Bucks &amp; Oxon

<p>Me too and I didn’t realise it had a name!  And strangely, when we moved from London I used to take the children for a pastry at 1855 wine bar ( yes it’s not just wine) they do great coffee too!</p>


<p>Love the Stokenchurch Gap too (I didn&#8217;t know it had a name!) &#8211; lived in London for 20 years and whenever we drove through it we&#8217;d say we are now in the countryside &#8211; and now we live in Oxfordshire 🙂</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="604" height="500" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane-604x500.jpeg" alt="Natasha Lane" class="wp-image-107129" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane-604x500.jpeg 604w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane-300x248.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane-150x124.jpeg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane-634x525.jpeg 634w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Natasha-Lane.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px" /></figure>



<p>When it comes to the truffling out the best hidden gems in an area, who better to turn to than a property expert? We hit up Natasha Lane of brand new boutique estate agent and property developer <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Manor Oxford (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.manoroxford.com" target="_blank">Manor Oxford</a> for her favourite local finds, as well as haunts from her former Fitzrovia stomping ground because, well, we&#8217;re nosy like that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Muddy Duck Farm Shop (opens in a new tab)" href="https://themuddyduckpub.co.uk/hethe/" target="_blank">The Muddy Duck Farm Shop</a>, Hethe, nr Bicester</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="701" height="500" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe-701x500.jpg" alt="The Muddy Duck Hethe" class="wp-image-107121" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe-701x500.jpg 701w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe-300x214.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe-150x107.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe-736x525.jpg 736w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/The-Muddy-Duck-Hethe.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px" /></figure>



<p>This is usually a cute pub with spot-on food, but since lockdown they&#8217;ve turned into a farm shop selling local produce, with an outdoor pizza oven for takeaways. We&#8217;ve gone every Sunday since lockdown started! I really like being able to support more local shops during this time, and I&#8217;m not the only one apparently &#8211; loads of locals come here. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mash (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.mashlifestyle.co.uk" target="_blank">Mash</a>, Chipping Norton</h2>



<p>A cute, quirky lifestyle shop on the high street that I always pop into. We dress our own properties and often help clients to decorate theirs, so I&#8217;ve picked up quite a few unique items here. Once we had a Hollywood actor (who shall remain nameless!) staying in one of our short lets in Primrose Hill while they were filming, and they fell in love in a vintage camera that I&#8217;d bought from Mash, and so I told them to take it when they left! So there&#8217;s a piece of Chipping Norton somewhere in California right now.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="1855 Wine Bar (opens in a new tab)" href="https://oxfordcastlequarter.com/attractions/1855-wine-bar" target="_blank">1855 Wine Bar</a>, Oxford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="405" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford-720x405.jpg" alt="1855 Wine Bar Oxford" class="wp-image-107123" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford-720x405.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford-150x84.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford-900x506.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/1855-Wine-Bar-Oxford.jpg 1008w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<p>This wine bar is tucked away next to Malmaison and the Castle. The inside is super cozy (perfect for red wine and cheese in the winter) and the outdoor terrace is where I&#8217;ve spent many a sunny afternoon relaxing with a white wine. It&#8217;s ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city centre as many don&#8217;t know it&#8217;s there. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://latabledalix.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="La Table d'Alix (opens in a new tab)">La Table d&#8217;Alix</a> at The Haseley Plough, Great Haseley</h2>



<p>This place is owned by a lovely French couple, and all of their food is amazing. We first discovered it after a friend&#8217;s baby&#8217;s christening in Amersham; we needed somewhere to carry on celebrating, and stumbled upon it. I love that they serve Ruinart Blanc De Blanc champagne &#8211; it&#8217;s my favourite and quite hard to find in your standard local!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.dantzig.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Dantzig Gallery (opens in a new tab)">Dantzig Gallery</a>, Woodstock</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock.jpg" alt="Dantzig Gallery Woodstock Oxfordshire" class="wp-image-107124" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Dantzig-Gallery-Woodstock-200x200.jpg 200w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We&#8217;re currently working with some builders on property in Woodstock, which means I escape to their office whenever I can as I love the area. One of the builders actually recommended Dantzig to me as I was after some artwork to dress a property &#8211; it often totally makes a space &#8211; and since then I&#8217;ve picked up a few pieces. I actually have three that I&#8217;m desperate to hang! It&#8217;s a great local find for modern and contemporary artwork. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Stokenchurch Gap, Bucks/Oxon border</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="500" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap-667x500.jpg" alt="Stockenchurch Gap Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire" class="wp-image-107125" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap-150x113.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap-700x525.jpg 700w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Stokenchurch-Gap.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /><figcaption>Image by John Shortland, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 2.0</a></figcaption></figure>



<p>This is a bit of a strange one! It&#8217;s not a place as such, but more a favourite view. As we were moving the business from London to Oxford, I spent a lot of time driving to and fro on motorways, but as soon as I saw the road opening up and got that view of the rolling Chiltern Hills, I would just breathe a sigh of relief. It gives me a feeling of freedom and a real sense of leaving the city behind. Still to this day my husband always says, &#8216;Here&#8217;s your favourite place!&#8217; as we drive through it. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Wild Rabbit (opens in a new tab)" href="https://thewildrabbit.co.uk" target="_blank">The Wild Rabbit</a>, Kingham</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/The-Wild-Rabbit-Chipping-Norton-1.jpg" alt="The Wild Rabbit Kingham" class="wp-image-101666" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/The-Wild-Rabbit-Chipping-Norton-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/The-Wild-Rabbit-Chipping-Norton-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/The-Wild-Rabbit-Chipping-Norton-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/The-Wild-Rabbit-Chipping-Norton-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Funnily enough our sanitaryware supplier in London, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Barber Wilsons (opens in a new tab)" href="http://barberwilsons.com" target="_blank">Barber Wilsons</a>, recommended this to me &#8211; I don&#8217;t know how I hadn&#8217;t heard of it! Now when I&#8217;m heading to Chipping Norton I often pop in. Kingham itself is so quintessentially British, and The Wild Rabbit really embodies that. It&#8217;s just a bit more chic than your standard gastropub! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Summertown, Oxford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown-720x480.jpg" alt="Gail's Bakery Summertown Oxford" class="wp-image-107126" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown-787x525.jpg 787w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Gails-Bakery-Summertown.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<p>I have a huge love for Summertown &#8211; it was one of the first places I moved to when we left the city. It gives me Primrose Hill and French vibes simultaneously! We have a project here that&#8217;ll hopefully be finished by the end of the year, but it&#8217;s given me plenty of time to explore. I often end up in <a href="https://gailsbread.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Gail's Bakery (opens in a new tab)">Gail&#8217;s Bakery</a> after site visits &#8211; there&#8217;s nothing like a black coffee and their honey and almond sourdough to get the creative juices flowing. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mercato Metropolitano (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.mercatometropolitano.com" target="_blank">Mercato Metropolitano</a>, Mayfair and Elephant &amp; Castle </h2>



<p>This market has everything; street food, live music, a nice outdoor space to relax, a laidback atmosphere with people milling around. It was actually where I went on my first date with my now-husband, and he proposed there on our anniversary, so it&#8217;s definitely a favourite of ours! It&#8217;s just a nice place to escape to in the city, and a good alternative to Borough Market. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pyscle (opens in a new tab)" href="https://psyclelondon.com" target="_blank">Pyscle</a>, throughout London</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="495" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London-720x495.jpg" alt="Psycle London" class="wp-image-107127" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London-720x495.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London-300x206.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London-150x103.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London-764x525.jpg 764w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/07/Pyscle-Mortimer-Street-London.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure>



<p>When our office was based in Fitzrovia, I would be in the Mortimer Street branch of Psycle every day as it was a 2-minute walk away. I&#8217;ve always been into sports and was a national swimmer, so I&#8217;d visit Psycle every morning at 6.30am for their spin classes before heading into the office. I dread to think how much money I spent there! I loved the juice bar, the instructors, the pumping music &#8211; it just set me up for the day. Obviously with lockdown, I&#8217;ve ended up buying a <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/fitness/peloton-westgate-oxfordshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Peloton bike (opens in a new tab)">Peloton bike</a> to get me through! </p>


My favourite places: Natasha Lane from Manor Oxford

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