Spotlight

The talented locals behind The Indie StoreAs we gingerly step back into the real world, it’s more important than ever to support local. Here, some of our Indie Store businesses recount their journey and show what makes them special.
Letterbox cheer: best gifts by postShare the love in lockdown (we’re almost there!) with one of these fun letterbox gift ideas, from book bundles and candles, to beauty boxes and wine.
Feet up: 7 things to watch this weekA week's worth of great telly content, picked out across the channels and streaming sites. Put your feet up and settle in with one of these great things to watch.
7 fun things to do in the garden with kidsMake a mini golf course, plant a jam jar garden and measure a tree with your bum! Cabin fever begone with these brilliant gardening ideas kids will dig.
Half-term hack: the best online courses for kidsRun out of ways to entertain the kiddos? Check out Muddy's list of the best online classes and workshops that you can do from anywhere across the country, just in time for half-term.

Well, hello!

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

Gotta Have It

It’s amazing what you can send via Royal Mail these days. From glam-rock tops to craft kits for grown-ups, here’s our edit of the best gifts to make someone’s day.

The UK’s most creative and unique independent shops, makers and producers local to you.

Shop Now

Home View more
Bring the bar to you: how to have a virtual night out

Counting down the days until that chilly pub garden come April? God, us too. Here’s the next best thing: bar-quality cocktails, perfect ambience, and a whole lot of glam.
- Interiors inspo: bold spring refresh
  
  Enough with cosy interiors and soft greys - here’s our edit of the fabrics, paints and tiles to lift your spirits and inject some spring into your step, hallway, walls, sofas...
- I do like to be beside the seaside…
  
  From seaside botlholes to A-lister-worthy waterfront homes - wake up to fresh sea air every morning in one of these 10 coastal properties for sale now.
Wellbeing
- Low mood > depression > and how to tackle it
  
  One in five people reading this feature will be suffering from some form of depression. Here's how to spot the signs and help yourself and those you love.
- Cheaper than therapy: self-help books for 2021
  
  Being stuck inside for a year hasn’t done us a ton of good, but help is at hand. Try one of these tomes designed to get our work, home and head space in order.

Arts & Culture View more
Feet up: 7 things to watch this week

A week’s worth of great telly content, picked out across the channels and streaming sites. Put your feet up and settle in with one of these great things to watch.
- Why Emerald Fennell is our new girl crush
  
  She juggles horror and humour and always comes out on top; and from Killing Eve to The Crown to Young Promising Woman, she's written or acted in the most talked about film and TV in years
- Top TV: 6 things to watch this week
  
  We've unearthed this week's cream of the TV crop to save you the endless scrolling. From Bear Grylls to Patrick Dempsey we've got every genre and, erm, gorgeous gigastar covered...

Little Black Book

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

Puddingstone Distillery

Taste Treats

Zozimus activewear

Hide & Seek

Sopwell House, St Albans

Kings Road Fashions

Black Bridge Distillery

Make a Bottle

Another Epic Day

Autumn Bella Designs

Whistlebrook Clothing

Lucky Lobster Art, Herts

Eat View more
Flipping good: four new pancakes recipes to try

Had enough of lemon and sugar? Spice things up a bit this Pancake Day with an Iranian cardamom pancake, shredded duck pancake, or vegan version with blueberry compote.
- Asian-inspired healthy dinners for reboot February
  
  January didn't quite live up to your healthy living expectations? Cosy food doesn't have to come at the cost of health. Try these tasty plant-based recipes made with warming ginger and miso.
- Valentine’s date night delivered with love
  
  Cupid’s in the kitchen! Here are 10 of Herts & Beds best takeaways bringing the food of lurve to you this Valentine’s Day, all wrapped up and sealed with a (socially distanced) kiss!

Work View more
Ideas to get your finances into shape for 2021

The beginning of the year is always about renewal, resolutions and healthy regimes. But the fallout from Covid has shown how financial wellbeing is also vital – and too often overlooked. Muddy limbers up for a money MOT.
Kids
- 7 fun things to do in the garden with kids
  
  Make a mini golf course, plant a jam jar garden and measure a tree with your bum! Cabin fever begone with these brilliant gardening ideas kids will dig.
- Lockers Park, Hemel Hempstead
  
  Muddy says: A traditional boys’ pre-prep and prep school with an intimate, home-from-home feel and an emphasis on inclusivity and individuality.

Instamuddy

Fashion View more
The trouser brigade: stylish alternatives to jeans

It’s time to cast off the joggers and emerge from your style hibernation. We’ve found some comfortable but chic alternatives for those days when denim isn’t doing it for you
- Pearls: the white hot jewellery trend
  
  Dispel all thoughts of granny's twinset: high fash fans are pegging pearls as 2021's chicest accessory. Here's how to nail the trend.
- Wear the rainbow! Bright knits for a lockdown lift
  
  Lockdown monotony getting you down? Here's a fun idea: brighten up your Zoom calls (and your mood) with a different rainbow knit for every day of the week.

Beauty View more
- Skincare SOS – your winter essentials
  
  Zoom close-ups making you wince? Cold winter days and dry central heating are playing havoc with our skin. Try these hero products for a dose of much-needed hydration.
- 7 divine bath oils for a long soak
  
  We've put Blue Monday behind us. I think that calls for a relaxing bath, don't you? Here's how to make your evening soak more luxurious than ever.

People View more
The talented locals behind The Indie Store

As we gingerly step back into the real world, it’s more important than ever to support local. Here, some of our Indie Store businesses recount their journey and show what makes them special.
- How to run well by a pro marathon runner
  
  Need some work-out motivation? You’re in the right place. Muddy talks to endurance athlete Nick Butter about how to motivate yourself out the door and onto an exercise regime.
- What’s cooking? Calum Franklin, The Pie 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.

Travel View more
Grab the sunnies: our 2021 travel bucket list

It’s been so long, holidays have taken on a rather emotional hue. So we asked our editors how they really want to spend their annual leave. Expect cocktails, cities, and plenty of sun.
- 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 Beds
  
  From the big-beast tourist destinations we all know and love, to our cool insider alternatives, read on for our pick of 12 unmissable attractions in the Bedfordshire county