Staying In

 Read Joanna Cannon’s New Novel

Joanna Cannon’s fourth novel, An Unlikely Visitor, hits the shelves today, a decade since her debut, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, landed in 2015. In it, we meet Margaret, a woman in her seventies widowed just three months earlier. ‘Margaret is finding it impossible to go on without him. Not only has she lost the man she loved and her best friend, she also lost the only person who truly understood what they both went through, 40 years earlier, when their daughter Jeanie disappeared on a paper round, aged 11, and was never seen again,’ Cannon tells C&TH in a new interview. ‘However, one day Margaret returns home to what she thinks is an empty house, only to find an unexpected visitor waiting for her. Someone who will encourage her to find the joy in life again, and someone who might be able to help her solve the mystery of what happened to Jeanie all those years ago. It’s a story about loss and grief, but it’s also a celebration of love, and a reminder that the answer to most of life’s problems can be found in the unlikeliest of places.’ £18.99, uk.bookshop.org

Going Out

Book A Floating Picnic On The Thames

This new quintessentially British experience is perfect for summertime birthdays or celebrations (provided the weather perks up a bit). Fortnum & Mason is offering the chance to step aboard a vintage boat for a two-hour floating picnic experience on the Thames during the Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Festival seasons. The experience takes place on the Christobel vessel, which has been dressed in Fortnum’s signature Eau de Nil with bespoke strikes by design house Colours of Arley. While sailing along, guests will be treated to al fresco fare like coronation cauliflower tacos, scotch eggs and elderflower jelly with fresh berries alongside Fortnum’s Brut Réserve Champagne or English Sparkling Rosé. Bookings are available now. From £1,000 per charter, available to book from 30 June – 5 July and 1 – 12 July 2026, fortnumandmason.com

Property Of The Day

One of London’s most glamorous grocers, Farm Shop Mayfair is beloved by royals and celebrities alike. Want to spy on the famous names coming in and out? The two-bedroom apartment above the store is for sale. For a further dinner party boast, the building once served as the shop of royal florist Constant Spry OBE, now commemorated by a Blue Plaque out front.

£5.5m, beauchampestates.com

Banham Is Spotlighting British Collections

C&TH Partnership

Often, the most valuable possessions in our homes aren’t the ones that cost the most money – they’re the sentimental items that tell our stories. Protecting our property is personal; it’s about safeguarding the pieces of life that hold meaning. This belief sits at the heart of British brand Banham, and its new campaign designed to celebrate the unique treasures we cherish. Protect What You Cherish highlights real-life stories of the wonderfully British, eccentric collections we keep under lock and key. The latest story focuses on Steve Wheeler, who has spent years collecting 23,000 British milk bottles to create his own personal museum. You can read his story here.

Little Luxury

Treat yourself to a piece of jewellery from Sophie Breitmeyer, which has just opened a new store on Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street. The British brand specialises in creating modern jewellery that lasts a lifetime – from diamond hoops to tennis bracelets and chunky necklaces. While you’re there marvel at the beautiful interiors created by Christian Bense, who brings his effortless, home-from-home aesthetic to the store. 36 Elizabeth St, London SW1W 9NZ, sophiebreitmeyer.com

Competition Time

Enter our competition now for your chance to win a three-night stay at Bellonias Villas on the eastern shores of Santorini, staying in one of the dreamy newly renovated beach suites.

Psssst…

To mark its 25th anniversary, the Eden Project is selling a special pink flower known as the ‘Impatiens Ray of Hope’. A collaboration with the Seychelles Environment Ministry, the plant was originally bred to help protect endangered endemic plants from the islands. It’s available to buy from the Visitor Centre from 8 June, with profits from each sale going towards conservation projects in the Seychelles.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Visit the island of Ulva in Scotland on a Sunday. Since being propelled to fame by interior design show Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel, the tiny isle has been flooded with tourists prompting locals to halt the Sunday ferry service to reduce footfall.

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