The UK housing market is heading for a year of steady improvement rather than dramatic change in 2026. Falling interest rates, easing affordability pressures and new mortgage products are expected to support buyers. I warn against expecting a return to ultra-cheap borrowing or runaway house price growth. 2026 should be a great year to buy a property.

With the cost of living still biting many households, and projections of declining disposable incomes for the rest of the decade, many people are looking at ways of making extra cash. And around half of UK adults now have a second job, or a ‘side hustle’. Whilst average earnings are often modest, at around £200 a week, others can do well enough that it becomes their main form of income.

Despite the wintery weather hitting the UK hard in the New Year followed closely by Storm Goretti, bringing more snow to the already struggling communities, I consider myself to be extremely lucky ….. so far.

A former firefighter has launched a range of health-focused soft drinks designed to provide vitamin supplementation without the need for handfuls of pills. VitClear, founded by Ralph Burrows, offers three nootropic sodas targeting brain health, gut health and active health.

More than 85 percent of people across Yorkshire are considering taking up an outdoor hobby in 2026, signalling a growing shift away from screens and towards time outside. A UK-wide poll of adults found hiking and walking is set to be the nation’s most popular outdoor pursuit, with more than a quarter (26 percent) saying they want to spend more time on foot next year.

With snow and ice on the ground and further snowstorms predicted for the coming days, Yorkshire Water is urging customers to act now to protect their homes and properties as the cold snap of wintery weather takes hold. The utility is also urging customers to report any leaks spotted in public areas via the Yorkshire Water website.

This January is set to see UK consumers returning over £1 billion worth of Christmas gifts. Whether it is something you’ve purchased yourself, for a friend or loved one or it’s an unwanted gift, it can be a trying experience. If you’re trying to return something after Christmas, your rights depend on how and why you’re returning it.

For the last few years I have bought Christmas trees with a root ball so that I can plant them outdoors once the festive season is over. Whilst this is great for the tree, it does have a downside from a smallholding point of view, as Christmas trees, fir, pine and spruce are an excellent source of healthy snacks for the goats.

For many of us in the UK, January often feels like a collective low point. The festive lights come down, routines snap back into place, and the optimism attached to a new year quickly meets the reality of dark mornings and mounting responsibilities.

I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions, probably because, on the few occasions when I have made a resolution, it has been broken within a couple of days. For me, resolutions are a bit like ‘Dry January’. What’s the point in committing to something you know you will find impossible to stick to?

As another year closes, many will be thinking about how to improve their financial well-being in the year ahead, from saving more and reducing debt, to improving their credit scores. Equifax UK data reveals a clear seasonal uptick of consumer spending during November and December.

This year, households across the UK are entering a festive season marked by significant financial pressures. Annual research carried out by Fair4All Finance, the not-for-profit financial inclusion organisation, has revealed that 10 million people saved less or stopped saving entirely this year.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year. Whether we have family to stay, or if it’s just my husband and I surrounded by all our animals, I always try to make it special. I love everything about Christmas, from the decorations to the feast, and I always tend to go a little over the top with it all!

The Milner York’s Head Chef, Aaron Craig, Shares His Insider Secrets for Crispy Roasties, Juicy Turkey, Perfect Gravy and Other Festive Favourites With Christmas fast approaching, Aaron Craig, Executive Head Chef at much-loved, four-star hotel, The Milner York, has revealed a host of pro…

Unit 14 gives nothing away. Behind an ordinary door in a modest North Yorkshire business park lies what might be the most pleasantly surprising olfactory experience you'll have all week. Step inside French Soaps, and the fragrance hits you – but not like those high street assaults that have you gasping for air three shops away.

Tucked away between Briggate and Lands Lane in cobbled Swan Street is one of the city’s hidden gems. What may come to mind immediately is the City Varieties – the famous music hall and the oldest working theatre in the country – but this theatre would not have existed without the landlord of the White Swan in the mid-1800s.

A property expert had shared his predictions for the housing market in the first three months of 2026. Mish Liyanage, Founder and CEO of Mistoria Group, is optimistic about steady growth in house prices as the number of sales return to pre-pandemic levels.

Amy J Payne will never forget having dinner on the romantic island of Ischia. “My boyfriend and I were on holiday on this romantic Italian island and had just had a fabulous meal of fresh fish, salad, fruit and a delicious dessert. After the meal he suggested we go down to the beach.

Two acclaimed Cumbrian restaurants have secured prestigious positions in Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants for 2026, underscoring the county's emergence as a culinary powerhouse beyond the capital.

The team at a North Yorkshire whisky distillery is celebrating after being named one of the top 50 spirits producers in the world. Hunmanby Single Estate, single malt whisky distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire, was awarded the accolade by the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) on account of its consistent quality, excellence and success in the last three competitions.

Grasmere Distillery has announced the launch of The Pioneers Club, inviting whisky enthusiasts to secure a rare opportunity: ownership of the first three releases of the distillery’s inaugural English single malt whisky.

The team at Cumbrian bakery Lovingly Artisan, based at Plumgarths near Kendal, recently learned that they had been named Cumbria’s Best Bakery for the third consecutive year in the annual National Bakery Awards. They join 91 other county champions from across the UK in the annual Bakery Business Magazine National Bakery Awards.

The moment the Christmas tree goes up marks the true start of the festive season, transforming homes with instant warmth and sparkle. For many households, artificial trees have become the practical choice, offering the beauty of a real fir without the maintenance, while still serving as the centrepiece of festive celebrations.

The Corney and Barrow Christmas tasting in Leeds had the sort of atmosphere you only get when people who genuinely enjoy wine gather under one roof. Aspire was dressed for the season, with lights on the columns, the usual hum of the room softened by mince pies and the steady carving of a Christmas ham.

With statistics showing over two in five Brits have felt stressed during the festive season, I have put together a plan to help people cope with the additional pressures the season brings. Despite it being such a happy and exciting time for most, one in four of us have said we struggle with anxiety or depression at this time of year.

With the early arrival of snow last week, I decided it was the right time to get the donkeys’ stabling ‘winter ready’. The drop in temperatures, sleet, snow and ice were a sharp reminder that winter is well and truly on its way, after an incredibly hot summer and an unseasonably warm Autumn.

More than 1,000 people have submitted their names to be immortalised on a special Spirits Walkway in Whitby. The 80-metre walkway, which will be built in the shadow of Whitby Abbey, is celebrating the creation of the new £2.4m Whitby Distillery, which opens to the public in the spring of 2027.