Things to do this week in London

 With thanks to Country and Town House:

September 28, 2026   |    Staying In… Redecorate Like The Designers Whatever the home project – kitchen, spare room, downstairs loo – finding inspiration to create our dream homes can leave us feeling stuck and overwhelmed. After all, with so much choice at our fingertips, how do we know where to start? Well, as Hatta Byng tells us in her recent column, it can be helpful to observe what interior designers do when they’re looking for inspiration.  When Remy Renzullo is stuck, for example, he makes himself put down his pencil and close his laptop. ‘Even just walking down the street can result in spotting an arch that provides the solution to a shower opening.’ Travel is vital to him; when he lived in New York, he made sure he got to the Met once a week. ‘Physically visiting a place lets you notice the smaller moments you wouldn’t find in a book.’ For Tom Bartlett, founder and director of Waldo Works, it’s about setting a narrative for a project. ‘That narrative governs every decision going forward. The four million choices you could have made are now narrowed down to more like four.’ For more inspiration, read Hatta’s full article here. Going Out… Have Dinner At The Horses The UK’s hottest pub empire Public House Group, known for venues like The Bull in Charlbury and The Pelican in Notting Hill, has expanded its collection with a new location in Clerkenwell. Open now on Ray Street, The Horses offers a similar vibe to its sister venues: an elevated British pub serving excellent food. Here the emphasis is on seafood – drawing on the site’s location, near the former Central Fish Market in Smithfield – with day-boat fish and shellfish sitting at the heart of the menu alongside seasonal vegetables from the group’s market gardens. The restaurant is spread across four floors, each offering something different; there are classic cosy pub vibes on the ground floor, with an oyster bar above, followed by the main dining room with an open kitchen, and a fourth floor made to feel private and intimate. 26-28 Ray St, London EC1R 3DJ, book at sevenrooms.com C&TH Partnership The Members’ Club You Need To Know About London is full of interesting people you will never meet. The apps ask you to judge them by photograph, and work drinks serve up the same faces every week. Valemark's Tables puts you at dinner with six vetted strangers, who applied for the same reason you did: every application is read by a person, every table seated by hand. Everyone comes alone. One recent guest wrote: ‘I never expected that to be as fun an evening as it was. We have made a WhatsApp group to meet again and, though unlikely to happen, we are all discussing going to Barbados!’ The restaurant is revealed only the day before. Phones stay face down, it’s £39 a seat, next Thursday and the Thursdays after. A table is held for readers of Country & Town House. Apply for a seat here. Staying In Forever Property of the Day It was while filming Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) in Thailand that Pierce Brosnan ‘fell in love’ with South-East Asian architecture. Seeking to create a tropical paradise for himself, he bought up two separate plots of land in Malibu for $7.5m in 2000 and by 2010, he’d transformed it into his dream eco home. Take a look inside. On the market for $100m, chriscortazzo.com Little Luxury C&TH Partnership Has the seasonal change got you plotting your next autumn coat purchase? This year, we’re taking inspiration from Hobbs, whose latest AW26 drop includes some of the most stylish outwear for the season. We’ve got our eyes on the Rachel Wool Blend Coat, which pairs British heritage with modern layering, featuring a heritage check print, leather collar and patch pockets. Check out the full collection here. £215.20, hobbs.com Competition Swedish bag and accessories brand Get the Gallop has partnered with content creator Callie Coles to launch the Get the Gallop x Iggywick Collection – a thoughtfully curated capsule centred around the brand’s signature Hay Bags. Enter now for your chance to win one medium and one large bag from this new collection. Pssst… An exciting new wellness destination is coming to the King’s Road later this year, SONARA. Described as London’s first ‘fine bathing and dining club’, we’re told it will feature a banya chamber, snow room, cold plunge, hyperbaric oxygen chamber and red salt grotto. Whatever You Do, Don’t… Miss this week’s episode of the House Guest podcast, where interiors editor Carole Annett chats to Églantine Sicat and Pauline Dellemotte of creative and design practice Uncanny Studio. 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

September 29, 2026   |    Staying In… Watch How to Live on Earth He’s known for playing characters like Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Steven Strange, but for his latest project Benedict Cumberbatch has taken on a very different role. He’s stepping into the shoes of David Attenborough for new environmental documentary How to Live on Earth, which premiered on YouTube last week. Presented from the Natural History Museum in London, the film explores how humans can work with nature to build a thriving future. We hear from climate justice activist Xiye Bastida, wildlife filmmaker Dan O’Neill, and Barack Obama’s former senior policy advisor Sam Cass, and delve into environmental case studies from all over the world – from forest rangers protecting elephants from poachers in central Africa to the cleanup of the Klamath River in north-west California. ‘This [film] is about the fact that out there in the field there are people doing things that have had real, quantifiable, unifiable impact that really do project a picture of hope,’ Cumberbatch told the Radio Times. ‘It's there. It's scientifically proven. We can scale this up. And the more we work with nature and not against it, the more that becomes a reality. And that's the key for me about how positive the essential messaging of this film is.’ Watch now on YouTube Going Out… Book The Christmas Cotswold Fair C&TH Partnership Christmas may feel like a while away, but it’s creeping closer – and tickets are already dropping for some of the hottest festive events on the calendar. The Christmas Cotswold Fair, for instance, returns to Todenham Manor Farm in Moreton-in-Marsh from 9 – 12 November for its 41st year, and early bird tickets are on sale now. A much-loved Cotswold Christmas tradition, the four-day fair brings together more than 220 independent brands, offering everything from gifts and homewares to fashion, food, artisanal products and festive treats. This year sees a fresh new look, alongside workshops, demonstrations and delicious food. Having started in 1985 with just a handful of stalls, the festival has now raised more than £1.5 million for charity, with a percentage of event profits supporting WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children and their families. Early Bird tickets start from £19, plus booking fee. Book at cotswoldfair.com Staying In Forever Property of the Day Having featured in series 12 episode 10 of Grand Designs, this remarkable eco home is the UK’s first ever amphibious house. In essence, this means it’s able to float on water should a flood ever threaten the island. Floor to ceiling windows, terraces, an outdoor pergola and private mooring make the most of its riverside setting, while its 500 plant species, biodigester drainage system and energy efficient design bolster its eco credentials.  On the market for £2,500,000, hamptons.co.uk Little Luxury If anyone can take credit for catapulting the humble wellington boot into protected cool status, it is Kate Moss. Who could ever forget the 2005 images of the boho-chic supermodel rocking Glastonbury Festival in mud-caked Hunter wellies, teamed with a black waistcoat and Alexander McQueen micro shorts? It may be hard to believe, but the British heritage brand is celebrating its 170th anniversary – and no surprises for guessing that the star of its new global campaign is 52-year-old La Moss. Get ahead of the game for next year’s summer festivals by investing in a pair of the Women's Hunter Green Original Tall boots, donned by Kate in the campaign. £140, hunterboots.co.uk Competition Enter here for your chance to win a one-night stay at the serene farm retreat Louma in Bridport – beloved for its wellness barn and spa. Better still, your prize comes complete with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pssst… One of Turner’s most famous paintings, Rome, from Mount Aventine, is going on display at the Palazzo Rondinini in Rome for a three-day public view. Estimated at £50 million, it’s one of the most important pieces by the artist still in private hands – and likely to set a new all-time record for Turner when it sells. Whatever You Do, Don’t… Get too sucked into the protein hype. Powders and shakes have soared in price in recent years, while endless brands have launched ‘high-protein’ versions of their products. But, as nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert tells us, protein deficiency is rare in the UK – and most people are already consuming enough through everyday foods. ‘What’s often overlooked is that protein is found in small amounts in foods not traditionally seen as “protein sources” – like bread, pasta and oats,’ she says. ‘So even if you’re not eating a chicken breast or steak at every meal, chances are you’re still getting some protein.’ 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

September 30, 2026   |    Daily 30 September Staying In… Try LAB31b’s Latest Skincare Innovation Professional microneedling is widely considered one of the most results-driven, non-invasive treatments for skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation. Used for treating wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation and scarring, it involves creating thousands of tiny injuries to the skin with surgical needles that promote skin repair from the inside out. Many of us head to the clinic for a dose of the stuff, but microneedling in a bottle? New to the UK, America-based LAB31b promises to revolutionise at-home skincare treatments with its advanced ‘MicroPeptide Needle’ technology. ‘This age-proofing skincare line, created by Dr Tester’s R&D team at her state-of-the-art LAB31b, effectively bridges the gap between in-office skin treatments and at-home skincare with innovative formulas that work,’ notes Juliet Herd, who recently took the brand for a test drive. ‘After more than a month, I began taking silky smooth skin for granted and even noticed a slight softening of fine lines and wrinkles.’ Read her full review here. Going Out… Visit The Decorative Art Fair Whether you’re looking to quench your curiosity for what’s new in the world of interiors or you’re simply after a statement piece to liven up your home, you’re in luck: London’s busy autumn design season is in full swing. Next up? The Decorative Art Fair. Here you’ll find over 120 specialist dealers showcasing antiques, fine and decorative art and 20th century design. Pieces date from the 1500s all the way up to the 1970s, with a wide range of price points making it one of the most accessible fairs in the capital. The autumn edition, which kicked off yesterday, returns to Battersea Park (where the fair has taken place for nearly 30 years) with a collection of imaginative displays created to immerse visitors in the world of design. 29 September to 4 October 2026, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ. decorativefair.com  Staying In Forever Property of the Day The former home of Richard Curtis, this iconic property snatched the starring role in his 1999 romcom Notting Hill. While Hugh Grant’s character managed to afford the Notting Hill home on a bookseller’s budget, today the touristed townhouse is more likely to fall in the hands of someone with Anna Scott’s (Julia Roberts) film star salary. Be warned: the blue door is not the same one we see on-screen  – the original was auctioned after the film’s release to ward off fans.  Available off-market for £7.95m with invisiblehomes.co.uk Little Luxury Wedgwood has teamed up once again with British fashion label JW Anderson on a fresh line of homeware essentials. Inspired by the fifth-century Greek mugs from designer Jonathan Anderson’s personal ceramics collection, Volume II of the pair’s ongoing collaboration comprises new mugs handcrafted by an artisan in Barlaston, separated into three colour collections: Mercury Blue/Jasper Blue, Dark Brown/Terracotta, Marsh Green/Sage Green and Meadow Green/Shadow Grey (a Harrods exclusive). From £300, jwanderson.com  Competition Experience the very best of Sussex with the chance to win an unforgettable escape combining Goodwood Art Foundation, estate-to-plate dining at 24, and an exclusive wine experience at Rathfinny Wine Estate. Enter here for your chance to win. Pssst… Kiehl’s opens the doors to its European flagship on London’s Carnaby Street tomorrow, 1 October 2026. Along with its much-loved skincare heroes and experts on-hand to offer skin analysis and tailored advice, there’s a drinks bar serving up beauty-focused brews, plus a cosy first-floor space for sipping (and spilling) the tea. Head down tomorrow for opening day activity… Whatever You Do, Don’t… Get too carried away with trends when building an autumn capsule wardrobe. ‘Be mindful of trends that crop up at the start of a new season,’ says Tanya Mulesa, co-founder of circular concierge app CICON. ‘Although it’s easy to get sucked into the hype, you’re far better investing in something with plenty of quality and timelessness that can see you through seasons year after year – and, if you do decide to resell, it can retain its quality and value for this purpose.’ 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

October 01, 2026   |    Daily 1 October Staying In… Watch The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 The inaugural series of The Celebrity Traitors in 2025 was a massive hit, breaking ratings records as Alan Carr schemed and giggled his way to victory – beating a star-studded line-up that included Celia Imrie, Stephen Fry and Jonathan Ross. And now it’s back for a second season, promising more big names and even bigger shock twists. This year’s line-up is dominated by actors and comedians, including Richard E. Grant, Miranda Hart, Michael Sheen, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, Joanne McNally and Romesh Ranganathan – plus broadcaster Maya Jama, Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and model and ex-wife of Mick Jagger Jerry Hall. Among such a stacked cast, who will be this year’s big dogs? Who will form alliances? And who will be the first victim of the round table? Tune in at 9pm tonight for your first dose (and have a peek behind the scenes of the Scottish castle beforehand, here). BBC One Going Out… Explore Bicester Village’s Beryl Cook Pop-Up To mark what would have been Beryl Cook’s 100th birthday, House of Voltaire has teamed up with Bicester Village to celebrate the legacy of the beloved British painter. The open-air shopping outlet will be brought to life with an installation of life-sized cutout characters and murals of Cook’s paintings, while a House of Voltaire pop-up in the centre of the village will be selling rare original artworks alongside merchandise spanning tea cups, cushions, tablecloths and more. Also for sale will be a selection of works created by artists and designers continuing Cook’s legacy, including Jeremy Deller, Anthea Hamilton and Ashish. While you’re there, enjoy a Mediterranean-style lunch at the Ottolenghi branch or a pizza at Cecconi’s before trying one of Humble Crumble’s cult desserts. Until 25 October, thebicestercollection.com Staying In Forever Property of the Day C&TH Partnership Multi-award winning sustainable developer gs8 is working to help us live better by creating planet-positive, design-led neighbourhoods. Newly launched is Medburn Yard in Radlett, Hertfordshire, housed in a former equestrian centre and inspired by the character of a traditional farmstead with rural architecture and natural materials. The location includes a selection of luxury two, three and four-bedroom homes, complete with zero-energy bills for 10 years, a residents’ gym, concierge, and bike and car clubs in partnership with Polestar – all within easy reach from London. Homes from £700,000-£1.8m, gs8.co.uk Little Luxury Heading to New York soon? Be sure to stop by Element7’s new showroom at The Design Center, 200 Lexington Avenue. Rather than just displaying floor samples, the space shows how to actually live with the brand’s world-class wood, leather and mosaic floors through a series of room settings – paired with pieces from other British brands like de Le Cuona and Tom Faulkner to create a complete, considered interior. 200 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States, find out more at element7.co.uk Competition Hidden in the heart of Westminster, Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, brings together centuries of British history with modern five-star luxury. And now’s your chance to win a stay.  Pssst… You might know him as ruthless crime boss Eddie Horniman in The Gentlemen, but the real Theo James is more of a relaxed London foodie type. He co-owns two Italian restaurants across the capital: Lupa in Highbury and Ornella in Hackney – have a peek inside here. Whatever You Do, Don’t… Use multiple devices if you’re trying to secure Glastonbury tickets this evening – while you might think it gives you a higher chance of success, it can get you kicked out of the queue. The same goes for having several tabs open: the website might decide you’re a bot and block your IP. Here are some top tips. 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

October 02, 2026   |    Weekly 2 October Dear Reader, It's not often you get to fill a cow horn with fresh manure (please make sure it's compact – otherwise it just dries out) and bury it in the soil. But such is the joy of life at Country & Town House that I found myself doing exactly that at biodynamic farm Waltham Place in Berkshire. Leave it for a few months and what you'll unearth in spring is a potent, microbial-rich humus that helps to restore soil health. All the while, dancers in white cotton robes from ADDA Advanced Dance Institute Barcelona flitted like fairies throughout the grounds before performing a dance interpretation of a new academic paper released by campaigner and model Arizona Muse's DIRT charity in collaboration with Oxford University. The paper entitled The Climate and Agricultural Impact of Textile Production Report examines how fashion uses farmland. In short, how a fibre is farmed and made matters more than what the fibre is. But instead of releasing the report as a typical, endless PDF in Times New Roman, they brought it alive by having us feel and touch the soil, listen to music, watch dance and film, and eat the biodynamic spoils the earth had grown for us. The point is to reconnect with what we wear, what we eat, how we steward the land and how we create – because that's where we become our most whole selves, aligned with the nature that sustains us.  C&TH’s Top Reads Of The Week CULTURE What To Expect From Sky’s Legal Drama War Starring Sienna Miller and Dominic West, we caught up with the cast to find out more about this high-stakes divorce show FOOD & DRINK Why Are All The Chicest Cocktails Suddenly Crystal Clear? From milk-washing to beef-fat bourbon, clarification has gone from bartender trick to cocktail-menu mainstay STYLE How To Build An Autumn Capsule Wardrobe This failsafe approach to wardrobe organisation is perfect for indecisive dressers and navigating seasonal changes Dance in the Country, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Oil on canvas, 180.3 × 90 cm. (Musée d'Orsay) CULTURE Inside Renoir & Love At The National Gallery The new exhibition reveals an artist preoccupied with pleasure, intimacy and modern life STYLE Your October Horoscope Guide Here’s what the universe has in store for you this month TRAVEL Where Is Celebrity Traitors Filmed? The secrets of Ardross Castle, plus where the contestants actually sleep INTERIORS How To Make A Tiny Loo Stand Out Curate the cloakroom with these tip-top tiny bathroom ideas Spotlight: The Over-Optimisation Backlash Camilla Hewitt reflects on the shift away from pursuing peak efficiency Wellness fatigue: two words that shouldn’t really belong together, but here we are. Wellness has been commoditised and in the process its original purpose – helping us feel healthier and happier – has been lost. Much of this stems from the industry’s growing obsession with optimisation: the idea that every aspect of our lives can be upgraded, measured and fine-tuned to help us operate at the greatest level. Somewhere along the way, we’ve confused optimisation with wellbeing. In our pursuit of constant improvement, we’ve drifted further away from the simple habits that actually make us feel good. The backlash against over-optimisation has now been identified as one of the top ten wellness trends for 2026 by the Global Wellness Summit. As trends researcher and strategist Jessica Smith writes: ‘What’s emerging now is not a rejection of science, but a recalibration: a shift toward regulation over results, sensation over scores, and wellbeing measured by how fully alive we feel.’ Perhaps that’s precisely what wellness needs – a shift from control to connection. While I strive to follow a healthy lifestyle, I’ve realised that healing happens through our relationships: with the natural world, the people who surround us, and ourselves. Here are four retreats and rituals that tap into a growing desire for joy, presence and belonging. Staying In Forever… Property of the Week Dating back to 1580, this timber-framed abode has attracted some remarkable owners throughout the years. After WWII, it was home to Oscar-winning actor Sir John Mills, best known for his role in Great Expectations, and later Roger Hargreaves – creator of the Mr Men and Little Miss books. Set within 30 acres, this nine-bedroom property boasts a swimming pool, tennis court and equestrian facilities, just a stone’s throw from London. On the market for £3,950,000, ddre.global Competitions Win a one-night stay at 1 Hotel Mayfair, with breakfast and dinner at Dovetale included  Win an Abode boiling water tap worth up to £949 Win a two-night bed and breakfast stay for two in a sea-view room at W Algarve, Portugal Good News Global targets to protect at least 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (the 30x30 commitment) remain within reach, according to a major review of the policy. The report found that 20 percent of land and inland waters are already designated protected, and existing commitments would increase that to 27 percent by 2030. However, Brian O’Donnell, director of the Campaign for Nature (the group behind the 30x30 campaign) has called on governments to reframe the goal ‘not only as a conservation imperative, but as an investment in economic resilience, climate stability, food and water security, health, and long-term prosperity’.  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