Rodrigues: The Indian Ocean’s hidden paradise November 29, 2019 Walking into Rodrigues’ Reserve François Leguat is one of those wild moments that will stay with you forever. As you enter a deep, green valley, you’re greeted by dozens of giant tortoises, which amble amiably towards you, ponderously dragging their massive bulk across the grass in the hope you’ll toss them a lime. They are [...]
New builds: homes on the market in London this weekend, including a former BHS in Ealing and shared ownership in the Docklands November 29, 2019 So Resi, Ealing From £106,000 for a 25 per cent share of a one-bed The former BHS store on Ealing Broadway has been transformed into a collection of one, two and three-bed apartments by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing. The building contains plenty of outdoor space, with a communal podium garden on the first floor and [...]
Fancy a Christmas tipple? Here are London’s best-dressed festive bars and hotels November 29, 2019 Since writing this column my bah humbug feeling about the run-up to Christmas has been transformed. Now that I am blissfully untouched by Christmas jingles bombarding me from shops and TV (thanks, internet), Christmas cheer is all around me as London slowly lights up. We are spoilt for choice in terms of where to gather, [...]
Opinion: Reservation agreements can take the stress out of selling your home November 29, 2019 Reservation agreements – the practice of buyers and sometimes sellers paying a fee to show their commitment to buying a property prior to exchange – are having their moment in the spotlight as the government is on the cusp of launching its official trial. Early in the new year, it will ask selected estate agents [...]
It’s hard to juggle work and wellness – here’s how companies can help staff stay healthy November 27, 2019 I am stressed because of work. I have no social life because of work. I have no time because of work. I drink too much because of work. I am overweight because of work. How many of these sentences apply to you? It’s easy to blame work for all our problems, but it’s an inescapable [...]
Harriet film review: Cynthia Erivo gives Tubman the biopic she deserves – no Julia Roberts required November 22, 2019 The story of Harriet Tubman has been waiting to be told for a long time. Shamefully the film has been in the works since the ‘90s, but, as its screenwriter and producer Gregory Allen Howard revealed in interviews this week, it didn’t get off the ground because executives thought the story of the 19th-century American [...]
First look: Zaha Hadid Architects’ flower-inspired lobby for Southbank Tower November 22, 2019 The critically-acclaimed firm of architects founded by the late Zaha Hadid is responsible for London cultural landmarks like the London Aquatics Centre built for the 2012 Olympic Games and the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in Hyde Park. Until now it had not worked on any residential projects in the UK, but it has just started a [...]
Forget chemicals – these organic Luke Irwin rugs are dyed with turmeric, peppers and rhubarb November 22, 2019 I love rugs – a room simply isn’t dressed without one. I didn’t think I could champion rugs any more than I already do until I spoke with Luke Irwin, who has been selling his eponymous brand since 2003 and recently moved to larger premises on Pimlico Road. Here, his richly textured creations are hung [...]
Property focus on Sloane Square: This 1980s hotspot is experiencing a revival November 22, 2019 It may be famed for being the social epicentre for the young and blue-blooded in the 1980s, having lent its name to the Sloane Ranger set which included Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson. But the area around Sloane Square is now getting a modern makeover – and vying with other parts of Chelsea and Mayfair [...]
The Bentley Bentayga Speed is officially the fastest SUV on sale. But should you buy one? November 18, 2019 Zero-point-six-two miles per hour. That slender margin – half the speed of a spider scuttling across your bathroom floor – is enough to make the Bentayga Speed the fastest SUV in the world. Yes, Lamborghini rounds up to an identical 190mph maximum for its second-placed Urus. But whether you’re blitzing a German autobahn or bragging [...]