The urban guide to the countryside -

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

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

5 hot trends for AutumnFinding it hard to dicypher this season's myriad of trends? Never fear, Muddy's here with our guide to the best looks to suit every budget
Girls' weekend getawaysTry these 30 awesome spas, inns, bars and retreats across the Muddy counties and reconnect with your bezzies in style.
Superflashy newsflashWho needs a town crier when you've got Muddy Stilettos sniffing out all the local news in Bucks and Oxon, and shouting it from the rooftops?
Calling all wedding planners!OK Berkshire did a *decent* job with the royal wedding but we think Bucks & Oxon can do it better! Read on for the best local nuptials whizzes.
Muddy's literary salon returns!Henley, we're coming for you! Henley Literary Festival on Saturday 6 Oct, to be precise. Keep it free and take a gander at our amazing line-up.
The loveliest pubs with roomsFancy a weekend away in the countryside? The Muddy editors across 19 counties know all the best spots for a relaxed overnighter.

FRI 21 - SUN 23 SEP 2018:

MON 17 - SUN 23 SEP 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018

The latest handpicked businesses we think you’ll love

Is this the best boutique inn in Bucks?

Very rare that I gush, but The Mash Inn is about to get it with two barrels for its fantastic offering for grown-ups in rolling Chiltern countryside. Go!
- The Lion, Wendlebury
  
  This recently extended vast pub-with-rooms near Bicester Village is a solid all-day dining option (they even do breakfast). Muddy's Nicky Richardson pops in and pigs out.
- Carnivores unite!
  
  All the fuss about vegan this-and-that driving you insane? Get your chops around the meaty eats at The Chequers in Marlow.
- The Bull on Bell Street
  
  The Bull on Bell St ticks the boxes for cocktail drinkers, girl's lunches, family roasts and pretty much everything in between. Cool interiors too.
- More scones, madam?
  
  Holy scones! We're ready to be served the most indulgent, stylish cucumber sandwiches and macaroons. Do we know anywhere nice? Of course we do!

Our honest reviews of the UK’s best schools

Our curated A-Z of the grooviest local businesses

Already thinking about your next holiday?

Well, if you go down to the woods, you’ll be sure of a big surprise. In a good way, mind. Luxury log forest cabin with extra treats for Muddy readers? Let’s go.
- Five star freebies
  
  No charge for kids to eat or stay at superluxe Stoke Park this month. Book up and chill out!
- Gin Heaven at The Feathers, Woodstock
  
  Take one 17th century hotel, add a 400-strong gin bar, mix in one of the prettiest towns in Oxfordshire, and you're ready to be intoxicated by The Feathers Hotel.

New season, new shoes

Do you need any encouragement to buy new shoes? Does anyone?! Clear some space on the shoe rack – I’ve rounded up my Top 15 footwear favourites for autumn, from elegant ankle boots to the super-cool sneakers.
Beauty
- The 100 day moisturiser
  
  Want to avoid botox and fillers but after some medical intervention for the dreaded wrinkles? Muddy's Nicky Richardson tries microneedling.
- Ready for a chop?
  
  Can a fringe really knock 15 years off your age? Lead me to Anne Veck salon in Bicester, I'm about to find out.

Muddy’s 23 best autumn culture picks

It’s all going on! Behold, your cheat-sheet to the season’s best art, theatre, music and film, as curated by Muddy’s deeply cultural Kerry Potter.
- More sex please, we’re British!
  
  There's a lot of rumpy-pumpy on TV right now. And cheeringly not everyone involved resembles a 20something supermodel. It's a yes, yes, YES! from us.
- Best sellers! The best authors at the Henley Lit Fest
  
  There's a stonking line-up of authors at Henley's Literary Festival later this month. Before you book, check out our top 5 picks. (Spoiler alert: one of them is US!)

Flexible working – a personal view

It’s a contentious issue, that’s for sure! Wanna know what I think?
Kids
- Ashfold School, Dorton, Mid Bucks
  
  This bucolic co-ed prep school for day pupils and boarders in the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire is family-oriented with a deserved reputation for its all-rounder offering.
- Beachborough School, near Brackley
  
  Muddy says: Hard to find fault with this lovely co-ed prep school on the Bucks/Northants borders - a family vibe, pretty rural setting and great results.

My Favourite Places: Louise Rice

Lifelong Bucks local, Louise Rice, lets us in on a few of her most loved haunts when she’s not running Dukes Bar in Princes Risborough.
- Love Island – yes or no?
  
  It's the talking point TV of the summer but the Muddy office is divided on Love Island. What...
- World Cup Wonders
  
  Far be it from us to objectify the World Cup's hottest footballers. Instead we've found you the smartest. Seriously!