How the Victorian obsession with a shade of green was driving them slowly insane February 24, 2017 Toward the end of the 19th century, a silent pandemic had swept the country. The deadly malaise is hinted at in writing of the time, and well documented in the journals of confounded medical practitioners. A mysterious sickness would strike without warning and seemingly at random, driving certain individuals mad and rotting their flesh, while [...]
Buy a house worth worshipping like one of these ultra-ambitious and clever church conversions February 24, 2017 British buyers in particular want to tick three boxes when they go house-hunting; location, space and character. Church conversions offer all three. They’re often in the centre of town, where they would have been convenient for parishioners; have high ceilings and a generous footprint; and are often packed with historical details and period features. Here [...]
Focus On Paddington: With Crossrail, a £775m glass cube and new homes, W2 is about to become one of London’s next property hotspots February 24, 2017 Believe it or not, Paddington, synonymous for so long with its eponymous cartoon bear and its fantastic transport links, is one of the most undervalued places in Prime Central London. Within walking distance to Hyde Park, Oxford Circus and smart neighbourhoods like Mayfair and Knightsbridge, it’s nevertheless not traditionally seen as a great residential location. [...]
New homes: The new properties going on sale this weekend in White City, Upton Park, Putney, Chelsea and St James February 24, 2017 Television Centre, White City From £750,000 New homes are going on sale tomorrow at the iconic former home of the BBC in west London. One to three bedroom apartments will go on the market, all with balconies overlooking Hammersmith Park’s Japanese ornamental garden, which was created in 1910 as part of the Japan-Britain exhibition. They [...]
Patriots Day film review: A moving, yet flawed, dramatisation of the Boston Marathon bombings February 24, 2017 The Hollywoodification of recent American history continues with this dramatisation of the Boston Marathon bombings and the subsequent hunt for the terrorists behind the attacks. It starts off promisingly, following a number of Bostonians as they make plans to watch the annual race on their day off. The lead up to the atrocity itself is [...]
America After the Fall depicts the pain and the anxiety of America following the Wall Street Crash February 23, 2017 Hot on the heels of its Russian Revolution exhibition downstairs, the RA continues on an exciting trajectory in its programming with an equally intriguing – and rigorously curated – show in its Sackler Wing, focusing on American art in the decade following the Wall Street Crash of October 1929. Much has been made of the [...]
Twelfth Night at the National Theatre review: Grieg doesn’t disappoint in this energetic, skilful show February 23, 2017 The worst productions of Shakespeare’s comedies supplement dated jokes with bawdy thrusting and innuendo. But the best just as much scope for innovation than any of the history plays or the tragedies. Thankfully, this production of Twelfth Night falls deftly into the latter category; it’s a vibrant, energetic flight of fancy that’s just as skillful [...]
Electricity: The Spark of Life at the Wellcome Collection is an informative history of everyone’s favourite form of energy February 23, 2017 Frogs appear at several major junctures in the history of electricity. I know, right? I was surprised too, but our amphibian friends are dotted throughout the Wellcome Collection’s new exhibition about everybody’s favourite form of energy, electricity. The very first object you see, in fact, is a frog-shaped amber pendant from Ancient Greece. Long before [...]
Forget five a day: 10 a day is better if you want to live longer February 23, 2017 If you thought the five-a-day fruit and vegetable advice was unrealistic, think again. Although fewer than one in three UK adults manage to meet the recommended target, scientists at Imperial College London now say the greatest benefits come from eating 800g of fruit and veg per day, roughly the equivalent of 10 portions. Five portions [...]
Strike the perfect work-play balance with this amazing mews property that has a separate office space in Notting Hill February 23, 2017 Walking down Ledbury Road, you’re flanked by the ice cream-coloured terraces and petite boutiques that make Notting Hill one of the most desirable and picturesque residential spots in London. As the heavy black walls of The Ledbury restaurant approach, like a high-security compound for Michelin-starred food, you could be forgiven for missing Powis Mews, a [...]