Giant panda numbers are up: see them in Chengdu February 23, 2014 They famously eat shoots and leaves. LISA YOUNG gets up-close and personal with the Chinese city’s most famous residents IT’S a warm August morning, the time of year when the sizzling Chengdu summer gives way to cooler climes. Chengdu sits in a fog-filled bowl 500 metres above sea level in the Sichuan Province of south [...]
Las Vegas comes to the city: The greatest show in town February 23, 2014 LUXURY travel company Abercrombie & Kent is hosting an exclusive Las Vegas-themed event to promote its lavish breaks in Sin City. The ticket-only evening will see the firm’s swanky Cheapside store converted into a slice of Vegas, with roulette tables, craps and showgirls to get you in the mood for the ultimate city break. Even [...]
Vampire films never get old… or do they? February 20, 2014 FILMONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVECert 15 | By Steve DinneenThree Stars ONLY Lovers Left Alive is a movie with vampires in it, but it’s not really a vampire movie. It hemorrhages introspection and indie sensibility rather than horror panache. There’s hardly any blood in it. If I were the kind of writer who used bad puns, [...]
The M235i is petrol-head nirvana February 17, 2014 BMW has outdone itself with this riotously fast, remarkably good value addition to its world-beating M-range America: land of the free, home of the brave – a famous phrase that probably wasn’t meant to apply to the speed limits. Which is tricky, given this new BMW M235i does 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, and the local [...]
Not convinced? February 17, 2014 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… PORSCHE CAYMAN PDK PRICE: £41,616 0-62MPH: 5.6 secs TOP SPEED: 164mph CO2 G/KM: 180g/km MPG COMBINED: 36.7mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Five Stars PRACTICALITY Two Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Three Stars MERCEDES-BENZ CLA45 AMG PRICE: £42,265 0-62MPH: 4.6 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph (limited) CO2 G/KM: 161g/km MPG COMBINED: 39.8mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three [...]
Iceland: the world’s most dramatic landscapes February 16, 2014 There may only be one proper city in Iceland, but with geysers, volcanic caves, and grinding tectonic plates, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into YOU WILL get lost in Iceland: not geographically, but inside your head. It’s easy to get disorientated when stepping out in swimming gear, exposing your vulnerable flesh to temperatures well [...]
Ultimate breaks: This week’s top luxury trips February 16, 2014 EXTREME HOLIDAYS For those looking for extreme adventure on their holiday, check out Abercrombie & Kent’s Pioneer’s Collection. The extreme holidays include the chance to test your nerve flying a supersonic fighter jet in Russia, ascend Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, by the most challenging route or push yourself to the limits with a skiing expedition [...]
Internet dating – literally… February 13, 2014 FILM HER Cert 15 | By Alex Dymoke Five Stars HER is set in a hazily utopian Los Angeles of the not too distant future. At night the city is lit up like the milky way. During the day it looks like a Google advert, with streets full of serene, handsome people gliding along in [...]
Review: King Lear February 11, 2014 Sam Mendes’ recent musical production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory only really gathered pace after the interval. It was as if the director couldn’t be bothered with all the establishing stuff and was just waiting to get inside the wacky psychedelic funhouse that is Wonka’s factory, with all its potential for spectacular set pieces [...]
An electric car that truly electrifies February 10, 2014 The first electric city cars didn’t pass muster. Now, Volkswagen has finally given us one to get excited about FRANKLY, we’ve waited far too long for an alternative to the infernal G-Wiz. The original electric city car has been on London’s roads for a decade now, ferrying glum-looking owners for whom the zero-emissions dream was [...]