Staying In

Host The Ultimate Summer Party

We might be in the middle of (another) heatwave, but don’t let the fact it’s hot stop you from becoming a great host. Luckily, we know just the person to get our skills up to scratch. ‘Hosting is my love language,’ says luxury lifestyle content creator Lydia Millen. ‘The vibe is everything. Think about the people you are bringing together, and if you’re offering a meal, where to sit them. Aesthetically, I don’t want to just create a beautiful event, I want it to feel wonderful too. Mismatched crockery, home grown/arranged florals, antique silverware is magic. I like well-loved and cherished over curated and styled for picture perfection.’ And when it comes to making the most of the season, her top tip is to bring the outside in. ‘I use whatever foliage is on offer in the garden, so, bud vases of roses or a pot of basil in summer, alongside bowls of home-grown tomatoes. This feels effortless but indulgent and thoughtful whilst blurring the lines between the outside and inside.’ You can read Lydia Millen’s guide to summer hosting here.

Going Out

See Luminiscence

A spine-tingling new immersive concert experience has landed in the heart of London. Combining live choral singing, orchestral music, dazzling 360° projections and narration from none other than Hugh Bonneville, it is unlike anything you will have experienced before (unless you were one of the 2 million spectators to see the show first in France, then in Manchester). Taking over the historic Westminster Cathedral for a limited run, LUMINISCENCE tells the history of the striking neo-Byzantine landmark, in turn also briefly detailing the history of the capital. The swooping columns and distant ceilings of this, Britain’s largest cathedral, are transformed with sweeping projections which metamorphose across the vast domes, trickle down the brick walls, and breathe new life into the vast interiors left bare for more than 120 years. Between songs masterminded by Beethoven, Verdi, Debussy, Vivaldi, Bach, brought to life by the spellbinding Lux Aeterna choir, Bonneville’s pre-recorded narration explains it all. Until Saturday 26 September, tickets from £32.50, luminiscence.com

Property Of The Day

Want to live in a slice of cinema history? This historic estate starred in Richard Curtis’s Four Weddings and a Funeral as the site where Andie MacDowell’s character Carrie married her Scottish husband. Since featured in Country House Rescue and multiple seasons of Midsomer Murders, a three-bedroom apartment in this grandiose plot is now up for grabs.

On the market for £1.795m, sothebysrealty.co.uk

Little Luxury

Summer calls for days out in the garden – spent both lounging, and curating your green space for the season. And to do the latter in style, you’ll want to be wearing the newly launched Sister Jane x Petersham Nurseries capsule. Comprising flower bags, a kneeling cushion and a bucket hat, the collection reimagines working in the garden through a whimsical lens (think romantic silhouettes and delicate florals). We especially love the polka dot cross back apron. £49, sisterjane.com

Competition Time

If a sun-soaked trip to Greece is calling your name, enter now for your chance to win a three-night, all-inclusive stay at Elix, Mar-Bella Collection.

Psssst…

Did you know every England football men’s senior player since 2007 has donated their international appearance fees to charity? Funds go towards the England Footballers Foundation, which distributes them to partner charities like Help for Heroes and UNICEF. Cheer them on this weekend from one of these London screenings.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Assume your favourite Pinot Noir is a winter drink: chilled red is in vogue. ‘Chilled red wines are having a moment because they suit the way people want to drink today: lighter, fresher, and more casually,’ says Yannick Barranco, beverage manager at The Standard’s Isla bar. ‘Consumers are increasingly choosing styles that are lower in tannin, more fruit-forward and easy to enjoy in warmer weather, making lightly chilled reds a natural alternative to both white and rosé wines.’

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