Comment & Opinion

Jason Goodwin: British vans, Czech shoes, and cars that leave their wheels behind as they pull away

Our columnist Jason Goodwin tells a tale of clapped-out cars, ancient vans and a Czech shoe magnate who turned the lift into his office.

Jason Goodwin: 'On our watch, the natural glories of our island have been atrociously depleted'

Our columnist Jason Goodwin laments the staggering decline of British wildlife and the depletion of our island's natural glories.

The London life or the country life: Who's right?

Ysenda Maxtone Graham discusses the age old debate which divides the nation in two.

Jason Goodwin: 'I was outraged. The bones of a king I’d barely heard of five minutes earlier had been spirited away – by foreigners!'

Our columnist takes a trip which sees him discover tales of murder, treason, desecration – and some rather pleasant gardens.

Jason Goodwin: ‘Every voyage is different because the sea is never still, never the same from one hour to the next’

Our spectator columnist discusses the longevity of cross-Channel ferries, with their delightful quirks and ever-changing experiences.

Jason Goodwin: The moment I knew I'd lost the urge to live in London

Our columnist explains what first prompted him to swap Bethnal Green for Bridport - and why he's never looked back since.

16 things which make Scotland the beautiful place we know and love

Jason Goodwin: 'I want to see a city when it’s at work, not merely taking our money at the turnstile'

Our columnist, ever the reluctant tourist, laments his removal from country life for a family holiday.

Jason Goodwin: 'Our headmaster was more Gilderoy Lockhart than Dr Arnold'

The graduation ceremony of Jason Goodwin's son reminds our columnist of the latin prayers which were so prolific in his childhood.

What to write – and what NOT to write – in a visitors' book

From silken sunsets and golden eagles to homemade jam and nudists, Colin Freeman shares some of the gems he’s stumbled upon in holiday visitors’ books.

Sporting life: How to make Test cricket great again

Fans and pundits alike have long discussed the Death of Test Cricket, but longest format still has plenty to give – and plenty to feel optimistic about. James Fisher explains why.

Jason Goodwin: 'Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner compels stunned sympathy, but I feel for the Wedding Guest'

Our columnist reflects on the ups and downs of the typical modern wedding.

Carla Carlisle: The end of the world may be nigh, but it won't be permanent. Now pass the wine.

Our columnist takes aim at everything from Remainers and Leavers to Donald Trump and the weather – and ends up remembering that the world has ground to a halt many times before, only to keep on going.

Jason Goodwin: The day the Germans tried French and English in Scotland

Still-fresh memories of the recent World Cup spark happy recollections for Jason Goodwin of a multi-national day in the Hebrides.

Jason Goodwin: 'The boys, saucer-eyed, watched the Lord spoon his soup, indifferent to the suffering of his fairy slaves'

Our Spectator columnist considers the House of Lords.

Jason Goodwin: ‘The washing-up is being done by a hulking fellow who, moments ago it seems, knelt on a chair at the kitchen table’

Jason Goodwin looks at his nearly-fully-grown children and wonders how it all came to this. (In a good way.)jas

Jonathan Meades on Anthony Burgess: 'The encyclopedia in his head was like the internet'

Jonathan Meades reviews a new selection of Anthony Burgess’s literary journalism, gathered from previously uncollected reviews and essays from throughout his career.

Jason Goodwin: The foxes are unashamedly cocky – but the badgers are even worse

Our columnist takes a look at the new breed of foxes invading the countryside, and the havoc both they and the badgers are causing.

Curious Questions: Do love potions actually work?

The idea of a potion that can make someone fall in love is as old as the idea of love itself. But is there anything in them that might actually have an effect? Ian Morton investigates.