Cliveden House Hotel

Cliveden House Hotel, a loved luxurious country house hotel near Heathrow yet surrounded by the English countryside

Cliveden House Hotel

Perched on a cliff high above the River Thames, Cliveden House is 25 miles west of London in the ‘home’ county of Berkshire. The story of the house starts over 350 years ago and features influential personalities, iconic parties and scandalous affairs. The ideal place to stay on your Private Tour of England.

The house was built during the mid-17th century by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham. Stunning landscaped grounds surround this architectural beauty, with parterres and antique statuary. The location is ideal to end a tour and spend a few days enjoying the estate before flying from Heathrow.

Cliveden has two restaurants, a modern spa, water gardens and vintage riverboats for use. The hotel is only a 20-minute drive to Heathrow with easy access to the Motorways heading to the Cotswolds. You can stay at the Lygon Arms and head South and stay at Cliveden’s sister property, Chewton Glen, nestled in the New Forest National Park; also nearby is the Jurassic Coast.

 

The Grand Dame of the Thames Valley

Accommodation
At Cliveden House Hotel, you’ll find an array of elegant rooms and suites as well as a self-contained accommodation called Summer Cottage for people that are looking for more privacy.

Room options
Club Rooms (263sq ft) with handmade queen-size beds and some with a private terrace with hot tub, overlooking the spa garden or courtyard; Classic Rooms (344-376sq ft) with handmade king-size or twin beds, sitting area and some with a private terrace with hot tub, overlooking the courtyard;

Deluxe Double Rooms (430-484sq ft) with handmade king-size or twin beds, lounge area, many with a fireplace and some with a private terrace with hot tub, overlooking the outdoor pool; Mansion House Deluxe Double Rooms (430-484sq ft) with handmade king-size or twin beds, seating area and many with a fireplace, overlooking the Grand Drive and Fountain of Love.

Suite options
The Junior Suites (645sq ft) are spacious with high ceilings, situated on the first and second floor. They feature handmade king-size beds, an en-suite period bathroom; many have a fireplace as well as a separate or open plan lounge area.

The Deluxe Suites (645-699sq ft) are high-ceilinged with handmade king-sized beds, a fireplace; some have a dressing area as well as a separate or open plan lounge area overlooking the estate.

The Mansion House Deluxe Suites (645-699sq ft) are spacious with high ceilings, featuring handmade king-size or twin beds, a fireplace; some have a dressing area as well as a separate or open plan lounge overlooking the estate.

Self-contained accommodation
The Spring Cottage (2690sq ft) is a beautiful three-bedroom property set on the Thames riverbanks, offering excellent living space with private gardens. The house can accommodate up to six guests, has two double bedrooms with one en-suite bathroom and a children’s room with two single beds. There are two lounges with an open fireplace, a small office area and a small lake in the rear garden. A private chef experience can be arranged if requested prior to arrival.

Restaurants
The Cliveden Dining Room offers innovative, contemporary British cuisine with attention to locally sourced, seasonal and fresh produce.

The Astor Grill is a charming, characterfully decorated restaurant offering a range of classic American and British dishes in a relaxed yet cosmopolitan setting.

Facilities
Cliveden House Hotel has many facilities available for its guests, from a state-of-the-art gym to a stunning indoor and outdoor pool, complemented with hot tubs. There are also one indoor and two outdoor tennis courts at your disposal to practise year-round. If you prefer to relax, there is a sauna and steam room and a range of spa treatments.

History 
The house enjoys a commanding position on a cliff overlooking the curves in the Thames Valley below. The land became part of the estate in the mid 17th century when the 2nd Duke of Buckingham built the first house. Cliveden has never been far from scandal - wealth and power do seem to attract intrigue and jealousy. The construction of the original house was probably to impress the Duke's mistress, a Countess no less. Whispers of the affair eventually reach the ears of the Earl of Shrewsbury, who challenged the Duke to a duel. That was a mistake to take on the Duke, who happened to be a legendary English Civil War warrior. The Earl died of his injuries.

The Grand tour
Houses burnt down, and new owners re-built. Eventually, we get to the house we see today. What inspired such a home? While touring various stately homes with us, it will become apparent that English aristocrats of the past very much admired the ancient world, and it was considered educational and character-building to tour Europe, to see and learn all they could. Italy in the 18th and 19th century was poor, and this allowed the English elite to purchase antiquities and import the ideas of ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy. Therefore, in Britain, you see classically styled stately homes built on a grand scale. Cliveden is one such place. Owners of Cliveden invested in landscaping, sculpture and remodelled over and over.

The current house
We travel in time; we are now in the mid 19th century, the 1850's to be exact, and architect Charles Barry is super famous for designing the House of Parliament and creates this decadent home for the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. The joys of being near the River Thames make Cliveden ideal as a summer retreat and one for you too. Messing about on the River is an English pastime; imagine pastoral scenes of riverbank picnics and gentle boat trips. You also can have fun and properly unwind, think about your wellbeing and enjoy the water; the Thames is a magical river and the reason for London's existence.

The Astors' parties
Lavish entertainment did not stop in the 19th century; the culture continued into the 20th century. Nancy and Waldorf Astor hosted grand parties for the elite of society. Sir Winton Churchill (Britain's wartime leader), Gandhi (civil rights activist) and Henry Ford (American industrialist) all spent time at Cliveden.

Scandal
John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War, met and became involved with a model and call girl, Christine Keeler, while spending time at Cliveden. The story hit the headlines in 1963 and caused a genuine national security problem; Christine Keeler was simultaneously seeing a Soviet Naval attaché. Profumo's career ended, and the scandal rocked the Government.

Touring Guide
Now let us create an experience just for you, and let Cliveden be a part of that journey on your Private Tour of England. Feel like a royal on a visit to Windsor Castle, the Queen’s weekend home or go to Hampton Court Palace, a famous Tudor and Baroque palace. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, we recommend experiencing the Harry Potter Film Studio Tour, where you’ll see actual sets and props from the films. Under an hour away lies RHS Garden Wisley, a must-visit for garden lovers.

The ideal retreat above the Thames

A stone's throw from Heathrow Airport

  • Bespoke amenities
  • Room upgrade upon arrival subject to availability
  • Set upon 376 acres of National Trust grounds
  • Grade 1 listed stately home
  • Spa
  • Two restaurants

Help us make your trip exceptional

Our UK, EU and US office-based staff will listen to what you want to see and experience.

Whether you are a honeymoon couple, a family or a corporate incentive group, our team’s collective resources will be brought together to build the experience that’s right for you.

We will require your arrival and departure dates, details of your personal preferences and places that you would like to visit as well as the events you would like to experience.

We will then prepare a draft itinerary and send it to you by email for your approval. Once agreed, we will send you a Booking Confirmation with Personalised Itinerary and Information Pack via email.

Contact information

From the UK: +44(0)20 8669 3666

FREE from Canada or the USA: 1-888-472-1799

Email: [email protected]

Traveller Information

Tour Builder

Optional Information
By getting to know you and your preferences better, we are able to tailor your trip to your liking and be spot on!
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