Bucks &amp; Oxon

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The north Oxon-based florist and interiors stylist (and mother of three boys) has a great eye for beautiful things – and that also extends to gorgeous places to hang out, Wherefore are thou, Willow?



<a href="https://wortonkitchengarden.com/book-a-table/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Worton Organic Garden</a>, nr Cassington



This could be my
favourite place on earth. The tiny farm shop has freshly baked croissants and
the world’s best coffee but the best bit is the flowers. The lady there is
Dutch and she grows fabulous tulips, 20 times bigger than supermarket ones and
with wonderful stripes and crinkly petals. Freshly cut flowers are the ultimate
cheering-up mechanism. 



<a href="https://www.stationmill.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Station Mill Antiques (opens in a new tab)">Station Mill Antiques</a>, Chipping Norton



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I furnished our pub
and house with goodies from this massive two-floor warehouse. There’s a
complete mix of furniture, interiors bits and jewellery, with more accessible
price points than your average antique shop. My favourite buys from here are my
Victorian glass etched jugs – I love their delicacy and their history. 



<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jeaniescottskin/">Jeanie Scott Skin</a>, Asthall Leigh, nr Witney



My friend is an
amazing facialist who works from a shed in the bottom of her garden. She does
bespoke facials using Dermalogica products and whizzy machines. They’re very
calming and therapeutic &#8211; and she’ll make you be quiet and stop chatting so you
can benefit from lying down in her cocoon. &nbsp;



<a href="https://www.edencafe.kiwi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Eden Café (opens in a new tab)">Eden Café</a>, Witney



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This is run by some
lovely people from New Zealand who do a really good avocado toast and oatmilk
matcha latte. It really stands out as Witney is low on decent cafés. I like to
go here after the morning school run with friends… well, I’ve had time to do it
about twice in reality but the thought is there!



<a href="https://www.iacf.co.uk/ardingly">Ardingly Antiques &amp; Collectors Fair,</a>
nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex



I used to be a personal shopper, sourcing gifts for clients or buying their new wardrobes, so I’m pretty good at nabbing a bargain! I’m obsessed with markets and go very early in the morning to this one. I’m strangely drawn to old Edwardian nightdresses – I wore them as summer dresses when we lived in the south of France for a period. And I buy loads of grain sacks and cutlery from here. 



<a href="https://homebarnshop.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Home Barn (opens in a new tab)">Home Barn</a>, Marlow



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This massive barn is
filled with antique treasures and new pieces. If I’m whizzing by on the
motorway, I always make time to pop in and we borrowed props from here for
shoots for my book. I particularly like the lovely old art, especially the retro
educational and botanical posters. I love an old bell jar too. 



The grounds of <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/visitus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Blenheim Palace (opens in a new tab)">Blenheim Palace</a>



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We’re lucky enough to
live near one of the back entrances so we love a family stroll down those huge sweeping
road and maybe a picnic under the majestic oak trees and copper beeches. It’s a
long way from the palace so there’s never many people around. My three boys are
much more enthusiastic about these walks now we have our retriever/poodle mix puppy,
Poppy. 



<a href="https://www.whichfordpottery.com/visit-us/straw-kitchen">Straw Kitchen</a>,
Whichford Pottery, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire



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It’s hard to find
decent garden pots but this Cotswold pottery does gorgeous, scalloped ceramic
ones. And they have a heavenly café that’s just reopened for Spring. I go here
for lunch with girlfriends. The quinoa, the soup, the bruschetta, the cakes –
it’s all delicious.



<a href="https://www.molliesmotel.com/">Mollie’s Diner</a>, nr Faringdon



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This is like something
out of American movies, with its leather banquettes, milkshakes and drive-thru….
where you can pick up a rotisserie chicken, believe it or not. It’s quite a random
thing to find in the middle of the Oxon countryside but I’m a huge fan. It’s
very close to my boys’ school so I spend a lot of time here, having meetings or
working on my laptop, and I know the menu very well. I resist the burgers and
go for a supergreen salad or an egg and avocado brioche roll. 



Willow’s new tableware collection, Forever Summer, is available to buy <a href="https://willowcrossley.com/collections/forever-summer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a>

Where Willow Crossley goes

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