now time for a more permanent fixture.
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Handbags, Ferraris and priceless paintings — these are a few of our favourite things (to invest in)
Knight Frank's Luxury Investment Index for 2023 reveals what the rich and famous have been buying and selling, and whether their investments are going up or down.
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Country Life's Top 100: The magic of timelessness
Giles Kime's executive editor and interiors guru — and the man in charge of putting together our annual Country Life Top 100 — on what binds together our pick of the 100 best architects, designers and craftspeople in Britain.
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Housing market back on the up, and buyers 'resorting to bribery' to secure their dream homes
Why the housing market could be turning a corner, how a quarter of buyers have tried to ‘bribe’ sellers to bag their perfect home, and more. Here's our round-up of what's happening in the world of bricks and mortar.
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The heart-stopping work of removing a 150-year-old stained glass masterpiece from one of Britain's greatest cathedrals
One of Salisbury Cathedral's most famous stained glass windows is being restored — and that means it must be removed in a painstaking process.
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North Yorkshire village is the latest to turn down the lights and become 'dark-skies friendly'
Hawnby is the first 'dark sky friendly' village in the North York Moors and residents are already starting to see positive results from dimming the lights
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Downsizers 'boost retirement pot by £1,200 a month', while gazundering starts to run rampant
Where downsizers can unlock the most (and least), why 26% of sellers have been gazundered, and more. Annabel Dixon runs through what you need to know in the world of bricks and mortar.
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'Stonehenge of the North' saved for the nation
The future of the Neolithic site at Thornborough Henges — which has been dubbed 'The Stonehenge of the North' — has been secured, and the site saved for the nation. Annunciata Elwes reports.
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The re-making of Notre Dame: An extraordinary achievement by any measure
Country Life's cultural columnist Athena on the astonishing progress being made in the rebuilding of Notre-Dame de Paris — and how an exhibition in London shows what is being done.
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J.B. Priestly's glorious manor house, with secret passages and rotating bookcase, comes up for sale on the Isle of Wight
J.B. Priestley’s former home is brimming with history and intrigue, from a unique bookcase to a secret passage once used by smugglers. The plot thickens...
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Spring has officially sprung, according to some plants in Cornwall
Six magnolia trees in Cornwall have flowered, signalling the end of winter, according to a tradition that's been running for the past 12 years.
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Power to the people — community-owned businesses a proving to be a nationwide success
Pubs, cafés and shops that are run for the community, by the community, are becoming increasingly popular.
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Scottish farmers and stakeholders sceptical over new plans for National Parks
A recent summit hosted by NFU Scotland is questioning the evidence on the benefits of national parks, with worries that they may negatively impact local farmers and communities.
