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
All things bright and beautiful? When it comes to the new jewellery trend for rainbow-coloured gemstones, you betcha.
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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7 perfect days of summer - just add gin!Ableforth's Bathtub gin looks cool, tastes even better and will rev you up for a summer of fun. Here, win a case (yup, six bottles of it!) and find out for yourself.
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In all your FineryNeed a summer party frock? We can help with that! Cool London brand Finery majors in chic dresses and jumpsuits, and - guess what? - we have 10 x £500 worth of its goodies up for grabs.
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46 stunning summer pubsFancy sipping a cold one in a pretty al fresco pub setting with friends or fam? Here are the best of the bunch across all the Muddy counties. Cheers!
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Meet the winners!The 2019 Muddy Stilettos Awards are now closed. Find out who our fabulous winners are.
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The Chesterton, Bicester
Deco styling, black marble bathrooms and oodles of charm make this renovated hotel, just a few miles from Bicester Village, a fashionable overnighter. Here’s what you need to know.
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The 20 best beachside eats
Make the most of the British summer at one of our Muddy-recommended coastal eateries. Napkin at the ready? Let's do this!
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Indian summer
Take one Michelin chef and interiors by Soho House's design guru, and Atul Kochhar's Hawkyn's is an instant recipe for success.
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46 stunning summer pubs
Fancy sipping a cold one in a pretty al fresco pub with friends or fam? Here are the best of the bunch across the Muddy counties.
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First past The Winning Post
Bounding around Berkshire in search of pubby perfection? I saddled up for a 3-course nosebag and a comfy sleepover at The Winning Post, Winkfield.
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Eat OutView more
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Muddy’s Insider Guide to the Isle of Wight
This sunny little Island may be small in stature but it’s packed to the brim with amazing things to check out. We’ve got the top tips on how to discover the real Isle of Wight.
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Need a spa day? Check out the best ‘Superspas’ across Glos, Somerset and Wilts
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy. Whether you’re going with your romantic other, bezzie mates or gloriously solo, here’s our pick of the very best spas near you.
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40 Quirky Stays for Summer
From yurts to lodges, shepherd's huts to helicopters (not even joking!), the Muddy editors have pulled together the most charming, unusual escapes across 21 counties. Enjoy!
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TravelView more
Most Read
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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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Eat out
John’s House Restaurant
A few phone calls and a six month waiting list later, I finally made it to Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant…but was it worth the wait?
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Arts & Culture
Behind-the-Scenes
Rufus Hound and Les Dennis join Caroline Quentin, Alexandra Gilbreath and Jonathan Slinger in the RSC’s upcoming revival of John Vanbrugh’s Restoration comedy at the Swan, Stratford, from Thur May 2.
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Days out
London calling!
Love the idea of going into London but find it all just a leetle bit daunting? Make life easy on yourself with our Top 10 tips on how to have a cracking time in the city this Easter.
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Arts & Culture
It’s a Woman’s World
Muddy has a sneaky behind-the-scenes look at some of the stunning costumes made in Stratford-upon-Avon for the RSC’s new gender-switched revival, The Taming-of-The Shrew.
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Home
Berkshire’s new property hotspot
River location, great schools, indie shops a gogo and you can whizz into London in less than an hour. Pangbourne’s ticking all the boxes.
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In all your Finery
Need a summer party frock? This under-the-radar label majors in cool dresses and jumpsuits. We’ve got £500 worth of Finery goodies up for grabs for 10 lucky Muddy readers – that’s £5k worth of foxy fashion!
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Gotta Have It
All things bright and beautiful? When it comes to the new jewellery trend for rainbow-coloured gemstones, you betcha.
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J’adore/ J’abhor
In our new Muddy regular, we look at both sides of a hot topic that's currently dividing office...
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FashionView more
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Beauty bargains
Quick, raid a teenage girl’s make-up bag! Budget beauty is big news right now. Here are some corkers that’ll only set you back a few quid.
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Five of the best eye masks
Finding it hard to sleep when it's light at 4am? Banish insomnia in style with these chic eyemasks. Zzzzzz.
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BeautyView more
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June’s juiciest reads
June’s best new books are a corking bunch, including Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert’s breathtaking new novel. Check out Kerry Potter’s reviews – and then win the whole lot!
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Miley goes mental
Hello, who's speaking please? This fruity promo for her new album be Miley Cyrus' naughtiest stunt yet. Creative juices flowing or cynical marketing ploy - you decide!
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Eliot *who?*
Eliot Hodgkin, duh! (OK I didn't know him either). A surprise hit with my kids, this charming exhibition at Waddesdon Manor re-introduces the celebrated 20th century still life and landscape painter. Well worth the detour to the Coach House.
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Need a brilliant new read?
A stunning debut novel, a futuristic thriller and an exquisite memoir are among books editor Kerry Potter's marvellous May picks. And you can win the lot!
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Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Melly Still and Rona Munro’s adaptation of Louis de Bernières classic novel is a triumph of theatre - turning a glorious mixture of drama, dance, movement and music into a satisfying whole.
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Arts & CultureView more
Instamuddy
Follow @Instagram-
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Property Flirt’s BACK!
Is there anything more fun than peering around other people's houses, imagining yourself in situ and guessing the price? Er, nope! Let the nosiness commence.
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Through the keyhole
A sprawling quirky property bursting with character ready to be transformed into the home of your dreams – with your own business too if you wish – in Somerset's most fashionable town
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Wellbeing
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Strip off and lido
Hot or not, the Thames Lido is quirky, cool and like no other spa you've been to. Eat, swim, spa… repeat. It's got Muddy's name all over it.
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How to flex your life
Is life an exhausting loop of sleep, work, chores, repeat? Yep. Need to make a change but now sure what or how? Er, yes. Read our interview with hot new self-help author Annie Auerbach.
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HomeView more
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Flexi-time – are you working it out?
Flexible working is a buzzy phrase, but seriously - how many of us actually live the dream? Read on to find out how it could work for you.
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Sexy stationery
Stationery is one of my specialist subjects. And - whoop! - it's National Stationery Week. Check out this sexy lot. Hubba bubba!
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Kids
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Sweetest summer fashion
There's no shortage of gorgeous children's companies, but high street brand Joules is our pick for the best-dressed kids on the beach.
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West Buckland School, Barnstaple
Muddy says: A nurturing, non-hothousey co-ed day and boarding school in bucolic North Devon...
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Summer Survival Guide
Summer holidays are coming, stock up on the gin! You’ll cruise it with the Muddy survival holiday guide from The Parenting Partnership
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Hey, parents, leave those kids alone!
A new parenting manual urges us to back off and let our kids take the lead. Veteran teacher (and mother of three) Esther Wojcicki on why being a ‘panda mum’ is the way forward.
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WorkView more
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Everybody’s talking about…
Love Island’s Curtis, who’s managed to snaffle a highly-prized jaunt in the High Wycombe Christmas panto whilst he’s still sunning it on the show!
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Dermot O’Leary: It’s personal
Love ogling O'Leary? He's DJing at Ascot Races and Muddy's got all the goss on his *coughs* tooooit trousers, love of cats and mojitos with Madonna.
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The toughest woman in sport
She's lost teeth and blacked out, but nothing will stop jockey Hollie Doyle getting back in the saddle. Muddy talks to racing's pocket rocket in the run up Ladies Night at Windsor Racecourse.
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All hail the Pearly Queen
Claudia Bradby is the chic designer who's put the pizzazz back into pearls, with celeb fans Helen Mirren and Kate Middleton. Muddy is impressed!
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Celebrating celebrants
Just what does a celebrant do? Muddy spoke to a Sussex ceremony star all about the special occasions she's helped create
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