featured carousel

Images: Timothy Denton

Location: Harvest House, Felixstowe.

There’s an undeniable meaning to the word “MINI”. Capitalised or not, it suggests something compact yet considered. A car that knows exactly what it is and wears that confidence without any “MAXI” sized promises. For years, MINI has traded on this very identity, a blend of classic British funkiness and BMW engineering that is wrapped up in a familiar, upstanding shape.

Predictive damping, torque vectoring, regenerative braking and active aero might all sound well and good but what if you just want less of all that? What if you just want to reconnect with the outright physics of driving again? Enter the A110: a lightweight, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car that does away with all of the above.

The BMW 5 series is widely regarded as being the key stakeholder when it comes to executive driving. It just sort of materialises like a very well-dressed civil servant who’s read the briefing, made a cup of tea and is waiting for you to catch up. It doesn’t shout because it doesn’t need to. Instead, it diligently follows its own plan to be the most complete saloon in BMW’s existence.

Seeking a respite from the everyday drizzle of London, we decided that only a weekend in Paris, ensconced in the sybaritic embrace of a Sweett Apartment, would lift us out of the doldrums. Thus, we crossed the Channel, lured by the siren call of café life and the promise of existential wellness, Parisian-style.

Touring in the Touareg, a pleasing bit of alliteration, is surprisingly comfortable. However, one cannot help but raise a quizzical eyebrow. It is undeniably striking, possessing a visual gravitas that rivals the Audi I recently reviewed. Has Volkswagen, in its apparent wisdom, decided to engage in a form of sibling rivalry? As if the automotive landscape were not already a complex tapestry of challenges.

Introduction & Overview

The new Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the finest off-road vehicles ever made—even when compared to top-specced luxury off-roaders. Born as the Toyota BJ on 1 August 1951, it made history by conquering Mount Fuji’s sixth station. Renamed in 1954, it has since become Toyota’s longest-running model, with over 11.3 million sold across 170+ countries.

As the festive season draws near, the allure of luxury jewellery becomes even more captivating. This year, designers have surpassed expectations, creating exquisite pieces as timeless as they are on-trend. Here is a curated selection of the most stunning new jewellery to gift this Christmas:

During our Mazda MX-5 convertible tour through Surrey’s charming country lanes, we spent a magical night at the splendid Foxhills.

Foxhills is an award-winning haven—a luxurious spa, golf hotel, and exclusive country club nestled in the serene Surrey countryside, just a stone’s throw from London. With three exceptional restaurants, a stylish hotel, three beautifully manicured golf courses, an indulgent spa featuring five swimming pools, and an impressive range of family-friendly activities, it’s a place where surprises await at every turn.

Flock to this Eternal City, this ‘urbs sacra’ for the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, the first ordinary jubilee since the Great Jubilee of 2000. Celebrate a special year of grace as the jubilee begins just before Christmas to end on the Epiphany next year. For the papacy gives the Jubilee a spiritual meaning in granting the remission of the temporal punishment of sins for all pilgrims who visit Rome during this specific year. The most exciting and well-known rite is the opening of the Holy Door (open only during the jubilee year): a symbolic re-enactment of the opening of the gates of Heaven.

So, we took the eco-friendly electric Audi Q8 e-tron SUV mountain biking in the Surrey Hills. The tracks there are amazing, maintained by hordes of unsung workers who landscape the hills for downhill descents—quite illegally but with great skill. Afterwards, we toured Norwich for a little history and culture. We're not just muscle-bound jocks, you know.