Staying In

Grow Your Own Food

Whether it’s rising food prices, a Covid hangover, or just an increasing desire to connect with the earth, the urge to grow our own food has never been stronger. According to Google data, UK interest in ‘how to grow tomatoes’ has officially equalled ‘how to grow grass’ for the first time on record. Vegetable gardening searches have surged by 100 per cent year on year, and seven of the top ten trending ‘how to grow’ searches are now for edible plants. But how to get started? Urban gardener Martha Swales – who tends a five-by-eight-metre plot attached to a council flat in London – recommends easing in with courgettes, cherry tomatoes, or potatoes. ‘They produce repeatedly, and potatoes are pretty quick… Tomatoes are a gateway to grow your own food,’ she says. Garlic greens are something else Martha suggests to new growers. ‘You need a bulb of supermarket garlic, a bowl of water, and two weeks’. The greens grow to about 20 centimetres and can be snipped over garlic bread, stirred into a salad, or made into garlic mayo. Find Martha’s full guide to growing your own food here.

Going Out

Check Out The Ritz’s Secret Garden

Restaurants and hotels across London are opening terraces for the summer season – but this one feels particularly special. The Ritz’s garden is now open to guests, a secluded haven accessible through the hotel’s Arlington Street entrance. Designed by Marcus Barnett Studio and David Collins Studio, the space has been created as an ethereal oasis decked out with white wisteria, hydrangeas and crab-apple trees centred around a water feature. Tables are set beneath parasols and decked out with cashmere throws from Johnstons of Elgin – a magical space to enjoy an al fresco dinner of harissa charred poussin followed by The Ritz’ famous vanilla trifle, paired with botanical cocktails and champagne. Go on a Thursday or Friday evening, or on a weekend, when live entertainment will add the final touch. theritzlondon.com

Property Of The Day

The only thing better than a Chelsea penthouse? A Chelsea penthouse that comes with a roof terrace and two studio apartments. With the main apartment spanning 7,000 sqft, key features include the open-plan living space, private office, gym, library and games room. 

£38m, sothebysrealty.co.uk

Little Luxury

Pioneering British brand LYMA has long been the go-to for skin supplements and tech, and now it’s targeting gut health. The newly launched LYMA ID² is a pioneering dual-action formula which boosts the gut microbiome while also optimising your nutritional profile from within. It contains a powerful complex of prebiotic fibres, probiotics, vegan omega-3 and a blend of over 25 vitamins and minerals which work to support all four parts of the colon. 

‘Longevity isn’t primarily luck or genetics, it comes down to your nutritional infrastructure, and that can be restored,’ says Professor Paul Clayton, LYMA's director of science. ‘Most people today are living below their biological potential, not because they’re ill, but because they’re under-resourced. What makes LYMA ID² different is that it addresses the root cause. It restores the gut to its full potential first, then delivers nutrients in forms the body can actually absorb and use. For the consumer, that means a shift from managing symptoms to supporting the underlying systems that drive energy, cognition and long-term health.’ Starter kit from £95, lyma.life

Competition Time

Win a midweek countryside escape to THE PIG-in the South Downs, with dinner, wine and breakfast included.

Psssst…

Love Apple TV’s spy thriller Slow Horses? We have good news: the series is returning for a sixth season, with the first episode set to drop on 16 September. If you haven’t yet watched it, five seasons are available to stream now.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Book late-night drinks this summer. Daytime drinks are replacing nightcaps, with the 2026 Bacardi Cocktail Trends report highlighting how the happy hour is being reimagined as an afternoon treat.

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