Woman's Weekly Living Series Summer Special 2025

Welcome to our summer special, here to help you enjoy the sunshine. The ice cream van has been visiting our street since April, its jingle taking me back to sunny afternoons in the paddling pool. There are more memories of summers gone by on p10, and I was thrilled to see my childhood beach, Scarborough Bay, named one of Britain’s best nostalgic spots. I can’t wait to bake (and eat) our showstopper cake for my son’s birthday. My mum taught me to bake a sponge, and I perfected my technique watching my grandmother whip up our birthday cakes. Now I’ll pass on her tips to my own little helper! See p40.…

Hollywood-on-Sea Proving coastal living is the height of fashion, the town once dubbed ‘Cornwall’s best-kept secret’ is now known as Hollywood-on-Sea after a string of megastars snapped up property there. Mawgan Porth – located in northern Cornwall, close to Newquay – is home to Coldplay leading man Chris Martin, actors Jamie Dornan and Imogen Stubbs, and actor and famous foodie Stanley Tucci. Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett is currently having a five-bedroom eco-mansion built, overlooking the sea. SEASONAL JOY Fancy some adventure? The National Trust’s Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank, runs nationwide from 23 July to 31 August. The initiative invites families and nature lovers to explore beautiful outdoor spaces with free activities, such as nature trails, arts, crafts and outdoor games. Participants can collect stamps in a Play Passport…

With a glittering career spanning seven decades, Dame Joanna Lumley is without doubt a national treasure. And while she began her career as a model in the 1960s, the elegant actor has become known as much for her travel shows as she has for her roles in Absolutely Fabulous and Amandaland. ‘I was born travelling, and I’ve always loved it,’ she says. ‘The more you travel, the more you realise there is to see and know.’ In her 79 years, Joanna has explored the River Nile, journeyed along ancient trade routes the Silk Road and the Spice Trail, and taken a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest rail system in the world. ‘If you’re scared of something, be brave’ Her documentary work has also seen her immersing herself in…

1 Take the first 40cm of rope, fold in half and pin along the length. Set your sewing machine to a wide zigzag stitch, then place the folded piece that forms the bag’s base under your sewing foot, so that the needle comes down on either side of the join. Sew along the join in the darkest fuchsia pink thread. 2 Stitch to the end of the join, then begin turning the bag base, so that the rope wraps around the previous piece, stitching as you go. Repeat until the base measures approximately 14 x 30cm. 3 Turn the base on a 90-degree angle to your needle plate and continue stitching to form the sides. Swap your threads as you go, from dark to light to form an ombré effect.…

The sun is shining, the sea is glistening, and the giggles of children filling buckets with sand drift past. The salty air is mixed with a note of fish batter, and the chimes of the arcade tinkle in the distance. Welcome to a quintessentially British day out at the seaside. A mainstay of British culture, trips to the UK’s glorious beaches became truly popular post-WWI, when the Holidays with Pay Act 1938 made coastal holidays more affordable. Travel abroad was still rare and so, when the sun came out, many would pack their buckets, spades and stripey windbreakers, and flock to the coast. When package holidays became affordable in the late 20th century, seaside towns saw a decline in visitors. But when Covid hit in 2020 and travel abroad became…

Not so long ago, when you stepped into a high-street travel agent, you’d be greeted with a rack of colourful brochures promising a week of sun, sea and relaxation at an exotic European destination. From tanned holiday reps ticking off names as you got onto the coach transfer to the glistening blue of the hotel pool and, if you splashed out for all-inclusive, the promise of ever-flowing cocktails, the classic package holiday gave overworked Brits the chance to escape. Our love affair for a neat itinerary of travel, accommodation and board reached its heyday in the 1980s and 90s, but uptake declined after the 2008 financial crisis. However, post-pandemic figures show we’re enjoying an old-fashioned package break again, with more Brits choosing all-inclusive options for their annual holiday. YOUR RETRO…