Cliveden House, Berkshire

Stunning building of Cliveden House

Cliveden House

Only 25 minutes by train from London, Natasha Blair investigates what it’s like to stay in a historic, country house pad.

Cliveden House is owned by the von Essen Group, but is set in 376 acres of land, which is looked after by the National Trust. The building is very impressive, and certainly has a ‘wow’ factor on sight as it’s situated at the end of a long straight drive. The interior is equally impressive. The huge main hall has lots of character with oak panelling, tapestries, a 16th-century stone fireplace, a grand piano, and numerous paintings. There is even a suit of armour.

As there is so much history attached to the place, the hotel has recently introduced a Heritage Concierge, a job that has fallen to Michael, the hotel’s House Manager. Guests who are interested can book, preferably in advance, a free hour-long historical tour of the house.

Cliveden House's majestic bedrooms and suites
Cliveden House

At one time the house belonged to the Astor family who were great socialites. Over the years, lots of famous people from different walks of life including royalty have visited or stayed. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was there with friends and family during my visit.

Six of the bedrooms look out onto the gardens, and tend to be the quietest. My bedroom, T.E. Lawrence, on the second floor, was named, as are all the others, after one of its many distinguished visitors. It was enormous, with a walk-in closet and dressing room. Large windows looked out onto the drive with a large statue, the ‘Fountain of Love’ at the far end. The rooms aren’t air conditioned, there are portable fans, so opening the windows can be noisy. My marble-tiled bathroom had his and hers wash basins. Trixie, my pet dog, was well served with an enormous pillow, and an equally large bowl of biscuits.

The Terrace Dining Room has large windows that look out onto a veranda walkway and a five-acre Parterre, the name for one of several manicured and elaborately planted gardens. In the distance, I could see the River Thames. The hotel is set on a hill and has panoramic views over the countryside.

Cliveden House's impressive French Dining Room
Cliveden House

The food is beautifully presented, and the service impeccable. There is also a fine dining restaurant in the basement which I found rather pokey. Worth a peep, however, is the Rococo French Dining Room, with its gilded panelling taken from the Château of Madam de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress, which is used, but only if booked for a private party.

There is also a less formal gastro-style restaurant in the Club area, which has all the spa amenities. Adjacent to the main building, there is both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. The latter, which is listed, was the scene of the famous 1960’s scandal, which brought about the downfall of the then Secretary of State for War, John Profumo. There are also indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a high-tech gym.

Cliveden House has three boats for guests
WTG / Natasha Blair

On the river, the hotel has three boats, which are hired out to guests. A great way to go, if one wanted to visit the Waterside Inn at Bray, the nearby Michelin-starred restaurant owned by the Roux Brothers. I was fortunate enough to be invited, with others, on one of the boats. While cruising down the River Thames, we enjoyed a typically English tea of sandwiches without crusts, scones with thick cream and jam, and a selection of rather tempting cakes.

The mooring is near to Spring Cottage, a self-contained, three-bedroom property on the banks of the river, which has its own lily pond and private gardens. Although still within the grounds of the estate, it is a mile from the hotel, so far enough away for anyone who wants total privacy. Within it is a circular room, which was built specifically for visits by Queen Victoria. It has a kitchen, but the real plus is that it comes with a dedicated butler who can, as part of his duties, cook meals if the occupants don’t want to eat at the hotel.

Cliveden House's elegant gardens and pool
Cliveden House

Cliveden is the sort of place to come to to chill out and relax. The grounds are extensive and worth exploring. As they belong to the National Trust, they are also open to visitors not staying at the hotel. The surrounding area is pretty with places such as Windsor and Henley-on-Thames to visit. Within the grounds, there is a helicopter-landing pad. Von Essen, who own the hotel also have several helicopters so it’s possible to really arrive in style!

Cliveden House
Taplow, Berkshire, UK
Tel: (01628) 668 561.
Website: www.clivedenhouse.co.uk
Price: From £210 per room inclusive of full English breakfast.