The urban guide to the countryside -

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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's expensive, it bobbles and you can't machine wash it. But cashmere, I just can't quit you. Snuggle up and let me spin you a yarn about my new favourite label.

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

Eat OutView more

Muddy Eats: Paris House, Woburn

Elegance, class, sophistication…no, we’re not talking about ourselves! The Michelin recommended Paris House across the border in Woburn, Bedfordshire aces fine dining.
- Best January cheap eats
  
  If you caned the credit card at Christmas swanky dinner dates are probably off the menu this month. What you need is a Muddy-approved cheap but chic dining spot.
- Heston’s egg-centric pub
  
  Elegantly eccentric from the decor to the menu – Heston Blumenthal's Michelin star Hind's Head is THE place to scoff and quaff in Berkshire.
- Royal Standard of England
  
  Want to impress the rellies? Take them to the oldest freehouse in England - at 900 years old with resident ghosts, The Royal Standard in Forty Green has character in spades.
- Join the Wine Rebellion
  
  The perfect gift for foodies - or to self - Muddy tries the Wine Rebellion version of the award-winning Brighton Food Tours

TravelView more

Going anywhere nice on your holiday?

How about one of these gorgeous self-catering properties in the South West? Not only do they look pretty, they all come with the option for learning something new or getting a wellbeing fix. Bonus!
- Out-of-Season Scilly with Kids
  
  Cornwall meets the Caribbean on this unspoilt archipelago just 28 miles from Land's End. Here are my top tips for visiting with the family in 2019.
- Hot travel destinations for 2019
  
  After a hip, holiday destination? We've rounded up the best places to visit from once-in-a-lifetime dream destinations to cultural hotspots this year.

FashionView more

Witness the fitness! The best new sports gear for 2019

Finding it hard to kickstart that hardcore new exercise regime? Buy some slinky new kit and you’ll be sprinting around the park faster than Mo Farah (possibly).
- Our festive fashion Top 10
  
  Invitations piling up and nothing to wear? Well, Cinders, you shall go to the ball (or, er, pub). Muddy's partywear edit incoming!
- Wrist Action
  
  Obsessed with the time since the clocks went back? Then you'll appreciate our round up the coolest watches for all the family.

BeautyView more

- Hangover hiders
  
  In the interests of not being mistaken for a dug-up corpse this festive season, behold our five favourite morning after skincare saviours.
- J’adore Isabel Marant
  
  It's a big "OUI!" from us to Isabel Marant's super-chic new lipsticks, designed to create a day-to-night look with minimum faff and great results.

Arts & CultureView more

Your unmissable 2019 culture planner

Want to make the most of 2019? Muddy’s culture vulture Kerry Potter has curated the best new TV, music, theatre, film, books and art of the year. Get yer diary out!
- Close shave
  
  Gillette's new ad campaign is ruffling a few feathers. But what do you think?
- The wonderful Wizard of Oz
  
  This isn't Kansas, it's Somerset, in a clever re-working of the iconic tale at The Brewhouse in Taunton
- Top 10 books for young adults
  
  Abingdon's magnificent indie bookshop Mostly Books has scoured the shelves, and selected its Top 10 books for the miracle of a tween/teen no-screen Christmas.
- Coffee table tomes
  
  From fashion to flora to Frida, Muddy's books editor Kerry Potter has got a gorgeous coffee table tome for you.

Instamuddy

Follow @muddybucksoxon

HomeView more

- Speedy Supper: Prawn Laksa
  
  Healthy, hearty and faster than Dina Asher Smith with jet propellers, welcome to 2019's first Speedy Supper. Prawn Laksa, anyone?
- Property Flirt
  
  Mudsters, come and drool over a stunning Somerset house with oodles of land, a swimming pool – and its own vast Georgian tithe barn.
Wellbeing
- Are you sober curious?
  
  Whether you're doing Dry January or merely cutting down, we're all re-examining our relationship with alcohol right now. Could "sober curious" be for you?
- ‘Superspa’ breaks for 2019
  
  I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want... a massage, mani and Jacuzzi please, and make it snappy.

WorkView more

- Back to school?
  
  Feeling the need to feed your brain? There's loads of ace new academic courses now booking in Oxford for 2019.
- 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?
Kids
- Thorpe House School, Chalfont St Giles
  
  A small, friendly day school for boys aged 3-16 between Gerrard's Cross and Chalfont St Peter, set in 7 acres and high on inclusivity, priding themselves on knowing every child individually.
- Screen time saviours
  
  Wondering what all that gaming and social media is doing to your kids mental wellbeing? Us too. So we've asked the experts for their advice on how to keep screen time safe.

People View more

Muddy makes the glossies

The brilliant ‘Psychologies’ magazine wrote a 6 page feature about Muddy’s Hero Brown called , ‘My Life, My Way”. (Nov ’18 issue)
- ‘It’s a real action-hero, ‘Marvel’-like play’
  
  Super-stylish rising RSC talent Amber James on Gregory Doran's Mad-Max-style futuristic dystopian Troilus and Cressida.
- Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?
  
  Tring Park School for the Performing Arts churns out constellations of new generation stars - wanna see the latest batch of A-listers?