Ok, you can download a city guide on your iPod, pick up one in a swanky colour by Wallpaper* or one of those (rather fab and so handy) pocket sized fold-up Luxe guides. But nothing beats a real, human guide.
Guided tours used to be judged the opposite of stylish; a long hangover perhaps from the [...]

You might wonder why there are no visuals with this post. That’s because the exterior of Stephen Walters & Sons doesn’t look that promising and unless you are a nosy journalist like me, you can’t go inside the main building. The adjoining mill shop, which is open to the public, looks like nothing much really.
The [...]

Photos by Peter Hunt
The country hotel, the roaring fire, the delicious food, the snug, warm room, the fluffy duvet…these are the things I want to tick for a festive break in “Ye Olde Englande” - but until recently, the search too often ended in a rather soggy disappointment.
So it is with regret, really, that I [...]

Photos by Peter Hunt
Where is everybody? I’m in Moscow and I’m supposed to be witnessing women in jewels and Dolce & Gabbana fighting like cats over the latest diamond-studded Vertu phones, except there’s no one here.

The phones are here. (Good God! Am I converting right from roubles? Is the phone in my hand really £10,000? [...]

Photos by Peter Hunt
Ah, the glories of Italy’s Amalfi coast. Of course, it is overrun with pleasure seekers in August, so visit in May, June, July or September. What’s also good news is there are places to stay that are affordable, even with the robust Euro and others that are, frankly, worth pushing the boat [...]

My hell would be the fact I’ve done 19 flights in 2 months for work and I’m lying awake worrying about my carbon footprint (offsets – we don’t have a car, we walk, we recycle and even though we live in inner London, we’re going to start composting).

New Zealand may look tiny on the map yet it’s bigger than Britain. The first choice is North Island or South Island? Although the North Island is gorgeous, the South Island is spectacular.
As to where to stay, the problem is there are so many great choices, although be wary of some of the so-called lodges [...]

Article by Marion Hume
Photos by Adam Worling
Stockholm is a divine winter city. Doubtless, it’s a divine summer city too, but in winter (wrap up warm) it is one of those Northern European cities, which really does capture the spirit of Christmas. Go around 13th December and thus enjoy the feast of Santa [...]

Tips by Marion Hume and Karen Walker
Amsterdam, Pompadour
In the city of coffee shops (where a grande cafe means a place to see and be seen and a coffee shop means a place you got to get hashish and space cakes) mistakes could be, um, surprising, whereas heading to the city’s most famous teashop you [...]

Article by Marion Hume
Photos by Amber Rowlands
Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities. It is mystical, magical yet modern; hip yet ancient; secular and yet multi-faith - predominantly Islamic with its magnificent mosques and yet also with its churches (both Christian and Greek Orthodox) as well as synagogues.
I stayed in the Pera [...]