Mix it up: London Beer Week proves there’s more to life than cocktails February 10, 2015 Every summer, the world’s young (and not so young) adorn their arms with an ever-growing number of wristbands from music festivals. Each is a trophy, a plastic testament to their summer of mud. But why should ravers be the only ones to show off? Next week, you can join in – and you won't even [...]
BAFTAs 2015: Lancôme’s Elite make-up artist Laura Pye on the biggest event in the British film calendar February 10, 2015 WHAT WAS YOUR JOB ON THE DAY? Lancôme has been the official BAFTAs beauty partner for 15 years, so we’re responsible for making sure all the famous faces look amazing. Everything has to be perfect – there’s no second chance to fix any smudged lipstick in Photoshop: once they’re in front of the cameras, that’s [...]
Top Bafta moments February 10, 2015 We pick out the top moments from the weekend’s big event #1 The BAFTAs never disappoint when it comes to cringeworthy displays of loveydom, but Stephen Fry raised the bar this year when he descended from the stage he’s graced for (a few too many) years and kissed Edward Norton and Michael Keaton. #2 Surprisingly, [...]
Car review: The BMW X6 M is a sledgehammer on stilts February 9, 2015 There’s no point wisecracking about BMW’s coupe-like X6 SUV – BMW has heard all the jokes. And while you might find this “lifestyle” proposition a 4×4 too far, its German maker is happy to have the last laugh; the X6 sells well, just not in traditional 4×4 markets. You’ll need to look further afield to [...]
Not convinced? February 9, 2015 CHECK OUT THESE ALTERNATIVES… PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO PRICE: £92,628 0-62MPH: 4.2 secs TOP SPEED: 173mph CO2 G/KM: 258g/km MPG COMBINED: 25.4mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Four Stars PERFORMANCE Five Stars PRACTICALITY Four Stars VALUE FOR MONEY Four Stars MERCEDES-BENZ ML 63 AMG PRICE: £86,920 0-62MPH: 4.8 secs TOP SPEED: 155mph CO2 G/KM: 23.5g/km MPG COMBINED: 23.5mpg THE VERDICT: DESIGN Three [...]
Falling foul of local Japanese culture: Raw fish and faux pas in the land of the rising sun February 8, 2015 It’s customary in travel articles about Japan to talk about how weird it is, and it is weird. This got me thinking: what do the Japanese find weird when they come to the UK? I asked my tour guide as she led me through the bamboo gardens of Kodaiji temple on the outskirts of Kyoto. [...]
48 hours in… Vienna February 8, 2015 WHERE TO STAY The Sacher hotel is the bottom line in Viennese luxury. Filled with grand lobbies, chandeliers and objets d‘art, it’s as impressive as it is efficient. It’s also right on the doorstep of the opera house and pretty much every cultural destination worth visiting. sacher.com WHERE TO GO First on your list should [...]
Group travelling made easy: Where to take the family this Easter February 8, 2015 Taking the family away for Easter? Find a place with room to spare… Mont Tremblant, Meribel, France oxfordski.com Meribel is well known for its generous chalets, but Mont Tremblant is perhaps the best equipped for entertaining large groups. Sleeping up to 12 guests, the property boasts a hot tub, a heated infinity pool – [...]
Top 10 tips for group travel this Easter February 8, 2015 by Rupert Longsdon, Founder of Oxford Ski Company and Luxury Chalet Collection 1 Book early to avoid disappointment – the best chalets and villas always go first and you can never book too far in advance. 2 Forward planning pays off – flights get more and more expensive the closer you get to a holiday [...]
Film review: Shaun the Sheep February 6, 2015 Cert U | ★★★★☆ When the farmer in charge of Shaun’s farm goes AWOL, the herd set off on a daring adventure into the world of human beings to find him. At times it’s hard to keep track of which sheep is which, but that doesn’t matter – Aardman’s plasticine world is lit up with an [...]