What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file that a website asks your browser to store, so that information can be recognised on a later request. Related technologies — local storage and session storage — work in a similar way, keeping a small amount of data in the browser itself. This policy covers all of them, and uses "cookies" as shorthand.
How consent works here
When you first visit, a banner appears at the foot of the page with three choices: accept all cookies, reject everything that is not essential, or open the preferences panel and choose category by category. Essential cookies are set regardless, because the site cannot be delivered securely without them. Analytics and functional cookies are set only if you allow them.
Your decision is recorded in your browser's local storage so that the banner does not reappear on every page. Clearing your browser storage removes that record, and the banner will show again on your next visit.
Cookie categories used on this site
| Category | Purpose | Set without consent? | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Delivering pages, load balancing, protecting against abusive traffic, and storing your cookie choice so the banner is not shown again. | Yes — required for the site to work | Session, or until browser storage is cleared |
| Analytics | Counting page views, entry pages, referring sites and broad device categories in aggregate, so we can see which guides are read and where pages fail to load. | No — only after you accept | Set by the analytics provider; commonly months rather than days |
| Functional | Remembering non-essential display settings between visits, such as a chosen text size or a dismissed notice. | No — only after you accept | Until you clear browser storage or withdraw consent |
Third-party cookies
Analytics cookies, where accepted, are placed by an external analytics provider acting as our processor. We do not run advertising cookies, retargeting pixels or social network tracking scripts on this site, and we do not sell or share cookie data with advertisers.
Changing your mind
You can withdraw or change consent at any time in two ways. The simplest is to clear this site's cookies and browser storage, which removes the stored preference and brings the banner back on your next visit. Alternatively you can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, which takes effect immediately.
Browser-level controls
- Google Chrome: Settings, then Privacy and security, then Third-party cookies and Delete browsing data.
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Cookies and Site Data, including Enhanced Tracking Protection.
- Safari (macOS): Settings, then Privacy, then Manage Website Data and Block all cookies.
- Safari (iOS/iPadOS): Settings app, then Safari, then Block All Cookies and Clear History and Website Data.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings, then Cookies and site permissions, then Manage and delete cookies and site data.
Most browsers also offer a private or incognito mode, which discards cookies when the window is closed. Blocking all cookies is your right, but be aware that on many websites — including this one — it may mean a consent banner reappears on every page, because the record of your choice cannot be stored.
Do Not Track and global privacy signals
Browsers can send a Do Not Track header or a global privacy control signal. Where a recognised opt-out signal is received, we treat it as a refusal of non-essential cookies for that browser.
Legal background
Use of cookies in the United Kingdom is governed by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, read alongside the UK General Data Protection Regulation; visitors in the European Economic Area are covered by the equivalent ePrivacy rules in their own country and the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Both frameworks require consent before non-essential cookies are set, and both allow strictly necessary cookies without consent.
Questions
For anything about cookies or the data they generate, write to [email protected]. Related information on personal data more generally is in the privacy policy.