Town Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham have announced the 2010/11 Birmingham International Concert Season, the UK’s largest international classical music series outside London. The flagship series welcomes some of the world’s greatest musicians, conductors, orchestras and recitalists to the stages of the city’s two premier venues. (more…)

Richard Eyre directs a new play by Moira Buffini, WELCOME TO THEBES, continuing the Travelex £10 Tickets season in the Olivier Theatre and opening on 22 June.  (more…)

The beautiful Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire has several dedicated picnic sites with stunning views in and around the World Heritage Site to set out your hamper, packed full with some of the region’s finest local food and drink. (more…)

There’s no business like show business and the biggest deal of all for families this summer is the much-loved and eagerly awaited annual initiative – Kids Week in the West End! Now in its 13th year, Kids Week offers children aged 5-16 the opportunity to experience the magic of London theatre for FREE! From 13 to 27 August 2010, head to London’s West End for a fortnight of theatre fun. (more…)

If you’re pressed for time – and who isn’t – you’ll be glad to know that Scholl has launched a revolutionary new sandal that actually moisturises your feet with every step! (more…)

On Friday the 25th of June the Future Gallery in Leicester Square will host the most brazen mass theft in London: every guest will be invited to steal the gallery’s prized paintings! What’s stopping them? A series of high-tech lasers slicing through the space, beaming through the smoke, ready to set off the alarms if they’re even slightly brushed. The tension will be tangible… London’s art world hold their breath. (more…)

For many, nothing says ‘Spring’ like baby lambs and the first flowers coming into bud. But it is the blossoming of one particular, much-loved flower that has traditionally been the best mark of Springtime and that flower is the bluebell! (more…)

Roll up, roll up, it’s the bargain of the Century: for one weekend only, the Ramblers will be offering £1 membership to new walkers who join them to celebrate Get Walking Day (1). A £28.50 saving! (more…)

Grab a London Sightseeing Pass and kick start your summer with healthy activities and active attractions around the capital. (more…)

Thermae Bath Spa has been voted the ‘Best Spa in the World’ by readers of the Daily Telegraph’s Ultra Travel Magazine. (more…)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that upgraded biometric technology is in place at major U.S. ports of entry, and most international visitors should expect to use the new technology when they enter the United States. DHS’s US-VISIT program began upgrading its biometric technology from a two to a 10 fingerprint collection standard in 2007 to make the entry process faster and more accurate, enabling DHS officials to focus their attention on people who may pose a risk to the United States.

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British tourist numbers heading for Cuba have increased considerably in the last few years.  The country certainly offers an exotic alternative to other hot destinations as well as a sense of adventure.  But it appears that sense of adventure may have been costing the Cuban government too much. (more…)

It’s not unknown for patients of The Royal Marsden cancer hospital to write about their experiences, but it’s unusual for them to provide photographs as well. (more…)

The Governments announcement of a hike in capital gains tax (CGT) from 18pc to 40pc has sparked a rush of property sales as sellers try to avoid the massive 22pc increase. (more…)

Britain’s older workers look set to hold the aces in 2020, says Friends Provident in its latest Visions of Britain 2020 report, conducted with the Future Foundation (www.visionsofbritain2020.co.uk). (more…)

Taste food straight from the fields at the new Riverford Travelling Field Kitchen restaurant this summer. Starting in May, the Riverford Travelling Field Kitchen will bring fresh produce and inspiring cooking to people up and down the country. (more…)

We tend to think that the French and Italians have the lead when it comes to tarts and pies made with tomatoes and onions. But think again: those ultra-health conscious Finns have a food culture all of their own and here is a simple and very versatile Finnish recipe from the Fruisana Kitchen. Finland, after all, is the home of Fruisana Fruit Sugar, so it’s not surprising to find that it is being used in this recipe to bring out the maximum sweetness and flavour of the tomatoes. (more…)

Carefully selected wild English grown sloe berries are gently steeped for several months with Hayman’s Gin before being blended with natural sugar creating a rich ruby red liqueur with smooth and intense bitter sweet fruit flavours. (more…)

The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company from Edinburgh, has been named ‘Business of the Year’ at the annual Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards which took place last night during a ceremony held at the Benromach Distillery in Forres. Forty-five companies were shortlisted for these awards in seventeen categories including Drink, Food & Drink Tourism and Young Scottish Chef. (more…)

Slow Food UK was honoured to hold a reception hosted by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Highgrove in Gloucestershire last Tuesday 4 May 2010. The event, which included lunch and a tour of the Highgrove gardens, was to celebrate the achievements of Slow Food in the UK and to set out our vision and plans for the future to the 150 international VIP guests in attendance. (more…)

“Real wildlife…is really exciting, and understanding how and where it lives, where to look for it, and how it works…will enrich your life.”   

Chris Packham (more…)

Jolyon Jackson
Foreword by Richard Holmes

‘Occasionally a set of correspondence is so illuminating that it bursts through the accessibility barrier and genuinely deserves to be made available to a wider audience. The Foljambe papers are so self-evidently in this category that it is a real delight to see them in print.’ (more…)

Tony Garnett’s novel, The Seductions of Lucy Foster, is a psychological thriller that explores the human condition. Lucy Foster is an attractive, intelligent, 30-something millionaire. Her internet business is on the brink of a major expansion and Lucy will do anything to make it happen, including seducing the powerful 70-year-old, Lord Blayne. (more…)

CANCER Research UK will unveil its eighth garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2010 (25 – 29 May 2010), designed for the second year running by four-time gold medal winner, Robert Myers.  (more…)

As we ditch our winter coats and head into spring with some alfresco dining on our minds, we face the question – which wine will complement the dishes we’re preparing? Whether you’re opting for a spring salad, some fresh seafood, or a picnic as the sun comes out, there is no need to worry as California Wines can answer all of your needs and show you how to make the perfect pairings. (more…)

We have teamed up with EMI Classics to offer you the chance to win a copy of Shhh! the latest Nigel Kennedy Quintet album released on 10 May 2010. With a special guest appearance by Boy George, the album confirms the maverick status and omnivorous musical taste of one of Britain’s finest and most unpredictable musicians. (more…)

To mark the launch of Homecare www.homecare-products.co.uk, the first comprehensive online shop for people who want to enjoy living life to the full in their own homes as they grow older, we are giving away a set of Easi-grip Garden Tools  together with a Raised Garden Kneeler and a Paper Potter to one reader.

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