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.
Find out moreGotta 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.
Read moreFun Finder
Making plans? Find your perfect Pub, Inn, Hotel, Café, Restaurant or Bar across the Muddy counties.
Read moreSpotlight
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Party like you mean itGoing out out and nothing to wear? Harvey Nichols has come up trumps this season so here's my wishlist to whet your whistle. Plus win £500 worth of party clobber!
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Christmas rappingWatch out John Lewis! IKEA's and M&S's Christmas adverts are bonkers and brilliant! Watch, laugh and tell us your favourite.
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Autumn walks special!Grab your family, besties and dogs, and choose one of these gorgeous walks (with pubs nearby obvs) across 22 Muddy counties. And, hey, win £1500 worth of Joules goodies while you're at it!
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Spa time!Back to work, harassed and, quite frankly, in need of a spa day? Read on for 41 best pamper spots across the Muddy counties.
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New season, new home!Summer has gone. Deal with it. Embrace Autumn with these 6 breezily cool interior trends of rich colours, retro shapes and pared-back natural materials.
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Muddy eats: The 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.
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Muddy eats: The Maytime Inn, Asthall
Wine tasting and a slap-up three-course dinner, you say? Muddy's Anna Brech is in there like swimwear at this gorgeous Cotswolds village gastropub. Like what you see? We've got a gorgeous Reader Treat overnight stay for two up for grabs.
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Is this Warwickshire’s quirkiest bar + kitchen?
At Leamington-based Hart + Co, meals are served school lunch style, then there's the bottomless cocktail brunch from 5pm-9pm! And why is there a bathtub in the middle of the room? We sent Muddy's Rhiannon Pursall to investigate...
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The Olive Branch, Clipsham
For a village pub, this one punches well above its weight. We head into the Rutland countryside for a memorable meal as it celebrates its 20th birthday.
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17 Sunday roasts with the most
Release the Yorkies! No need to slave over a roast, out you go. Here Muddy's Berkshire hot spots for a weekend nosh up.
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Eat OutView more
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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!
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Fancy a break this half term?
Need to make a fast getaway? Don’t move a muscle till you’ve checked out my pick of 8 last-minute family breaks in the West Country.
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Is this the best family villa in the world?
Thinking of next year's hols already? Got Mudlets in tow? How about a family villa in, well, absolute paradise?
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TravelView more
Most Read
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Muddy Best Schools Guide
Bruern Abbey School, Bicester
The only prep school in the country whose main goal is helping boys with learning difficulties (primarily dyslexia) to get into mainstream independent senior schools. It works!
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Activities
The magic of Christmas
Fancy a visit to Santa’s workshop, without the long trip to the North Pole? Well, you’re in luck because he’s coming to Surrey – lean in close and I’ll tell you all about it.
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Arts & Culture
FIRST LOOK: The Boy in the Dress
Back of the net! Footie, fashion and clever choreography come together in the RSC’s new adaptation of David Walliams’ children’s novel. Take a peek ahead of next month’s opening night.
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EAT OUT
The Boxing Hare
A strong Muddy fave, The Boxing Hare in Swerford comes out fighting with a Michelin chef, experienced owners, a newly renovated orangerie and celeb clientele. Book us in!
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Kids
Kimbolton School (Snr), Huntingdon
You’ll find 120 acres of glorious grounds and a stunning castle setting at this high-achieving co-ed day/boarding senior school (11-18), with a strong all-rounder rep.
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Fashion
J’adore/ J’abhor
In our new Muddy regular, we look at both sides of a hot topic that’s currently dividing office opinion. This week: the return of bucket hats.
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Ready to wrap up?
Brrrrrrr! It’s got a bit chilly hasn’t it? Come warm yourself with these 10 stylish woolies and coats from the ever-brilliant hush, starting with this elegant ribbed, frill-necked beauty.
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Forty years of fashion
This season's trends nibble from the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties. But how do you to channel the decades but keep your look modern.
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Pyjama time!
It's suddenly dark, cold and wet outside - let's hunker down and cheer ourselves up with some chic new pyjamas (yes, such things do actually exist).
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FashionView more
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J’adore/ J’abhor
It's Movember, the month when blokes grow moustaches to raise money for charity. Turns out the Muddy crew have VERY mixed views on men's facial hair. Where do you stand?
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5 of the best… autumn nail polishes
Not feeling coral now the weather has turned? How to nail it with the dreamiest new season shades. Time for a home manicure?
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BeautyView more
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Back-to-school with The Boy in the Dress’ Forbes Masson
Versatile Scots actor Forbes has gone from reading David Walliams’ books to his kids to playing scary headmaster Mr Hawtrey in the RSC’s new musical adaptation.
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The 10 dreamiest coffee table books of the year
Clear space on your coffee table! Muddy's books editor Kerry Potter has 10 sexy, shiny visual feasts for your delectation.
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Are you watching the best show on TV?
Because no one else in the Muddy office is, except for Kerry Potter. So she'd like to talk to you about it instead. Ready to become totally obsessed?
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FIRST LOOK: The Boy in the Dress
Back of the net! Footie, fashion and clever choreography come together in the RSC's new stage adaptation of David Walliams' children's novel. Take a peek ahead of next month's opening night.
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Need a juicy new read?
Muddy's bookworm Kerry Potter has glorious celeb gossip, literary big-hitters and a must-read on relationships this month. Read all about her October picks - and then win the lot!
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Arts & CultureView more
Instamuddy
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How to buy antiques like a pro
Is watching Antiques Roadshow the extent of your expertise? Us too. But local dealer Ed Foster has some great tips on nabbing unique interiors buys.
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3 party cocktails – ready, steady, shake!
Step away from the Chablis and try something different! We've got 5 copies of a cool new cocktail book to give away - and here are three autumn liveners from it to whet your whistle.
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Wellbeing
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Three easy wellbeing tips to try today
Running around like a loony? Brain fried? Stress overload? In the interests of our collective sanity, I've sniffed out some great advice to help us restore balance. And breathe...
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Feel the burn
Feeling the need to unwind? Want to support a stylish local business? Strike a light and relax as hard as you can with these recycled, vegan candles from Oxon-based Hunters Moon
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HomeView more
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Flexible working – a personal view
It's a contentious issue, that's for sure! As a full-time working mum and business owner, I can see both sides of that fence. Wanna know what I think?
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The bane of your working life?
Imposter syndrome is a problem for women in offices up and down the land and it's holding us back. Here's my personal take.
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Kids
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Nurturing Your Teen’s Career Aspirations
Many Year 11's are now deliberating over where to study for A levels and what subjects to choose. How can a school best support your teen to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving workplace?
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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
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Your ultimate Autumn Walks guide
Grab your kids, your besties, your dog and anyone else who is free to join you on our first Autumn Walks initiative with Joules - and win coats and wellies for the whole family!
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Tom Gates on stage
Part play, part living cartoon, part gig, Tom Gates live - in Brighton Wed 2 - Sat 5 Oct - stays pleasingly close to Liz Pichon's best-selling books.
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WorkView more
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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).
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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
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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.
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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!
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GBBO contestant, Priya O’Shea
We're chuffed that she's repping Leicester on this year's series of The Great British Bake Off. Here's everything you need to know about the amateur baker.
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