Country Living - England

Not necessary to be an Anglophile to enjoy this mag! Though I miss my home away from home, there are reasons other than it being British that make me love CL UK. Don't be fooled by the title this magazine is SO different from its American counterpart its ACTUALLY about living in the country country houses, country recipes, country gardening, ideas for what to do OUTSIDE in the country. Country Living US has become townie/quasi-cottage, but it is not about rural village life at all. Soak up the charm of the British countryside; learn about traditional trades; travel to quaint hotspots; scan the real estate listings like you're actually considering purchasing a second home in the Cotswolds!; shop online for great products otherwise available only in the UK; try your hand at everything from putting up your own marmalade or keeping hens to comparative cooker browsing and upscale English Country interior decorating! Absolutely my favorite read!!!

The US version of Country Living should aspire to the quality of content and articles offered in the UK version. I suspect there may be a demographics issue -in the US, the notion of "Country" has been hijacked by animals (ie: geese, ducks, cows, rabbits) wearing trailing bows, grape-vine wreaths with plastic flowers hot-glued on, and tole painted milk jugs. When I think American "Country Living" I think "Buy One Mobile Home, Get One Free: Furniture Included". In the UK, Country Living feels a bit more authentic and less kitsch-y. There are great articles about animal husbandry, local food initiatives (as well as guidance on DIY food production), gorgeous old restored farmhouses and the shabby chic furniture that fills them, charming commentaries and columns detailing the quirky and quaint vignettes that make up a *life actually lived in the countryside* and filled with country pursuits. Even the format (large) and quality of the paper (glossy, as opposed to National Enquirer quality) is superior. I'm a firm believer in "You get what you pay for," and in this case, that is certainly true.

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This magazine is so beautiful and sumptuous, I find myself wanting to jump into the pages and taking up residence.

Big A++

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I loved buying this occasionally on the newstand, and when Country Home (US) folded, this British magazine filled the gap. first issue arrived in only 11 weeks, sooner than the 12-16 weeks projected by Amazon.

update: still a great mag, but the second issue never arrived. good customer service, they sent replacement promptly. the problem with imported mags is that you don't know when to expect their arrival.

update2: they answered my email question about when to expect issues (by 15th of month) and the Feb issue arrived promptly on the 11th.

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Having grown up on a farm in England, I love this publication. I read the very first copy on a flight back to the US from visiting my parents in the late 1980s and haven't knowingly missed one since that time. Country Living gives a true picture of country life in the UK albeit somewhat upmarket through the seasons. Many, if not most, of the decorating, gardening, and cooking ideas are easily adaptable for US homes. Once a month, when my new copy arrives, I fix a cup of tea or two, or more and curl up in favorite chair for a couple of hours "back home".