More things to do in London this week/end

 With thanks to Country and Town House:

February 27, 2026   |      STAYING IN Reset your nervous system Read Nonesuch by Francis Spufford Bake cookies GOING OUT Book a Greek island getaway See the Tracey Emin exhibition Join our reader event Dear Reader, OK, bear with me, I'm about to blow your mind by letting you know that C&TH had a pivotal role in the birth of the World’s First Zero-Waste Banana Denim Capsule. Yes, you read that right: a denim collection has been made with banana waste (banana waste!) and we were there from the beginning. It tickles me pink to have played matchmaker to two astonishing brands – DEPLOY and Acacia29 – as part of our Future Icons intiative, which celebrates and rewards businesses whose mission is to create truly ethical products or truly ethical supply chains. Acacia29 is behind the groundbreaking fibre technology that transforms banana tree trunks – which are usually burned – into spinnable yarn, and DEPLOY is the world's highest scoring fashion B Corp. Together, they've created something astonishing – and, most importantly, eminently wearable. Next time you see me, I'll be in banana. Lucy Cleland Editorial Director   Staying In   Reset your nervous system You might not know it exists, but the vagus nerve is responsible for a whole host of functions in the body – from controlling your heart rate to aiding digestion and influencing mood. And recently, the internal messenger has made its way into the limelight. Vagus nerve stimulation is one of this year’s emerging wellness trends, offering benefits including boosting stress response, lowering inflammation and improving your sleep. We’ve seen an influx of tech specifically designed to regulate the nervous system, like Neurosonic’s Serene, a reclining chair which uses low-frequency vibrations to guide the body into a calmer state (£4,390). There’s also Yōjō, a non-invasive earpiece which uses gentle electrical pulses to incite the body’s natural rest-and-digest response (£399 for an annual subscription). But you don’t have to shell out on shiny products to activate the vagus nerve: deep breathing, tapping, chanting and cold water exposure can all offer similar effects. Read Nonesuch by Francis Spufford In 2016, award-winning non-fiction writer Francis Spufford turned into a novelist. His debut, Golden Hill (2016), won the Costa First Novel Award as well as three other book prizes. Its successor, Light Perpetual (2021), was longlisted for the Booker. And now he’s back with Nonesuch, a dazzling wartime fantasy centring on an ambitious woman tasked with conquering an occult plot by time-traveling fascists, all backdropped by the chaos of the London Blitz. Why fantasy? ‘I’ve been a devoted reader of fantasy since childhood, when the Chronicles of Narnia represented a kind of “essence of book” to me,’ Spufford told our book reviewer Belinda Bamber. ‘I love the way fantasy opens the space of possibility. There are some stories – some aspects of our shared world, wonderful and terrible – that only fantasy can do justice to. Reinventing the Blitz as a fantasy isn’t a way of taking the Blitz less seriously. It’s a way of bringing out something that was really there.’ Read the full interview here. Recipe of the Week… Chocolate Chip Cookies Love the idea of baking but low on time? These chocolate chip cookies might appeal. Taken from nutritionist Dominique Ludwig’s new cookbook No-Nonsense Nutrition, they’re made with just five ingredients, and are naturally gluten and wheat-free. ‘For me, cookies need to be soft and chewy, and this recipe delivers on both taste and texture,’ says Ludwig. ‘When using so few ingredients, quality really matters, so try to use a peanut butter that is soft and creamy rather than firm and set. I buy my peanut butter in large tubs that contain just one ingredient – peanuts. These cookies keep better in the fridge to avoid them becoming too crumbly. You can swap the peanut butter for almond butter if you prefer.’ Ingredients Makes 12 cookies 275g good quality crunchy peanut butter 80–100g maple syrup, depending on how sweet you like them 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste A pinch of sea salt 50g dark chocolate chips, above 70% cacao solids if possible Method Preheat the oven to 180°C fan and line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Put the peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla and salt into a food processor or a large bowl, and blend until well combined and the mixture forms a dough. Stir through the chocolate chips. Divide the mixture into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, place them on the lined baking sheet, and flatten slightly with your hand or the back of a fork. Bake for 7–8 minutes, or until just cooked and beginning to colour. You want them to stay soft, so watch the timer and don’t overcook them. Allow them to cool fully, then transfer to a jar. Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Recipe from No-Nonsense Nutrition (Bluebird, out now) Going Out   Book a Greek island getaway With its crystal-clear waters, charming tavernas and archaeological wonders, Crete is the quintessential Greek getaway you’ve been yearning for. But where to stay on the island? Enter Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts: a family-run collection of five beachside hotels and two villa properties with plenty to offer all types of traveller. Looking for a romantic couples destination? Head to adults-only hotel Giannoulis Grand Bay Beach Resort for poolside cocktails, leisurely lunches and strolls around the nearby village of Kolymbari. If you’re holidaying with an active family in tow, consider Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports & Leisure Resort – home to a lagoon-style swimming pool, kids’ club and extensive sports facilities including tennis courts, beach volleyball and bicycles. If privacy is high on your agenda, book a stay at Giannoulis Ele Villas: two thoughtfully designed twin properties boasting unparalleled views of the Cretan Sea with space for up to six guests, featuring large verandas, swimming pools, landscaped gardens and private sunbeds on the beach. Find more Cretan travel inspiration here or book direct with giannoulishotels.com See the Tracey Emin exhibition Just opened at the Tate Modern is a landmark exhibition spanning 40 years of Tracey Emin’s provocative career. Titled A Second Life, the show will present Emin’s career-defining works (including her famous unmade bed) alongside never-before-exhibited material to celebrate her ongoing legacy of raw and confessional art. ‘It is hard to exaggerate not just how important an artist she is, but how much she has done for the arts in this country,’ writes former culture minister Ed Vaizey, who struck up an unlikely friendship with Emin after being seated next to her at an event. ‘She is a global brand for Britain, but closer to home she has invested hugely in her home town of Margate, building artists’ studios, a gallery, and supporting young artists.’ He adds: ‘Dame Tracey has only let me down once. She promised to make me a neon for my office when I became a minister. Instead, she gave one to David Cameron. She’s a smart cookie.’ 27 Feb – 31 August 2026, tate.org.uk Join our reader event Experience the design world through the lens of an editor. Join Carole Annett, C&TH’s interiors editor, for an exclusive tour of the Design Emporium Collective. This newly curated space on the Fifth Floor of the Design Centre is a haven for the curious shopper. With an ability to spot design treasures, discover pieces you won't find anywhere else and learn some fascinating stories behind their creation. 9 March, 2-2.45pm, book here   Share This Newsletter With A Friend VIA EMAIL VIA WHATSAPP Staying in Forever… Property Of The Week Dating back to 1674, this pastel pink Barbados estate has received many starry visitors over the years. Transformed from a home, to a Government House to, most recently, a gallery and events space, everybody from Prince Harry and Prince Edward to Helen Mirren and Cliff Richard has visited this slice of Caribbean paradise. On the market for $1,595,000, onecaribbeanestates.com   Competition Time Win a trip to Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds, including spa treatments Win a Wodar boiling water tap worth £1,499 Win a five-night stay at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa, Mauritius Psssst… On the hunt for a new job? New Belgravia members’ club The Pembroke is looking for a butter sommelier, as spotted on an advertisement in Country Life Magazine and shared on LinkedIn. The candidate will be responsible for curating the club’s butter assortment – and, naturally, they’ll need a ‘deep love for and understanding of butter’ as well as ‘an encyclopedic knowledge of toast’.  Subscription Offer Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £39

© 2026 Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

February 26, 2026   |    Staying In Watch New Bridgerton Dearest gentle reader, should my humble society papers have been waylaid en route to your drawing room, allow this more modern communiqué to flutter directly into your inbox: the second instalment of Bridgerton season four has at last revealed itself to the world. After that most sour ending to Sophie (Yerin Ha) and Benedict’s (Luke Thompson) staircase dalliance, one suspects the Ton shall not sleep easily. Sophie remains resolute in her refusal to be tucked away as a clandestine consolation prize, while Benedict finds himself in the most inconvenient of gentlemanly predicaments: he is ardently besotted with a maid. Meanwhile matriarch Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), under the tutelage of Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), reminds us all that a lady’s education is never truly complete. But this season, we’re most excited about Francesca Bridgerton, played by Hannah Dodd, who we can now reveal is our March/April cover star. Read our interview with her here. Make haste: every episode of Bridgerton season 4 is streaming on Netflix now. Going Out Visit Corinthia London’s Updated Spa For a bit of zen in the city, treat yourself to a leisurely afternoon at Corinthia London’s recently refreshed spa – open to day visitors as well as hotel guests and members. Formerly an ESPA spa, it’s now entering a new era as Biome by Corinthia London, which is all about pairing the healing rhythms of nature with the precision of modern science. Two beauty brands embody this ethos: Wildsmith brings its nature-inspired philosophy to deeply therapeutic facials, while cult skincare favourite Augustinus Bader offers treatments designed to support long-term skin resilience. Completing the founding trio is results-driven, holistic fitness brand AMP, which runs small group personal training sessions, dynamic conditioning classes and mobility coaching. And long-time fans of the spa, don’t worry: the beloved swimming pool, heated marble loungers, sauna and experience showers are all still there. corinthia.com Property Of The Day If you were a creative in the late 19th century, Tite Street in Chelsea was the place to be. One such local to boast John Singer Sargent and Oscar Wilde as neighbours was artist and writer John Collier. Now available to rent, the artistic memories of Collier’s former home are quite literally buried into the walls. As well as the external staircase prescribed to models (too scandal-ridden to enter through the main house) coming to pose for him, key features include Collier’s first floor artist studio turned reception room, and a concealed flap in the floor which allowed him to lower his larger canvases down to ground level.  Available to rent for £30,312 per month. Find out more at knightfrank.co.uk Little Luxury Looking to jazz up your bedroom for spring? We’re loving the new collection from fellow B Corp brand TBCo, which is all about nostalgic softness – think ruffles, stripes and vibrant colours. This cotton pink cushion cover is going straight in our basket. £45, tbco.com Competition Time We’re offering one lucky reader the chance to win a two-night stay at Minos Beach Art Hotel, Crete’s original five-star hotel, a true landmark of art, cultural heritage and nature. Enter now. Psssst… If you want to get stopped in the street like our editor Lucy, head to perfume store Matiere Premiere which has just opened in Covent Garden. She wears Radical Rose and swears she has never had so many comments about how good she smells. Find the shop at 31 King Street, London, WC2E 8JD Whatever You Do, Don’t Rely solely on AI-generated running plans: recent research from sports tech brand Enertor shows the majority fall below expert standards and can lead to injury. ‘AI plans are mainly guided by data such as pace, distance and heart rate, but they can’t fully interpret pain patterns, tissue tolerance, previous injury history, sleep quality, stress or subtle fatigue markers,’ says physiotherapist Danny Brunton. ‘Without that clinical insight, runners may continue progressing through discomfort, increasing their risk of overuse injuries. There’s also a tendency to trust the plan more than what our own body is telling us.’   Subscription Offer Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £39

© 2026 Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL, United Kingdom

Going Out

Watch David Attenborough’s Ocean in Concert

In May 2026, Britain’s preeminent natural historian will celebrate his 100th birthday, and the BBC has lined up a slate of special programming to commemorate it, bringing both new and archival David Attenborough programmes to our screens. But we can also honour the broadcaster’s life and continuing legacy in person at select venues across the UK, beginning at Bristol’s Beacon concert hall this evening. ‘After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea,’ Attenborough said when his cinematic film Ocean aired in spring 2025. Soundtracked by Steven Price’s spine-tingling score, the film was praised for its jaw-dropping beauty and tonal shift from Attenborough’s characteristic observance of wildlife behaviour to the naturalist spreading a message: the ocean sustains life on Earth, and while it is resilient it must also be protected. A season of special screenings will be accompanied by live renditions of Steven Price’s score, brought to magnificent life by the Welsh National Opera, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the Scottish Ensemble, conducted by Robert Ziegler, stopping in London, Birmingham, Dublin and Edinburgh before hopping across the North Sea to Norway. Tickets from £24, oceanconcert.live

To:​You​

Wed 25/02/2026 12:02

February 25, 2026   |    Staying In Catch Up On London Fashion Week If London feels a little quieter this week, it’s for good reason: London Fashion Week AW26 has just come to a close. And now that the dust has settled, we can finally take a moment to look back at what an incredible season the city had. The highlight? Homegrown talent. ‘British fashion matters, and in a fast-changing global industry our role is clear: to support, defend and champion it,’ says Laura Weir, chief executive of the British Fashion Council. Weir has spent the last six months rebuilding and rebranding the inner workings of London Fashion Week – and it seems to have paid off, if the 1.25 million social media posts (and counting) are anything to go off. This season was packed with viral moments of Britishness: collections celebrated the capital and its quirky characters, and a plethora of local stars – including His Majesty King Charles III – claimed a seat on the LFW front row. Never has it been more fashionable to be British. Settle down with a cup of tea and read our recap here. Going Out Try Bodyrok Pilates Ready to kick your reformer pilates game up a notch? Head to Bodyrok, the cult US-born workout which recently landed in London’s Covent Garden. Don’t come here expecting lots of lying supine with your feet in the straps: this is high-octane pilates, which takes place on a custom reformer machine to allow greater resistance and range of movement. Tiered lighting gives the studio an immersive feel, with a range of classes on offer targeting different body parts, from Buns & Guns to Obliques & Cheeks, all packing a serious workout into 45 minutes. Think dynamic lunges, pikes and twists with cardio finishers that will push you hard but leave you feeling energised (and have you immediately booking your next class). bodyrok.com C&TH Partnership What Can Investors Do To Beat The IHT Trap? The Chancellor has made sweeping changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT). More families will be caught. More of your wealth might fall prey to it (including, from 2027, your pension). Tax reliefs are being cut, and the nil-rate bands frozen for another six years. So what are the options now for IHT-averse investors? Is it still possible to reduce IHT – without giving anything away? This free guide from Wealth Club explains what experienced investors could consider doing to beat the 40 percent tax trap (capital at risk). Tax rules can change and benefits will depend on circumstances. Download the guide here. Property Of The Day Sir Roger Moore’s former Belgravia apartment has hit the market. Living there during the early days of his career in the 1960s, the soon-to-be James Bond star was left with plenty of time to stir, or rather shake, the pot of his relationships. While his second wife Dorothy Squires was suffering a series of miscarriages, Moore was having a secret affair with Italian actress Luisa Mattioli. Together, the pair would sneak off to this very same flat at 22 Eaton Square – where, when Squires discovered them, she threw a brick through the living room window.  On the market for £5.75m, knightfrank.com Little Luxury Get excited about spring with The House of Creed’s fresh new fragrance, Wild Vetiver. Inspired by English garden parties, it features notes of pink pepper, bergamot and Timur berry, presented in the brand’s signature fragrance bottle in a verdant green hue. £220 for 50ml, creedfragrances.co.uk Competition Time Now’s your chance to win £1,000 to spend at ABI Interiors. From expertly engineered tapware to beautifully crafted cabinetry hardware, this is your opportunity to invest in pieces that combine performance with elevated design. Enter here. Psssst… The dress code is in: for 2026, attendees of the Met Gala are encouraged to get creative with the theme ‘Fashion Is Art’. So what can we expect? Whatever You Do, Don’t Assume a home reset needs to be a grand reinvention. ‘A reset should feel manageable and energising, not exhausting,’ says interior designer Ali Childs. ‘I also try not to buy lots of new storage as a first response, often the issue isn’t a lack of containers, but simply too many things and buying more things isn’t going to solve your problems.’   Subscription Offer Sign up for 12 print issues and instant access to every digital edition for only £39 © 2026 Country & Town House Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL, United Kingdom