Muddy Stilettos Essex

Spotlight

Wealth - how to get it, grow it, and keep it in the familyFrom university fees to care homes and to buying property, families are stepping in like never before to beat the tax man and help their relatives. Here's what you need to know to join them.
And the Best Place to Live in Essex is...A historic market town with pretty streets, independent boutiques, cosy pubs and an easy commute to London got the most votes from our readers
48 Mother's Day afternoon teas that deliverCan't give mum a hug? This is a close second: tiny sandwiches, a lot of clotted cream, and an optional bottle of fizz. Here are the 48 best afternoon teas for delivery and takeaway around the country.
Sunday lunch, sorted: the best takeaway menus to munch onFrom Yorkshire puds to Michelin-star plates, we've rounded up the county's tastiest spots to order a weekend nosh up from. (You'll still need to do the washing up, though – sorry!)
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.

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

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...

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

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Home View more
And the Best Place to Live in Essex is…

A historic market town with pretty streets, independent boutiques, cosy pubs and an easy commute to London got the most votes from our readers.
- 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.
- Face off! Expressive interiors to buy now
  
  Inject a little personality into your home with these interior buys that feature quirky facial expressions, all from fabulous local businesses on The Indie Store.
Wellbeing
- Consider a raisin… and four other ways to be more Zen
  
  Whether it's social anxiety about lockdown ending, or panic that it's not coming soon enough, a new book claims the ancient art of Zen will see us through. Ready to try it?
- 5 of the best running routes in Essex
  
  Whether you’re a couch-to-5Ker who’s missing the fun of an organised Parkrun or a seasoned long-distance pro coveting a new patch to pound, we've got you covered with our edit of off-the-grid jogs.

Arts & Culture View more
Pass the remote! 5 things to watch this week

From guilty pleasure TV and true-crime documentaries to cult comedy and feminist flicks – there’s something for everyone in our curated pick of new releases this week.
- Novels set in Essex: titles to add to your reading list
  
  Spring is in the air, but the evening chill still demands a good book. So, where better to start than the titles set right here in the county? Here's some of the best to add to basket.
- Superflashy newsflash!
  
  Claire Danes hits the county, Frinton-on-Sea bags best beach and Banksy comes to Brentwood: here's all the hot Essex goss you can handle right now

Eat View more
48 Mother’s Day afternoon teas that deliver

Can’t give mum a hug? This is a close second: tiny sandwiches, a lot of clotted cream, and an optional bottle of fizz. Here are the 48 best afternoon teas for delivery and takeaway around the country.
- Comforting classics from The Pie Room
  
  Ooh, is there anything more satisfying than good flaky pastry? These two tasty recipes from Calum Franklin's new cookbook The Pie Room are just the ticket.
- Sunday lunch, sorted: the best takeaway menus to munch on
  
  From Yorkshire puds to Michelin-star plates, we've rounded up the county's tastiest spots to order a weekend nosh up from. (You'll still need to do the washing up, though – sorry!)

Work View more
Shop local: the home-office updates you’ll love

In a bid to give ‘hot desking’ a thoroughly modern respin, Essex boutiques are stocking some standout office staples right now. Here’s where – and what – to shop for the dream WFH situ…
Kids
- 6 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 cool gardening ideas kids will dig.
- Felsted School, Felsted
  
  Green space, expansive facilities and a progressive global curriculum to make you swoon at this top co-ed boarding and day school for ages 4-18 in the pretty Essex countryside.

Fashion View more
Word up! Slogan sweats to buy now

Can’t find the words to say it yourself? Say it with a sweater! Here are eight cool slogan jumpers we’re coveting right now, all from indie shops and brands.
- 2021 fashion collabs you need to know
  
  When high fashion met high street. Here are the new season fashion collabs we're lusting after this month (with surprisingly affordable price tags).
- 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

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
Five lockdown heroines to celebrate IWD

It’s been a bit of a year so to mark International Women’s Day 2021, we thought we’d big up five women who have impressed, delighted and inspired us over the past 12 months.
- 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.
- 20 Muddy-approved attractions in Essex
  
  From the big-beast tourist destinations to our cool insider alternatives, read on for our pick of 20 unmissable attractions across 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?