Spotlight

12 rustic lunch spots in gorgeous locationsThe sun's got his hat on again, so make the most of the weather at one of these alfresco pubs, farm shops and cafés where the food is simple and the views are wow!
A constellation of local stars in the Great Taste AwardsAward-winning local food and drink, you say? Hot off the press, the latest Great Taste Award winners have just been crowned. Take a look at the line-up of Bucks & Oxon producers
60 amazing afternoon teas to book nowIt's Afternoon Tea Week (8-14 Aug) and we've found the 60 best places across the Muddy counties to get your fix. But you'd better book 'em fast — here today, scone tomorrow.
Best pizza restaurants in Bucks & OxonIt's practically our national dish - so don't waste your time with soggy bottoms and plastic cheese. Here's where to get the finest pizzas with wow toppings
Amazing August! 60+ things to do locally this monthNew month, new marvellous Muddy guide to the best of Bucks and Oxon. Family festivals, lashings of outdoor theatre, fabulous foodie events, countryside antics and more. Get stuck in.

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

Biggest fan! 10 funky hand fans to buy now

The mercury's rising once again, but we have just the thing! Beat the heat in style with one of these pretty yet practical fans, including a lovely local buy.

Gotta have it

What’s on this month

Fancy doing something fun? Er, always! Read on for our curated picks of the best things happening near you right now

See What's On

Eat

12 rustic lunch spots in gorgeous locations

The sun’s got his hat on again, so make the most of the weather at one of these alfresco pubs, farm shops and cafés where the food is simple and the views are wow!
- A constellation of local stars in the Great Taste Awards
  
  Award-winning local food and drink, you say? Hot off the press, the latest Great Taste Award winners have just been crowned. Take a look at the line-up of Bucks & Oxon producers
- 60 amazing afternoon teas to book now
  
  It’s Afternoon Tea Week (8-14 Aug) and we’ve found the 60 best places across the Muddy counties to get your fix. But you’d better book ’em fast — here today, scone tomorrow.
- Best pizza restaurants in Bucks & Oxon
  
  It’s practically our national dish – so don’t waste your time with soggy bottoms and plastic cheese. Here’s where to get the finest pizzas with wow toppings
- Keep it cool! £500 to spend on the best iced drinks
  
  It’s hotting up again, but we know how to help with the commute or family day out – an iced chocolate, mocha or chai latte from one of GAIL’s cafés in London and the South East.

Culture

TV Time! 6 best new things to watch this week

Remotes at the ready! From the latest unmissable BBC drama starring Nicola Walker and Sean Bean, to a gripping Netflix true crime documentary here’s Muddy’s weekly rundown.
- Book now: Henley Country Craft Show
  
  Diaries out! Indie businesses are popping up in their hundreds in Henley later this month. Here’s everything you need to know plus the chance to bag FREE tickets.
- Watch these! 6 hot new shows out this week
  
  Get set for a week of great telly from the latest fantasy DC comic adaptation to Disney Pixar’s Lightyear and the latest remake of Father of the Bride.
- Tune in! 6 of the best things to watch this week
  
  Stream your way through tears with Olivia Colman, a gritty true crime drama with Daisy Edgar Jones and the latest Apple TV miniseries from the director of I May Destroy You
- First night: Chicago, New Theatre Oxford
  
  On the hottest night ever in the UK, I headed off to central Oxford to watch this iconic musical starring Fay Brookes and Lee Mead. But was it sizzling for all the right reasons?

Little Black Book

Want to support local? Our curated pick of the most creative, unique and brilliant businesses near you.

Oxford Wine Co, Oxford

Oxford Fine Dining, Oxford

Floralia Perfume Boutique, Thame

Fino Olive Oil, Oxford

Howe Farm Flowers, Aylesbury

The Bodleian Library, Oxford

Cakes in Bloom

Paris House, Woburn

Gloria's, Thame

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Biagio the Jeweller, Thame & Bicester

The Story Museum, Oxford

Travel

Review: Luxe holiday rental at ARC Padstow

Looking for a Cornish escape for the whole crew with serious wow-factor? It doesn’t come much more stylish or slick than this reimagined country house in St Issey.
- Muddy Insider Guide to the West Midlands
  
  The Commonwealth Games has shone a spotlight on Birmingham but there’s far more to the West Midlands than its prime city. Read on for everything you need for a stay in the beating heart of England.
- Dive in! 16 incredible swimming pools world-wide
  
  Make a splash on Instagram in one of these amazing swimming pools, from infinity-edged stunners to private plunge pools with a view.

Home

How to nail it: a stylish living room design that lasts

How do you get a look that’s on-trend, fresh but timeless? Bucks-based interior designer, Thomas Tyrrell to the rescue with a scheme that’s got wow but will age well… something we all aspire to!
- How to fill your home with summer scents
  
  You don’t need to step into a garden to enjoy summer’s heady fragrances – here are 15 ways to enjoy your favourite flower and herb aromas in your living spaces. Breathe it in!
- My fave new mid-week supper recipe: Sesame Chicken
  
  It was only a matter of time before the couple behind the award-winning Oxford restaurant Taste Tibet launched a cookbook. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe that is sure to be a hit with all ages
Wellbeing
- Spa of the Month: Lefay Resort & Spa, Lake Garda
  
  Fancy being buffed, massaged, tweaked and primped? Welcome to the first in our new monthly tried-and-tested guides to the world’s best spas. See you pool side, sister!
- Is this Oxfordshire’s best new health club for families?
  
  We’ve cracked it – the secret to familial harmony! Bicester’s newest health club opens this September with flexible classes, kids clubs, and a killer spa. Here’s the inside scoop…

Life

5 reasons to update your digital legacy *right now*

Still need to update your phone to the latest iOS (yeah, yeah, I’ll do it tomorrow)? There’s one new feature you should probably start using – before it’s too late.
- Meet your Muddy Awards 2022 Finalists!
  
  Your nominations have been totted up and the results are in! Here are your amazing Muddy Awards 2022 Finalists in Bucks & Oxon. Vote to crown your local champions now!
- 5 ways weddings have changed for 2022 and beyond
  
  How does the big white wedding look in a post-pandemic world? We asked the Muddy Award-winning team behind The Tythe Barn in Bicester.
Kids
- 9 things to do at Chiltern Open Air Museum this month
  
  From jousting to blacksmithing, clay sculpting to candle-making – this gem of an attraction in Bucks is a total must-do for families this summer. Here are nine things to tick off your list in August.
- 15 brilliant family things to do in Oxfordshire
  
  Looking for new memories to make with your crew? From playgrounds to paddle boarding, roll up for the top 15 family-friendly things to do in Oxfordshire.

Instamuddy

Fashion

Hot specs: seven sexy sunglasses that shine

Hello heatwave! Protect those baby-blues from the rays and look super-chic with our pick of the loveliest sunnies from local stores and boutiques across Bucks & Oxon.
- Road trip: From Bicester Village with love
  
  Muddy’s teamed up with luxury open-air shopping destination Bicester Village to explore Oxfordshire’s most gorgeous fashion, eating and shopping destinations. Let’s go!
- 12 sizzling sustainable swimwear brands
  
  Want your bikini with full eco credibility but also 100% watertight on style? Make a splash with these brilliant swimwear brands. Just add SPF and a cold drink.
Beauty
- Freshen up! 40 best ‘tweakment’ salons
  
  Fancy glowing skin, a sculpted jawline or a tighter bum? No need to go under the knife – we’ve scoured the Muddy counties for the best non-invasive treatments in top-rated salons.
- Pretty pop-ups! New beauty to shop this summer
  
  Fancy a new lippie, liner or luxe shampoo? Ready your makeup bags (and your credit card) – we’ve scoured the country for the best new beauty shops and pop-ups this summer

People

Can these 7 celebs pull off a moustache?

It takes a certain kind of man to pull off a moustache, and Miles Teller’s Rooster in the new Top Gun has got our surprised seal of approval. Time for a game: TO ‘TACHE, OR NOT TO ‘TACHE? Let us know if you agree in the comments!
- Life lessons with The Guilty Feminist
  
  Love the podcast? Don’t we all? Good news to all guilty feminists – its creator is coming to Oxford this month. We grabbed the super-talented Deborah Francis-White for a Muddy chinwag.
- My favourite places: Hannah Heys, textiles champion
  
  Trust an artist to have an eye for lovely local places! With her Hand Crafted exhibition on now at Queen’s Park Arts Centre, textile artist and Bucks local Hannah Heys chats under-the-radar gems.
- Muddy meets Sleeper frontwoman Louise Wener
  
  We copied her hairdo and indie style back in the ’90s, now Sleeper singer and guitarist Louise Wener is back on stage with the band: cooler and more confident than ever.
- Gotta Have It: 90s legends in Lego
  
  Can you guess which nineties girl band is being immortalised in a 578 piece Logo brick set 25 years after their iconic album release? Read on to find out!