With rolling hills and ‘chocolate box’ homes, the British countryside is often idealised. Yet alongside the numerous benefits of living beyond towns and cities, there are many drawbacks. Canvas8 spoke with Michael Woods, editor of The Journal of Rural Studies, to shed light on rural realities.

The British countryside has inspired some the nation's greatest artists, but recent decades have seen the arts primarily concentrated in urban areas. Arts Council England is aiming to address this by investing over £50 million in rural art and culture projects over the next four years.

People may complain about busy streets and air pollution, but many Britons still opt to live in cities, often drawn by the diverse experiences, great food and nightlife, and easy ways to get around. Canvas8 sat down with 20 urbanites to find out exactly what they love about city living.

According to the Warwick Commission report, 'higher' social groups account for 87% of museum and cultural institution visits. Although cultural and creative industries are booming in the UK, if visitors don’t reflect the diversity of the population, are they really accessible to all?