Dear Reader,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… What are you doing this year? I’ve had neighbours ditch the last days of school to flee to Thailand, friends whose plans have been knocked for six by the discovery of an illness; my own brother was coming over from New York (for the first time in at least five years) but he discovered that his recently graduated daughter wasn’t allowed any days off from her brand new job, so they’re sticking there. We desperately need a time to put the breaks on and reclaim time for us but I suspect this only really happens when the day itself is over and the relations have all sloped off back home. Then the slippers can come on. I’m looking forward to putting the phone away (please, God, cure me of my addiction), opening a book (my list runs the gamut of Flesh by David Szalay to The Nix by Nathan Hill) and snoozing in front of some good films. I’ll be doing all this in Cornwall, so going out will mean long blustery walks, a trip to the Eden Project and a snoop around the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I can’t wait. Merry Christmas.

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

Settle in for some Christmas TV

It’s the final sprint to the big day – which means it’s also time to start planning your down time. Whether it’s solo recuperating with some laptop streaming or gathering the whole brood in front of the television on the big day itself, festive telly is some of the year’s best. We’ve crafted a guide to all the TV you’ll actually want to tune into this season so you don’t have to sift through the endless listings. Highlights include the long awaited return of The Night Manager, festive Amandaland and, of course, The Traitors.

Elevate family games night

Do you have a flurry of family and friends knocking on your door this Christmas? While it’s easy to keep everyone distracted with cheery greetings, gifts and a festive film, the inevitable post-dinner slump calls for a bit more excitement. And while there are plenty of high-tech options that will surely do the job, we prefer the classics. Keep even the most discerning of guests entertained with an impromptu games night, featuring all the traditional board games – think backgammon, chess, checkers, Scrabble – you grew up loving. These are the most beautiful board games to splurge on. Cut from coloured glass, soft leather and polished wood, they’re perfect for displaying on the coffee table (and luring guests into a game or two).

Read one of the books of the year

The New York Times has unveiled its annual ‘100 notable books of the year’ list – and we’re here to cut through the noise (who has time for 100 books?!). Blending meta literary criticism with speculative sci-fi and confessional letter writing, Ian McEwan’s climate fiction What We Can Know is a real must-read. It opens in 2119, and paints a rich (if unsettling) image of a Britain post-nuclear-catastrophe transformed into an archipelago split by dangerous seas. Its genesis is drip fed to us from the perspective of a humanities professor spellbound by a literary mystery: a famous poem that has been lost since it was first recited in 2014. His investigation takes him from the South Downs to the top of Snowden to a fractured Oxfordshire – before we jump back a century and discover the truth… BUY IT

Going Out

Try Michelin-starred chips

Would you pay £8.95 for a portion of chips? For lots of people, the answer is yes, if the queues at luxe chip shop Fries Atelier are anything to go by. The cult favourite has arrived in London after soaring to fame in the Netherlands and Belgium, landing on Soho’s Compton Street at the old Balans site. It’s the brainchild of Dutch chef Sergio Herman, who secured the ultimate culinary accolade of three Michelin stars for his Zeeland restaurant Oud Sluis before setting out to bring a new luxury spin to the humble potato. These are not just fries: they’re hand-cut, thin, double-fried frites served with a sauce (think truffle or bernaise), with toppings options ranging from beef stew to parmesan and basil. There’s even a drinks menu featuring champagne and spicy margs – certainly not your average chippy. 34 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TR, friesatelier.com

Go ice skating

Whether you’re a pro glider or more of a cling-to-the-rails kind of skater, a trip to one of London’s outdoor ice rinks always sparks festive feelings. You can’t go wrong with Somerset House, which transforms its neoclassical courtyard into a huge rink complete with a showstopping 40ft tree every winter. Battersea Power Station’s Glide has also become a firm favourite over the past couple of years – perched beside the river, it’s a magical setting, with cosy igloos you can book for a group of friends afterwards. But if you fancy trying somewhere new, head to Skate Leicester Square, the central London spot’s first ever ice rink presented by Underbelly, perched beside a pop-up market. With walk-in tickets available, it’s a good option if you fancy a spontaneous skate.

Explore Gordon Ramsay’s answer to in-flight food

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that plane food kind of sucks. The smell of re-heated mush, mingled with the scent of antiseptic… it doesn’t make for the most luxurious in-flight experience. Whether you want to fill-up beforehand or take-away a more delicious offering for your in-flight meal, Gordon Ramsay’s newly relaunched Plane Food Market in Heathrow Terminal 5 may have finally changed the game. Expanding on the original Plane Food classics (from which you can still enjoy everything from a full English breakfast to an idiot sandwich), Gordon Ramsay has brought his worldwide portfolio of restaurants together in one spot. Head over to Lucky Cat for spicy tuna rolls and the must-try bonito fried duck leg bao, or tuck into Street Burger, Street Pizza or Hotter Than Hell for moreish smash burgers, delectable doughy offerings and fiery wings. Our favourite? The Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips – just please promise not to take them aboard or you may find yourself with some in-flight enemies. gordonramsayrestaurants.com

Three of the Best…

Festive Treats

Here’s what the C&TH editors will be snacking on this Christmas

Borough 22’s Holiday Doughnuts

Christmas feasting can become a bit of a minefield when you have allergies (word of warning: steer clear of the buffet) – so it’s always handy to have a sweet treat to fall back on when the options are looking a little underwhelming. London’s favourite free-from doughnut brand Borough 22 ticks all the boxes: vegan, gluten free, SKA-certified Kosher, Halal-friendly and, most importantly, delicious. Its Holiday Collection is the perfect addition to any Christmas spread, with the box of six doughnuts featuring three festive flavours – Bûche de Noël, Candy Cane and Cranberry Joy – that will surely go down a treat with all the family. The Holiday Collection, £34. borough22.com 

Charlie Colville, Digital Style Editor

Hot Chocolate with a Tea-wist

‘Milk or water (or both)? Hob or microwave? Plain or stacked with toppings? However you make your hot chocolate, you won’t regret shaking it up a bit and adding a tea bag to your next cup to make this warming winter treat just that much better. Twinings' Swiss hot chocolate plus a chai tea bag is my personal favourite – it’s smooth, sweet and delicately festive with the added warming spices. Just infuse your milk/water with the tea bag, add your hot chocolate powder et voilà. And it’s paramount the drink is enjoyed with your dunking biscuits of choice – it is half tea, after all.’

Evie Calver, Junior Sub Editor & Production Assistant

Twiglets

‘It's a travesty that twiglets aren't more socially acceptable snacking year round (although possibly a blessing for my health). Twiglets are quintessentially British – first launched by Jacobs in the 1920s – and it surprised me recently to learn that they weren't actually made with marmite, just a similar base flavouring (yeast extract). I love these, and seeing a massive, wide mouthed tub of twiglets is one of the things that makes it Christmas for me.’

Tessa Dunthorne, Food & Drink Editor

Staying in Forever…

Property Of The Week

Fun fact: the ‘Tate’ of Tate Britain and the ‘Tate’ of Tate & Lyle sugar are in fact the same Tate. Who knew? And his former London home is now on the market, complete with the billiard room where he (Sir Henry Tate that is) hung the collection of Pre-Raphaelite art – Millais’ Ophelia included – which founded the famed London gallery.

On the market for £1.5 – £2m. Find out more at wilfords.com

Competition Time

Win a £2.9m Cornwall dream home with Raffle House

Win a one-night bed and breakfast stay for two at Penmaenuchaf hotel in Snowdonia

Win a private dining experience at Fazenda Bishopsgate worth over £1,000

Psssst…

Noticed your Terry’s Chocolate Orange appears to be disappearing more quickly than usual? You’re not just getting greedier: the festive staple has decreased in size by eight percent this year… meanwhile the price has gone up by 81 percent since 2022. Source: The Guardian

The Full Story

How To Mark The Winter Solstice At Home

Usher in the new season with these suggestions from a top astrologer

If it feels particularly cold and dark on Sunday, that’s because it’s the winter solstice – aka, the shortest day of the year (and the official start of winter). But while it might look pretty gloomy outside, don’t be fooled: this is the perfect time of year to take a breather, reflect on the past year and set some fresh intentions for the one ahead. 

‘The winter solstice is an astronomical moment when the Earth tilts toward the Sun at the sharpest angle, causing the daylight hours to shrink,’ explains Karyna Diadiura, a spiritual advisor at Nebula. ‘This occurs every year around 21 or 22 December, marking the point of deepest darkness. On this day, the Sun rises at its lowest point above the horizon and seems to pause, which is where the word “solstitium” – meaning “sun standing still” – originates.’

This year’s winter solstice falls on Sunday 21 December (at exactly 3.03pm in the UK), and Karyna urges us to take the time to ‘reflect on the past year, make sense of experiences, and set intentions for our next chapter.’

While there are plenty of community rituals to take part in, Karyna emphasises the importance of protecting your own peace – and instead suggests bringing any celebrations home with a personalised wellness activity. ‘The winter solstice reminds us of the power of cycles: after the darkest night, light always returns. It’s a moment to slow down, feel your inner rhythm, and give yourself space to rest,’ she says. ‘Small rituals – like candles, tea, meditation, or writing intentions – help clear the mind and heart, release the old, and make space for the new. The most important thing now is to listen to yourself and trust the process.’

Below, Karyna shares her top wellness activities you can do at home during the winter solstice – guaranteed to boost your mood and leave you feeling ready for the winter ahead:

Try Aroma Bathing

The spiritual advisor suggests taking a bath or showering with richly scented essential oils. ‘Opt for lavender, rosemary, juniper or eucalyptus fragrances,’ she says. ‘Warmth relaxes the body, and the aromas help soothe the nervous system. This ritual is perfect for ending the day and relieving seasonal stress.’

Start A Candle Ritual

‘In the evening, turn off all artificial lights in your home and light as many candles as possible, allowing the flames to create a soft, living space,’ recommends Karyna. ‘Sit opposite one candle and speak out everything that has weighed on or worried you, silently or aloud. When you feel relief, extinguish the candle with gratitude, symbolically releasing all that is no longer needed.’

Set Intentions 

This is also the time to state clear intentions for the new cycle, says Karyna. ‘After a short meditation, write down three to five intentions you want to “grow” in the new cycle of light,’ she instructs. ‘These can be emotional, professional or spiritual goals. The winter solstice is an excellent moment for creating an inner map for moving forward.’

Sip Warming Tea

If it’s a moment of calm you’re craving, then try to carve out a small pocket of time during the day to sit with a hot drink. ‘Prepare a warm drink – ginger tea, cocoa or a herbal blend,’ Karyna suggests. ‘Sip slowly, focusing on the aroma and warmth. This helps ground yourself, feel calm, and bring your body into the here and now.’

Do Some Yoga

Can’t sit still? Get into the flow of the winter solstice with an at-home yoga session. ‘Even 10 to 15 minutes of light movement stimulates circulation, improves mood and helps release tension from the cold season,’ says Karyna. ‘Poses that open the chest are especially beneficial as they symbolically and physically let light in.’

Practise Gratitude In The Dark 

Switch off (and switch off the lights), and focus on the positives. ‘With this practice, you can turn off the lights, sit with a notebook, or simply close your eyes and recall three things you are grateful for,’ says Karyna. ‘Darkness helps focus inward, and gratitude is one of the most effective tools for improving mental wellbeing.’