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The Crown's Final Season: What To Expect

The Crown's Final Season: What To Expect

Plus: 9 best winter light festivals

Ellie Smith
October 22, 2023

Dear Reader,

Although Rodin’s The Thinker is a sedentary, heavy representation of a theme, I think the most interesting thinkers tend to be walkers. Take Rory Stewart, whose book Politics on the Edge makes for a fascinating read (surely, he’s the only politician in the world to have made a pilgrimage of 260 miles around his potential Cumbrian constituency, staying every night as a guest in a different village). And what about Sarah Wilson, whose brilliant This One Wild and Precious Life, in which she hikes her way around the world to unpack her despair with what’s going on globally and incites us into action along the way. And if you love books, walking and thinking, you can even join a walking book club. Sign me up now.

Have a great week.

WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK

Lights, Camera, Winter

Is there anything more celebratory of the winter season than a festival of lights? I make Kew a diary must-do every year. Here’s our guide to the ones not to miss.

Cocktail Tips From The Top

Want to up your cocktail game at home? We asked Matteo Carretta, Director of Bars at the buzziest eco-hotel of the moment, 1 Hotel Mayfair for some easy wins, including always having a bottle of gin in the freezer.

A Day To Remember

Come and meet Raymond Blanc, eat his scrumptious food and have a jolly good (sustainable) time at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons on 15 November. There are only a few tickets left for this year’s Journey to Zero, so come and join us (amazing goodie bags, too!).

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS

Just opened in Soho is Bébé Bob, a sister restaurant to the ‘press for champagne’ hotspot Bob Bob Ricard.

Pick your own pumpkin at London’s first urban patch, popping up for a week in Cowcross Yards. From 25 October

You have a couple of days left to see Olga Stein’s Piece of the Soil exhibition at Le Dome in Belgravia. Until 24 October

Image: Kim Jakobsen

Jada Pinkett Smith, Greta Thunberg and Jacqueline Wilson are just some of the names taking part in this year’s London Literature Festival. 18 – 29 October

Don’t miss this week’s Break Out Culture podcast, where Charlotte Metcalf and Ed Vaizey chat to award-winning novelist Maggie O’Farrell.

WHAT'S TRENDING ON C&TH

15 face masks for all skin types

Q&A with Love Island’s Farmer Will

The Crown season 6: what to expect

Biggest bridal trends for 2024

Win A One-Year Membership To Dartmouth House, Mayfair’s Newest Private Members’ Club

If you’re looking for a treat, you’re in the right place: we’ve teamed up with Dartmouth House to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a one-year membership to their new members’ club, including exclusive open access to their Grade II-listed Georgian building featuring a bar, lounge and unique marble courtyard.