Home & Garden

For many people Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a turkey and trimmings, pudding and brandy butter. And yet it wasn't always that way. Gone are the gluttonous banquets featuring boar's head and brawn - but how did we get to the Christmas food of today?

Historian Annie Gray digs into the evolution of our festive meal, from the birth of the twelve-day celebration under Edward I and the the restoration of holiday splendour under Victoria to the present day. Organised by festive dish and illustrated throughout, At Christmas We Feast is a delectable trip through time - stuffed full of classic recipes, doused with history and tradition, and sprinkled with the joy of the feasts of Christmas past.

We've all got a friend who claims to know where you can get the best pint of Guinness. From the pub to the pour, it's an experience. And if anyone knows this best, it's London-based Corkman Ian Ryan - founder of Sh*t London Guinness and Beautiful Pints. From the all-important different elements of a Guinness pour to what to look for (and what to run a mile from) when sourcing beautiful pints, as well as a crème de la crème list of pubs around the world to visit, Ian shares his expertise from many a pint of plain sank and enjoyed. By the end of it, you'll be able to claim that you know where to get the ultimate pint of Guinness in town. See you at the bar sometime.

Breadsong tells the story of Kitty Tait who was a chatty, bouncy and full-of-life 14 year old until she was overwhelmed by an ever-thickening cloud of depression and anxiety and she withdrew from the world. Her desperate family tried everything to help her but she slipped further away from them.

One day her dad Alex, a teacher, baked a loaf of bread with her and that small moment changed everything. One loaf quickly escalated into an obsession and Kitty started to find her way out of the terrible place she was in. Baking bread was the one thing that made any sense to her and before long she was making loaves for half her village. After a few whirlwind months, she and her dad opened the Orange Bakery, where queues now regularly snake down the street.

Breadsong is also a cookbook full of Kitty's favourite recipes.

In 1911, in the Scottish Border village of Sprouston, the young parish minister wrote to the Daily Mail for entry forms for its sweet pea competition. The top prize was a staggering £1000, but a fortnight before the deadline a nation-wide drought would threaten the very existence of the sweet peas he was so painstakingly cultivating.

William Cecil, Treasurer to Elizabeth 1st, built his family a magnificent home, Burghley House. Lady Victoria Leatham has lived in and managed the house for over 20 years. Here she tells the story of Burghley and it's treasures which have been collected by many generations of Cecils.

Every family has their signature bakes. The rich fruit cake that your Nan makes at Christmas. Your Mum's decadent chocolate cake that made an appearance at every birthday party. Your own gloriously gooey chocolate brownies. But what does cake mean for different people? How have we come to have such a huge variety of cakes? What had to happen historically for them to appear? And what can they tell us about the family, and women's roles in particular? Alysa Levene takes us on a journey from King Alfred to our modern-day love of cupcakes, via Queen Victoria's patriotic sandwich, the Southern States of America, slavery and the spice trade, to the rise of the celebrity chef.

This is the story of Nigel Slater’s love for winter, the scent of fir and spruce, its folktales, myths and family feasts. With recipes, decorations, fables and quick fireside suppers, Nigel guides you through the essential preparations for Christmas and the New Year, with everything you need to enjoy the winter months.

The tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas is a celebration of sharing and giving. What better way to do that than with a story. Read these stories by the fire, enjoy the season of peace and goodwill, mystery, and a little bit of magic. And for the icing on the Christmas cake, there are twelve festive recipes from Yuletides past and present.

Cook, Eat, Repeat is a delicious and delightful combination of recipes intertwined with narrative essays about food, all in Nigella's engaging and insightful prose. Whether asking 'What is a Recipe?' or declaring death to the Guilty Pleasure, Nigella's wisdom about food and life comes to the fore, with tasty new recipes that readers will want to return to again and again. 'The recipes I write come from my life, my home', says Nigella, and in this book she shares the rhythms and rituals of her kitchen through over 100 new recipes that make the most of her favourite ingredients. Dedicated chapters include 'A is for Anchovy' (a celebration of the bacon of the sea), 'Rhubarb', a loving defence of 'Brown Food', a suitably expansive chapter devoted to family dinners, plus inspiration for vegan feasts, solo suppers and new ideas for Christmas. 

Within these chapters are recipes for all seasons and tastes: Burnt Onion and Aubergine Dip; Butternut with Chilli, Ginger and Beetroot Yoghurt Sauce; Brown Butter Colcannon; Spaghetti with Chard and Anchovies; Chicken with Garlic Cream Sauce; Beef Cheeks with Port and Chestnuts; and Wide Noodles with Lamb in Aromatic Broth, to name a few. Those with a sweet tooth will delight in Rhubarb and Custard Trifle; Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake; Rice Pudding Cake; and Cherry and Almond Crumble.

Curry is known as the food of India. In this book the author describes how the history of India is reflected in the food,how various conquerors influenced Indian cooking over the centuries, and how this cuisine was exported to the rest of the world.

In this exchange of personal letters, two of Britain's leading gardeners - Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto - share their successes and failures, and learn from each other's experiences in their two very different gardens.

In Dining with the Durrells, David Shimwell has delved into the Durrell family archives to uncover Louisa Durrell's original recipes for the scones, cakes, jams, tarts, sandwiches and more that are so deliciously described by the Durrell family. From her recipe for 'Gerry's Favourite Chicken Curry' to 'Dixie-Durrell Scones with Fig and Ginger Jam', and including the family stories that accompany them, this book will transport you to long lunches enjoyed on the terrace of a strawberry-pink villa, sunshine-filled picnics among the Corfu olive groves and candlelit dinners overlooking the Ionian Sea.

An anthology of the delights and eccentricities of the British and their relationship with food, as observed by acclaimed food writer Nigel Slater.

For decades, a single free market philosophy has dominated global economics. But this is bland and unhealthy - like British food in the 1980s, when bestselling author and economist Ha-Joon Chang first arrived in the UK from South Korea. Just as eating a wide range of cuisines contributes to a more interesting and balanced diet, so too is it essential we listen to a variety of economic perspectives.

In Edible Economics, Chang makes challenging economic ideas more palatable by plating them alongside stories about food from around the world. Structuring the book as a series of menus, Chang uses histories behind familiar food items - where they come from, how they are cooked and consumed, what they mean to different cultures - to explore economic theory. For Chang, chocolate is a life-long addiction, but more exciting are the insights it offers into post-industrial knowledge economies; and while okra makes Southern gumbo heart-meltingly smooth, it also speaks of capitalism's entangled relationship with freedom and unfreedom. Explaining everything from the hidden cost of care work to the misleading language of the free market as he cooks dishes like anchovy and egg toast, Gambas al Ajillo and Korean dotori mook, Ha-Joon Chang serves up an easy-to-digest feast of bold ideas.

Myth-busting, witty and thought-provoking, Edible Economics shows that getting to grips with the economy is like learning a recipe: if we understand it, we can change it - and, with it, the world.

For the first time in audio, savour this volume bringing together the best of his three out-of-print works on the art of and, most importantly, practice of drinking.

Including Kingsley Amis in Drink, Everyday Drinking and How's Your Glass?, this collection celebrates Amis' comic prose and collected thoughts on the art of drinking, alongside well-tested recipes.

The traditional 'nuclear' family home is a problem: it places unfair and unnecessary burdens on women (and men too), it entrenches inequalities, it entraps us financially and it hinders certain kinds of child development. Also, it doesn't seem to make us very happy. And yet throughout history and around the world today, forward-thinking communities have pioneered alternative ways of living - from the all-female 'beguinages' of medieval Belgium to the matriarchal ecovillages of contemporary Colombia; from the ancient Greek commune founded by Pythagoras, where men and women lived as equals and shared property, to present-day Connecticut, where new laws make it easier for extra 'alloparents' to help raise children not their own.

Some of these experiments burned brightly and briefly; others are living proof of what is possible. Everyday Utopia upends our assumptions and raises our sights by gathering these and many more inspiring examples together, arguing that many of the most important and effective ways of changing our lives and the world are to be found in the home. The result is a radically hopeful and practical vision of more connected - and contented - ways of living.

How do you place a bed in an awkward room? How can your space help you be more focused and more productive? How do you set up your room to make you ready for romantic love? Our homes have an outsized impact on our wellbeing, so answering these questions is more important than ever. Luckily, interior design expert and TikTok sensation Cliff Tan is here to help!

Cliff has become an internet sensation with his videos demonstrating the principles of feng shui from chi (energy) to the command position - and he has put his wisdom into a book for the first time. In Feng Shui Modern, Cliff explains the concepts of feng shui and then uses expert tips and practical diagrams to show - room by room - how our own styles, colour palettes and furniture can be used to maximise any environment.

John Gaze worked for the National Trust for over thirty years. With his knowledge, experience and anecdotal evidence he has produced an authoritative history of the Trust.

The Garden Jungle is about the wildlife that lives right under our noses, in our gardens and parks, between the gaps in the pavement, and in the soil beneath our feet. Wherever you are right now, the chances are that there are worms, woodlice, centipedes, flies, silverfish, wasps, beetles, mice, shrews and much, much more, quietly living within just a few paces of you. Dave Goulson gives us an insight into the fascinating and sometimes weird lives of these creatures, taking us burrowing into the compost heap, digging under the lawn and diving into the garden pond. He explains how our lives and ultimately the fate of humankind are inextricably intertwined with that of earwigs, bees, lacewings and hoverflies, unappreciated heroes of the natural world.

A grow-your-own guide for the generation who'd rather eat compost than watch Gardeners' World, this book teaches you how to plan and plant your site for maximum nutrition, and suggests gardening projects to get underway while civilisation still stands, from growing dinner in a dustbin to a juice bar on a balcony. Irreverent, straightforward and useful, it shows even complete beginners how to grow enough of their own food to survive when Armageddon arrives and imports collapse. Or even if they don't.

There is a renewed interest in the nature on our doorsteps, as can be seen in the work of amateur botanists identifying wildflowers and chalking the names on the pavements.

But beyond the garden wall lies a wealth of cultivated plants, each with a unique tale to tell. In The Grove, award-winning writer and head gardener Ben Dark reveals the remarkable secrets of twenty commonly found species - including the rose, wisteria, buddleja, box and the tulip - encountered in the front gardens of one London street over the course of year.

As Ben writes, in those small front gardens 'are stories of ambition, envy, hope and failure' and The Grove is about so much more than a single street, or indeed the plants found in its 19 ½ front gardens. It's a beguiling blend of horticultural history and personal narrative and a lyrical exploration of why gardens and gardening matter.

Join Joe Sugg, our favourite YouTube star on a journey to discover the healing powers of nature in a noisy, digital world.

Having grown-up in the rise of the digital age and as one of the UKs biggest TV and online stars, Joe knows better than anyone how it feels to be overwhelmed by the world wide web and its endless stream of content. Experiencing feelings of anxiety and burnout, Joe has come up with his very own creative and practical ways to let nature in, that are accessible no matter where in the world you live, from the city to the seaside.

Joe's natural storytelling abilities will immerse us in a truly restorative read that shows ways to balance our time online with the outdoors, and grow happier, heathier and calmer by doing so. Alongside Joe's practical tips are his hand-drawn illustrations and personal stories of his journey to happiness.

Joe sows the seeds that will help make the most of the incredible, positive impacts nature can have on our mental and physical wellbeing, and that make it possible to live in harmony with the power of technology.

Global baking sensation The Hebridean Baker shares his fabulous recipes and fascinating stories of island life, with modern takes on classics and traditional Scottish staples giving you a true taste of Scotland's wild and windswept Outer Hebrides. From Croft Loaf to Cranachan Chocolate Bombs, Oaty Apricot Cookies to Heilan' Coo Cupcakes, and Granny Annag's Christmas Cake to Aunt Bellag's Duff, there's something here to put a smile on everyone's face. And with his faithful West Highland Terrier Seòras by his side every step of the way, the Hebridean Baker will even help you teach your dog Gaelic, while you enjoy some truly delicious Scottish bakes. Focusing on small bakes that use a simple set of ingredients, these recipes will unleash your inner Scottish baker - it's all about rustic, home baking and old family favourites because, as the Hebridean Baker says, 'Homemade is Always Best'. 

Carol Klein is one of Britain's best loved horticulturists, and for decades gardening has been at the heart of her extraordinary life. From her childhood adventures in Manchester to her first experiments in plantswomanship at Glebe Cottage, and from training as an artist and a teacher, and then finding an entirely unexpected career as one of Britain's most beloved television presenters, in this long-awaited memoir Carol tells the story of the people, places and plants that have shaped her life.

Exploring why our relationship with the natural world is so important, and how it brings joy, creativity and good health to our lives, Carol also offers irresistible insights on her favourite flowers and plants, and how to help them flourish. A story of a life lived happily amongst the greenery, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who has sought solace in the natural world.

Relax and relish Nigella Lawson's delicious prose in her revelatory cookery book. It is a versatile, culinary bible, through which a generation discovered how to feel at home in the kitchen and found the confidence to experiment and adapt recipes to their own needs. You'll be ready to head into the kitchen and take on anything with Nigella's voice guiding you through.

This is a book for anyone who feels overwhelmed by life and is looking for an accessible and gentle way to care for their home - and themselves.

Have you ever looked at a pile of dishes in the sink and wanted to crawl back into bed? Or found yourself staring at the overflowing recycling bin thinking, Why is my life such a mess?

But what if we stopped seeing a clean house as a reflection of our worth and instead as a kindness to our future self?

How to Keep House While Drowning will introduce you to six life-changing principles to revolutionise the way you approach domestic work, all without a single to-do list. Most importantly, it will help you get free of shame and guide you in coping with stress... and that ever-mounting laundry pile.

Although the author of the book, Kay Smallshaw, was herself a career woman (she was editor first of Good Housekeeping and later of Modern Woman) she knew that she was in the minority and that most women were at home wishing that the new labour-saving machines were indeed more labour-saving and that pre-war standards could adapt to a post-war world. But this was not to happen for another twenty years; meanwhile Kay Smallshaw's readers continued to keep up appearances and to go on running their homes to the standards of the time when they had both cook, maid and daily help.

We all expect to be able to buy an excellent cup of coffee from the many brilliant coffee shops available. But what about the coffee we make at home? Shouldn't that be just as good? Coffee guru James Hoffmann runs Square Mile Coffee, as well as creating extremely informative, and popular, kit and coffee reviews for his YouTube and Instagram channels. In his latest book he demonstrates everything you need to know to make consistently excellent coffee at home, including: what kit is worth buying, and what isn't; how to grind coffee; the basics of brewing for all major equipment (cafetiere, aeropress, stovetop etc); understanding coffee drinks, from the cortado to latte; and the perfect espresso.

Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? Why did gas lighting cause Victorian ladies to faint? Why, for centuries, did people fear fruit? All these questions - and more - are answered in this truly intimate history of the home.

When they were in their twenties, Niall Williams and Christine Breen made the impulsive decision to leave New York City and move to Christine's ancestral home in the town of Kiltumper in rural Ireland. In the decades that followed, the pair dedicated themselves to writing, gardening and living a life that followed the rhythms of the earth.

In 2019, with Christine in the final stages of recovery from cancer and the surrounding land threatened by the arrival of turbines, Niall and Christine decided to document a year - in words and Christine's drawings - of living in their garden and in their small corner of a rapidly changing world.

Proceeding month by month through the year, this is the story of a garden in all its many splendours, and a couple who have made their life observing its wonders.

More practical gardening advice, along with lyrical descriptions of plants and gardens.

A collection of gardening articles, first published in the Observer over fifty years ago.

Hardeep Singh Kohli loves many things in life - but none more than food. So when he decided to travel round India, searching for his roots, what seemed the obvious thing to take with him? Not a travel guide. Not a BBC cameraman… Shepherd's pie and Yorkshire pudding!

This audiobook is a celebration of snacks in all their glorious forms, guaranteed to fill your day with snacking joy.

It will take you from your morning coffee (cinnamon crumble cakes and cherry-marzipan hand pies) to your evening wine (oeufs durs mayonnaise and mushroom pate) via salsas, hot dips, crispy bits, crab nachos and frozen piña coladas in the sun. The Joy of Snacks will lift your spirits while satisfying your deepest snacking desires, helping you squeeze the joy out of life's big and small moments, whether it's party time or Monday morning.

Penelope Lively has always been a keen gardener. This is partly a memoir of her own life in gardens, such as her grandmother's garden in Somerset and the urban garden in the North London home she lives in today. It is also an engaging exploration of gardens in literature, from Paradise Lost to Alice in Wonderland, amongst others.

Jenny Uglow has a love of gardens and plants, and she is curious about the evolution of gardens and gardening practices. Here she unpicks the history of British gardening from prehistoric times, in a light, pleasurable book.