Long Weekend: Discover the glitzy nightlife and historic Portuguese-Chinese heritage of Macao, China October 21, 2016 THE WEEKEND: Macao may be known for its glitzy nightlife, but this unique destination only 40 miles from Hong Kong on the south coast of China offers a whole lot more than the roll of the dice. A huge foodie scene, a dazzling array of luxury hotels and a vibrant selection of cultural hotspots make [...]
The wine region of Porto and the Douro Valley are a must visit for plonk fans October 21, 2016 Douro is “Tuscany before the crowds”, a land forever locked in an annual cycle of wine making, olive picking and almond harvesting, a rural idyll that became electrified only after the 1950s. Leave Porto, whose historic centre is a Unesco world heritage site, and cross the Serra do Marão mountain range, and the city gives [...]
The lofty ideals behind the creation of the Barbican Estate are explored in an essay for a new book, Residents: Inside the Barbican Estate October 21, 2016 A sense of privacy and protection is built into the Barbican estate’s architecture. Designed to shield its residents from the outside world – whether that was the aftermath of the Blitz, the surrounding industry of the city, or the traffic below – this holistic experiment in urban housing is both of the city and apart [...]
Focus On Herne Hill: House prices rise 12 per cent year-on-year in Brixton’s genteel neighbouring town October 21, 2016 Without a doubt Brixton’s greener neighbour, Herne Hill is also seen historically as Brixton’s more genteel neighbour. In the mid-19th century, this well-heeled south London suburb was home to mainly large, upper class “country” estates and revered members of high society – such as art critic John Ruskin – grew up there. These days, past [...]
New homes on sale in London, from an old Tudor Palace to Chiswick townhouses October 21, 2016 Brandon House, Borough From £735,000 Live on the site of an old Tudor Palace right next to London Bridge. This week, 77 new homes went on sale at Brandon House on Borough High Street, named after the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon, who lived in a mansion there in 1518. It comprises one to three [...]
Opinion: Why housebuilders need to use their developments to champion British design and nurture homegrown talent October 21, 2016 It’s an unfortunate truth that the real estate industry often overlooks the deep pool of design talent in Great Britain. While the origins of design might seem insignificant, after decades of outsourcing design to far-flung corners of the globe, it is time for us to assume a new level of responsibility in supporting British designers. [...]
Interiors: If we spend a third of our lives in bed, then why don’t we spend serious money luxuriating in linens? October 21, 2016 Let’s be honest, one of the most enticing things about a weekend away is climbing into a freshly laundered, luxurious bed with crisp white sheets, pillows like clouds and a cashmere throw for cosiness. Hoteliers spare no expense to ensure your slumber is deep, peaceful and refreshing; so why do so many of us put [...]
Holiday Homes: Rare homes for sale in the middle of the Indian Ocean, from Soneva Group, first company to sell property internationally in the Maldives October 21, 2016 Falling asleep under the stars in the Maldives sounds like the sort of once-in-a-lifetime experience reserved for honey-mooning couples. But it could be a regular part of your life, at least for a few weeks a year, if you invest in one of the properties on sale at the newly-opened Soneva Jani, which is the [...]
Here’s what happened on the third episode of The Apprentice October 21, 2016 In last night's episode, Lord Sugar gave the candidates a food task, meaning everybody messed around in a kitchen for half the episode. Even though they were making sweets, no one called their brand “Lord Sugar”, proving none of them really have what it takes to win. Although the phrase “business acumen” was only used twice, so [...]
Ouija 2: Origin of Evil review – Sparsely-used jump scares and engaging performances make this horror film a good choice for Halloween October 20, 2016 As Oscar Wilde says, people become violent when they’re surrounded by hideous wallpaper. Perhaps that’s why so many horror films these days are set in the late 60s against a horrifying backdrop of flocked curtains and flicky hairdos. That’s where this prequel to 2014’s Ouija travels to, anyway, right back to the supernatural board game’s [...]