Renault 5 E-Tech 2025 long-term review – second report July 28, 2026 Lined up on the starting grid at Goodwood, the two cars resemble the ‘before and after’ photos from a bodybuilding magazine. Each one is ostensibly a Renault 5, but the similarities almost end there. On the left is my long-term test Renault 5 E-Tech. Compact and straight-sided, its classic hatchback proportions draw directly from the [...]
Skydiving in the Maldives: Why Ifuru Island is like no other July 28, 2026 If I’m honest, my first thought when someone offered me a trip to the Maldives was bling and boardwalks, with limited character or culture. But Ifuru Island, a 5km long oasis in the northern part of the famous luxury region, is so much more. Ifuru – meaning ‘blossom’ in the local Dhivehi language – is [...]
A Roman Holiday by Vespa sidecar – a whole new Rome July 27, 2026 As the world’s most beloved scooter turns 80, a former convent in the heart of Rome offers the perfect base for doing the Eternal City properly: by sidecar. The stay in Rome’s Palazzo Ripetta Palazzo Ripetta sits on one of Rome’s most storied streets, just minutes from the Spanish Steps in the Tridente district, a [...]
Volkswagen California 2026 review: plenty of room at the Hotel California July 24, 2026 Britain’s best-selling vehicle so far in 2026 is the Ford Puma. Visit the south coast in holiday season, though, and you’d swear the Volkswagen California occupies that top spot. Whether trapped in tourist traffic, parked beside the beach or looking cool on a campsite, these things are everywhere. Volkswagen campers have enjoyed cult status since [...]
Donkervoort P24 RS supercar coming to the UK in right-hand drive July 24, 2026 Donkervoort has confirmed its incredible P24 RS supercar will be sold in the UK. And importantly, it will be offered in right-hand drive, as the Dutch marque targets enthusiasts in Britain, Ireland, Australia and Japan. It marks the first time the Donkervoort has built a car with its steering wheel on the right-hand side. An [...]
National Tequila Day: Three cocktails to celebrate July 24, 2026 Celebrated every year on the 24th of July, National Tequila Day is officially upon us! Whether you’re stocking your office drinks cart or elevating your home bar this weekend, simplicity is key. Long gone are the days when we only had a handful of tequilas or mezcals to choose from on the supermarket shelves. Today, [...]
Jaecoo 8: A Premium SUV with Substance and Surprising Polish July 24, 2026 The arrival of the Jaecoo 8 SHS-P in the UK says something about where the car market is heading here, writes motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay. Chinese brands are no longer content with building budget alternatives. They want a place at the top table, and after spending time with Jaecoo’s new plug-in hybrid flagship, I came [...]
London Sports Festival’s 3×3 Basketball Court Scores Early Success with Basketball England Takeover July 23, 2026 Central London Alliance’s London Sports Festival’s newest sporting activation has made an impressive start, as the pop-up 3×3 basketball court in Paternoster Square welcomed hundreds of participants and spectators for a successful opening day in partnership with Basketball England. Situated in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral, the court has transformed Paternoster Square into a [...]
Bonheur by Matt Abé review: This Michelin magnet left me hungry July 23, 2026 Matt Abé, formerly of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has gone it alone with the opening of Bonheur. His food might be winning plaudits (including two Michelin stars) but our reviewer was left craving french fries I’d eaten like a catwalk model in the hours that preceded my meal at Bonheur by Matt Abe. My guest had [...]
Trainspotting the Musical: A bad, bad trip down memory lane July 23, 2026 Trainspotting the Musical | Theatre Royal Haymarket | ★☆☆☆☆ I was 13 when Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting adaptation was released – I’d never seen anything like it and it became a seminal text of my teenage years. Two decades later, I luxuriated in the condensed hit of nostalgia of the 2017 sequel. I’ve read the books: [...]