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King Charles shares cheeky message to England football team

<p>King Charles has shared a cheeky message to England's football team after their semi-final win, securing a spot in the UEFA grand final.</p> <p>The monarch congratulated the team for their win over The Netherlands, while issuing some quick-witted advice ahead of the final game on Sunday. </p> <p>Referencing their recent nail-biting goals during the football tournament, being played in Germany, the King asked them to wrap up the win earlier in the game.</p> <p>"My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the UEFA European Championship - and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday's match," the King wrote.</p> <p>"If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation's collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!"</p> <p>His Majesty wished "good luck, England" before signing off with a "Charles R" at the bottom of the letter to England team manager Gareth Southgate and his team. </p> <p>The monarch wasn't the only one to react to the win, Prince William also posted a message on social media sharing his congratulations to the national team. </p> <p>"What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists," William, who is also the Football Association President, shared on X, formerly Twitter.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Maurizio Borsari/AFLO/Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock</em></p>

TV

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Two men charged over felling of iconic Sycamore Gap tree

<p>Two men have been charged with cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in northern England. </p> <p>Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, were charged with causing criminal damage to the tree and damaging Hadrian’s Wall, which was built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 to guard the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire.</p> <p>The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) added that they will appear in the Newcastle Magistrates Court on May 15.</p> <p>“There has been an ongoing investigation since the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down," <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">said </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney, the Senior Investigation Officer on the case. </span></p> <p>“As a result of those inquiries, two men have now been charged.</p> <p>“We recognise the strength of feeling in the local community and further afield the felling has caused, however we would remind people to avoid speculation, including online, which could impact the ongoing case.”</p> <p>According to <em>The Sun</em>, the two men were arrested back in October and released on bail. </p> <p>The iconic tree became internationally famous when it was used for a scene in Kevin Costner's 1991 blockbuster film <em>Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. </em></p> <p>The felling caused widespread <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-can-t-forgive-that-teen-arrested-after-felling-of-iconic-200-year-old-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outrage</a> at the time, as police tried to find the culprit behind the "deliberate" act of vandalism. </p> <p>Efforts are currently underway to see if the tree can be regrown from the sycamore's stump, with The National Trust hoping that a third of the seeds and cuttings it collected from the tree could be planted later on. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

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Eye-watering price tag for "remarkable" first class Titanic menu

<p>A first class dinner menu from the Titanic has been found and sold at an auction in England for £84,000 (around $162,000 AUD) on November 11. </p> <p>The water-stained menu was dated April 11, 1912 just three days before the ship hit an iceberg, ultimately meeting it's ill-fated end causing over 1500 deaths. </p> <p>Wealthy passengers at the time were spoiled with choice, with oysters, salmon, beef, squab (baby pigeon), spring lamb among other dishes on the menu, and that's not including dessert. </p> <p>Auctioneers Henry Aldridge &amp; Son said it was unclear how the menu made it off the ship intact, but the slight water damage suggests that it was recovered from the body of a victim. </p> <p>The rare artefact, which is over 111 years old belonged to amateur historian Len Stephenson, from Nova Scotia, Canada, who passed away in 2017. </p> <p>No one knew he had it, including his family, who only discovered it after going through his belongings following his death. </p> <p>“About six months ago his daughter and his son-in-law, Allen, felt the time was right to go through his belongings,” auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said. </p> <p>“As they did they found this menu in an old photo album.</p> <p>“Len was a very well thought-of historian in Nova Scotia which has strong connections with the Titanic. The body recovery ships were from Nova Scotia and so all the victims were taken back there.</p> <p>“Sadly, Len has taken the secret of how he acquired this menu to the grave with him.”</p> <p>Stephenson worked at a post office and would talk to people, collect old pictures and write letters for them, which might be how he got the rare artefact. </p> <p>According to the auctioneer, no other first class dinner menus dated April 11, 1912 have been recovered from the titanic making this “a remarkable survivor from the most famous Ocean liner of all time”.</p> <p>“There are a handful of April 14 menus in existence but you just don’t see menus from April 11. Most of them would have gone down with the ship,” Aldridge said. </p> <p>“Whereas with April 14 menus, passengers would have still had them in their coat and jacket pockets from earlier on that fateful night and still had them when they were taken off the ship," he added. </p> <p>A few other items recovered from the Titanic were also sold, including a Swiss-made pocket watch recovered from passenger Sinai Kantor which fetched £97,000 (around $187,000 AUD). </p> <p>A tartan-patterned deck blanket, which was likely used during the rescue operation also sold for £96,000 (around $185,000). </p> <p><em>Images: Henry Aldridge &amp; Son of Devizes, Wiltshire</em></p> <p> </p>

Cruising

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Pensioner's epic 600-mile journey from England to Scotland on a pony

<p>Jane Dotchin has completed an epic 600-mile (1000 km) journey from England to the Scottish Highlands with her pack pony Diamond, and disabled Jack Russell terrier Dinky.</p> <p>The 82-year-old has been making this seven-week trek every year since 1972, with nothing but her trusted pony, pet dog and a few belongings including a tent, food and water which she carries in a saddlebag.</p> <p>The pensioner travels between 15 and 20 miles a day from Hexham, Northumberland to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. </p> <p>"I love camping and I love the countryside," she said, according to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12735287/Pensioner-82-completes-600-mile-ride-England-Scotland-horse-Diamond-7-week-trip-shes-year-1972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em> </p> <p>Her dog Dinky, who deformed front legs,  is just as happy to go on the adventure, sitting comfortably in the saddlebag as the world passes by her. </p> <p>She lives on porridge, oatcakes and cheese, and carries an old mobile phone in case of emergencies. </p> <p>Dotchin does not let her eye-patch stop her either, as she is determined to continue the tradition for as long as possible.</p> <p>"I know the route so well, I don’t need to read maps. I can manage if I keep to the routes I know," she told the publication. </p> <p>Dotchin first started long-distance trekking 40 years ago when she rode to Somerset, which was around 300 miles from where she lived, to visit a friend. </p> <p>She has made the journey up north every autumn since, and is an inspiration to many, with those who have spotted her sharing photos and videos of the avid horse rider. </p> <p>"A personal hero passed by just now!" wrote one person, who spotted Dotchin riding her pony back in 2021. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A personal hero passed by just now! <a href="https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI">https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaneDotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaneDotchin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCScotland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCScotland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheScotsman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheScotsman</a> <a href="https://t.co/8qegaOLA3P">pic.twitter.com/8qegaOLA3P</a></p> <p>— Robyn Woolston (@robynwoolston) <a href="https://twitter.com/robynwoolston/status/1441359649387671557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Went to watch a bike race and instead discovered an amazing, adventurous and inspirational woman," wrote another person, who spotted Dotchin in 2022. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Eiger X (@eiger.x)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning," wrote another, who spotted her a week later. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">When you’re struggling on a morning run and meet the incredible <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/janedotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#janedotchin</a> on the path. This 82-year-old rides 600 miles across Scotland every autumn with her horse Diamond and disabled Jack Russell Dinky in her saddle bag. What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning. <a href="https://t.co/SuAvQug6dc">pic.twitter.com/SuAvQug6dc</a></p> <p>— 📚🕷Suzy A #CrowMoon 🖤❤️📚 (@writer_suzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/writer_suzy/status/1569965657629794306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter/ Instagram</em></p>

International Travel

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“England’s greatest ever”: Sir Bobby Charlton’s cause of death

<p>In the early hours of Saturday morning October 21, the footballing world was met with sombre news. England World Cup winner and Manchester United great, Sir Bobby Charlton, described by the club as a "giant of the game", had passed away. Charlton's death marked the end of an era for both English football and Manchester United Football Club, and his legacy will continue to shine as brightly as ever.</p> <p>Charlton had been battling dementia, and his passing came just a week after he celebrated his 86th birthday. His journey through the beautiful game was a storied one, filled with remarkable achievements that will forever etch his name in the annals of football history.</p> <p>Perhaps the pinnacle of Charlton's career was his role in England's victorious 1966 World Cup team. He was a vital cog in the squad that claimed England's first and, so far, only World Cup triumph. His skills, determination, and sportsmanship on the pitch endeared him to fans not only in England but around the world.</p> <p>But his influence didn't stop at the international level. At club level, Charlton enjoyed tremendous success with Manchester United. He played a significant role in the Red Devils becoming the first English club to lift the European Cup in 1968. This victory came a decade after the tragic Munich air crash, which claimed the lives of several members of the United team. Bobby Charlton's resilience and commitment to the club were instrumental in rebuilding and achieving such remarkable heights.</p> <p>Upon hearing the news of Charlton's passing, the footballing community united in mourning. England World Cup winner Geoff Hurst, who scored a historic hat-trick in the 1966 final with Charlton by his side, expressed his sorrow and paid tribute to his "great colleague and friend." The sentiment was echoed by former Manchester United star David Beckham, who revealed that Sir Bobby Charlton had a profound influence on his career, going so far as to say that he was named after the legend himself – with his father giving him the second name "Robert" after his idol at the time.</p> <p>Charlton's impact extended beyond the field, as noted by former England forward Gary Lineker, who dubbed him "England's greatest ever player." Charlton's class and sportsmanship both on and off the pitch made him an enduring symbol of the beautiful game. He represented the essence of what it meant to be a footballing legend.</p> <p>Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville recognised Charlton as the club's "greatest ambassador." His contributions to the Red Devils, both as a player and later as a club director, played a significant role in shaping the club's legacy. He was a constant presence in the dressing room, offering his support and wisdom, win or lose.</p> <p>For Rio Ferdinand, Sir Bobby Charlton was a "true gentleman" and "Mr Manchester United." He recounted a pivotal moment when Charlton shared words with him at the bottom of the stairs in Moscow before lifting the Champions League trophy in 2008. Those words will forever remain with Ferdinand, a testament to the profound impact Charlton had on those around him.</p> <p>Charlton's legacy also reached beyond the United Kingdom, with global football icon Eric Cantona paying his respects, hailing him as "one of the best of all time". Current Manchester United midfielder Casemiro acknowledged Charlton's Ballon d'Or and European Cup victories, highlighting his irreplaceable role in the club's storied history.</p> <p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added his voice to the chorus of tributes, recognising Sir Bobby Charlton's place in history as one of the game's greatest players. He described Charlton as "hugely loved" and offered his condolences, saying, "Rest in peace, Sir Bobby."</p> <p>"Manchester United are in mourning following the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of our club," the Premier League club said in a statement. "Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world.</p> <p>"He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as he was for his outstanding qualities as a footballer. Sir Bobby will always be remembered as a giant of the game."</p> <p><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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The 30 best places to explore in London, according to a local

<p><strong>Top things to do in London</strong></p> <p>London ranks high among the best places to travel in the world, attracting millions of visitors from all corners of the globe every year. It may not be one of the cheap places to travel, but there are so many things to do in London that it’s definitely worth a visit. So, once you’ve figured out the best time to visit London and the best time to book a flight – and you’ve watched King Charles’s coronation to get in the mood – where to start?</p> <p>If you’ve never been to London, you’ll want to make sure to see the most important sights, but also some hidden gems we locals enjoy. I have been living in London for more than five years. I planned to just stay for a few weeks, but I fell in love with the city at first sight – and I still schedule in regular time for exploring my adopted home. I love to share my favourite spots as a travel writer, and I am on speed dial for friends, family and friends of friends who are visiting.</p> <p>It’s impossible to fit everything London has to offer into one trip (or even one lifetime!), but it’s easy to make the most of your time if you just know how.</p> <p><strong>Big Ben</strong></p> <p>Big Ben is London’s most famous landmark, so it’s a must-see for all travellers. The name refers to the huge bell inside the clock tower, which first chimed on May 31, 1859, but the whole building at the north end of the Houses of Parliament goes by this nickname. Big Ben was renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II‘s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, but most people don’t call it that.</p> <p>The tower underwent extensive renovations from summer 2017, and there was much excitement when the bells first rang again in November 2022. It’s still not possible to climb up Big Ben quite yet, but the big reopening for visitors is scheduled for later in 2023. Your best bet for a picture-perfect view of the tower and the Houses of Parliament is from Westminster Bridge.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: If you want to take a selfie with Big Ben, the best spot is just behind the landmark, on Great George Street. When coming from Westminster Bridge, walk past the tower and the tube station (Westminster) toward St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey to your left. While it might be a bit cliché to pose next to a red phone box, the photo will still look great on your Instagram – and many Londoners snap this shot too.</p> <p><strong>Westminster Abbey</strong></p> <p>If you followed King Charles‘s coronation (or other festive royal events such as Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s wedding) you’re probably already familiar with Westminster Abbey. But London’s most iconic church is even more impressive when you step foot inside yourself. Westminster Abbey was founded in 960 AD and has been the coronation church since 1066. It is also the final resting place of no fewer than 17 monarchs (the late Queen Elizabeth is buried in Windsor Castle), scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton and world-famous writers including Charles Dickens.</p> <p>Westminster Abbey is both one of London’s top tourist attractions and a working church with daily services – so be prepared for crowds and parts of the abbey closed. The church is busiest in the mornings, so visit after lunchtime if you can book a time slot.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: While it’s perfectly possible to explore the abbey with an audio guide (included in the ticket price), their guided tours are worth a bit of extra money. You will get to see parts of Westminster Abbey that are normally closed to the public, including royal tombs, the Poets’ Corner and Lady Chapel – and you’ll get to hear lots of interesting facts and anecdotes.</p> <p><strong>The London Eye</strong></p> <p>The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the Thames River, and it’s been a London landmark of its own for over 20 years, so no list of the things to do in London would be complete without mentioning it. But is it really worth it? Let’s face it, the 30-minute-ride comes with a big price tag and potentially long queuing times on top. However, on a sunny day (or at night!) the views are truly stunning. If you’re lucky, you’ll not only see all the London sights including Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the Tower Bridge but all the way up to Windsor Castle too. So, if you are new to London and don’t mind spending some cash, go for it. Fun fact, the London Eye is also one of the top places in the UK for people on romantic getaways – and, in fact, to get engaged. They even offer special proposal packages with private pods and champagne.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Technically, you can just show up and buy your ticket on-site, but booking online saves you time and money. There are also discounted combination tickets including a river cruise or entry to Madame Tussaud’s.</p> <p><strong>The Tate Modern</strong></p> <p>Museums rank high among the most popular attractions in London – and not just because you can visit them regardless of the weather. If you only have time for one, make it the Tate Modern, which is one of the most popular museums in the world. The massive art space with its iconic tower is housed in the former Bankside Power Station and sits right near the Thames, across from St Paul’s Cathedral.</p> <p>The exhibition spaces spread over seven floors and include original works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Warhol. Like most museums in London, the Tate Modern is free to visit, unless you want to see a special exhibition (book well in advance in that case). Should you be keen to see the Tate’s sister gallery Tate Britain as well, hop on the Tate Boat right in front of the building and travel door to door in style. Boats run every 20 to 30 minutes during museum open hours.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Fancy turning your Tate Modern visit into a fun night out? Keep an eye on the monthly Tate Lates, a mix of art workshops and talks, DJs, bars and live music.</p> <p><strong>Buckingham Palace</strong></p> <p>Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British monarchs since 1837, and even though all the royal family currently live at other royal estates, it remains the place most associated with the crown. A highlight not to be missed is the Changing of the Guard, a traditional ceremony that sees one detachment of troops taking over from the other, marching along The Mall to Buckingham Palace with musical accompaniment (expect both traditional tunes and pop songs). It takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and daily during the summer, at 11 AM. It’s one of the best free tourist attractions in London. For a prime spot, arrive at least one hour in advance, as the area gets packed year-round.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: The State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace are open to visitors on selected dates during winter and spring, as well as for 10 weeks in summer. Tour tickets sell out quickly, so check dates and book as early as you can.</p> <p><strong>The Tower Bridge</strong></p> <p>Walking across the Tower Bridge is a must-do when in London. But nothing beats watching the landmark lift for tall vessels, including cruise ships, to pass through. River traffic has priority on this stretch of the Thames by law, meaning ships can request a lift any time of the day, bringing the traffic on the bridge to a complete halt. On average, the Tower Bridge opens twice a day. But what’s the secret behind being at the right place at the right time? Luckily, it’s pretty simple, as you can check online to see when the bridge next lifts.  Then, make sure to arrive on time to watch the spectacle unfold.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: For a full view of the lift (and great photo opportunities), position yourself on the river banks or a bridge opposite Tower Bridge. For a more close-up experience, stand on either end of the bridge.</p> <p><strong>Portobello Road Market</strong></p> <p>In the 1990s, the movie Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, made the West London neighbourhood of the same name known around the world as a romantic travel destination. But even if you’re not a fan of rom-coms, Notting Hill and its famous Portobello Road Market – considered the largest antique market on the planet – have a lot to offer. The stalls, fold-out tables and shops are packed with vintage treasures, from lamps and chairs to paintings, jewellery and second-hand clothing, which makes it a great place for souvenir hunting. The market is open six days a week, but Saturday is the main day when all the sellers, antique hunters and street food vendors are out.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Notting Hill’s signature pastel houses are just as famous as the market, and selfies on the steps around the Hillgate Place and Lancaster Road area are high on many visitors’ bucket lists. Please keep in mind though that people actually live in these houses, so don’t stare into their windows or leave trash behind.</p> <p><strong>The West End</strong></p> <p>The West End is the heart of London’s commercial theatre and musical productions in the UK. More than 16 million people watched performances here in 2022, making tickets one of the hottest holiday gifts. Whether you’re into the classics such as Les Miserables (running since 1985) and The Phantom of the Opera (since 1986) or want to see a feel-good musical featuring songs by Tina Turner, ABBA or Queen, this is the place. The Disney musicals are among the most popular things to do in London with kids, but they’re just as fun to watch as an adult. For crime fans, Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap is a must-see.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: If you haven’t set your mind on a specific show, you can score excellent last-minute deals on the day using the TodayTix app (look for “rush tickets” at 10 a.m. sharp). I’ve found myself sitting in some of the best seats in the house for around $30, especially on weeknights. Ticket booths around Leicester Square also sell discounted tickets.</p> <p><strong>The Tower of London</strong></p> <p>No list of the best things to do in London would be complete without the Tower of London: an iconic castle, former prison and execution location – as well as the home of the crown jewels. The royals’ precious accessories have been stored here since 1661 and only leave the Tower when used on official occasions. Want to see King Charles’s and Queen Camilla’s crowns? They are right here!</p> <p>The Tower of London is more than 900 years old, and you can feel its history in every corner. Keep in mind that the complex is not only impressive but also huge, so plan at least a few hours to see everything. Besides its exhibitions, historic halls and the guards with their signature fur hats, the Tower is famous for its wild ravens. According to legend, the kingdom will fall if the six resident ravens ever decide to leave.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Tickets to the Tower of London come with audio guides. If you’d rather have a human companion, opt for a tour with a Beefeater, a working guard at the fortress.</p> <p><strong>Borough Market</strong></p> <p>Dating back to the 13th century, Borough Market, on the south side of the Thames, is London’s oldest food market and a great food travel destination with more than 100 stalls and plenty of small restaurants and wine bars where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. While the market originally focused on British produce, you can now get Indian curries, pad Thai, Ethiopian stews, falafel wraps, pasta dishes and, of course, the obligatory fish and chips. There are also plenty of stalls to stock up on bread, veggies, wines and sweets to take home or have later in the day. The market is open Tuesday to Sunday.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Borough Market is a lunch favourite with people working at the nearby offices, so expect long queues around noon. If you can’t find a quiet spot to eat, make yourself comfy at the riverbank a few minutes away by foot.</p> <p><strong>Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter</strong></p> <p>London is full of locations featured in the Harry Potter movies (think St. Paul’s Cathedral, Leadenhall Market, Borough Market or Tower Bridge), which you can explore on your own. But no place gets “muggles” (non-magic people) closer to Harry Potter’s world than the Warner Bros. Studio Tour just outside the city. Here you will walk through Diagon Alley, peek into Harry’s cupboard under the stairs and explore Hogwarts rooms such as the Great Hall or Dumbledore’s office. You can even sample butter beer! The studio decoration changes according to season. I have seen the summer and Christmas versions so far, and Halloween is next on my list.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Advance booking is essential, even during shoulder seasons. Since muggles are, unfortunately, unable to arrive by broom, a shuttle bus from London’s Watford Junction is included in the ticket price.</p> <p><strong>Columbia Road Market</strong></p> <p>Columbia Road Flower Market may be London’s most popular place for flower shopping, and it’s a weekend institution in East London. Rain or shine, the whole street gets packed from 8am every Sunday with dozens of stalls that sell tulips, roses, cacti, spider plants and banana trees. Judging by Instagram posts and people with cameras around their necks, the market might look like a bit of a tourist trap at first glance. But the majority of the visitors are locals who stock up on flowers after coffee or brunch at one of the little cafes in the neighbourhood. The flowers are certainly the main selling point on a Sunday, but Columbia Road is dotted with little art shops and galleries too, so take your time to have a look around.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Columbia Road Market tends to be busy year-round, but if you want to avoid the largest crowds, it pays to show up right when it starts. For the best flower deals, come after lunchtime. The stalls close at around 3pm.</p> <p><strong>Sky Garden</strong></p> <p>London’s highest public garden, Sky Garden, sits on the 35th floor of the “Walkie Talkie,” one of the city’s landmark skyscrapers, and it provides spectacular panoramic views. Sky Garden is an oasis of plants, with an observation deck, an open-air terrace and two restaurants. Entry is free, but advance booking is essential. However, once you’re in, you’re in, so you can technically spend a whole day among the plants.</p> <p>If you can’t get into Sky Garden (or want to shoot more skyline pictures from a different angle), head to The Garden at 120, an open-air rooftop garden on the 15th floor about a five-minute walk away. It might not be as fancy as Sky Garden, but it’s usually a lot quieter. I have had the whole garden to myself on weekday mornings more than once.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Tickets for the Sky Garden are released every Monday, and you can book up to three weeks in advance. If you’re in the area but don’t have a ticket, it’s still worth trying your luck at the door, as they sometimes accept walk-ins.</p> <p><strong>Traditional afternoon tea</strong></p> <p>While Brits are the champions of tea drinking, afternoon tea is a lot more than just sipping on your favourite blend. The ritual dates back to the 19th century, when the ladies of the high society met for a light meal to shorten the time until dinner was served. Today, it’s mainly saved for special occasions, but it also makes one of the most fun things to do in London when on a city break. A traditional afternoon tea menu includes small sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and a selection of pastries and cakes. Earl Grey, Darjeeling and English Breakfast are the classic tea blends. If you really want to treat yourself, book a table at the glamorous salon at Cafe Royal. Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and David Bowie were regulars here. Live piano music and champagne are included too.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Looking for a more casual afternoon tea option that doubles as a sightseeing tour? Hop on the Afternoon Tea Bus for a 90-minute ride.</p> <p><strong>Shakespeare's Globe Theatre </strong></p> <p>While the Globe Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames isn’t the original one from Shakespeare’s time (that one burned down in 1613), it’s still considered the writer’s London home and the closest you could ever get to the original experience. The venue was rebuilt in the same shape and layout, using the original type of wood (green oak) and building techniques. Watch world-famous plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors and fully immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: The cheapest way to see a play (or get into an otherwise sold-out show) is the “5£ Rush Tickets.” These are standing tickets right in front of the stage. While you might miss the comfort of a seat, you’ll be closer to the action than anyone else (and save a lot of money too!). Tickets are released every Friday at 11 am for the following week.</p> <p><strong>Little Venice</strong></p> <p>London is an amazing city to explore on foot, and once you’ve ticked off all the major sights, it’s time to enjoy one of the locals’ favourite walks. When I moved to London, I was amazed at how many locals lived on houseboats – it reminded me of The Netherlands, where I spent my college semester abroad. Regent’s Canal is dotted with colourful narrowboats, and you can often watch their owners navigate them to and from their mooring spots. The most beautiful stretch is from King’s Cross to Little Venice, a beautiful water canal area full of cafés and pubs and framed by willow trees. You will pass Camden and Regent’s Park along the way.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Before you head on your two-hour walk, check out Coal Drop’s Yard right behind the King’s Cross station, with its restaurants, pubs and artsy shops, and Word on the Water, a floating bookstore.</p> <p><strong>Shoreditch</strong></p> <p>East London’s Shoreditch is one of the hippest districts in the city, with little cafes, quirky shops and bars on every corner. It’s also the heart of London’s street-art scene. Living in Shoreditch, I’m continuously amazed by all the murals and graffiti popping up overnight (and, sadly, often disappearing just as quickly). If you are like me and love taking edgy pictures, you will feel right at home. I always recommend Shoreditch Street Art Tours to friends visiting, a fun and comprehensive introduction to the local street-art scene. If you head out on your own, save Brick Lane, Fashion Street, Hanbury Street, Princelet Street, New Inn Yard, Redchurch Street and Shoreditch Highstreet Station on Google Maps.</p> <p>To kill two birds with one stone, visit Shoreditch on a weekend when Brick Lane market (lots of food and some art and clothes stalls) takes place. Truman Brewery on Brick Lane is also home to the biggest indoor vintage market in the U.K., which is open seven days a week.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: For a quick and inexpensive snack to go, head to Beigel Bake. The 24-hour shop is the most famous bagel place in London. Attention: They only take cash!</p> <p><strong>Kensington Gardens</strong></p> <p>One of London’s eight royal parks and formerly part of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens is a popular recreational area where you can take a stroll, have a picnic, check out exhibitions at the Serpentine galleries, visit Kensington Palace or – if you’re traveling with kids – make the most of the Diana Memorial Playground (including a wooden pirate ship and sculptures inspired by Peter Pan).</p> <p>Ring-necked parakeets have spread all over London, but this park is your best bet to see them up close. And while nobody seems to be quite sure how they originally ended up in London, thousands have called it home since the 1990s. Here, the parakeets are so used to people they will land on your outstretched hands (or your shoulders or your head!) when you bring snacks (apples or seeds) – and sometimes even if you don’t. Be aware, though, that the cute birds have surprisingly sharp claws, so your arms might end up looking like you’ve just been scratched by an angry cat.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: The parakeets can be found near the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Garden. If you arrive by tube, get off at Lancaster Gate, walk past the lake and follow the squawking.</p> <p><strong>Barbican Conservatory </strong></p> <p>The Barbican Centre is London’s largest multi-arts venue. Movies, live gigs, plays, exhibitions, restaurants – you name it, the iconic complex has it all. One of the lesser known gems is their indoor garden on Level 3, which houses 2000 species of plants and trees as well as three small ponds. It’s a great place if you need a break from sightseeing or want to spend a relaxing hour or two hiding from the rain. Plus, it’s quite romantic – a friend of mine got engaged amidst the plants! Unfortunately, the whole Barbican complex tends to feel like a labyrinth with tons of confusing walkways. Schedule in some extra time just in case you get lost, and don’t sweat it, because it regularly happens to pretty much every Londoner.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: The Conservatory is only open on selected days. Entry is free, but book a time slot in advance to make sure you’ll get in. Tickets are released one week in advance on Fridays at 10 am, with a limited number of additional ones available at 9.30am on the day.</p> <p><strong>God's Own Junkyard</strong></p> <p>God’s Own Junkyard is a surreal exhibition place packed with blinking neon signs, old movie props, circus lighting and retro displays. It’s the private collection of the late owner Chris Bracey, who made signs for Soho’s strip clubs before he went on to work with some of our greatest directors, including Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Christopher Nolan (Batman) and Stanley Kubrick (Eyes Wide Shut).</p> <p>The gallery-turned-warehouse isn’t exactly close to the city centre, but it ranks high among the best things to do in London. Entry is free, however you might end up taking a neon sign home from their small shop. There’s also a cafe and fully licensed bar, if you want to linger for a bit.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: It might be tempting, but God’s Own Junkyard is, unfortunately, not the place to try out your latest camera gear. You are allowed to take pictures with your phone (for personal use and social media) but not with any cameras or professional equipment.</p> <p><strong>Cahoots Underground </strong></p> <p>If you like colourful cocktails and immersive experiences, make sure to check out some of London’s hidden bars. One of the coolest places I’ve been is the 1940s-inspired Cahoots Underground, located in a retired tube station around the corner from Soho’s Carnaby Street. The speakeasy bar is decorated with tube signs and maps, the cocktails (with names like “Winston Churchill” and “Judy Garland”) are listed in a newspaper instead of a regular menu, and the waiters are dressed up as ticket inspectors. What’s more, there’s a live piano player taking requests from guests (everything from Frank Sinatra to Miley Cyrus). Be prepared for spontaneous singalongs and people dancing between the tables.</p> <p>Other hidden bars worth checking out include Nightjar Shoreditch (old-school glamour, candlelit tables and live jazz and swing), Discount Suit Company (in a former suit tailor’s storeroom), Opium in Chinatown (a 1920s Shanghai-themed bar tucked away behind red curtains), Purl (1920s theme, live music and cocktail mixing classes) and Ladies &amp; Gents (in a former public washroom).</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Better safe than sorry – all the above-mentioned bars are very popular, so book a table just in case.</p> <p><strong>Dennis Severs' House</strong></p> <p>If you’ve ever wondered what every day London life looked like in the 18th century, Dennis Severs’ House gives you a first-hand taste. The building was left exactly as when the original owners, a family of silk weavers, lived there. The rooms are lit by fire and candlelight, and visitors are encouraged to tour them in complete silence to “not disturb the family.” You will find yourself wandering around the living room full of faded photographs, old carpets, mugs and books. The kitchen has a fully laid table – bitten apples included! It almost feels like the family is about to return and go on with their daily routine any moment. To make the time-travel experience even more authentic, there are also added scents of food, woodsmoke and chatters of the occupants.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip:</em></span> Walk-up tickets are available, but unless you don’t mind standing in line for up to an hour or two, I’d recommend booking a time slot.</p> <p><strong>Camden</strong></p> <p>Talk to any Londoner and they’ll probably tell you that Camden is just not what it used to be. And I’m not going to lie, the North London neighbourhood has dramatically changed in recent years. Its edgy, alternative vibe is pretty much gone. Many of the charming parts of Camden Market were replaced by fancy stalls, food courts and colourful hanging umbrellas. However, Camden is still well worth a visit, you just need to do a bit more digging. Ignore the souvenir shops and look for the small creative sellers that have stood their ground. Then head to The Hawley Arms, my go-to Camden pub and a musician’s hangout. The late, great Amy Winehouse was a regular.</p> <p>Camden’s music scene is legendary, and many pubs have live gigs and open-mic nights. Some of the most iconic venues to check out for gigs include KOKO (frequented by supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss in their heydays), Electric Ballroom, Spiritual Records, Dingwalls and Jazz Cafe.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: The annual Camden Rocks Festival sees hundreds of gigs around Camden Town.</p> <p><strong>A pub for Sunday roast</strong></p> <p>Sunday roast is a British meal traditionally consisting of roasted meat of some sort (beef is the most common), mashed and roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, seasonal greens, gravy and apple or mint sauce. It’s a big, hearty meal typically enjoyed early or late Sunday afternoon. Classic drinks to go with the foodie feast include local beers and ciders.</p> <p>Sunday roasts rank high among the top things to do in London, and luckily there are plenty of options all around the city. One of the most popular is Camberwell Arms, which features five options served for two people to share. Other good choices are the trendy Blacklock Shoreditch (located inside a former furniture factory) and Quality Chop House, which has fed hungry guests since 1869. If you’re a vegan, like me, or just curious about a meat-free option, head to The Spread Eagle, London’s first fully plant-based pub.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: All the above pubs (and many others around the city) are packed on Sunday, so booking is essential.</p> <p><strong>Royal Albert Hall</strong></p> <p>pened in 1871 by Queen Victoria (and dedicated to her husband Albert, hence the name), Royal Albert Hall is probably the world’s most famous concert hall. Its annual highlight is The Proms, an eight-week series of classical music organized by the BBC. But even if you’re not a fan of orchestra performances, the venue is worth a visit. It’s stunning inside and out and has the best acoustics you can find in the city.</p> <p>What’s more, the program is a lot more varied than you might expect. They also feature regular pop and rock gigs, and Eric Clapton, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, David Bowie and the Beatles have played here. You can also catch circus performances, movie nights, yoga sessions with live music and the occasional sumo wrestling event. If you go to a live gig, be prepared for the band to leave the stage mid-concert for a mandatory interval. When I saw Bryan Adams in 2022, he apologised for the break, then jokingly explained that even rock stars had to follow the Royal Albert Hall’s strict house rules.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Many of the events at Royal Albert Hall are instant sell-outs, but it’s always worth checking at the box office or their website for last-minute tickets on the day of the event. If you’re interested in a peek behind the scenes, book a backstage tour.</p> <p><strong>Natural History Museum</strong></p> <p>The Natural History Museum in posh South Kensington is one of the best things to do in London with kids. It houses more than 80 million animals, plants and rocks spanning 4.5 billion years that are displayed in about 20 galleries. The main eye-catcher upon arrival is a 25.2-metre-long blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling. The female animal died in Ireland more than 120 years ago and was given a name when moved to its new home: Hope. Other highlights include dinosaurs, a giant gorilla, a Moon rock sample from the 1972 Apollo 16 mission, meteorites and an earthquake simulator. The Natural History Museum is free to visit except for special exhibitions.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Watch out for museum events such as yoga and tai chi classes, silent disco nights or sleepovers for grown-ups.</p> <p><strong>Greenwich</strong></p> <p>Greenwich makes a fun day out of the city – without actually leaving the city. Located in the southeast of London, it’s home to an artsy market with lots of food stalls, a beautiful park perfect for taking London skyline pictures, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark, one of the oldest and best-known tea clipper ships in the world. There’s also the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, where you can stand with one foot in the western hemisphere and the other foot in the eastern. Greenwich can be reached by tube, bus and train, but the most fun way is to take a boat from central London. Hop on board at Westminster Pier and see famous landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge from the water.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: While it’s possible to buy tickets for the boats from the ticket booths and machines at the pier, the easiest way is to just use your bank or credit card and tap in and out like you would at the bus or tube.</p> <p><strong>Highgate Cemetery </strong></p> <p>Walking around graves might not seem the most obvious choice for a fun day out in London, but Highgate Cemetery is worth making an exception. The Victorian cemetery looks a bit cramped and chaotic, but the sunken headstones, faded engravings and missing names on the tombs make it beautiful and charming at the same time. Highgate is the final resting place of no less than 170,000 people, including many celebrities. The one resident most visitors are looking for is German philosopher Karl Marx. His grave can be found in the east part of the cemetery and is easily recognisable by a giant sculpture of his head.</p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Pro tip</span></em>: To enter the cemetery, you need a ticket, which you can buy online or on site. If you want some background info (and to hear morbid anecdotes), you can also book a guided tour.</p> <p><strong>Hackney City Farm</strong></p> <p>Big cities and farms might not go together well at first glance, but London does have several working farms close to its busiest districts. One of the loveliest is Hackney City Farm in East London, which has pigs, donkeys, ponies, sheep, ducks, a vegetable garden, a small shop that sells homemade produce and a restaurant. The farm opened in 1984 and regularly welcomes local school kids. They also run workshops in animal handling and arts classes including pottery and woodworking.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: Visits are free, but donations are welcome. Don’t leave without a drink in their cute backyard garden.</p> <p><strong>Independent cinemas</strong></p> <p>While London’s big-chain movie theatres around Leicester Square all come with XXL screens and the latest technology, the independent ones are where the real magic happens. Just around the corner from Leicester Square towards China Town is Prince Charles Cinema, where both the latest blockbusters and classic movies are shown. They also have movie marathons – from Harry Potter to Terminator and Lord of the Rings – where fans gather for up to 24 hours to watch the whole series. They even encourage singalongs during music-movie marathons by projecting lyrics on the screen for a karaoke vibe.</p> <p>I am a regular at Genesis Cinema in East London, which has been showing movies since 1912 and comes with bar events such as open-mic and comedy nights on top. They also charge only £5 Monday to Thursday, which is less than a third of what you’d pay on Leicester Square. Other great places include Electric Cinema, which has leather armchairs and double beds in the front row; Lexi Cinema, a volunteer-run place supporting charities in South Africa); and Everyman Screen on the Green, where wine and pizza are served to your seat.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Pro tip</em></span>: London hosts tons of small and large film festivals throughout the year, so watch out for premieres, Q&amp;As and other special events.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/tips/the-30-best-places-to-explore-in-london-according-to-a-local?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

International Travel

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Game of Thrones: King Charles III’s choice of royal residences

<p dir="ltr">After King Charles III was sworn in as England’s next monarch, he isn’t just assuming his late mother’s royal duties, but also ownership of her residences.</p> <p dir="ltr">Charles has a choice of five palaces when it comes to his official home, though he doesn’t necessarily have to select just one.</p> <p dir="ltr">If he follows in his mother’s footsteps, he could choose to travel between several locations for official duties and downtime.</p> <p dir="ltr">"He is going to have to weigh up the cost against the importance of keeping these palaces and castles and residences truly royal by using them," a source told The Times.</p> <p dir="ltr">With choices spanning London to Berkshire, here’s a whirlwind tour of the residences King Charles III can choose from.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Buckingham Palace, London</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Having been the official London residence for monarchs for 185 years, when Queen Victoria first took up residence there in 1837, Buckingham Palace has a lengthy history.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/buckingham-palace1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">The 775-room building is now used as the administrative headquarters, or royal office, of the monarch thanks to its 92 offices, 188 staff bedrooms, and 52 royal and guest bedrooms.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, if Charles does want to move in, current renovations to the palace mean he’ll have to wait. The changes are estimated to cost over $700 million, with an expected completion date in 2027.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Clarence House, London</strong></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d39489f-7fff-5e30-274a-64c59b13a02d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Located beside St James’ Palace, Clarence House has been a royal residence for slightly longer than Buckingham Palace, having been built in 1827 for Prince William Henry, Duke of Clarence.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/clarence-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles and Camilla, now the Queen Consort, have called Clarence House home since 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Sandringham House, Norfolk</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The 20,000-acre Norfolk property is known as the royal’s country house and has been passed down through the royal family for centuries.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4bb18b46-7fff-90ad-bae9-edbe888bb618"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With its sprawling acreage, more than 200 people make their living from the estate, including gamekeepers, gardeners, farmers and workers at Sandringham’s sawmill.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/sandringham-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Sandringham House has also gone down in history as the location of Queen Elizabeth II’s first televised Christmas message.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Highgrove House, Gloucestershire</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f131cc5-7fff-199d-a2a2-8d500d15656c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles has used Highgrove House as his private residence since the 1980s - over 180 years after it was built.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/highgrove-house.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Before Charles lived there, the Georgian home belonged to Maurice Macmillan, the son of former British PM Maurice Macmillan.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nowadays, Highgrove House sees around 40,000 visitors walk through the estate’s expansive gardens each year.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Windsor Castle, Berkshire</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8caa6e34-7fff-332d-a7be-5ff6431b396c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">With more than 1000 rooms and over 300 fireplaces, Windsor Castle has been in the royal family for 900 years.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/windsor-castle.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">But it isn’t the only building located on the property, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s residence, Frogmore Cottage.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4717eb95-7fff-b26c-bd92-01a19636cb35"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Looking back at the making of a monarch

<p>In 1952, upon the death of her father, the young Elizabeth Alexandra May Windsor became Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <p>Sixteen months of intricate preparations led to her coronation – an event of supreme pomp and ceremony that heralded the beginning of a new Elizabethan Age, as citizens across the world emerged from the shadows of war into an era of confidence and prosperity.</p> <p>Travel with us back in time to the pages of Reader’s Digest 1952, when readers were given a glimpse of the ultimate royal party planners in full flight....</p> <p>Extract from Reader's Digest, June 2012:</p> <p><strong>England Prepares to Crown a Queen</strong><br /><em>By René Recler, Condensed from Cosmopolitan, October 1952</em></p> <p>King George VI of England was hardly buried last February before artists of the Royal Mint began to design new coins and medals. Royal heralds shook the mothballs out of their rich crimson and gold coats. Sword makers polished up old blades. A London firm of clothiers opened its vaults under Covent Garden and took inventory of dozens of ermine-trimmed crimson velvet robes, last worn in 1937, which noblemen will hire again next summer. Officials of the Lord Chamberlain’s department – which deals with the affairs of the royal household –began to use the word “coronation” in notes and memoranda.</p> <p>This was not an example of indecent hurry but the practical application of that ancient proclamation, “The King is dead; long live the King.” The new queen Elizabeth will not be crowned until June 2, 1953, but the river of official and private money – $300,000,000 – that England will spend for the coronation has long since started to flow.</p> <p>What is a coronation? The placing of a crown upon a young woman’s head? A two-and-a-half-hour ceremony in Westminster Abbey? It is all that and much more: it is the greatest spectacle England can put on; a bevy of crowns and scepters, gold spurs and priceless robes; a cavalcade of gallantry – 1200 earls, marquesses and barons, archbishops and bishops, heralds and champions, and great officers of state in the full glory of their centuries-old attire; a caravan of gilded carriages; a blast of trumpets, a glory of song.</p> <p>In the modern world the ceremony is unique, for no monarch of any other country ever is crowned.</p> <p>Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, the hereditary Earl Marshal of England, is stage manager of the coronation. Premier peer of the realm, this unassuming country nobleman is for one year the supreme arbiter of social events and fashions, and the ceremonial behaviour not only of coroneted heads but of newspapers, radio, television and government.</p> <p>The Duke of Norfolk is head of the College of Arms, the supreme authority and heraldry. The College of Arms has already produced the new royal cipher, a bold “E-II-R” (for Elizabeth II Regina), in Roman lettering. This was one of the first steps in the preparations, for the cipher has to be embroidered on the liveries of all royal servants and countless household articles.</p> <p>The Earl Marshal will invite 7600 people to the ceremony itself, in Westminster Abby. Besides the blue bloods, the princes of the church, all members of parliament and their wives, and a host of attendants, ladies of the bedchamber, mistresses of the robes, pages and equerries, the Duke invites a hand-picked group of scientists and industrialists, trade-union representatives of the Commonwealth, and foreign guests.</p> <p>When the list is complete the earl marshal sends invitations to all commoners, but the Queen herself invites peers from dukes down to barons. Her invitation leaves them little choice in the matter:</p> <p><em>“Right Trusty and Well-Beloved Cousin. We greet You Well. Whereas We have appointed the Second Day of June 1953 for the Solemnity of our Coronation, these are therefore to will and command You, All Excuses set apart, that You make your personal attendance upon Us, at the time above mentioned, furnished and appointed as your Rank and Quality appertaineth, there to do and perform such Services as shall be required…”</em></p> <p>A peer must present himself at Westminster Abbey before 8:30 on the morning of the great ceremony, wearing “a mantle of crimson velvet edged with miniver, a cape furred with miniver pure and powdered with bars of ermine, a coronet of silver gilt with a cap of crimson velvet trimmed with ermine and carrying a gold tassel.”</p> <p>London salons – Baroque, Ltd., for instance – have been showing their first coronation robes. Robes cost four to ten times the pre-war price. A baron will pay between $225 and $1200 for his outfit, a duke between $300 and $1400. A silver gilt coronet, which before the war could be had for $30, now costs $100, and a ceremonial sword with the Queen’s cipher on the blade and hilt costs another $40. Baroque, which sold 45 robes for the 1937 coronation, doesn’t expect to sell more than half as many this time.</p> <p>The slack will be taken up by Moss Bros., Ltd. For a century Moss bros. has stored the robes, court dresses and uniforms of peers who were forced to sell them. They have hired the clothes out to their former owners for wearing at three coronations. A peer whose ancestry is longer than his purse can be outfitted for $75.</p> <p>Complicated protocol governs both robes and accessories. A viscountess, for example, is entitled to a train a yard and a quarter long, while a baroness rates only a yard. No outsider will see the Queen’s robes before the ceremony, but it is known that the train will be about eight yards long, and the mantle will be edged with 500 skins of ermine dappled with 650 tails.</p> <p>Coronation Week is a time when private detectives work overtime and insurance men go gray. Diadems and tiaras, necklaces and dazzling solitaires emerge from strongboxes all over England, but no individual can expect to top the fabulous crown jewels.</p> <p>These jewels, normally kept in an armored-glass enclosure in the Tower of London, will all be used or shown at the coronation. Preparing them is a three-month job. Every stone has to be removed by expert hands, cleaned, polished and reset. There are about 75 pieces of jewelry ranging from a huge emerald to a solid-gold saltcellar about two feet high. The coronation crown, known as St. Edward’s, is placed on the Queen’s head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but is worn only momentarily. This is because of its great weight – it is solid gold.</p> <p>Elizabeth will actually wear the Imperial State Crown made for Queen Victoria’s coronation. Official handbooks describe it as “a white gold band surrounding a velvet and ermine cap” – an overly modest description, since the state crown is studded with 2783 diamonds, 373 pearls, 18 sapphires, 11 emeralds and five rubies. One of the rubies, the famous black Prince’s Ruby, two inches long, is worth $340,000.</p> <p>In preparing Westminster Abbey, the Earl Marshal will give orders, and the British Ministry of Works will execute them. The Abbey’s new look will cost a round million dollars. (Last time, the call for coronation souvenirs was so great the government sold the Abbey’s chairs and stools, 6000 cushions and miles of brocade.)</p> <p>A platform must be built to support the throne and the chairs of bishops and archbishops. Stalls usually reserved for the choir will be used by visiting royalty, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, the speaker of the House of Commons and other high personages. Then, in both aisles, structures will be raised to accommodate peers and peeresses, members of Parliament and their wives and ordinary spectators. A peer is allowed 19 inches of sitting space, a commoner 18. Outside preparations are just as elaborate. For the last coronation, in 1937, the government spent $2,8000,000 on the erection of 27 miles of stands and barriers along the procession route through the centre of London. But government expense is a drop in the bucket compared with the money that business and the public pour out. Thoroughfares such as Piccadilly and Bond Street will be covered with plaster or plastic arches supporting crowns 30 feed high – blazing with multi-coloured lights. One store is spending $20,000 on façade decorations alone. A flag maker has doubled his staff to bring out 750,000 flags and 500 miles of bunting.</p> <p>Two million people will line the procession route; at least 750,000 will come from the provinces and from abroad. The large hotels in the West End will probably be full, but the sprawling city has immense resources. Some 5000 private-house owners will put up visitors. One huge air-raid shelter in South London will take some of the overflow.</p> <p>Thousands of windows, roofs and gardens will seat spectators, and some firms have already marketed ready-made scaffolding. Prices will range from $10 for a spot among the chimney pots to $200 for a first-floor upholstered seat.</p> <p>What these myriads of people will spend on eating and drinking will make restaurant owners gleeful. What they will spend on souvenirs is expected to be in the region of $60,000,000. Since Victoria’s reign, the fashion is to buy a pottery mug or plate. In the Staffordshire district of England, firms are turning out some of the 12 million pieces that will bear the Queen’s profile or crown or cipher. This requires royal assent, and the Earl Marshal recently announced that the Queen will permit the reproduction of any royal emblem on any souvenirs, except objects of a transient nature. The British Council of Industrial Design will watch over souvenir design.</p> <p>And so the pageantry of centuries comes into being again. Now as always the British will draw strength and faith from their past in order to face their future.</p> <p><strong>This article first appeared on<a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/history/The-Making-of-a-Monarch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Reader's Digest</a> and is reproduced here with permission.</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/Making-Monarch01_0_BODY.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1587" /></strong></p> <p><em>Image: Commissioned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her 60th birthday. The portrait appeared on the cover of the June 1986 issue of RD, before being presented to the National Portrait Gallery in London / MICHAEL LEONARD FOR READER'S DIGEST</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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New theory behind Stonehenge's true purpose

<p dir="ltr">After an extensive new study, archaeologists believe they have uncovered the true purpose of Stonehenge. </p> <p dir="ltr">Long believed to have been used solely for ceremonial purposes, a study led by Timothy Darvill of Bournemouth University has concluded that Stonehenge served as a solar calendar, and he has identified how it may have worked. </p> <p dir="ltr">The monument, which lies on a flat plain of land in England’s southwest, is adorned with astronomical alignments that were built into the design and orientation of the landmark. </p> <p dir="ltr">The central axis of the megaliths was - and still is - aligned with the sunrise at midsummer and sunset at midwinter, with the stones perfectly framing the rising and setting sun when days were at their longest and shortest.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ring of 30 upright stones, supporting 30 horizontal stones, represents the number of days within a month. </p> <p dir="ltr">As well as this, distinctive stones in the circle mark the start of three 10-day weeks, according to the study. </p> <p dir="ltr">Twelve such months would come to 360, but a group of “trilithons” - a structure formed of two large vertical stones supporting a third stone set horizontally across the top - were arranged in a horseshoe shape in the centre of the site.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Professor Darvill, these represent the extra five days needed to match the 365-day solar year. </p> <p dir="ltr">Four smaller stones that lay outside the circle in a rectangle were a way to keep track of a leap year, with an extra day every four years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Finding a solar calendar represented in the architecture of Stonehenge opens up a whole new way of seeing the monument as a place for the living,” Prof Darvill said in a news statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A place where the timing of ceremonies and festivals was connected to the very fabric of the universe and celestial movements in the heavens.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite Professor Darvill’s convincing study, some experts are not convinced. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The numbers don’t really add up - why should two uprights of a trilithon equal one upright of the sarsen circle to represent 1 day?” University College London’s Institute of Archaeology professor Mike Parker Pearson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And there’s selective use of evidence to try to make the numbers fit: some of the stones have been left out because they evidently can’t be made to fit.”</p> <p dir="ltr">On top of Bournemouth University's study, the recent discoveries of graves and artefacts near the stone circle have shown that Stonehenge was not home to one isolated group but part of a deeply interconnected world.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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500-year-old mansion moved brick by brick on sale for millions

<p>A 500-year-old English mansion that was dismantled, relocated and rebuilt has just hit the market with a $24.6 million price tag. </p><p>The mansion was originally built in the 1480s in the British town of Colchester, which is considered to be Britain's oldest recorded town. </p><p>The home was bought by an eccentric antiquarian in 1910 for approximately $84,000AUD at the time when adjusted for inflation. </p><p>On top of that, the buyer spent another $7.2 millionAUD, almost 100 times the purchase price, to have the home taken apart brick by brick and rebuilt 110kms away in the Greater London borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. </p><p>“Buyers are often drawn to a property because of its history, character and narrative, as well as its aesthetic appeal and the practicalities, such as size and location,” said Becky Fatemi, the founder and managing director of the home’s listing agency <a href="https://www.rokstone.com/properties/15113671/sales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rokstone</a>. </p><p>As well as its rich history and character, the 1,345 sqm mansion also recently underwent renovations and refurbishment. </p><p>“The backstory here is fascinating, but it also has the rigour of being built twice and extensively refurbished very recently, so it really does stand the test of time in so many ways,” Fatemi's statement said.</p><p>The three-storey Tudor mansion sits on one pristine acre of landscaped gardens and boasts 12 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a gallery, a koi fish pond and multiple decorated fireplaces. </p><p>“This will tick all the boxes for a high-net-worth family who want to buy the ultimate trophy home,” Fatemi added.</p><p><em>Image credits: Rokstone</em></p>

Real Estate

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Live like a king at King Henry VIII’s former country estate

<p dir="ltr">Those wanting to live like royalty now have the chance to with the <a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/the-chobham-park-estate-chobham-surrey-gu24/cho100593" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listing</a> of King Henry VIII’s former country estate - but they’ll need about $28.5 million to make that dream come true.</p><p dir="ltr">Though the price may appear a little exorbitant, Chobham Park Estate in Surrey, England, boasts a sprawling 404,606 square metres of land, as well as several buildings that are more than 500 years old.</p><p dir="ltr">The main home, a Grade-II heritage-listed building, features six bedrooms and plenty of charm that has accumulated over the 300 years since it was believed to have been built.</p><p dir="ltr">As well as its multiple bedrooms, the historical home <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/king-henry-viiis-former-surrey-estate-hits-the-market-with-28-5-million-asking-price-1116534/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">includes</a> a reception hall, study, drawing room, dining room, large kitchen with a breakfast nook and two cloakrooms.</p><p dir="ltr">But it isn’t the only residence found on the property, with two additional cottages, including the aptly named ‘Little Chobham Park Cottage’.</p><p dir="ltr">According to real estate firm Knight Frank, Little Chobham’s two bedrooms with ensuites, reception room and kitchen make it ideal for guests or staff.</p><p dir="ltr">The property’s other kingly features include a swimming pool, tennis court, stables, several paddocks and numerous garages.</p><p dir="ltr">Though King Henry VIII called the estate home from 1937, the property dates back as far as 675 AD and is believed to have been held by the Monks and Abbot of Chertsey Abbey.</p><p dir="ltr">After Henry passed the property on to his daughter Queen Mary I in 1558, the estate was sold to the Queen’s chancellor, Nicholas Heath, the Archbishop of York.</p><p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Knight Frank</em></p>

Real Estate

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Robbie Williams offloads sprawling country estate

<p dir="ltr">Pop icon Robbie Williams appears to have<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/pop-god-robbie-williams-is-selling-his-massive-country-estate-for-12-7-million-1113180/" target="_blank">sold</a><span> </span>his opulent English estate just four months after it hit the market.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 47-year-old made headlines in late September last year after<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/blog/2021/09/28/robbie-williams-puts-7bedroom-wiltshire-country-house-compton-bassett-house-on-the-market" target="_blank">listing Compton Bassett House for sale</a><span> </span>with a hefty price tag of $12.7 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">Located in the sleepy village of Compton Bassett, about 170 kilometres away from London’s CBD, Williams’ seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion features some quite lavish features.</p> <p dir="ltr">With 1800 square metres of living space, the home comes with ‘standard’ inclusions such as a chef’s kitchen, vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and luxury fixtures throughout, topped off with a ‘leisure-complex’ on the lower floor of the house which includes a gym, sauna, steam room, and a 22-metre-long pool and spa.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home also boasts a huge wine cellar, while the 28.3-hectate property includes a tennis court and accompanying summer house, a full-size soccer pitch, quad-bike trail, guest cottage, and a one-bedroom apartment that can serve as staff quarters.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the<span> </span><em>Angels</em><span> </span>singer also owns his own helicopter, it should come as no surprise that his former home also features a helipad and separate hangar.</p> <p dir="ltr">As luxe as the Compton Bassett House is, it is just as historic, with some parts of the building dating back to 1659.</p> <p dir="ltr">Williams bought the home in 2008, spending roughly $2 million more than he received from its sale.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the loss, $12.7 million is still a sizable sum that few could complain about.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @robbiewilliams (Instagram), Frank Knight</em></p>

Real Estate

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Sorrow for Queen Elizabeth as she farewells close friend

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A longtime friend of the Royal Family and husband of the Queen’s cousin has passed away at the age of 91. Sir Timothy Colman, who married the Queen’s first cousin Lady Mary Colman in 1951, passed away at his home in Norwich on September 9, surrounded by family. His death follows the death of his wife in January of this year at the age of 88.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Announcing the news, his family said, "He was a fountain of knowledge, a huge influence on a number of people of all ages, who sought his wise counsel. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He had a love and huge knowledge of the natural world, but, most importantly, he loved his family. With his late wife Mary, he created the happiest of family homes at Bixley Manor."</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We’ve seen all the wonderful words said over the weekend about the passing of Sir Timothy Colman. Everyone here echoes what has been said. Sir Timothy has been involved with the Festival for over 30 years – a passionate advocate of our county (1/2)<a href="https://t.co/7sq15jrkO0">https://t.co/7sq15jrkO0</a></p> — Norfolk &amp; Norwich Festival (@NNFest) <a href="https://twitter.com/NNFest/status/1437796017336893446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colman married Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Mary in 1951, and the then Princess was accompanied by the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret at the couple's wedding at St Bartholomew-the-Great (also known as Great St Bart’s) in London.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Colman was a celebrated businessman and decorated naval serviceman, having served in the Royal Navy as a midshipman as well as a second lieutenant. He went on to be Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk for 25 years,  following an appointment by the Queen in 1978.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We were deeply saddened to hear the news that Sir Timothy Colman has passed away. Sir Timothy was a great and generous supporter of NMS, and as recently as 2019 he gifted this wonderful Maggi Hambling painting to our collection. Our thoughts are with the Colman family. <a href="https://t.co/AzRysuEtc7">pic.twitter.com/AzRysuEtc7</a></p> — Norfolk Museums (@NorfolkMuseums) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorfolkMuseums/status/1437374516632694786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers, Chris Sargisson, said of Colman, "Sir Timothy was a champion of Norfolk and its people. "Sir Timothy has played a leading role in the Norfolk business community for many decades."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lady Mary Colman died at home on 2 January at the age of 88. Sir Timothy and his wife are survived by five children, ten grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Timothy Colman today. <a href="https://t.co/z4Uud7KWzg">pic.twitter.com/z4Uud7KWzg</a></p> — Norwich Theatre Royal (@TheatreRNorwich) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheatreRNorwich/status/1435929441834881026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><em>Image: Pool/ Anwar Hussein/Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

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Hope Gap shows what can happen when a marriage ends

<p>A couple's visit with their son in the quaint seaside town of Seaford in England, takes a dramatic turn when the father tells him he plans on leaving his mother.</p> <p><span>As well-trodden as this subject might be, there’s still something terribly compelling about watching the end of a marriage play out on screen. Annette Bening plays the woman whose life crumbles as her husband leaves her and Bill Nighy plays the husband. </span>Josh O'Connor plays the couple's son.</p> <p>This drama is tastefully restrained to a fault in a particularly British manner. Veteran screenwriter William Nicholson, a two-time Oscar nominee, based the film on his Tony-nominated play <em>The Retreat from Moscow</em> – shows his talents here.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oAP1fA-bp5k" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The title of the film was inspired by Napoleon’s invasion of—and messy withdrawal from—the Russian city, a subject which fascinates Nighy’s character and serves as an obvious metaphor for the destruction of his own marriage.</p> <p><span>It’s obvious we have all the makings of a genuine story here in </span><em>Hope Gap</em><span> but some reviewers have said the film doesn't have the emotional depth for the areas being covered. </span></p> <p><span>As well, Annette Bening has come in for some criticism about her ill</span>-fitting British accent. But there are glimmers of insight along the way, particularly in how Grace (Bening’s character) compares a divorce to a murder and how spurned women are devalued in comparison with widows.</p> <p>Throughout the story, we're served up some stunning coastal vistas from Seaford which is close to Brighton in southern England. <em>Hope Gap</em> is worth it if just for these vistas and the great performances from Nighy and Bening.</p> <p><em><strong>Hope Gap</strong></em><strong> is streaming now on Amazon Prime.</strong></p> <p><em>Photo: Amazon Prime</em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Movies

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Meet the British man making art out of discarded face masks

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A British man is making the most out of the pandemic by making unique art in his backyard. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nottingham native Thomas Yates, 45, was made redundant from a brewery at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After working there for five years, he found himself with an abundance of extra time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tom decided to take to the streets and use his working hours to clean the streets of discarded litter. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On his travels in his local area, he noticed he was collecting a lot of abandoned face masks and decided to make art out of them in his own backyard. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After he creates his artworks, he collects all of the rubbish and sends it off to be properly recycled. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His images of unusual art have attracted hundreds of followers on social media, as his artworks only continue to grow. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I have questioned myself. Why am I making art out of litter? And then when you see the end results, I think they're quite good," he said to the BBC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A spokesperson for his local council area applauded his efforts of cleaning the streets. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The council spokesperson said, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We would like to thank Thomas for his excellent work and all the many volunteers who already litter pick in their local communities regularly and help keep our streets, parks and open spaces even tidier."</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @averagegradient</span></em></p>

Art

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Banksy goes on a mural-making spree in England

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The elusive street artist Banksy has been producing works in secret along the east coast of England.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His latest project, the Great British Spraycation, has seen a series of his murals pop up throughout the country displaying his signature style.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The anonymous artist took to his Instagram to share news of his project, focusing on his travels in a campervan.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CShWMUwFKkI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CShWMUwFKkI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first of the murals, featuring a couple dancing on top of a bus shelter and a man playing an accordion, was spotted in Norfolk by eagle-eyed fans.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The second artwork shows an arcade toy-grabber crane that appeared in a small town just 10 minutes away from the first mural. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">More artworks, one depicting a child building a sandcastle with a crowbar, the other featuring three children in a boat, soon arrived in the neighbouring county of Suffolk. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an unusual move for the artist, Banksy also left a miniature thatched stable bearing his signature at the Merrivale Model Village.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His short film posted to Instagram brought attention to his more wholesome artworks, such as an ice cream cone and tongue added to a statue of Frederick Savage, a 19th century mayor of King’s Lynn.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One critical passerby is captured in the video, calling one of his mural’s “mindless vandalism”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of his artworks from the Great British Spraycation, which depicted two children on an inflatable dinghy, has already been removed by local authorities, claiming it was distasteful.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Council members in the town of Great Yarmouth told the BBC that the artwork was covered up amid “sensitivity” to a young girl who died after being flung from an inflatable trampoline on a nearby beach in 2018. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Art

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Climbing England’s deadliest peak

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though most consider hiking a popular pastime, it forms the core part of one of the strangest jobs in all of Britain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zac Poulton is a Fell Top Assessor in the Lake District National Park. Everyday of the past four winters, Poulton has hiked up Helvellyn, England’s third highest and most dangerous mountain, to report the weather and write a colourful account that can be used, understood, and acted on by the public so they can climb safely.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Poulton isn’t the only one with the odd title. Colleagues Jon Bennett - who has submitted Helvellyn more than 600 times - and Wes Hunter - who started the job just before the coronavirus pandemic in October 2019 - also take on the climb.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each day from early December through til late April, at least one of the trio must reach the 950m summit.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There has been a Fell Top Assessor making the hike since the first role was first introduced in 1987, and Poulton, Bennett, and Hunter have spent 126 consecutive days reaching the top in all manner of weather this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the potential for blasting winds and summit temperatures of -7C, Poulton said: “Some days are better than others.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Helvellyn is more commonly hiked during summer, it looks its best in the colder months. With three deep glacial coves, two incisor-shaped ridges, and alpine plants that don’t grow anywhere else in the country, it’s a sight to see.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Helvellyn also poses many of the similar dangers its more famous counterparts in the Alps, Andes or Himalayas do too, according to Poulton.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People get lost. Break bones. Get caught in avalanches. You won’t slide as far as you would on Everest here, but you’ll still bump off rocks and the result will be the same,” he said. “I meet lots of people with good intentions, but they don’t often recognise the risks.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once they’ve reached the peak, the assessor produces a report with as much detail as possible, which will be published daily on the official Lake District Weather Line website and to 19,000 social media followers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside meteorological notes, the reports often provide potential climbers with tips on how to best approach the mountain.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What you can’t get from a weather station forecast is the experience of the mountaineer,” Poulton said. “A fully-automated system misses the human perspective. And our photos, tweets and descriptions create a 360-degree picture. We tell the wider story of life on the mountain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their presence on the mountain also means they can help out when things go wrong.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’ve prevented hundreds of mountain rescues,” said Poulton.</span></p> <p><strong>Bridging a knowledge gap</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, with more people attempting the mountain following pandemic-induced lockdowns, the knowledge held by the Fell Top Assessors is more crucial than ever.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We know how important the Lake District is going to be in the coming months to help with people’s health and wellbeing,” said Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority. “Our message is whether coming for the first or 50th time, is plan ahead; try to discover something that’s new to you; and enjoy your time here, but please leave no trace.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Fell Top Assessors</span></em></p>

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"This is so wrong": Scott Morrison blasted over "tone deaf" photo

<p>A photo of Scott Morrison posing with employees at a UK pub has sparked intense backlash from frustrated Australians.</p> <p>The Jamaica Inn in Launceston, England, posted a photo of the smiling PM to Facebook on Monday.</p> <p>“Pleasure to have the Australian Prime Minister [and] his 20+ personal team for lunch this weekend. You never know what you might find at Jamaica Inn!” it was captioned.</p> <p>Morrison flew to the UK last week to attend the G7 summit as a guest.</p> <p>However, Aussies are not impressed by his pit stop at the pub after being told by the government overseas travel won't be possible until 2022.</p> <p>Hundreds of people took to the Facebook post to vent their frustration, calling the picture "tone deaf".</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJamaicaInnCornwall%2Fposts%2F10158795209417800&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="609" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p>“I can’t decide if I’m more angry or sad over this post. So many of us would give anything to see our UK families. Where’s the compassion?” one woman commented under the image.</p> <p>“What a joke. End off. He should have to quarantine when he gets back,” one man said, adding that he and his wife may move back to the UK so they can visit family.</p> <p>“He is laughing at us. This is above ridiculous. He continues posting photos that go against what he preaches,” another woman said.</p> <p>“I can’t believe the audacity of this man! Double standards,” a third woman chimed in.</p> <p>“This is so wrong. He keeps fellow Australians locked in while enjoying lunches overseas at taxpayers' expense,” one man wrote.</p> <p>Currently, any Australian who is granted an exemption to travel overseas must pay for mandatory hotel quarantine upon their return.</p> <p>Unlike most people, Morrison will quarantine at The Lodge in Canberra, News.com.au reported.</p>

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