Dear Reader,

I was always told to look up – especially when wandering around our beautiful capital city. I was in Bloomsbury on Tuesday and noticed an old umbrella factory sign and felt a tug of longing for simpler times. Now, I'd like to propose a campaign not to look up even, but at eye-level. I'm just as bad, but we are turning into phone-addicted, eyes-down zombies. Walking down the street (oops, mind the lamppost), sitting on the tube, plugged in and tuned out to the world – and people – around you, sitting on the park bench scrolling while your kid digs alone in the sand (I saw this just yesterday and my heart broke just a little). Do we think we have a problem here? Well, we know we do, which is why we're campaigning for our children not to have smartphones at school: I'd argue they shouldn't have smartphones at all until they're 18. I'd argue that if we stepped back a bit and actually saw what was happening to us, we'd think we'd lost the plot. Maybe social unacceptance is the only way out of this... I gave up smoking once – it was like freedom. Maybe we should all unshackle ourselves a bit more.

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Lucy Cleland
Editorial Director

Staying In

WATCH: Half Man

If you had the pleasure of watching Baby Reindeer back when it first landed on Netflix in 2024, you will remember that it was barely a pleasure at all. But before creator Richard Gadd dissected his personal life for Britain’s – and the world’s – very public consumption, he penned a very different television series, one set in his homeland of Scotland. This is Half Man, which launched on BBC iPlayer in the wee hours of the morning, with new episodes landing weekly on Fridays until the end of May. And while he does star in Half Man, luckily there’s no more true stories for Gadd – for now, at least. Instead he plays the explosive, impulsive Ruben, who shows up at the wedding of childhood best friend of Niall (Jamie Bell), reuniting the duo for the first time in years, and catapulting us all back on a journey through their adolescence, into the adulthood that splintered their friendship. Episode 1 streaming now on BBC iPlayer.

READ: Leïla Slimani's New Book

‘I'll Take the Fire is the third book in Leïla Slimani's acclaimed Moroccan trilogy, an addictive family saga in which three generations of women navigate the day-to-day frustrations of love and life within the constraints of a deeply patriarchal culture,’ writes our book reviewer Belinda Bamber. ‘In this final volume, sisters Mia and Inés escape to Paris, the place Slimani herself fled to aged seventeen. She is now President Macron's ambassador for French language and culture but never forgets her Moroccan roots, and this novel contains a touching fictional portrait of her late, much-loved father, a government economist in Rabat. I'll Take the Fire is a fine standalone novel that touches your heart even more deeply if you've followed the family's story from the beginning. As a whole, the trilogy gives a remarkable personal insight into decades of political struggle in this beautiful and extraordinary country.’ Don’t miss our interview with Slimani here. Out 24 April (Faber, £16.99)

EAT: Make The Most Of Asparagus Season

The British asparagus season runs from yesterday, 23 April (St George’s Day), until the summer solstice in June, so you just have a couple of months to make the most of it. It’s the ultimate spring vegetable – delicious grilled, steamed, stir-fried or roasted – and works well both as a central ingredient in risotto, soups and pasta dishes, as well as served as a side dish. But how are the chefs cooking it? Ben Tish (Cubitt House) loves to BBQ asparagus ‘so that it retains bite and goes all peppery’. He also likes to slowly cook the stems in the foaming butter with shallots and capers – ‘really delicious’. Here are some more asparagus recipe ideas.

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 properties, therefore, 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, kicking off with Kirsty Johnstone who shares her remarkable assortment of antique teddy bears. You can read her story here.

Going Out

BOOK: Our Climate Week Event

A date for your diaries: on 21 June C&TH is heading to the rooftop of Sea Containers London to co-host Nature in the City alongside Lore Group Hotels with The Datai Langkawi, a London Climate Action week gathering. Expect inspiring conversations about regenerative farming, beautiful design, the natural world and conservation – all while soaking up dazzling London river views on the longest day of the year. Speakers include our own editorial director Lucy Cleland, with conversations spanning how what we eat and drink is linked to climate, through to the luxury hotels serving nature. Tickets support the Farms for City Children charity, and include a Sapling Spirits cocktail on arrival. £20pp, book your spot here.

SEE: The London Marathon

Whether you’re supporting a friend or just there to soak up the electric atmosphere, the London Marathon is always a feel-good day out in the capital. The annual event returns for its 46th edition this Sunday, with thousands of participants primed to lace up and run 26.2 miles around the city streets – cheered on by crowds and live music. It kicks off in Greenwich Park, weaving past landmarks like Tower Bridge and The London Eye before ending on The Mall beside Buckingham Palace, meaning there are plenty of great spots for spectators to set up camp. And, of course, this is London, so there are plenty of pubs along the route too – nip into The Cutty Sark beside the River Thames (one of the capital’s most historic pubs) or await your running pals at The Westminster, which isn’t far from the finish line. Taking part? Best of luck, and be sure to make the most of all the freebies on offer.

EXPLORE: Scotland’s New Wild Spa

Just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow, in Perthshire’s rugged Ochil Hills, sits Scotland’s new wild spa, Maycroft Retreat. Overlooking a glen with fairy pools, it’s a magical spot where you can truly switch off and enjoy the fresh air – complete with a wood-fired eco sauna, a spring water hot tub and a cold dip plunge. Book one of the two glamping pod cabins to stay overnight (which feature outdoor cooking stations, hot tubs and stargazing patios) and treat yourself to bespoke treatments like crystal facials, reiki and raindrop therapy. The ultimate zen spot, in the heart of rural Scotland. maycroftretreat.co.uk

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Stay Of The Week

C&TH Partnership

On the hunt for your next adventure? If Italy is on your hot list, check out Castel Badia: a historic castle retreat on the hills of South Tyrol’s Dolomites. With just 28 rooms and suites it feels boutique and exclusive, complete with a sensory spa in the atmospheric former nun’s quarters (with both indoor and outdoor pools). You’re perfectly placed to explore this picturesque corner of Italy too, with hiking and cycling trails, local museums, artisan shops and markets all nearby. scottdunn.com

Competition Time

1. Win a three-night Greek island escape

2. Win hospitality tickets for Ronan Keating at Newbury Racecourse

3. Win a 24 piece luxury cutlery set worth £882

Psssst…

Conservationists are planning to create a ‘nature corridor’ which will wind through some of London’s most nature-starved communities. In a bid to reconnect fragmented pockets of wildlife, the 14-mile network will extend from Lee Valley Regional Park, south towards the Thames, passing through the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Haringey and Newham.