Bucks &amp; Oxon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-activities-than-you-can-shake-a-welly-at"><strong>More activities than you can shake a welly at</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="670" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.46.55.png" alt="Archery at The Game Fair at Blenheim Palace " class="wp-image-157828" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.46.55.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.46.55-800x536.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.46.55-400x268.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Whether you want to try archery, clay pigeon shooting, browse antiques, watch a horsey display or eat like a lord, there’s something for everyone at this family-friendly festival. Dog-lovers can enter their prize pooch in fun competitions, horse-fanatics get the opp to pat pretty Suffolk Punch horses and even learn the basics of polo (Muddy tip: don’t visit any of the artisanal gin makers before you pick up a mallet) and crafty types can learn about beekeeping, furniture-making and glass-blowing. In the Main Arena, families flock to see the Shetland Pony Grand National, while the Horse &amp; Hound Arena offers falconry, terrier parades and the chance to hug a hound. Land Rover loving kids&nbsp;can take the wheel of their own replica Series 2 aka a mini ROVER.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-a-celeb-hosted-vip-enclosure">There&#8217;s a <strong>celeb-hosted VIP enclosure </strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="576" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.30.18.png" alt="chef James Martin at The Game Fair at Blenheim Palace " class="wp-image-157822" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.30.18.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.30.18-800x461.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.30.18-400x230.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>He can cook, crack jokes and looks good in white &#8211; celeb chef James Martin is Muddy&#8217;s guilty pleasure so we&#8217;re more than happy to hear he&#8217;ll be cooking up a storm as host of the VIP Enclosure, sponsored by Investec Wealth &amp; Investment, for three-days. Expect a three-course lunch and chance to chat (ok flirt) with the TV star, plus on Sunday 28 July he’ll be joined by <em>Escape To The Chateau</em> duo Dick and Angel Strawbridge, who’ll be rustling up dishes alongside Martin and mingling with diners. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plenty-of-shopping-opps">Plenty of shopping opps</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="528" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.22.33.png" alt="Shopping at The Game Fair at Blenheim Palace " class="wp-image-157818" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.22.33.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.22.33-800x422.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.22.33-400x211.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Chances to flex your credit card are numerous so make sure you carve out some time away from petting Shetland ponies and scoffing pheasant goujons for some retail therapy. Muddy will be swerving the stalls flogging fishing lines and rifles and making a beeline for the hot homewares, leather boots, designer blazers, art, vintage clothing and doggy treats.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-food-s-fabulous-nbsp"><strong>The food’s fabulous&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="593" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.37.14.png" alt="" class="wp-image-157823" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.37.14.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.37.14-800x474.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.37.14-400x237.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>As you’d expect from a countryside-loving festival, there’s a strong show of seasonal food and artisanal producers. Ever wondered what to do with pheasant or how to cook venison? Wonder no more as there’ll be loads of demos at the BASC Wild Food Theatre. When hunger hits, head to one of the many catering areas to refuel on a venison burger or dip into Totally Food &#8211; think farm shop on steroids with stalls laden with cheeses, cakes, breads, chutneys, ciders and gins.&nbsp;And don&#8217;t miss the chance to sip a Merlin Griffiths&#8217; Game Fair Cocktail, specially created for the four-day fest &#8211; will it be the Rose Garden Spritz (gin, cointreau, rose lemonade and a grapefruit twist) or Devil-May-Care (SENTIA red, amaretti, raspberries, ginger beer, lime)? You decide! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-there-s-an-arts-amp-antiques-pavilion"><strong>There’s an Arts &amp; Antiques Pavilion</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="803" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/PHOTO-3.jpg" alt="Art stall in the Art &amp; Antique pavilion at The Game Fair at Blenheim Palace" class="wp-image-157824" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/PHOTO-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/PHOTO-3-800x642.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/PHOTO-3-400x321.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>When you’ve maxed out on countryside pursuits, take a stroll around the new Art &amp; Antiques Pavilion, sponsored by LAPADA, for the chance to snap up fine art, furniture, jewellery and antiquities. Shown by leading dealers and galleries, prices range from £500 to, ahem, £500,000 which is <em>slightly </em>over Muddy&#8217;s weekend budget.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-setting-s-stunning-nbsp"><strong>The setting’s stunning&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire-1000x667.jpg" alt="Blenheim Palace " class="wp-image-151960" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/11/Blenheim-Palace-unsplash-Woodstock-Oxfordshire.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The woodland, lakes, ornate stone bridges and rolling hills of Blenheim’s parkland are like a movie setting and make a very scenic backdrop to your day (and Insta posts). You can also visit the Palace (there&#8217;s a great fashion exhibition on rn), gardens and excellent children’s playground while you’re there (though on a separate ticket).&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-can-make-it-a-mini-break"><strong>You can </strong>make it a mini break </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="645" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.43.04.png" alt="Glamping at the game fair at Blenheim Palace" class="wp-image-157827" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.43.04.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.43.04-800x516.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-18-at-14.43.04-400x258.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Sure you can buy a day pass, but why not make a weekend of it? Either bring your own campervan or canvas or, if you’re too posh to pitch, book a luxurious bell tent pre-furnished with beds, rugs, cushions duvets and carpets. Putting the glam in glamping, there&#8217;s even access to private showers and a pamper tent with hair-dryers, mirrors and curling tongs.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em><strong><a href="https://thegamefair.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Game Fair</a> takes place at Blenheim Palace (26-28 July). Three-day adult ticket, £68 (early bird offer); child (8-16), £22.50; under 7, free; family ticket (two adults, three children) £164. </strong></em></p>



<p><strong><em>One-day adult ticket, £34.40; child, £11.70; family, £85.50. </em></strong></p>


Give it a shot! 7 reasons to visit The Game Fair at Blenheim Palace

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