Mini bar, pepper spray pump, sound system: What the super-rich want in a panic room December 13, 2019 Most of us will never have the need for a panic room. The sum of our valuables and the size of our homes means dropping in a huge, heavy steel structure at a cost of (at least) hundreds of thousands of pounds doesn’t even cross our minds. Those who do find themselves in need of [...]
Four reasons why selling your house at Christmas might actually work December 13, 2019 Christmas is a time for many things. Family. Bad music. Overeating. One thing it’s not the time for is putting your home on the market. Or is it? According to some London agents, selling your house during the holidays might not be the complete no-no that you think. Here are some reasons why you might [...]
Inside ‘co-living’: the flats where millennials trade living space for free craft workshops and yoga December 12, 2019 My alarm goes off at 6.30am, which means it’s time for yoga. As I wipe the sleep from my eyes, I glance around the unfamiliar apartment I’ve just spent the night in, which doesn’t take long because it’s barely bigger than a walk-in wardrobe. I get dressed and stumble out the door, traipsing down the [...]
Bangkok 2049: What do the next three decades hold for this neon metropolis? December 11, 2019 It looked like volleyball from afar. Up close, I realised the players were only using their feet. And the ball was hollow; a spherical rattan of bamboo. Sepak Takraw (or “Muzzle”) was being played with brio by a group of local boys on Phutharet Square, a Thai time capsule in Old City Bangkok. They invited [...]
The unexpected consequences of gorilla conservation in Uganda December 11, 2019 Standing in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, I’m dodging a light hail of fruits being thrown down by gorillas in the trees above. The animals climb down and gallop through the undergrowth. While they roly-poly down the steep slopes, we chase them in a less dexterous fashion, slipping onto our backsides and hoping we don’t roll in [...]
Property of the Week: A quirky Georgian terrace in Bow – complete with pool December 6, 2019 Bow, the formerly industrial district of East London, isn’t renowned for its grand period properties – so there is considerable excitement among buyers when one does come on to the market. Such is the case with this five-bedroom property on Bow Road, which is not only an example of a beautifully-preserved Georgian period house, but [...]
Holiday homes: Limassol seeks new lease of life as a luxury property hotspot December 6, 2019 Cyprus has long been a favourite family holiday destination – sunny nearly all year round, moderately priced and famed for its homely Mediterranean cuisine and relaxed atmosphere. Glitzy St Tropez it is not, but that is all set to change as Limassol – located on Cyprus’ south coast – sets its sights on becoming Europe’s [...]
A festive trip to Harrods reveals Insta-ready windows and a new Homes section December 6, 2019 For a special Christmas treat, when I was a child we always went to see Santa in his grotto in a department store. If Harrods is your go-to grotto (he’s been there since 1955), your children will encounter the bearded one in a Secret Forest decorated with Swarovski crystal (a girl’s second-best friend). Visiting last [...]
Focus on Southgate: Second steppers find space in this family home hotspot December 6, 2019 Southgate in North London is a magnet for families, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does it have high-performing schools and an abundance of ample-sized properties, it also has plenty of green space (Grovelands, Broomfield and Oakwood parks are all nearby) and excellent links to central London thanks to its zone four Piccadilly [...]
Fitness advice: Ways to help your staff stay in shape December 3, 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 [...]