Spotlight

The great half term escape: 10 top day tripsBook a ticket, bundle the kids in the car and hit the road with our top picks for a family-friendly day out.
Is it time to start your own business?2020 has forced many of us to radically rethink our careers, goals and dreams. Muddy meets four inspiring women who took control and started their own businesses during Covid. Are you ready to take the leap, too?
Happy Halloween! Here's what's on in Herts & BedsWant to plan a bit of spooky fun for you little terrors, sorry, darlings, this half term? Well look no further than our ghoulish guide.
SUPERFLASHY NEWSFLASH!This month sees the launch of a local rum, an awesome wine club and there's chance to buy dinner (and firework) tickets to die for, if you're quick.
Fancy a Weekend Escape?Well, you're in the right place! Check out brand new, brilliant guide to help you find the perfect break - from a relaxed family hotel to countryside self-catering, easy day trip or a special occasion space. Now go forth and staycay!

Well, hello!

I'm Sophie, editor of Muddy Herts & Beds, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Think pink! 11 buys to support Breast Cancer Awareness

Add these feel-good limited edition buys to your basket ASAP to look gorgeous and support breast cancer charities this October. Two birds, one stone - yes please.

It’s all about the staycay! Our handpicked selection of the hippest hotels, pubs, restaurants and cottages to help you book that well-deserved break

Little Black Book

Want to support local? Our curated pick of the most creative, unique and brilliant businesses near you.

Eilleen's, Ampthill

Herrings Green Farm, Wilstead

Woburn Safari Park, Woburn

The White Hart, Ampthill

Luton Hoo, Luton

Jean-Christophe Novelli Academy, Luton

Warden Abbey Vineyard, Biggleswade

Style My Kid

Thread Tales

The Red Lion, Milton Bryan

Moo Boutique, Tring

The Waterfront Hotel, Wyboston Lakes

Eat View more
Caffeine boost! 40 of the best indie coffee roasters

Can’t function without your morning brew? Try one of these delicious artisan blends, from indie coffee roasters across the Muddy counties, to kickstart your day with a caffeine boost.
- Review: New Al Fresco Menu at Paris House
  
  Ready for a post lockdown lunch in the most sublime setting in Bedfordshire? Head over to the historic Paris House Terrace, sample the excellent new Al Fresco menu from top chef Phil Fanning, and, of course, take in the grandeur of the deer park.
- Launch review: The Pig, Harlyn Bay, Cornwall
  
  On its opening day, Muddy's ed-in-chief Hero Brown was the first to eat lunch at the brand new Pig hotel in Harlyn Bay (what a trooper!). So what was the verdict?
- 20 Zero Waste Shops across Herts & Beds
  
  The eco shopping scene is thriving and there are lots of plastic free options. Re-style the weekly shop with guilt-free groceries, cleaning products, gifts and more.
- Where to: Eat Out in Herts & Beds
  
  With government scheme offering 50% off (up to £10 per diner), it's time to get out there and support your favourite (or perhaps your new favourite) restaurants and cafes.

Instamuddy

Arts & Culture View more
Fright night FOMO? Here’s 25 Halloween films

Halloween parties are off, but don’t let that stop you from embracing fright night with a movie marathon that’ll require popcorn, a stiff drink or 10, a pillow to hide behind and nerves of steal.
- Sofa surfer! 7 new TV shows and films
  
  Anyone up for movie night? Here are six new feature-length flicks landing on the box this week, as well as a brand new Netflix mini-series you'll love.
- And now, something to cheer us all up…
  
  In need of a little light relief? Lordy, aren't we all? Here are three 'celebrity' Instagram accounts that have been making us laugh this week that we think might tickle your fancy too.
- 10 new films and TV shows landing this week
  
  Bored? Us too! Drop the box set re-runs and settle down with this week's Muddy-curated guide to the best of the small screen.
- Into London: the capital reopens
  
  With the tourist count at an all-time low, now is the time to swerve the endless queues and enjoy London's cultural bounty.

Home View more
- The Big Breakfast house is for sale!!
  
  Talk about a piece of iconic pop culture! The chaotic, flirty, naughty Nineties home of breakfast telly can be yours for a cool £5.75m. Shall we have a nose around?
Wellbeing
- Calm: 5 ways to deal with uncertainty
  
  We talk to life coach Jess Wall about how to deal with the anxiety and uncertainty of living with Corona Virus. You're going to want to read this one. Promise.
- 7 steps to better sleep in lockdown
  
  So you've downed a chamomile tea and ignored your phone but still can't get to sleep. Sound familiar? Read on for our guide to getting some Z's during lockdown.

Travel View more
12 Muddy-approved attractions in Herts

This is 00Muddy reporting for duty with all the best visitor attractions in Hertfordshire, complete with tons of in-the-know intel so you can staycay like a local. Nice.
- 12 Muddy-approved attractions in Bedfordshire
  
  From the big-beast tourist destinations to our cool insider alternatives, read on for our pick of 12 unmissable attractions in the county
- Book now: 10 European-style staycations
  
  Love a continental jaunt but staying in Blighty this year? These 10 UK holiday spots have a distinctly European feel - can you guess where this is?

Work View more
Is it time to start your own business?

2020 has forced many of us to radically rethink our careers, goals and dreams. Muddy meets four inspiring women who took control and started their own businesses during Covid. Is it time we joined them?
Kids
- 10 of the best subscription boxes for kids
  
  Running on empty when it comes to entertaining the kids? Royal Mail comes up trumps with these brilliant subscription boxes – time to sit with a gin and wait for the postman.
- Happy Halloween! Here’s what’s on in Herts & Beds
  
  Want to plan a bit of spooky fun for your little terrors, sorry, darlings, this half term? Well look no further than our ghoulish guide.

Fashion View more
Designer vs dead ringer: the leather edit

Leather is top of the trends this season but the real deal can be a *leetle* unfriendly when it comes to your credit card. Cue our edit of the best dupes for the hottest designer pieces.
- Trend alert! White-hot boots to buy now
  
  Forget your usual black and brown, there's a new colour on the block when it comes to winter boots and we're loving it.
- Sustainable fashion gets sexy
  
  Ethical, eco and everywhere - with the likes of Selfridges now pushing a new sustainable outlook, here's where you can rewear, repair and renew your wardrobe in style.

Beauty View more
- We Trial: The Latest Hi Tech Facial
  
  Want to know how to achieve serious results with a pain free high tech facial? We head over to The AL5 Aesthetics, Harpenden, to try out their latest treatment.
- The essential no make-up make-up kit
  
  It’s a trend that’s not going away anytime soon; make-up so subtle that it just makes you look like a brighter and better version of yourself. Here’s the Muddy guide.

People View more
What’s cooking? Calum Franklin, The Pie Room at Holborn Dining Room

Fresh from the launch of his mouth-watering new cookbook, we caught up with the London Pie King himself to talk Scotch eggs, the Breville toastie masker and cooking for Axl Rose.
- Yes, people, this is Meg Mathews!
  
  Primrose Hill party queen turned wellness guru? Stranger things have happened! Muddy chats to the always glamorous Meg Mathews about her new book, self-care and, er, vagina facials.
- What’s Cooking – Luke Garnsworthy, Crockers
  
  Crockers (Tring & Henley) are some of our fav high-end local restaurants. We chat to founder, Luke Garnsworthy, about Marcus Wareing, kitchen gadgets and cooking for Bruce Willis.
- Muddy meets: Shlomo, beatboxer
  
  Record-breaking beatboxer Shlomo has a new project on his hands - raising money for the NHS in association with UK theatres. Tell us about it, Shlo!
- What I’ve learnt in lockdown
  
  Love it or loathe it, lockdown has given us time to learn new skills but has it taught us something deeper? Muddy tapped five women juggling careers, babies and even a tumour, to tell all.