Big boys’ toys, trips & tips

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Supercharged home Wi-Fi, smart headphones and a mobile phone literally anyone can use

Our Utterly Inessential Shopping List returns with some technology that is far cleverer than we are.

Ted Dexter: The Italian-born icon who brought dash and glamour to English cricket

Ted Dexter, the former England cricket captain and chairman of selectors, is still bursting with wit, wisdom and insight about the game he loves. He spoke to Jack Watkins.

The best weekend bags and finest holdalls that (rather a lot of) money can buy

Going somewhere nice? You might be soon, so here's Hetty Lintell with her pick of the finest holdalls and best weekend bags you can buy.

Best smart speakers for non-techie people: What to expect, what you'll love and what doesn't work

Smart speakers are no longer the preserve of tech geeks and millennials — these handy speakers are, and (as we'll discover) particularly handy for those living in the countryside. We've looked at some of the main contenders to see which one comes out on top: Google Nest Audio, Amazon Echo Studio, the Apple HomePod Mini, and the Audio Pro G10.

Six of the most beautiful green watches money can buy

Feel green with envy for the latest timepieces, with their fresh-faced dials ready for summer adventures. As chosen by Hetty Lintell; photograph by Paul Zak.

Best Father's Day gifts, from cosy jumpers and sporty gadgets to the ultimate gift for a Marmite lover

There are many ways to show your Dad that you love and appreciate him. There's breakfast in bed, an offer to mow the lawn, a big hug and the offer of the last biscuit. Or you could just buy him something that he definitely doesn't need, but we're pretty sure he'll want. Happy Father's Day!

TAG Heuer and Porsche join forces on Carrera watch

Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer and iconic motoring firm Porsche have embarked upon a new partnership, resulting in the TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph.

10 perfect Christmas gifts for gadget lovers, from £25 to £3,694.99

Whether it's your eccentric uncle, your half-sibling with an exotic lifestyle or the person you've been married to for 23 years, it's not always easy picking presents for overgrown schoolboys. Lucky for you that Hetty Lintell and Toby Keel are here to help.

14 perfect Christmas gift ideas for the man or woman who has everything

From beautiful books and artistic accessories to a weekend away in one of the country's most famous castles, these gifts from our carefully-selected partners offer options for everyone — no matter how tricky to buy for.

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: The smartwatch equivalent of a 110-blade penknife, time-travelling teddy bears and a sewing kit that's cross-stitch meets clock-stitch

Is it right that we fight off the ennui of 21st century life by buying things we don't really need, but want anyway? Probably not, but that's the world we're in, and Toby Keel and Victoria Marston are here to help you navigate your way through it.

Where I Work: Huw Edwards-Jones, master craftsman and canoe maker

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: The ultimate face mask, salvation for bored dogs and saving the world, one coffee capsule at a time

Well all be wearing face masks for a long time yet, so in a shockingly topical twist to Utterly Inessential we have one that fits the brief of design-overkill quite magnificently — as well as our usual mix of wonders. Victoria Marston is your guide.

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Back to university special, featuring eight creative ways to blow through your student loans

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Tea for one, gin for anyone, and the solution for a ponging pooch

Victoria Marston guides us through this week's collection of wonders, where every whim of fussy humans and even fussier dogs is taken care of.

Utterly Inessential: A pile of dogs, a bee that can open a beer and the bag which fires tennis balls at unwanted intruders (really)

Victoria Marston outdoes herself this week with a collection of quite spectacularly non-critical things which, somehow, you'll still want to buy.

The Utterly Inessential Father's Day Shopping List, from super-luxury to a big old box of beer

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: The finest lounging-around-the house clothes money can buy

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Super-luxury board games for the bored and well-heeled

Never again will you be able to look at your charity shop-sourced Scrabble set with the same light in your eyes.

26 miles of wine and cheese: The madness of the Marathon du Medoc

It’s been dubbed ‘the world’s most idiotic marathon’: a 26-mile run through vineyards, fuelled by wine and cheese. Emma Hughes finds out if she has the stomach for the legendary Marathon du Médoc.

Toyota Supra: An invitation to a very special club, where fast and furious is the order of business