Country Life

4 days ago | countrylife.co.uk | Matthew Macconnell |Matthew Macconnell

In the 1980s and 90s, Ford was the major hot hatch player. The Fiesta XR2 — with its pepper-pot alloys, extra spotlights and flared wheel arches — inspired dreams among the youth. The maniacal Escort RS Cosworth, built to fulfil homologation requirements for rallying, made lottery wish lists. Then came the RS-badged Focus. RS cars were hardcore: potent engines, all-wheel and rally DNA.

5 days ago | countrylife.co.uk | Rosie Paterson

Qatar Airways’ Qsuite went into operation in 2017, but the way that people talk about it in hushed tones of something verging on reverence implies that it’s a lot newer — because when has the launch of a new airplane anything still been cause for conversation close to a decade on? Answer: never, with the possible exception of Concorde.

1 week ago | countrylife.co.uk | Melanie Johnson

Once a favourite of Madame de Pompadour — member of the French court and mistress of Louis XV — asparagus has long since lost its ‘royal' status, but not for me. I'm excited to see the asparagus season has begun, an optimistic sign that summer really is just around the corner — and the kitchen garden will soon be brimming with a wealth of new culinary offerings.

1 week ago | countrylife.co.uk | Rosie Paterson

Seven of the UK’s best Arts and Crafts buildings — and you can stay in all of themThe Arts and Crafts movement was an international design trend with roots in the UK — and lots of buildings built and decorated in the style have since been turned into hotels.

1 week ago | countrylife.co.uk | Ben West

Arts and Crafts buildings remain eternally popular, as they offer a unique combination of functionality and beauty, and often feature attractive, distinct and original details you likely won’t find elsewhere. The movement began to take shape in the 1860s, inspired by a group of architects, artists and designers, including textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist William Morris; architect and interior designer Augustus Pugin; and art critic John Ruskin.