Spotlight

What's on this August in Bucks, Oxon & beyondSummer is saved! There's a whole month of outdoor fun ahead of us from fine-dining pop-ups and drive-in cinemas to hot new exhibitions and comedy.
Tales of the riverbank: 9 places to hit the waterCalling all waterbabies! With temperatures at 30c and rising, here are the best ways to cool off waterside in Bucks and Oxon.
The return of our super flashy newsflash!Sound the trumpets! Now that life is (slowly) going back to normal, there's finally gossip again! Here's the latest news for all you movers and shakers out there.
What's on this week in Bucks & OxonThere's fun to be had indoors and out with open air comedy nights, luxe picnics, exhibitions and new online theatre from local venues. Let's go!
7 free things to do this summerSummer funds might be running low but there is still plenty to squeeze out of summer right here in Bucks & Oxon. Shall we take a look?

Well, hello!

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

Who needs foreign shores when you can bring the Med to your living room? Here are the best destination-inspired candles money can buy.

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Eat View more
Eat out to help out! Where to get a discount in Bucks and Oxon

Sick of cooking? Good news – from 3 Aug, you can get a 50% discount on your dinner and drinks when you eat in. Here are the pubs and restaurants to make your reservation at.
- Terrific takeaways: A native feast
  
  Not quite ready to head back to pubs and restaurants - or maybe just feel like a super-posh takeaway? Muddy tries out Native Home, the delivery arm of Native Feasts. Let's tuck in.
- 5 reasons to head to Westgate
  
  Right now we're embracing any chance to feel semi-normal again - which in our books means eating, drinking, and shopping. Here's why you should join us at Westgate Oxford (in matching face masks, naturally).
- Recipe: Heston’s super-posh tomato salad
  
  This is no ordinary tomato salad, this a Michelin star Heston Blumenthal tomato salad. We've rifled through his Hind's Head recipe book and nabbed this delicious dish.
- The best places to park your picnic
  
  Pack your scotch eggs and lashings of ginger beer - we're heading to these 17 outdoor beauty spots across Bucks and Oxon to enjoy lunch al fresco in time for sun this weekend.

Arts & Culture View more
Into London: the capital reopens

With the tourist count at an all-time low, now is the time to swerve the endless queues and enjoy London’s cultural bounty.
- Review – Nick Knight: Roses From My Garden
  
  Nick Knight's new exhibition at Waddesdon Manor is an absolute blooming triumph, says Muddy's Kerry Yates. Check out her review here, and go go go.
- Culture queen! My August highlights
  
  A whole month of lolling in the sun (hopefully) requires a whole host of entertainment. Here are the culture picks I'll be soaking up this August, from must-see art to new albums

Home View more
- Scented candles that bring the holiday vibe
  
  Who needs foreign shores when you can bring the Med to your living room? Here are the best destination-inspired candles money can buy.
Wellbeing
- 8 brilliant local bike rides (and a tribute)
  
  My village recently lost two much-loved members of its cycling community. In tribute, here are 3 of their favourite rides - plus 5 others right across Bucks and Oxon.
- Splash! 9 outdoor swimming spots
  
  It's getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes! Now dive into our guide to the best open water swimming locations in Bucks and Oxon. Just kindly refrain from bombing, running or petting please.

Work View more
J’adore/ J’abhor: video calls

Are you a FaceTime fanatic or a Skype cynic? After months of video call catch-ups, two Muddy editors battle it out over the digital face-to-face. Who will you side with?
Kids
- 10 books for younger kids
  
  Kids have had a lot on their plates: no school, no play dates, and slim chance of a summer of fun in the sun. Here's 10 great book for ages 5-8 to create a fictional escape route from the madness.
- Thorpe House School, Gerrards Cross
  
  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.

Fashion View more
Westgate Oxford: your one-stop summer shop

Need kitting out for summer? Westgate Oxford has all bases covered from sartorial stunners to seaside gear and beach beauty. Face masks at the ready, let’s go!
Beauty
- Pucker up! 11 lipsmacking lipsticks
  
  It's National Lipstick Day and we're celebrating one (or three) of these luscious shades to add to our makeup bag.
- Best at-home pedi kits
  
  It's starting to feel a lot like peak summer and with the mercury knocking 25 degrees on a regular basis, it means it's also time to expose The Feet. Ready, set, attack!

People View more
My favourite places: Lynne Levin, Levin Wines

Michelin-starred restaurants, a royalty-approved cheese shop and a farm the kids will love? Sign us up, Lynne Levin! We take a peek in the super-glam Levin Wines owner’s local address book…
- My favourite places: Natasha Lane from Manor Oxford
  
  Property guru and city girl Natasha Lane is always on the hunt for the best spots in Bucks and Oxon - let's see what she's discovered...
- My favourite places: novelist Rachel Edwards
  
  Novelist and seriously switched-on lady Rachel Edwards shares her favourite haunts in Bucks, Oxon and beyond. Where shall we go first?

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

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

The insider’s guide to the Top 200 places to live outside London

Travel View more
J’adore/j’abhor: camping

Does the sight of a sleeping bag pique your sense of adventure, or break you out in a cold sweat? Two Muddy behemoths duke it out over camping – let’s hope it doesn’t get too tents (sorry).
- 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.
- Mini break anyone? The best hotel deals to book now
  
  If you're hankering for a few days away from your own four walls, then you'll need these mini break deals from hotels across the Muddy counties. Race you to check in.