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Thanks, Rhsl.

There was even a lengthy article on them in the paper but the penny still didn't drop! I had figured out the onward adjustment.

For this solver, that was the most satisfyingly enjoyable puzzle in a good while.

Thanks, Charybdis.

Entirely agree with bobbycollins. This was a good example of, for me, the right level of difficulty in the clues, so that the effort was concentrated on the theme and end play. Thank you Charybdis

Apropos Times subscriptions, a little while ago I mentioned on the forum that phoning on renewal with a bit of humming and hawing would always result in a significant discount being offered. This was described by others, rather high-mindedly I thought, as “gaming the system”. Happy to see that it now seems to be recognised more like “business as usual”.

I am not sure who is gaming who. Last year I decided to cancel my subscription because of a sharp uplift in the cost.
I found I could not cancel on line and was obliged to phone them to make any changes.
The person I spoke to immediately offered another 12 months with a 75% discount which I accepted.
So I get access for £6 a month and they have £6 a month that they would not have had if I had left.
Sounds like a win win to me.
With regard to this weeks puzzle was anybody else confused by the fact you only need to change three letters to complete the end game. I have read earlier comments but the bottom line is a string of three letters needs to be changed not four. We were asked to change four letters not a four letter word.
After last weeks error with clue 1 this feels like another editorial slip up.

Of course you’re right, smithsax. It’s a transaction. They don’t have to offer, and presumably they feel a reduced rate subscriber is better than none at all. No doubt many simply get sent a copy free, so at least you are trying to do the right thing.

I don’t think this “error” is as egregious as last week’s, but it was unnecessary. There was no need to use the phrase “string of four letters must be changed”. Surely “a thematic element must be changed” would suffice? Mentioning letter changes was always an unnecessary hostage to fortune, imho.

I need a little help to finish. 24a I have ?A?LIT. Maybe the T is wrong, still can't see anything.
38d, no idea...local pies?

Lumen, your T is wrong, as you suspected. If you’ve ever read Crime and Punishment you’ll know the name in 26d. St Petersburg High Street.

For 24a, reverse a common English tree, 3, then add a waterfall (or ravine), 3.

For 28d, pie refers to a bird, local variant with another meaning

Thanks dodgepot. Chambers gives that as a halfpenny...but must be write because the two middle letters fit with theme.

The answer’s plural, lumen, so ***s certainly totals at least a penny