There is something truly remarkable about Cliveden, no matter how many times you drive through Hedsor Gate, past the Fountain of Love with your car tyres crunching on the gravel of the Grand Avenue, the view before you is breathtaking, and your visit will be as memorable as for those who throughout history have enjoyed the hospitality of this great house, which stands overlooking the River Thames in Berkshire.
Cliveden is a place for all seasons; awash with daffodils in the spring, with it woodlands carpeted with bluebells in the early summer, or ablaze with autumn colour. As winter arrives, with its crisp, frosty morning air and lights twinkling at the windows as you drive up to the entrance portico to enjoy your winter staycation in one of the most famous houses in the country.
The history of Cliveden House has been linked with royalty from the moment George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham purchased the estate in 1666 and decided to build his ‘Palace on the Thames’, George, who was brought up in the Royal household of King Charles I became the most influential courtier and minister in the court of King Charles II. Now Cliveden House is a five-star luxury hotel owned by the National Trust and operated under a long lease arrangement by Iconic
Luxury Hotels. The house is surrounded by 376 acres of magnificent National Trust formal gardens and parkland all waiting to be explored during your stay.
Less than 45 minutes west of London and 20 minutes from London Heathrow Airport, the hotel has 48 rooms and suites, including a summerhouse by the Thames, together with boathouse and boats, an exclusive spa and a range of sporting and leisure facilities. The Dining Room at Cliveden is complemented by private dining, banqueting and meeting facilities and a second restaurant, The Astor Grill is located in the Duke of Westminster’s former stables.
You can be certain of a beautiful room filled with exquisite furnishings and priceless antiques. Each room is named after a prominent guest or figure from Cliveden’s past and furnished accordingly...from Churchill to Chaplin, Astor to Orkney and Sutherland to the Prince of Wales, each room provides a truly unique experience. Cliveden has 48 bedrooms and suites including Spring Cottage in the grounds of Cliveden House, which is one of the most charming cottages on the River Thames in Berkshire. Taking its name from the spring that emerges from the nearby cliffs, it was originally built as a summerhouse by the Countess of Orkney in 1813. Like so many of Cliveden’s legendary guests, she took her pleasures very seriously.
Today, if you want a secluded hideaway, a place to escape with friends, family or colleagues, this picturesque and sumptuously appointed part of the Cliveden Estate, gives you the world as the Countess would have viewed it. The country calm, the craft of the décor and the perfect, elegant functionality of the cottage allows you to enjoy a perfect getaway.
Extended in the 1870’s to accommodate the equally demanding tastes of The Duchess of Sutherland, this little haven of pastoral bliss became the centre of a passionate political storm in the early 1960’s. It was here that Stephen Ward and Christine Keeler stayed when they trigger the infamous Profumo scandal.
Spending time at Cliveden this winter promises to be very special indeed, whether you are planning to put on a pair of Wellington Boots and explore the estate, or change into a fluffy bathrobe and retreat into the Spa to enjoy treatments specifically tailored to your individual requirement; or, curl up in front of the fire with a good book and a glass of fizz, after enjoying a sumptuous afternoon tea overlooking the Parterre - which is reportedly the best view in the county.
Cliveden is dreamy for couples; wonderful for families with children, who stay for free during the school holidays when sharing with their parents; great for your four legged friends, as dogs also stay for free, and a magical place to meet-up with friends and family, to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary or just to simply get together in ‘our house’ because now you can make up for time lost and be all together in one of our stunning private dining rooms.
With the arrival of our legendary Christmas Tree to mark the start of the festive season at Cliveden, the house will be festooned with sparkling decorations, we will have festive menus available for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea, and our legendary Christmas and New Year House Party programmes are crammed full of festive celebrations to help us say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new year.
When all the excitement of the party season is over, Cliveden will again be a winter wonderland and a place to visit whilst we await the new season and the arrival of spring.
For further information on staying at Cliveden House, please contact:
