Country Living - England

Country Living UK no longer offers subscriptions directly to individuals in the U.S., so I was a little hesitant about ordering this magazine in print through Amazon. My first issue arrived today, so this seems to be working just fine. I received by my July issue on Aug. 25, which is OK since this isn't time sensitive material (an shipping from the UK via mail has always taken a long time). Mailing label says it was shipped by a company called Express Mag.

I genuininely enjoy each issue that arrives at my door in a setting that is not country. Nonetheless, it is for reading about, learning of, and seeing pictures of authentic country ways and people that I choose this selection instead of the U.S. mag of the same name. There are few ads in this copy, and all ads relate in some way to rural life--even the ads of available country homes in the English countryside. All the snippets of text and longer articles are fun to read and something to sit down with. The pictures are beautiful and captured with attention to small details. The ideas for decorating inspire me also because I go for rustic cottage appeal that integrates modern touches here and there for updating and staying with the current. This magazine embraces the country life without offering pictures of ideas that more resemble times gone by than today.Aside from the preferences mentioned here, I like to look into books that are produced and printed in another country because it's a learning experience about another culture and place.

I received my May issue of British Country Living. Sadly it was not the British issue but the US issue, all others in my subscription were British. Very disappointed.

The US version of Country Living should aspire to the quality of content and articles offered in the UK version. I suspect there may be a demographics issue -- in the US, the notion of "Country" has been hijacked by animals (ie: geese, ducks, cows, rabbits) wearing trailing bows, grape-vine wreaths with plastic flowers hot-glued on, and tole painted milk jugs. When I think American "Country Living" I think "Buy One Mobile Home, Get One Free: Furniture Included". In the UK, Country Living feels a bit more authentic and less kitsch-y. There are great articles about animal husbandry, local food initiatives (as well as guidance on DIY food production), gorgeous old restored farmhouses and the shabby chic furniture that fills them, charming commentaries and columns detailing the quirky and quaint vignettes that make up a *life actually lived in the countryside* and filled with country pursuits. Even the format (large) and quality of the paper (glossy, as opposed to National Enquirer quality) is superior. I'm a firm believer in "You get what you pay for," and in this case, that is certainly true.

Beautiful photography, interesting informative articles, minimal advertising, no perfume-riddled pages than ruin the entire magazine, time honored values displayed in the articles with many articles on home, hearth, animals, nature and cooking, Normal looking people, not some 85 lb. model frowning in her airbrushed photo.The downside: Not too much.

Country Living UK is well worth the subscription price! Beautiful photos, informative text, valuable information and fascinating profiles of real people who farm, garden, gather, preserve, cook, care for animals and make things are what make this publication better than most. It’s sad when magazines change their focus and forsake their original core audience, but I’ve been reading this one for years and it has not. I live in the USA but have the UK in my DNA, so this keeps me in touch.

I love this magazine. It has great photography and articles. However, this company delivers magazines at least six weeks late and they do not respond to emails. The last issue I received was July, delivered late August. Won't renew.

This is incredibly better than the American version of Country Living. The American one is filled with more ads than content, the pictures are often blurry or ill-taken, and I rarely read the articles. The British version is fresh, full of great content and I read it all the way through. Lovely homes, delightful articles and great recipes. My mom would go to the bookstore every month to try and find this and was very sad when she missed an issue. It is so great that I could order a subscription that will be shipped to her house. She is so excited!

This was my first time reading a magazine on line. I must say that I liked the option of storing it and being able to return to it. Also, printed material takes up space as it feel a shame to throw the magazines away. Reading the articles is easy as they can enlarged on the screen.

Read on a Kindle device, so you don't have quite the enjoyment of the magazine 'hard copy'

Really difficult to read this on kindle, would not recommend it if you want it buy a hard copy otherwise money wasted

While magazines such as this remain a vehicle for advertising it is a nice thing to look at on a cold winter's day all cuddled up on the sofa with the cat. And the modern digital incarnation means no tree suffered on my behalf.

Ordered wrong item.