Spotlight

8 amazing coastal walks across the countyFancy stretching your legs and filling your lungs with fresh sea air? Then stroll on over to Muddy’s definitive guide to the best coastal walks across Essex.
Your winter / spring 2022 local culture guideNew year, new exciting things to do! There's a jam-packed schedule of cool cultural happenings coming to Essex this year, and we know all about 'em. Diaries at the ready, let's go!
5 hottest interiors trends for 2022January means spending a lot of time hunkering down at home and with all that hunkering comes some hankering – and this month, we're after a little interiors update. Here's what's hot for 2022.
8 best veggie/vegan eats in EssexVegan curious? Or trying to cut down your meat consumption? Then get your plant-based fix at these Essex joints delivering zero-guilt dining experiences.
15 Essex days out to enjoy in JanuarySpoiler: January doesn’t need to be bleak – especially when there’s so many great days out on your doorstep! Whether you’re a foodie seeking tasty local fare or a family looking for a fun afternoon activity to hit, we’ve put together 15 of the best things to do in Essex to kick-start your year in style…

Well, hello!

I'm Lianne, editor of Muddy Essex, here to bring you the quirky, cool and downright unmissable in the area.

Gotta Have It

Looking to brighten up your kids’ wardrobes this year? If you can tear them out of the Frozen costumes, this Muddy-Award-winning local brand is your one-stop-shop for stylish little ones.

Gotta have it

What’s on this month

Fancy doing something fun? Er, always! Read on for our curated picks of the best things happening near you right now

See What's On

Eat

8 best veggie/vegan eats in Essex

Vegan curious? Or trying to cut down your meat consumption? Then get your plant-based fix at these Essex joints delivering zero-guilt dining experiences.
- Winter walks in Essex that are worthy of a pub-lunch refuel
  
  Love a countryside hack and post-ramble pub lunch? Us too. Step forward our pick of the most picturesque winter walks in Essex – and nearby soul-warming watering holes – that promise a hearty foodie hit for the hardiest of hot steppers this season
- Sunday best: the roast dinners you don’t want to miss out on
  
  Bring on the Yorkshire puds, cranberry sauce and lashings of gravy! Here’s 8 of the best dining destinations to hit across the county for all your beef (or lamb or chicken or veggie) trimmings – without compromising on style or taste. You. Are. Welcome

Culture

Culture’s calling! What to see in London in 2022

Thrilling theatre, exhilarating art, fantastic festivals – these are the tickets you need to book now. Settle in for a capital city culture hitlist, and a jam-packed 2022.
- The 7 best things to watch on TV this week
  
  From the winner of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival to Stanley Tucci’s new series about the legal fallout of sunken gold, we’ve got a stonking good line-up of shiny TV to watch this week.
- Your winter / spring 2022 local culture guide
  
  New year, new exciting things to do! There’s a jam-packed schedule of cool cultural happenings coming to Essex this year, and we know all about ’em. Diaries at the ready, let’s go!

Little Black Book

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

Florence Geary Photography

Wood Cottage Tea Room, Felsted

Amanda's Beautiful Ceremonies

Creeksea Place Barns, Burnham-on-Crouch

Frasers of Egerton, Ashford

OLIVETREEHOME

Wivenhoe House, Wivenhoe

Alpine Rose Interiors

Chigborough Farm, near Maldon

Browning Bros Glamping, near Colchester

Jepcrack's Barns, near Maldon

Tiptree Tea Room, Osea Island

Travel

Hotting up! Best new hotels for 2022

Introducing the hottest new hotel openings around the world. Warning: contains images of sexy bedrooms, turquoise seas and infinity pools.
- Green for go! 10 sustainable holidays
  
  Want to do your bit for the environment while enjoying your hols? Check out these eco-friendly hot spots which are clean, green and keen on a bit of luxury too.
- The must-read Muddy skiing guide
  
  Want to book a ski holiday this year but not sure where to go? Snow problem! Whether you’re a family with beginners, hitting the après ski with friends or want an extreme mountain peak adventure, read on.

Home

House swap – what will £850k get you?

Considering a move or just need a bit of escapism from the same four walls? We’ve popped £850k in the fantasy property pot, but what does that buy you across the Muddy counties?
- New year, new build?
  
  Coveting space, a sprinkle of character and historic countryside setting for your next move? City & Country – the UK’s leading heritage developer – has the answer…
- 5 hottest interiors trends for 2022
  
  January means spending a lot of time hunkering down at home and with all that hunkering comes some hankering – and this month, we’re after a little interiors update. Here’s what’s hot for 2022.
Wellbeing
- 8 amazing coastal walks across the county
  
  Fancy stretching your legs and filling your lungs with fresh sea air? Then stroll on over to Muddy’s definitive guide to the best coastal walks across Essex.
- Megan Rossi’s Prebiotic Rocky Road
  
  A traybake that’s actually good for your gut and tastes like a treat? Look no further than this clever recipe from the gut health expert’s new book

Life

Time to split? Here’s how to do it, from the queen of breakups

She’s got a podcast, comedy show, award-winning books and celeb following – Rosie Wilby is the one to listen to if you’re breaking up
Kids
- Gotta Have It! Super-Cool Kidswear
  
  Looking to brighten up your kids’ wardrobes this year? If you can tear them out of the Frozen costumes, this Muddy-Award-winning local brand is your one-stop-shop for stylish little ones.
- Saint Nicholas School, Harlow
  
  Impossible to find fault with this small but facility-packed co-ed through school – from its fun family vibe and outstanding pastoral care to its strong academic results and Famous Five grounds

Instamuddy

Fashion

Witness the fitness! Best sportswear to buy now

There’s loads of gorgeous new sportswear in the shops and online at the moment. Hop, skip and jump this way for the Muddy edit.
- Where to rent, repair and sell gorgeous designer clothes
  
  Madonna’s cone bra is now available to rent! It’s ethical, eco and everywhere… here’s where you can rent, repair and sell-on stylish clothes, from Christmas party outfits to eye-catching clutch bags
- A new leaf: your 10 autumn wardrobe essentials
  
  Bright knits, checks, big handbags, even bigger boots. We’ve got your autumn/winter 2021 fashion fix sorted.
Beauty
- Hair transformation: mumsy mane, begone!
  
  Stuck in a hair rut? See Muddy Berkshire editor Rachel’s chic style update here – the third video in our series with the fabulous Haringtons salons
- Hair trends 2022: the new styles to try this year
  
  Is this the year to shake up your style? From the French bob to buttermilk balayage, awesome award-winning salon group Haringtons give the lowdown on 22’s most coveted looks

People

Meet the maker: Dantes Ceramics

From potters and painters to stylists and chefs, Essex is awash with creative talent and in this new culture series, we meet the skilled artisans who deserve championing. First up: Isabelle Taylor-Jones of Dantes Ceramics in Wivenhoe
- Muddy meets celeb ventriloquist Paul Zerdin
  
  He won America’s Got Talent and is finally back on tour. Muddy talks to ventriloquist Paul Zerdin about weird fan mail, dressing up as Maggie Thatcher and his beef with Barney the Dinosaur.
- Naked weddings and tigers: stories from a celebrant
  
  Celebrants will do a wedding any way you want, which means they have all the best tales. Muddy sniffed out the juicy bits from local celebrant Amanda’s Beautiful Ceremonies.