Country Life is a weekly country magazine in Britain and Australia. It covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people. Much of its success has historically been built on its coverage of country houses. The first several dozen pages of each issue are devoted to colour advertisements for upmarket residential property, which are one of the best known attractions of the magazine, popular with many people who have little prospect of ever living in one of the lavish homes featured.

Country Life was launched in 1897, incorporating Racing Illustrated. At that time golf and racing served as its main content, as well as the property coverage that has become its mainstay. One of the people who is most on the cover was the Queen Mother. The frontispiece is very well known and is called popularly "The Girl in Pearls", showing upper-middle-class British rural life in its most ideal light.

The magazine is based in London in Stamford Street, and owned by media company IPC Media.

The pursuits and interests covered include hunting, shooting, farming, equestrian news and gardening.

An important feature of the magazine is the Country Diary, which describes conditions and is generally an opinion piece about current issues and personal thoughts.

There are reviews about books, food and wine, art and architecture (also many offers) and antiques and crafts. Illustrative material includes the Tottering-by-Gently cartoon by Annie Tempest.

The property section claims to have more prime agents than anywhere else. This is generally run by a partner.

The current content director is Carla Passino. Clive Aslet is the editor and Simon Hare is the publisher. The website has been around since January 1999.

Recently the magazine has moved a great deal of its content online and readers may buy a 6-month subscription.

Australia

Another magazine, also called Country Life, appears every September in the course of the Royal Melbourne Show.

External links

• http://countrylife.co.uk