Christmas
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With love from Father Christmas: J.R.R. Tolkien's enchanting Christmas letters to his children
For nearly a quarter of a century, J. R. R. Tolkien sent his children elaborate letters and pictures from the North Pole. Ben Lerwill explores the penmanship, kindness and magic that went into Letters From Father Christmas.
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11 of the best gins to buy this Christmas
Our Christmas gin special includes some of our favourites available right now.
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10 perfect Christmas gifts for gadget lovers, from £25 to £3,694.99
Whether it's your eccentric uncle, your half-sibling with an exotic lifestyle or the person you've been married to for 23 years, it's not always easy picking presents for overgrown schoolboys. Lucky for you that Hetty Lintell and Toby Keel are here to help.
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Christmas gifts for nature and garden lovers
If you're after a gift for somebody who loves the great outdoors – whether in their back garden or out in the wilderness – we've got an idea for you.
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Growing your own Christmas tree: Alan Titchmarsh on what to plant and where to plant it
Why buy your Christmas tree when you can grow your own and enjoy these handsome, statuesque trees all year round? Alan Titchmarsh offers his tips.
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Best Christmas gifts for outdoorsy people, from £12 to £9,900
If you're looking for a present for someone who loves getting out and about and finding new adventures, Toby Keel, Hetty Lintell and Alexandra Fraser have picked out some great Christmas gifts for lovers of the great outdoors.
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How to make Christmas jewellery shopping fun, with the wisdom and tips of Cassandra Goad
Choosing the perfect present needn’t be a chore — in fact, it should be fun. Choosing jewellery from Cassandra Goad is a good place to start, and Country Life's Luxury Editor Hetty Lintell picks out some of her favourites.
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14 perfect Christmas gift ideas for the man or woman who has everything
From beautiful books and artistic accessories to a weekend away in one of the country's most famous castles, these gifts from our carefully-selected partners offer options for everyone — no matter how tricky to buy for.
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24 Christmas disasters to make you feel better about burning the turkey, from poisoned guests to 7,000 acres of fire damage
Rough Christmas? Fear not, we have two dozen tales of how it could certainly get worse. Thank Kit Hesketh-Harvey.
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The nativity camels: Unbelievably clever, a tad greedy and undeniably festive
‘They know we’d never take them anywhere dangerous. They trust us so much.'
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Bubbly tips for the festive season: Drink British, ignore the silver spoon and abandon the coupe
Charlie Holland, head winemaker and CEO of Gusbourne, talks to Hetty Lintell about how and what to drink this Christmas.
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Gift ideas for those who love experiences
Experiences are the new kid on the block when it comes to Christmas presents, but their growing popularity is well-founded.
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The best mince pies in Britain 2019: Country Life's ultimate taste test
Mince pies maketh Christmas, but where will you find the very best? To save you the trouble, we’ve tried them all in the great Country Life mince-pie taste off.
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The Country Life Christmas message, by the Lord Bishop of Winchester: Jesus comes into our lives, our celebrations, and can inspire change
The Rt Revd Tim Dakin, the Lord Bishop of Winchester, writes a special Christmas message for readers of Country Life.
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The 12 party games of Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas land you with 12 days of enforced revelry. That’s 12 sub-sets of step-relations, 12 afternoons and evenings, 12 tailbacks on the M25. Kit Hesketh-Harvey suggests 12 games to keep you sane.
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Alan Titchmarsh: The best hyacinths and narcissi to bring flowers indoors at Christmas
Gardening writer and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh shares his tips on growing indoor bulbs to bring heavenly scents indoors at Christmas.
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Curious Questions: Why do we say 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Happy Christmas'?
Have you ever stopped to wonder why we say 'Merry Christmas' when for every other occasion we use the word 'happy' instead'? Probably not, but now we've pointed it out the reason will bug you until you've read the answer.
