The urban guide to the countryside -

Bucks & Oxon

Well, hello!

I'm Hero, editor of Muddy Bucks & Oxon, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Hands never been cleaner - and more in need of a decent moisturiser? Treat yourself to a small dollop of comfort with these beautiful handcreams.

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

#InLoveWithLocal LATEST!Who's open for business and how can you help to keep your local indies alive? Well, you can start here.
What's inWe may not be able to venture out, but we've found a whole load of stuff to keep you entertained indoors. Week two of lockdown, let's go!
Where's the best place to live in Bucks & Oxon?The Sunday Times has revealed its top spots to live in 2020 - but did your hometown make the cut?
How to work from home (without going stir-crazy)Working from your home office (or, er, the sofa) for the foreseeable? Don't panic! These top tips will help you stay calm, collected and productive - or at the very least, sane.
Muddy updates - if we can't go out, order in!Restaurants, cafes and bars may be closing, but you can still support our brilliant local businesses by ordering a takeaway. Here's who's offering the service in Bucks & Oxon.

Little Black Book

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Gluts & Gluttony

Su Chases Interiors

The Beach House Company

Rumsey's Chocolaterie, Thame

Ultimate Activity Camps

Perfect Stays

The Greyhound, Beaconsfield

The Coconut Tree, Oxford

Stretch and Tents

Life At Nettlebed

Artist Residence

Jacob's Inn, Wolvercote

Eat Out View more
Muddy updates – if we can’t go out, order in!

Restaurants, cafes and bars may be closing, but you can still support our brilliant local businesses by ordering a takeaway. Here’s who’s offering the service in Bucks & Oxon.
- The best afternoon teas in Bucks & Oxon
  
  If you’re on the hunt for a gift voucher or just after inspiration for a later date, then we’re here to help – feast your eyes on these brilliant afternoon tea spots in Bucks & Oxon.
- Still open for business! Muddy reviews Rumsey’s, Thame
  
  In need of a choccy fix? The much-loved chocolaterie and café is offering local delivery (ditto the Wendover branch).
- Muddy reviews: The Garage, Buckingham
  
  Fancy dinner at a petrol station? The Garage is all pared back industrial-chic with a creative foodie flair that makes it much more than just a pitstop.
- Muddy reviews: Dukes Wine Bar, Princes Risborough
  
  Fancy a change from your local pub? Wine bars are having a resurgence, and Dukes in Princes Risborough is leading the charge.

School Reviews

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Read the reviews

Fun Finder

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

Travel View more
Restaurants with rooms

Dreaming of a foodie getaway? We’ve scoured the Muddy counties for hotel stays with serious culinary credentials for when lock-down lifts. Tuck in.
- A boutique masterpiece
  
  The Artist Residence in the hamlet of South Leigh, Oxfordshire with its slick styling and cleverly chosen art, is a welcome antidote to traditional Cotswolds inns. Muddy loves.
- Holiday planning? 10 European-style staycations
  
  Love a continental jaunt but staying in Blighty this year? These 10 UK holiday spots have a distinctly European feel.

Fashion View more
How to buy jeans

Because let’s face it, it’s always a nightmare, right? Wrong! Thanks to this brilliant styling service at John Lewis, Westgate. Tricky customer Kerry Potter gives it a whirl – here’s how she got on.
- 5 of the best… trench coats
  
  It's a style classic for a reason - the trench is probably the most chic, useful piece you can buy (banish all thoughts of Inspector Clouseau). Here are our new season favourites.
- 5 of the best… French slogan jumpers
  
  Bonjour, sexy new knitwear! These chic slogan jumpers are guaranteed to add a little je ne sais quoi to any ensemble - we adore.

Beauty View more
- Beauty buys to treat yourself to
  
  Need a little lift? Don't we all. Pop one of these treats in your basket and you'll feel better, trust us.
- Make-up for men: ooh or eww?
  
  Turns out more and more blokes are getting handy with bronzer and concealer. So we tried out one leading male make-up brand on some lucky Muddy husbands - here's what happened.

Arts & Culture View more
Review: Holes

An exhilarating new stage adaptation of Louis Sachar’s award-winning ‘90s YA hit novel Holes, that will enthrall both kids and adults.
- The funniest show on TV is back
  
  The Cotswolds is all creamy stone cottages, exquisite gastropubs and picture perfect villages, right? Erm...
- Jeeves with added (Wooster) sauce
  
  Up for some jolly japes, an avalanche of comic effects and a gentle skewering of the upper class? Then you might just love this anarchic reimagining of the P.G Wodehouse classic.
- The 5 best books out February
  
  Muddy's pro bookworm Kerry Potter has got five Feb fancies for your delectation. Read all about 'em - and then win the lot!
- Nothing bleak about that!
  
  Creation Theatre's new musical adaptation of Bleak House, set in Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford, is a classic. Read on for the verdict.

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Home View more
- The ultimate carrot cake
  
  Channel your inner domestic goddess with this utterly delicious carrot cake recipe from Laura Ashley's tearooms in Burham Beeches. Ready, set, BAKE!
- 6 of the best local gins – delivered
  
  In times of need - yep, like right now! - we turn to gin. These delicious local tipples should take the edge off your night in.
Wellbeing
- Position of the week
  
  Not like that - naughty! We're talking about yoga, of course.
- Can’t get no sleep?
  
  You’re not the only one. It's World Sleep Day this week so we asked four frazzled Muddy staffers about their shut-eye regimes. How does yours measure up?

Work View more
How to work from home (without going stir-crazy)

Working from your home office (or, er, the sofa) for the foreseeable? Don’t panic! These top tips will help you stay calm, collected and productive – or at the very least, sane.
- How to be ambitious (and still be kind)
  
  It’s International Women’s Day on Sunday so we had a chat with one of our favourite women - author and comedian Viv Groskop - about redefining female ambition for 2020. Need a life reboot? Viv can help with that.
- Win £2000 to kickstart your business dreams
  
  Have a brilliant business that needs a helping hand? We’ve teamed up with business banking alternative, Tide, to offer a whopping two grand (yes, you read it right) to give you the boost you need. Competition now closed.
Kids
- Get creative! 5 fun at-home classes for kids
  
  Stuck indoors? Internet to the rescue! We've rounded up some of the best digital classes to boost your kids' creativity and keep them engaged.
- Chandlings School, Bagley Wood, Oxford
  
  A warm, friendly, high-achieving prep school just outside Oxford, set in 60 lovely acres of land. A bit of a hidden gem amongst Oxford's more shouty preps - but for how long?

People View more
My favourite places

Renowned floral stylist, local gal and friend of Muddy, Willow Crossley, knows some stylish local spots that she thinks you’ll love. Ready to take notes?
- Muddy meets: opera star Julia Mintzer
  
  Welsh National Opera’s charming, straight-talking soprano siren on drinking, costume malfunctions and the art form’s new foxiness (spoiler: ‘it's all about the sex’ apparently!).
- My Favourite Places
  
  Founder of Rush trampoline park Samantha Williams jumped to it when we enquired about her secret hang-outs, both local and beyond. She's got some brilliant spots for you to visit.
- Muddy meets… Melissa Hemsley
  
  It turns out the healthy cooking queen has culinary disasters too! Melissa spills the beans (then whips them up into a tasty frittata) on burnt pans, how to waste less food and keeping an endless supply of cookie dough in the freezer.
- The 4 funniest people on social media
  
  Fancy a giggle? These Instagram and Twitter accounts are happy to oblige.