Staying In

The Hottest Books To Read This Summer

The sweltering summer humidity is starting to ease, but we can’t help thinking it would all be a bit nicer with a sea breeze, a glass of something icy cold, and a good book. Well, at least we can handle the latter. A zeitgeisty book is the ultimate summer accessory – but which will be the next book du jour? This year, we have the debut novel Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke at the top of our list – a circa 400-page high-concept thriller in which an Instagram tradwife wakes up in what appears to be the actual pioneer days. There’s also The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, the touching epistolary that just scooped up the Women’s Prize for Fiction. In non-fiction, BBC broadcaster Lyse Doucet’s The Finest Hotel in Kabul came out tops and is certain to be spotted beside sun loungers this summer. With new releases from Maggie O’Farrell, Douglas Stewart, Bella Mackie and more, we are certainly being spoilt this summer. Find the full C&TH summer reading list here.

Going Out

Go To Henley Regatta

This could be the chicest event in the summer sporting calendar. Well, it’s certainly the splashiest. Attracting thousands of spectators to one short stretch of idyllic Henley-on-Thames, Henley Royal Regatta boasts six days of high-octane excitement as rowers – from Olympic-level to school teams – take to the water across more than 300 races. It’s as much a social affair as it is a sporting one: ex-rowers, life-long enthusiasts and newbies alike can dress up, grab a picnic, sip a cocktail and shout ‘well rowed!’ at the passing boats, all without knowing a single rule of the river. Looking for somewhere to stay afterwards? Combine your Henley adventure with a trip to the capital, which is just less than an hour away on the train. There’s no better place to stay than Knightsbridge’s The Capital Hotel, which epitomises English elegance on your very English trip. Its 73 rooms, suites and apartments balance the tranquility of a residential street with the bustling city location right beside Harrods and Harvey Nichols. 30 June – 5 July 2026, hrr.co.uk

Property Of The Day

This Victorian townhouse may not look like your average eco home, but its credentials are greener than they seem. With 24 solar panels, a Tesla Powerwall and an EV charging point, plus planning permission for a solar-powered annexe and aircon throughout, for such a large and historic home its EPC rating of B is certainly something to be applauded.

£3.5m, chestertons.co.uk

Little Luxury

C&TH Partnership

Boost your skin, hair, nails, bones and joints all at once with Arella Collagen, an award-winning vegan liquid supplement powered by innovative VeCollal® technology. It delivers plant-based amino acids to support the body’s natural collagen production, enriched with retinol, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and vegan vitamin D3. From £32.99 for a one time purchase, arella-beauty.co.uk

Competition Time

Looking for the perfect base for your next dinner party or family catch-up? Now’s your chance to win a three-course dinner with drinks for six at LARDON, a chic new restaurant in the Cotswolds. 

Psssst…

Princess Kate has become the first member of the royal family to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, a notoriously tough endeavour which involves climbing three of the UK’s highest mountains in 24 hours.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Move during a point at Wimbledon, if you’ve been lucky enough to nab show court tickets. Nobody enters or leaves while a game is in progress – wait for a changeover, which lasts for approximately 90 seconds.

Subscription Offer