The urban guide to the countryside -

Well, hello!

I'm Hero, founder of Muddy Stilettos, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable across the counties.

Gotta Have It

Counting the days until Christmas? We can help with that. Voila, five of the best luxe beauty advent calendars available to buy right now.

Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.

Winter walks specialGrab your family, besties and dogs, and choose one of these gorgeous walks (with pubs nearby obvs) across 22 Muddy counties to stretch your legs over the Christmas hols.
#InLoveWithLocal this XmasWe're all for shopping at local indies at Muddy and we know you are too - step away from Amazon and read on for how together we can turn this impulse into a bonafide movement. Get involved!
Gift guide: for herAunts, mums, grandmas, sisters and your girl posse all covered for Crimbo, plus some spot-on suggestions for gifts to self. Ho ho ho.
Gift Guide: For nippersTreat the little people! 26 brilliant pressies to wrap under the tree for kids this Christmas.
Gastro Heaven!30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.

Ain’t no party like a Muddy party!

For our office ‘do’ this year, we shimmied over to Stoke Park in Bucks for dinner, dancing and drinking. Here’s how we got on. Anyone got any paracetamol, please?
- Muddy eats: The Five Arrows, Waddesdon
  
  We despatched top crime novelist Sharon Bolton to nail three courses at this mid-refurb fine dining restaurant. Was her meal all killer or pure filler?
- Gastro Heaven!
  
  30 of the best cookery courses across the Muddy counties to tantalise your tastebuds, and impress even the fussiest dinner guest.
- The Olive Branch, Clipsham
  
  For a village pub, The Olive Branch punches well above its weight. We head into the Rutland countryside for a memorable meal as it celebrates its 20th birthday.
- Kingham Plough, Kingham
  
  This renowned Cotswold inn has just been relaunched by its new owners - but is it still up to Kingham's relentlessly high foodie standards? Pass the napkin, we're going in.

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

The UK’s most prestigious local lifestyle Awards

The 37 coolest party palaces

Got a big birthday celebration looming? Or fancy a weekend away with your squad? We’ve sniffed out the 37 dreamiest party palaces across the land, available for exclusive hire. Grab your gang and let’s go!
- The Lygon Arms, Broadway
  
  Broadway in Worcestershire is arguably the most lovely of the Cotswolds villages - and we know exactly where you should be staying!
- 24 hours in Matera
  
  Have you seen the new James Bond car chase scenes around southern Italy? Happens that Muddy was there this summer, checking out the cool places to go. Make mine a martini, shaken not stirred while I tell you my insider tips.

Party dressing made easy

It’s so easy to end up looking like a Christmas tree at this time of year. Muddy’s fashion expert Kerry Potter shows you how to nail going out style.
- How to do sofa chic
  
  Never mind all the parties, the thing we're most looking forward to this Christmas is hunkering down at home. Here's what we'll be wearing - just accessorise with a book and mince pie.
- Shake up your style
  
  Throw out the rule book, become a fashion rebel and ring the changes this festive season - voilà, our top style tips for rebooting your wardrobe.

Muddy’s 10 best books of 2019

So many rip-roaring reads, so little time. But Muddy’s books editor Kerry Potter has made it easy for you – here’s her definitive list of the year’s best books. Get stuck in!
- The Boy in the Dress
  
  The RSC’s new musical about a 12-year-old boy who goes to school dressed as a girl, attunes with a modern desire to celebrate difference in a kinder way.
- Lights, camera…
  
  Waddesdon! The National Trust's 'Jewel in the Crown' shines bright with its Christmas Light Trail. Read my insider tips on what to see while you're there.
- Muddy reviews: Cinderella on Ice
  
  The spins, jumps and lifts in this Wycombe Swan production of the classic fairy tale are frankly jaw-dropping. Read my review, grab the kids and go.
- Muddy meets.. Forbes Masson
  
  Versatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams' books to his kids to starring in the RSC’s new musical adaptation playing scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey.

Where you heading, Curtis?

The Love Island star slips on his velvetine knickerbockers for his starring role in Dick Whittington at Wycombe Swan this month. He talks tans, secrets and AJ’s budgie smugglers. Curtis, we’re all ears!
- How Helen Glover does it
  
  Champion rower, mother, partner to Steve Backshall and all round marvel - Muddy meets Helen Glover to talk fitness, family and breaking her Olympic gold medal (oops).
- Q&A with Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson
  
  The Sussex resident, starring in a show for half term, talks books, performing, fave local attractions and buying a post office
- Meet the woman who’s declared war on plastic
  
  We met Beth Noy, the founder of Plastic Freedom, an online shop collating the best plastic-free brands around. She's got some brilliant advice for us all.
- Muddy meets… The Oxfordshire Gardener
  
  What would you ask an award-winning garden designer? What hand cream he uses, if his own garden ever looks rubbish and who's his favourite green-fingered celeb, obviously!