Muddy Stilettos


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<p>Last year we all fell back in love with Britain — I mean, who <em>didn&#8217;t</em> go to Cornwall for their holidays? — and this summer the airport misery has reminded us once again that there&#8217;s culture, beauty and fun to be had on our own doorstep. Oxfordshire, with its rolling hills, Cotswold stone and City of Spires is one of the UK&#8217;s most chic and historic counties, so if you&#8217;re looking for a gorgeous day trip or a longer staycay away from the coastal crowds, here&#8217;s the lowdown on the highlights, by our Muddy editor-in-chief (and longtime local) Hero Brown. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BICESTER VILLAGE </h2>



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<p>Start your day with a trip to Bicester Village, Oxfordshire&#8217;s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en" target="_blank">world-famous open-air shopping destination</a>. It’s looking particularly pretty this summer, bedecked in gorgeous greenery (think watering can planters and wild flower corners) with pop art murals on the walls, yellow corgis everywhere, a relaxed summer vibe, and – oh yeah – over 150 awesome designer boutiques to choose from.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58607" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2-1-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I timed my trip perfectly to tap into the recent openings from Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Jo Loves and Isabel Marant — though ironically I ended up seduced by a frock in All Saints (hey, it&#8217;s easily done). You can go one better than me on scheduling your shopping odyssey though because, from 14 July, Bicester Village&#8217;s <a href="https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/offers">Extraordinary Sale</a> cranks up a gear to up to 70% off the original retail price. PLUS the <a href="https://www.thebicestercollection.com/bicester-village/en/whats-on/summer-evenings">Summer Evenings</a> programme has started with live music, cocktail happy hours and is open until 10pm every other Thursday (14 Jul &#8211; 25 Aug). AND there’s also an exclusive Smiley pop up from 14 July to the end of September, with 100% of proceeds going to The Bicester Collection’s DO GOOD charity partners.</p>



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<p><strong>My tip:</strong> Check out the Village’s brand new <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="membership programme (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.bicestervillage.com/en/campaign/custom-registration/membership-muddy-stilettos/" target="_blank">membership programme</a> — it’s great for the inside line on the Private Sale (be in the know before everyone else!), being spoilt on your birthday, and complimentary concierge services. If you’re coming up in the next few weeks, I’d recommend a mid-afternoon pistachio ice cream from Vero Latte for a quick pick-me-up, and reward yourself at the end of the day at farmshop restaurant &amp; café by Soho House &amp; Co — the Dirty Vegan burger is legendary and there&#8217;s a fab upstairs balcony area that&#8217;s perfect for an end of day cocktail too. Finally, don’t forget to book Personal Shopping assistance — two hours of pros doing the hard work for you — for FREE, sister! — while you hang out in dedicated personal shopping rooms like this with your besties.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM, OXFORD</strong></h2>



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<p>The centre of Oxford is literally eight miles from Bicester Village — you&#8217;ll be there in 20 minutes! <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Ashmolean (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.ashmolean.org/" target="_blank">The Ashmolean</a> is one of the UK&#8217;s top museums, and never feels packed out in the way London museums sometimes can. I spent a quiet (and free!) hour wandering around Greek statues, modern British art (Bacon, Piper Freud, Hepworth, Moore), Flemish masters, Baroque harpsichords and local Roman artefacts but could have stayed much longer. </p>



<p><strong>My tip:</strong> Literally just reopened (15 July) and running until 27 Nov 2022 the Ashmolean&#8217;s nationally-lauded exhibition <strong><em>Pre-Raphaelites: Drawings and Watercolours</em></strong> returns after a brief 5 week stint in 2021, so it&#8217;s well worth timing your trip to coincide with that. The rooftop restaurant has awesome views and is worth your while but beware it only opens at 12pm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GEES RESTAURANT</h2>



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<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gee's (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.geesrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gee&#8217;s</a> has the rare charm of being simultaneously an institution (my parents used to treat me as a student here for dinner way back in the 19th century) <em>and</em> contemporary — it reopened in May after a huge refurb, and has added a new stylish &#8216;secret garden&#8217; out the back. Gee&#8217;s USP is its elegant glass summer house setting with plants aplenty, beautiful tiled floor, chandeliers and slouchily chic leather chairs and banquettes. Great for girlfriends, big parties, romantic tête-a-têtes and everything in between, it&#8217;s one of the most stylish restaurants in the city. </p>



<p><strong>My tip:</strong> Try the tapas board to share (£18.95) — great value, and the croquettes were amazing. I love the Secret Garden but for twinkly atmosphere I&#8217;d stay inside the main conservatory. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>THE OLD PARSONAGE</strong></h2>



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<p>Oxford is not particularly well served for chic hotels, but the privately owned five star <a href="https://www.oldparsonagehotel.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Old Parsonage (opens in a new tab)">Old Parsonage</a> is definitely the exception with its 17th century Cotswolds honey stone, roaring fireplaces (yes even in summer) and pretty courtyard. The location is a major coup, just round the corner from Jericho, one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city, and a couple of minutes&#8217; walk past St Giles (check out <a href="https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="St John's College (opens in a new tab)">St John&#8217;s College</a>, it&#8217;s dreamy) to Broad Street and from there to the <a href="https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Bodleian Library (opens in a new tab)">Bodleian Library</a>, <a href="https://www.sheldonian.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Sheldonian Theatre (opens in a new tab)">Sheldonian Theatre</a>, <a href="https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/radcliffe-camera" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Radcliffe Camera (opens in a new tab)">Radcliffe Camera</a>, Bridge of Sighs and a host of other world-famous landmarks. </p>



<p><strong>My tip: </strong>Try the afternoon tea in the walled garden, or borrow a bike and two-wheel it around the city like an Oxford student. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PLANNING TO STAY LONGER?</h2>



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<p>Oh good! For more inspiration in Oxford, check out Muddy&#8217;s ultimate insider guide to the City of Spires or, for pleasures further afield, may we suggest; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blenheim Palace (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/" target="_blank">Blenheim Palace</a> (pictured) for heritage, walks and plenty of family attractions throughout the summer; <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Broughton Castle (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.broughtoncastle.com/" target="_blank">Broughton Castle</a> near Banbury for a stunning, small  manor house with gorgeous grounds owned by the Fiennes family (keep your eyes peeled for Ralph but don&#8217;t hold us to it!). </p>



<p>Also worth a visit are <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Rousham Gardens (opens in a new tab)" href="https://rousham.org/" target="_blank">Rousham Gardens</a>, a privately owned manor house near Bicester containing one of England’s most important gardens dating from the 18th century; a trip to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Soho Farmhouse (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.sohohouse.com/houses/soho-farmhouse" target="_blank">Soho Farmhouse</a> (yes it&#8217;s private, find a friend to let you in!). Make time for <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chastleton" target="_blank">Chastleton House</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Greys Court (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greys-court" target="_blank">Greys Court</a>, two of the most historic and beautiful National Trust buildings in the county; take the kids to the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Cotswold Wildlife Park (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cotswold Wildlife Park</a> (pictured) near Burford, and if you have any energy left, walk or cycle around an Area of Outstanding National Beauty&#8217; — the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Chilterns hills (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.chilternsaonb.org/" target="_blank">Chilterns hills</a> of Watlington and Henley. </p>



<p><em>Fancy a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="£1000+ spending spree at Bicester Village  (opens in a new tab)" href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-a-vip-shopping-day-worth-1000-at-bicester-village/" target="_blank">£1170 day at Bicester Village </a>as part of your Oxfordshire road trip (including £800 gift card, lunch for two and a swish Le Creuset oven dish and more)? Oh go on then. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Enter here in seconds (opens in a new tab)" href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-a-vip-shopping-day-worth-1000-at-bicester-village/" target="_blank">Enter here in seconds</a> and enjoy a day or staycay to remember on us! </em></p>


Road trip: From Bicester Village with love

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