3 h. ago The £5m luxury country estate once owned by Poundland founder as it goes on sale

Hammer Hill House is a seven-bedroom mansion in Romsley, Worcestershire, which was previously owned by Poundland founder Steve Smith

Economics

40 h. ago Huge country estate once home to Poundland founder now on market for £5 million

The seven-bedroom mansion boasts an indoor pool, games room, bar and massive dressing room

Economics

63 h. ago Massive 19th century estate in Scottish Highlands with own loch on sale for £4.5 million

The massive estate is also home to a ten bedroom mansion, equestrian facilities and several fields

Economics

1 week ago Before and after: Trump’s extreme goldening of the Oval Office

An extravagant – and ongoing – makeover of the White House’s decor has taken place during the president’s second term. One colour theme stands outIn just seven extraordinary months, Donald Trump’s administration has left an unprecedented mark on the United States. From rewriting the rules of free trade to upending the norms of due process and challenging scientific orthodoxy, no corner of the country has remained untouched, including the president’s own centre of power: the Oval Office.Leaning into his former career as a real estate developer and hotelier, the president has, in his own words, applied some “Trump touches” to the room’s decor. The results have split opinions, with some calling the revamped office a symbol of America’s new golden age, while other have compared it to a professional wrestler’s dressing room. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘I’ll be Poirot’: the Orient Express is back – but what is it like to ride?

It comes at a steep price, but the remodelled luxury train from Sicily to Rome immerses passengers in the country’s culture as well as passing through stunning scenery‘If anyone mysteriously vanishes, I can be Poirot,” said the passenger from India, twirling his moustache. It felt as though the spirit of Agatha Christie’s most famous character – best known for solving the Murder on the Orient Express – was lingering in the breeze at Palermo’s sublime botanical garden, which had been transformed into a makeshift waiting room for the 40 or so travellers about to board an Italian replica of the fabled train.Sipping espresso and sampling cannoli, the classic Sicilian pastry, the curiosity and suspicion for which Poirot is famous was palpable as the passengers subtly sized each other up. But the only mystery waiting to be unravelled over the next couple of days was whether their Rome-bound journey on La Dolce Vita Orient Express would live up to their dreamy expe...

Politics

2 w. ago Seemingly normal house listing sparks fury as a neighbours say 'it's cheating people'

EXCLUSIVE: A home owner and estate agent have been accused of 'cheating' potential buyers by using AI to turn a dusty old cottage into a desirable modern home.

Society