The cult of cute: The strange drama of corporate mascots April 21, 2026 While they remind us of our childhoods, mascots are as much a part of corporate culture as ever. Simon Coates asks why Last winter the language learning app Duolingo announced the death of its cartoon mascot, Duo the Owl. Duo had died, they said, after being hit by a car while he was waiting for [...]
Is The Killingworth Castle the best gastropub in the Cotswolds? April 21, 2026 In these times of global turmoil, the humble British staycation holds more allure than ever, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better, more accessible option than The Killingworth Castle in the Cotswolds. This outrageously handsome 17th century inn and stables is one of those places that’s so old it would scramble the brain [...]
I had 261,305 unread emails: What I learned from my Inbox Zero experiment April 21, 2026 After hitting over a quarter of a million unopened emails, Anna Moloney decided it was time to act. But can Inbox Zero actually bring peace?
New Lola T70S is a reborn – and road-legal – 1960s race car April 20, 2026 The legendary Lola T70 is making a comeback – and buyers can choose between race-ready or road-legal versions of this 1960s sports racer. The original Lola T70 dominated the first Can-Am Championship in 1966, and claimed victories in the Daytona 24 Hours and RAC Tourist Trophy. Notable drivers included John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, [...]
Volkswagen Golf R 2026 long-term review: First report April 20, 2026 The Volkswagen Golf R ticks a lot of boxes on paper, but what is this 333hp hot hatchback like to live with? Tim Pitt finds out. If you could only own one car, what would it be? My initial impulse says a Ferrari F40 – the poster I had blu-tacked to my bedroom wall. However, [...]
Living by water is a London lifestyle hack. Here’s where to look April 20, 2026 People pay over the odds to purchase property by it, holiday by it and go for rides on it – and we’re even born in it. Experts have long acknowledged that humans are drawn to water for feelings of calmness and serenity. Whether or not that is because of the womb is debateable but highly [...]
The watch podcast disrupting the ‘pale, male and stale’ image April 17, 2026 Rashawn Smith and Perri Dash are hoping to change your mind about the watch industry, one podcast at a time, says Laura McCreddie-DoakUnless you’re investigating a cold case, finding a following in the world of podcasting can be difficult. But the Wrist Check Pod seemed to enter the world fully formed when it launched in [...]
In the watch world, exposed movements usurp the vintage revival April 17, 2026 A celebration of the watch brands ditching the vintage revival schtick and going mad with movements instead, by Laura McCreddie-Doak BREGUET EXPÉRIMENTALE Describing this incredibly complex watch in a mere 150 words is almost impossible, so, we’ll just stick to its foremost innovation: the magnetic escapement. In a regular mechanical watch, the mainspring provides the [...]
Celebrities in the Cotswolds: How Kim Kardashian & Ellen are changing the region April 17, 2026 The Cotswolds has exploded with tourism options for the super-wealthy. But at what cost? Adam Bloodworth investigates Talk of “The Caaatswolds” has been commonplace in Los Angeles for some time. However, Kim Kardashian’s recent visit to Estelle Manor to conduct her tryst with Lewis Hamilton gave the patch of farmland an especially big shot in [...]
Pub of the week: The Walrus and Carpenter is pints perfection April 17, 2026 We have opened nominations for the Toast the City Awards 2026. Each week we’ll be profiling some of the nominees: today it’s the Walrus and Carpenter, a pub like no other beside Monument. To find out more and to nominate your favourite bars, restaurants and hidden gems, visit the website here. “‘The time has come,’ [...]