THEATRE & FILM

Up for some simmering drama? Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts at Aylesbury Waterside from 25 Nov – 29 Nov marks the first-ever stage adaptation of the iconic local detective and we’re told it’ll be a tad more sinister than the TV storylines. For something more upbeat, Aylesbury’s panto du jour is Jack and the Beanstalk which kicks off from Fri 5 Dec. Always a hot ticket on the panto front so book up, this year’s cast includes nasty Nigel Harman as the villain and local legend Andy Collins as silly Simon. Bring it on.

Over at The North Wall Theatre in Oxford, it’s The Nutcracker, but not as you know it. Creation Theatre is giving the Christmas classic a theatrical spin – it’s not a ballet, but we’re told there will be dancing, just not by bonafide ballerinas, which makes it all the more fun. The company excels when it comes to witty dialogue and expertly composed scores – there’s no nodding off during this one. It’s on from 29 Nov – 3 Jan.

Dick Whittington’s on at The Oxford Playhouse (21 Nov – 4 Jan) and it has a Britpop nineties spin that’s sure to please the millennials. It’s cool Britannia, the Christmas edition, when Dick is actually ‘Dot’ and there’s a magical cat driving a bus to London. Do keep up. At Chipping Norton Theatre, we’re promised an on-stage baguette fight at Beauty & The Beast (from 19 Nov to 18 Jan). Zut alors.

For a more trad ballet performance, catch The London City Ballet at The New Theatre Oxford on 11 Nov. Momentum showcases rarely seen works exploring art and the lifecycle of relationships (deep), and ballet star Alina Cojocaru will grace the Oxford stage. She’s a former principal dancer with The Royal Ballet and kind of a big deal. Speaking of The Royal Ballet, the company’s La Fille mal gardée will be screened live from The Royal Opera House on 5 Nov at Elgiva Chesham, and all tickets include a pre-show wine to get you limbered up.

The Royal Ballet’s also plié-ing into Chipping Norton Theatre for Cinderella on 25 Nov – expect more than a sprinkling of fairy dust with your popcorn. Contemporary dance more your bag? Come To The Water at Wycombe Swan on 12 Nov brings Bucks’ best dance companies together to delve into the importance of rest and human connection in a frenetic modern world. Relatable content.

And here’s one for teenagers heading into GCSE revision year. Perennial set-text A View From The Bridge is on at The Oxford Playhouse from 5 – 8 Nov. Book here to bring this tense Arthur Miller tragedy to life.

Ending the theatrics on a cheerier note, Mary Poppins is flying her umbrella into Milton Keynes Theatre from 29 Oct – 22 Nov as part of a whistlestop European and UK tour that’s ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’. Aussie stars Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers have received regular standing ovations on the musical’s travels so far so chim-chim-chiree it down there before it sails away.

MUSIC

On the classical music front, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra reliably hits all the right notes. This month’s highlight is a concerto and symphony with Beethoven pianist maestro Paul Lewis on 20 Nov, conducted by the orchestra’s Musical Director Marios Papadopoulos, who’s also busy conducting Pictures at an Exhibition on 6 Nov at Oxford Town Hall. It evokes a thrilling gallery visit, complete with fantasy, romance and festive vibes. You’ll also want to catch the Oxford Harmonic Choir Christmas celebration at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on Sat 29 Nov. It presents three different Christmassy musical traditions in four lesser-known works so it’s anything but ‘same old, same old’.

Feeling jazzy? Catch former BBC Jazz Musician of the Year Alex Ridout at Tap Social in Botley on 12 Nov. She’s a trumpeting superstar and bringing her band along from New York – it’s set to be swinging. If you’re near Milton Keynes later in the month, workplace/ wellbeing/ fun hub Unity Place is reviving its free live jazz nights. The first one gets swinging on 21 Nov in the Sky Lounge with Jamie Glew-Osborn and his band and table reservations are essential. What could be better than taking in the twinkling panoramic skyline, cocktail in hand as the band jam?

You’ll find more soulful sounds at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 2 Nov when The Amy Winehouse Band bring the iconic singer’s music to life in a way that only they can. They were, as the name suggests, her original band so this is far from a watered down tribute act. Led by her long-term Musical Director, bass player and close friend Dale Davis, it features unique footage and all the era-defining hits you’d expect.

Former Babyshambles fan? The band is back together 20 years after their first album debuted, with Pete Doherty centre stage. The tour’s been selling like hotcakes with extra dates added – they’re playing O2 Academy Oxford on 24 Nov, so run, don’t walk. The set list’s jam packed with their old stuff – happy days.

EXHIBITIONS

landscape painting — Belina Millar, *The Long Way Home*

Catch Narrative View at the Sarah Wiseman Gallery before it closes on 8 Nov – it’s a vivid representation of how artists are moved by stories, from folklore to anecdotes to the tale told by our landscapes. Don’t miss the beautiful, glowing paintings of rolling Oxfordshire hills by local artist Belinda Millar, all created by the artist al fresco.

Woodstock's November Art Exhibition — Rod Craig, *Park Street under the stars*

There are more local landscapes on display at the Iona Gallery in Woodstock’s November Exhibition from 1–23 Nov. It kicks off with a glass of wine and a private view on Sat 1 Nov when local artist Rod Craig will be painting in the gallery from 12pm onwards. His dreamy ‘Park Street under the stars’ watercolour has more than a touch of the Van Gogh about it (it’s all yours for £825).

At the museums, Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury is also tapping into the Britpop nostalgia trend with its ‘I Grew up in 90s’ exhibition, on until 22 Feb 2026. There’s more than 200 throwback items to rediscover that defined the decade, from Trainspotting to Teletubbies. Think you know your nineties trivia? There’s a quiz night 22 Nov to put your Pokémon/ Power Rangers knowledge to the test.

BOOKS & CULTURE

A major cultural ‘add to cal’ to begin the month, Malala Yousafzai is hosting an evening at The Sheldonian in Oxford on 3 Nov. The night is hooked on her new memoir, Finding My Way, and as well as taking us through the chapters of her remarkable life (she’s still just 28), she’ll let the audience into her experiences of dating and exam fails during her time at Oxford University. It turns out that even Nobel laureates are ghosted from time to time. We also hear she’s very witty, so you’re in for a hoot.

Also sure to provoke some laughs is former Oxford student and Bridget Jones’s Diary author Helen Fielding, who’ll pop up at The Sheldonian on 17 Nov for a live podcast recording of Always Take Notes, focusing on the writing process and what makes a book fly off the shelves. Fielding would certainly know.

A hop over the Hertfordshire border, Tring Book Festival is a month-long literary extravaganza from 31 Oct – 9 Dec. We’ve already got tickets to the One of Us book club with podcast host and author Elizabeth Day on 2 Nov and we’re hankering after a spot at An Afternoon with Diana Henry on 15 Nov to satisfy our foodie wanderlust. Also on the literary lineup is Kate Mosse, Carol Ann Duffy, Matt Lucas, Rachel Parris, Simon Armitage, Alexander Armstrong and everyone’s favourite Gardener’s World guru Adam Frost.

wine — Pottery and fizz at La Dolce Bolla

Crafters, mark 12 Nov in your diary. There’s an evening of pottery and fizz at La Dolce Bolla in Marlow. The ceramics experts at Buttercups Pottery will talk you through creating a handmade keepsake from scratch (and provide all the gear), with the purveyors of top notch prosecco keeping your glass charged all evening. Don’t blame us if those pots are wonky.

If brushwork is more your style, The Paint Club is putting up its easels for ‘sip and paint’ workshops throughout Bucks to bring a splash of cheer to dark November nights. Paint the Northern lights at Merlotto lounge in High Wycombe on 3 Nov or a lantern forest at the Mad Squirrel in Amersham on 25 Nov.

History buffs in Bucks take note: Buckinghamshire History Festival runs all throughout the month, and it’s anything but dusty. There’s an exhibition at Waddesdon Manor on 1–2 Nov presenting previously unseen letters penned by such names as Elizabeth I and Mozart that were discovered at the property only last year (hot goss). Also on the agenda is an Aylesbury ghost walk (29 Nov), a tour of Marlow with “Mary Shelley” (27 Nov) and a journey back to a 17th century apothecary’s garden in Amersham (also 27 Nov).

COMEDY

Mark Watson comic — Mark Watson ©Matt Crockett

Forget the fine lady on her horse, saddle up and head to Banbury this month for lols aplenty. Mark Watson of Taskmaster and Baby Reindeer fame is bringing his funny and somewhat frantic show, Before It Overtakes Us, to The Mill Arts Centre on 14 Nov and Marcus Brigstocke is tackling the eternal question ‘what are men for?’ in Vitruvian Mango on 24 Nov. Banbury Comedy Festival also gets going on 8 Nov, with 20 shows from 2pm – 10pm across four different venues in town. A real stand-up buffet.

The same could be said of New Theatre Oxford’s November comedy lineup – Jack Dee is “talking rubbish” (his words) on 1 Nov, Jason Manford’s offering observational quips on 16 Nov and Rhod Gilbert’s bringing his giant grapefruit along (don’t ask) on 21 Nov.

There’s laughs care of Jen Brister at The Oxford Playhouse on 12–13 Nov – her stand-up is high energy and her comedy hero is Victoria Wood, so there’ll be no snoozing in the stalls. And there’s no stalls at all at Candlelit Comedy at Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe on 8 Nov. Expect subterranean stand-up by torchlight in the atmospheric caves; the acoustics will be on point.

KIDS

very hungry caterpillar stage show — *The Very Hungry Caterpillar*

Teaching little ones to tell the time? The Oxford Philharmonic can help with that. Funomusica Family Concert: About Time at Oxford Town Hall on 9 Nov will take kids through a day in music, with musical clocks and dance breaks. It starts at 4pm but there’s free arts and crafts from 3pm.

The Family Cushion Concerts at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building in Oxford are another great way to get kids excited about music. There are three short 40-min concerts on Sun 23 Nov, led by soprano Becca Marriott.

Are your kids bottomless pits? They’ll relate to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, at Chesham’s Elgiva Theatre on 13 and 14 Nov. The show features no fewer than 75 puppets and presents some of author Eric Carle’s other much-loved tales so you get real bang for your buck.

The Story Museum Oxford — The Story Museum

There’s more puppets at Milton Keynes Theatre for Bluey’s Big Play from 27 – 29 Nov. It’s Olivier-award nominated, so more highbrow than you might first think. Completing the puppet trinity for the month is Emma Boor’s interactive telling of The Gingerbread Man at The Story Museum on 8 Nov. She unpacks the story from a suitcase, using puppets, music and crafting to bring time-honoured tales to life.

There’s gingerbread down at The Eden Centre in High Wycombe too, where Mrs Claus’ Cookie Cabin invites kids aged 2–8 to bring along a foodie donation (UHT milk, cooking oil, jar cooking sauces, tinned meat meals, tinned veg, honey, and peanut butter are all suggested) and watch it be transformed into a tasty treat by Mrs Claus’ magical giving machine.

After that, they can decorate their treats in the workshop with help from Mrs Claus’ squad of gingerbread elves. Tickets are priced at £3.50 and 100% of ticket sales will go to support Heart of Bucks’ Together Against Poverty appeal. All food donations will go to local food bank One Can Trust to help families in need over the festive season. The workshop opens every weekend from 29 Nov – 24 Dec so there’s plenty of time to spread some cheer.

SHOPPING

Stylist Bay Garnett with Immy Waterhouse modelling clothes from The Vintage Attic

Stylist, editor and vintage fashion expert Bay Garnett has always wanted to own a shop – and now she does. Until 20 Nov at least. Her Village Attic has popped up at Bicester Village and she’s personally curated more than 300 ultra-chic vintage pieces for you to discover. She’s known for dressing the likes of Kate Moss and Michaela Coel in ritzy thrifty finds, so you’ll be in excellent company if you pick up one of her gems. 100% of sales go to Smart Works, a charity empowering women with the clothing, coaching and confidence they need in the world of work. It’s the place to hit for sustainable Christmas shopping. Read our interview with Bay for an idea of what’s in store.

On that, the Christmas markets are twinkling in the distance already. Stay tuned for the full festive shopping guide coming on Muddy soon, but for now keep 22 Nov free for A Merry Marlow Christmas in Marlow’s Liston Court Gardens. Hidden just away from the bustle of the high street, you can browse the gift stalls while the children line up for a meet-and-greet with Father Christmas.

Over in Henley it’s the annual Christmas Festival, on 28 Nov, which includes the lights switch-on at 7pm (manned by the Mayor and a secret celeb guest), followed by carollers, a visit from Saint Nick at the King’s Arm Barn, and a bucket load of artisan stalls. Or head to the buzzy Patch co-working space in The Old Library, High Wycombe, for a family-friendly festive afternoon on Sat 15 Nov. Browse the market bursting with gifts from talented local makers before taking the kids to meet Christmas donkeys, have their faces painted, or get creative with writing letters to Santa and making Christmas tree decorations. There’ll also be a singalong with a local choir, plus free mulled wine and mince pies to add to the seasonal cheer. It’s on from 12pm to 4pm.

Peterley Xmas Market VIP — Peterley Manor Farm Christmas Market

The other Christmas Market big guns are the Waddesdon Christmas Fair (from 22 Nov), the Christmas festivities at Blenheim Palace (from 14 Nov), where the show-stopping Christmas market is set in The Great Court and Peterley Christmas Market in Great Missenden from 13-16 Nov. Don’t sleep on our Reader Treat to win four VIP tickets to that one on Saturday 15 Nov. The generous Peterley Manor Farm folk are also throwing in a £150 voucher to spend at the shop, nursery or café, so you can return for a rustic feast or have a spree in the farm shop whenever you fancy. You have until 7 Nov to enter, so make haste!

You needn’t worry about the weather down in West Wycombe – The Handpicked Christmas Market is inside a cosy heated marquee at The Walled Garden from 28-30 Nov. For after-work retail therapy, head over to Watlington – a community known for its artists and makers – for the Late Night Shopping evening on 27 Nov with live music, tacos and gifts from 5-8pm.

OUTDOORS

Christmas Lights at Waddesdon — Waddesdon Manor

The Bucks & Oxon statelys are lighting up the skies in November. As well as its festive market, Waddesdon Manor’s stunning annual festive extravaganza (open Mon to Weds from 22 Nov) includes a light trail, illuminations and globetrotting-themed displays throughout the house. Stowe Gardens (from 15 Nov), Upton House (from 15 Nov), Greys Court (from 22 Nov) and Claydon House (from 27 Nov) also offer festive trails, beautifully decked-out interiors and festive events, as does Ashridge House just over in Herts (from 27 Nov), Hughenden near High Wycombe (from 29 Nov) and the palatial Blenheim Palace (from 14 Nov). Up in North Bucks, Milton Keynes’ Land of Lights Festival is back for a fourth year every Fri/Sat/Sun from now until Jan with some megawatt mystical lanterns. We hear it’s had glowing reviews.

FOOD

Double Red Duke steak — The Double Red Duke

Raided The Vintage Attic and now you’re ravenous? It’s a good thing that the Cotswolds gastropub of the moment, The Double Red Duke, is throwing open the doors to its Bicester Village outpost on 3 Nov. Expect homely vibes and flame-grilled everything.

For more rural feasting, welcome in winter at The Yurt at Nicholsons’. Their Wild Game Night & Wine Flight on Fri 14 Nov promises three courses of delicious dishes whipped up using the season’s last produce, paired with wine. Book here for £75pp.

Still game for more…game? Game Evening at The Oarsman in Marlow on 20 Nov puts Chiltern venison centre stage/ plate. Tuck into game sausage rolls, Chiltern venison carpaccio and roasted grouse before finishing off with a warm ginger load and probably a good lie down.

If Thai flavours make your tastebuds sing, take your seat at Masterchef quarter finalist Yui Miles’ Taste of Thai supperclub at Vaasu restaurant in Marlow on 19 Nov. Three of the five courses will be designed by Yui herself, alongside two signature courses from Atul Kochhar, and veggies are warmly welcome too.

If you’d like to road test some Christmas table wines before you commit, Oxford Wine Fair on 14 Nov is just the place. There’s over 100 wineries showing their wares and tastings are unlimited after you’ve forked out £25 for a ticket. Sounds like a deal to us. Eynsham Cellars is also getting merry on 29 Nov, with Christmas Wine Tasting sessions all afternoon. Tickets are £17.50 each and you’ll be taken on a two-hour tour of fabulous reds, whites, champagne, sparkling, sherry and port, all selected by in-house experts. We’d suggest having a big sandwich beforehand.

Olivia Cavalli pasta workshop — @olivia_cavalli

Do you know what goes well with a nice glass of red? Pasta. That’s what’s on the table at Oxmoor Farm on 30 Nov, when chef and author Olivia Cavalli will show you the ropes of making traditional Italian pasta, as learned from her Nonna Albina. You’ll never pair spaghetti with the wrong sauce again. The £66.90 ticket includes lunch and recipes to take home.

FIREWORKS

Start the month with a bang at the best fireworks displays in Bucks & Oxon. Our handy guide’s right there but particular shoutouts to Stoke Park Bonfire & Fireworks Night in Stoke Poges on 2 Nov, with pyrotechnics to the backdrop of an 18th century mansion. Abingdon Bonfire & Fireworks on 15 Nov at Abingdon Airfield is billed as the UK’s biggest fireworks display and it’s got plenty going on for the kids; there’s a K-Pop Demon Hunters Sing-a-Long light show and low noise fireworks alongside the whizz pop variety. Don’t fancy standing in the mud? Oxford Fireworks at South Park on 8 Nov has a super swish VIP offering including front-row seats to the razzle dazzle, a separate VIP tent and hot food and drinks included. Plush stuff.

GROTTOS

T’is the season to meet the man in red! Father Christmas’ grotto is distinctly Dickensian over at Fairytale Farm near Chipping Norton, in a good way. After witnessing The Christmas Carol unfold among cobbled Victorian streets, and popping by Tom’s Toy Shop to pick up a gift, kids can travel through a secret forest to meet Santa. Scrooge who? He’s doing meet and greets from 22 Nov on weekends, and then daily from 8 Dec. There’s an exclusive SEND day on 5 Dec, when the Christmas Fairytale Experience is only open to SEND families, and dedicated SEND evenings on 9 and 10 Dec.

There’s festivities down on the farm at Cotswold Farm Park too, which will turn on its illuminated light trail from 22 Nov (newsflash, dogs are invited!) and welcoming Father C. Or meet real live reindeer at Waterperry Gardens for one weekend only on Sat 22 and Sun 23 Nov, while Odds Farm in South Bucks has Santa, snow shows, toys, trails and penguins singing a cappella from 28 Nov if you really want to blow some tiny minds.

Want more of Mr Claus? He’ll be in situ at Hogshaw Farm every weekend from 29 Nov as part of its festive experience. There are also dedicated SEN sessions here on 29 and 30 Nov, where the magic and mayhem is dialled down a notch or three. Elf hats off to that! For more Christmassy goings-on in Bucks & Oxon, check our guide of all the Xmas events to book now before December rings in.

70+ dazzling things to do in Bucks & Oxon this November

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