Lifestyle

I went to my tailor the other day, bracing myself against the Christmas madness in Piccadilly. I needed some new suits, and it so happened that there was a bit of money rattling around in my account, so it seemed the ideal opportunity for a bit of retail therapy to see me through the cold winter months. I tend to get my suits, if the editor will allow me this shameless plug, from Roderick Charles on Jermyn Street: I like...

History, theme parks, active adventures, nature and magic all combine on our list of the best family days out in the UK. From Edinburgh to Cornwall, we’ve got you covered for your next exciting trip. Titanic Experience, Belfast Voted the best attraction in Europe at the 2016 World Travel Awards, The Titanic Experience charts the history of the doomed Titanic across nine galleries. There’s a shipyard area with an interactive ride that shows how the ship was constructed by 3,000 workers, and...

What’s a Winter Jacket? We’ve all been there, the bright winter sun luring us into a false sense of security. By the end of the day wishing we’d worn a thicker, more suitable jacket. So, when the mercury starts to move we need to switch up our outwear choices. Winter jackets are typically thicker coats with added insulation, length and a hood, which makes them suitable for anything winter throws at us – from snow and sleet to those icy...

Christmas is a time of year to spend with your loved ones and family members of all ages simply love the capital’s Christmas lights displays. Many large shops have famous displays but it is the street displays which really capture the imagination. Allow us to walk you through some of this year’s very best displays. Possibly the most famous shopping street in the world, Oxford Street is transformed each year and attracts visitors from all over the world. This year...

Generational gaps are making watching TV and playing games together at Christmas near impossible, new research has shown. Despite Christmas TV and family games remaining among the top festive activities for families, most youngsters can’t tell Jim Royle from Basil Fawlty and many over 50’s have never even heard of Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead. That makes getting together around the television or playing games such as charades increasingly difficult. According to a survey by TalkTalk TV over...

Which unlikely fast food chain is a Christmas dinner tradition in Japan? What is a Krampuslauf? Christmas is celebrated in many ways around the world - this quiz will hopefully help you with some top weird Xmas traditions Christmas dinner banter facts: Meanwhile these are the Christmas traditions that Brits will be following this holiday: The average Brit will buy 22 different gifts for nine people, spending almost £379 in total - 1.1 billion presents for 462 million people between...

While Christmas is celebrated throughout the world on the same day every year (bar a few exceptions), that doesn’t mean that it’s celebrated in the same way. Every one of these countries celebrates the festive season loudly, proudly and with their own unique traditions. Please see this amazing infographic done by Simply Education on these wonderful Christmas traditions. Japan Despite the fact that only 1% of Japan’s population is Christian, this is a country that celebrates Christmas with just as...

A fifth of adults will be spending Christmas alone or with just one other person, a new study has found. Despite six in ten saying spending time with the family is one of the best things about Christmas, many will only be afforded a small celebration rather than a large get-together. The results of the study come as a report from the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission found loneliness is as harmful to health as obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Sister of...

A transgender man has given birth to a healthy baby - five years after having his first child while living as a woman. Kaci Sullivan, 30, is believed to be the first person in the world to give birth while living as both a woman and a man. He underwent a C-section following seven days in labour and welcomed Phoenix into the world four years after beginning the transition from female to male. Business student Kaci conceived with partner Steven,...