Spotlight

Tissues at the ready - Adele's brand new single is out!Feeling emotionally stable? Not for long! The queen of breakup songs has released her first single in five years and it's a good'un. Watch the video here.
Where are the Best Places to Live 2022?Our obsession with upping sticks and moving shows no sign of abating. Lucky then that for our new intake of Best Places to Live we've partnered with Strutt & Parker estate agents!
Six things you'll want to watch this weekRoll up, roll up! It's the cream of the TV crop. From THAT Netflix stalker show to star-studded fundraisers and spooky horror specials, we know exactly what to watch this week.
City slickin': what's on in London this autumnLondon's heading into the cooler months with a host of unmissable cultural highlights. Bag yourself the best tickets now with our guide to what's worth seeing in the big smoke.
4 simple, stylish ways to revamp your home'Tis the season to make your house beautiful - so kickstart your dream project with our tips on what's trending right now, PLUS £500 to spend at the brilliant Brewers Decorator Centres

Well, hello!

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

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Gotta Have It

It goes with everything — from knockout dresses to comfy tees. Shop this workhorse of the fashionista wardrobe with Muddy’s top six picks for autumn / winter 2021.

Gotta have it

The results are in! Meet your Muddy Awards 2021 winners

Thanks to everyone who took part this year, and helped celebrate the most awesome indie businesses across 25 counties.

View Our Winners

Eat

13 cosy pubs for chilly days

Order something stodgy, pour a large glass of red and relax in front of the fire – it’s time to hunker down in the best pubs in Oxon, Bucks and the Cotswolds.
- Best cosy Wiltshire pubs to snuggle up in this autumn
  
  There’s nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon spent in front of a roaring fire, sunk deep into the sofa with a drink in hand. Here’s where we’ll be holed up for the next few months (mulled wine optional)
- Autumn roasts with the most
  
  Can’t be bothered to baste potatoes with goose fat? I hear you. Instead grab your gang and head to one of these local gastropubs that do roasts with the most.
- Review: The Long Dog, Waddesdon
  
  The Long Dog pub in Waddesdon, mid Bucks, has had a quirkily stylish revamp and a smart rethink of its positioning – be gone posh restaurant and hello friendly gastropub! Muddy dons her lucky napkin and tries it out
- Review: Pluma tapas, Old Amersham
  
  Is this the best tapas restaurant in Buckinghamshire? There’s only one way to find out! Read on for the Muddy lowdown on Muddy Awards 2021 finalist Pluma in elegant Old Amersham

Arts & Culture

7 unmissable things to watch on TV this week

Why scroll through the Radio Times when we know exactly what’s good this week? From Succession’s bold new series to a saucy dating / dancing reality mashup, here’s what to watch.
- Six things you’ll want to watch this week
  
  Roll up, roll up! It’s the cream of the TV crop. From THAT Netflix stalker show to star-studded fundraisers and spooky horror specials, we know exactly what to watch this week.
- City slickin’: what’s on in London this autumn
  
  London’s heading into the cooler months with a host of unmissable cultural highlights. Bag yourself the best tickets now with our guide to what’s worth seeing in the big smoke.
- Ready, set cook! 9 new cookbooks for Autumn
  
  Want to switch up your meal plan for the new season? Or just a sucker for tempting pictures of food? If any of the above apply, we have you covered
- Let’s talk TV: 8 best things to watch this week
  
  Billie Piper’s anti rom-com, how to watch the London Film Festival highlights from home, and more big name telly this week. Pop the kettle on and settle in to watch our curated list of TV goodies.

Travel

Long-haul holiday inspo for 2022

Where will 2022 take you? We’re all itching to travel overseas once more, so here is some early inspiration in preparation for January’s booking frenzy.
- Autumn breaks – from 1 to 4 hours away
  
  Planning a last-minute half term getaway? Here are 6 destinations perfect for the season, plus the chance to win one of FIVE Saltee Skin bundles to take with you, worth £500.
- Italy, Mr Bond? 24 hours in Matera
  
  Make mine a martini, shaken not stirred while we tell you our insider tips on how to best experience the coolest city you’ve probably never heard of.

Home

- Raymond Blanc’s Ironbark Pumpkin Soup
  
  Wondering what to do with those mountains of leftover pumpkin flesh? Ta da! Whip up this wickedly warming recipe, served up with a hunk of sourdough, it’s just what autumn ordered.
- Late bloomers! Plants for autumn colour
  
  Your autumn garden does not have to be 50 shades of brown. Here are six plants that look blooming lovely at this time of the year. Prepare to be dazzled.
Wellbeing
- The best luxury retreat in Oxfordshire?
  
  A stunning 18th century manor house and a tailored schedule of fitness and wellbeing activities to boot – but did in:spa retreat leave Muddy feeling refreshed? Read the verdict.
- 10 super spa days in Berkshire
  
  A little pampering goes a long way especially as we head into the colder darker months. Here’s the best spa days in Berkshire. And relaaax.

life

- Write on! 11 stylish stationery picks
  
  Back to school season always calls out for new books and pens — the prettier the better. Grown-ups, gather round: this is your ultimate stylish stationery round-up, from pens to paperweights.
- Back in the office? We’re here to help!
  
  Feeling unprepared to head back to the office after a year WFH? Muddy to the rescue with eight essential Do’s and Don’ts (and yes, you will have to change out of sweatpants).
Kids
- Adcote School for Girls, Shropshire
  
  This small, non-selective school manages to be a triple threat in academics, sports, and pastoral care all at once. The last five years have seen it turn from middle-of-the-road to national contender.
- St Edward’s School
  
  Looking for a city school? St Edward’s School in Summertown, Oxford is a corker, with half of the cohort taking the IB rather than A-levels. Read on for the Muddy verdict.

Instamuddy

Fashion

6 of the best… trench coats

It goes with everything — from knockout dresses to comfy tees. Shop this workhorse of the fashionista wardrobe with Muddy’s top six picks for autumn / winter 2021.
- Pyjama party! 8 chic sets to buy now
  
  With autumn being peak PJs-on-the-sofa season – hey, it’s raining again, let’s stay in!- it’s the ideal time to round up our favourites to buy now. Just add slippers.
- A new leaf: your 10 autumn wardrobe essentials
  
  Bright knits, checks, big handbags, even bigger boots. We’ve got your autumn/winter 2021 fashion fix sorted.
Beauty
- Our pick of the best beauty advent calendars 2021
  
  This month the Liberty beauty advent calendar launches along with the John Lewis and M&S versions… you’ve gotta snap them up now before they sell out (yes, really!)
- Can Haringtons tame the Muddy mane?
  
  Fly-away hair with lots of grey? Not just me then… The challenge for award-winning hairdresser and colourist Barry was to create a style that will still look good a week later

People

My Favourite Places – Gyles Brandreth

The author and TV personality takes us on a literary tour of his favourite Hampshire places and reminisces about childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight
- Grace Regan: My Favourite Places
  
  Introducing the awesomely cool, gorgeous and talented chef Grace Regan – owner of critically acclaimed London curry house, Spicebox, who lives in Margate. To celebrate her delicious vegan cookbook we got Grace to tell us her fave places to hang out locally.
- Muddy meets Dom Holland (aka daddy Spiderman)
  
  Writer, funny man, and father of big star Tom Holland. Muddy sat down with Dominic Holland to chat life in the shadow of your eldest, stand up faux-pas, and his upcoming set at The Potters Arms.