N O WR A PPI N G R E Q UI R E DS i c k o f f a f f i n g a b o u t w i t h u n r u l y r o l l s o f p a p e r ? S o d i t c h t h e s e l l o t a p e e n t i r e l y

a n d g i v e t h e g i f t o f e x p e r i e n c e , s a y s A N N A B E L D A V I D S O N

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew regularly holds courses with a botanical bent—from a watercolour workshop on nuts and winged seeds to an autumn photography masterclass with world-class garden photographer Clive Nichols. Book a green-fingered loved one into January’s five-day botanical illustration for beginners course for £350.

MADE-TO-MEASURE, SIMPLIFIED trunkclothiers.com

M enswear store Trunk Clothiers on

Marylebone’s Chiltern Street is one of those under-the-radar shops that becomes an instant favourite the minute you walk in. Their new made-to-measure service makes getting a suit, jacket or pair of trousers far simpler than the usual rigmarole of the traditional bespoke process. Founder Mats Klingberg has created one Trunk style, but offers it in an array of the most beautiful textiles, from Loro Piana cashmere to denim and tweed. From £700 for a jacket.

TEA TIME

the-berkeley.co.uk

L et them eat cake! Now guests can learn how to

make edible Jimmy Choo praline pumps, a Burberry Trench biscuit, a Jason Wu cherry compote and more with the Berkeley’s head pastry chef Mourad Khiat, in celebration of 10 years of Prêt-à-Portea—the Berkeley’s long-running, fashion-themed high tea. The price of £150 includes the new Prêt-à-Portea book and the full, mouthwatering Prêt-à-Portea high fashion afternoon tea in the beautiful Collins Room at the hotel. �

SURF’S UP

georgessurfschool.com

M ake like Poldark and head for Cornish

waters, but first swap your scythe for a surfboard. George’s Surf School is a Surfing Great Britain Centre of Excellence in Polzeath, where professional instructors teach beginners to experts on the very best boards and equipment. The school has partnered with CKRock, a luxury seaside

cottage in nearby Rock, for a three-day surfing retreat including breakfast and dinner, from £700.

CHILD PRODIGY doodlenest.co.uk

F or all those parents out there hoarding decaying

piles of kids’ art on top of the fridge, Doodlenest is for you. The Notting Hill-based company will take an expertly curated selection of your offspring’s paintings,

sculptures and collages, photograph them in their dedicated studio, and turn the whole thing into a high-end coffee-table book that will make your little one seem worthy of the Turner Prize. From £135 for 35 art works. Godparents, take note.

FLOWER POWER kew.org

H ow many of us secretly fancy ourselves as

undiscovered artistic talents?

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