Cliveden Hotel - Luxury Hideaway

Cliveden from parterre garden

A former stately home set in the heart of the Berkshire countryside, Cliveden is one of the world’s finest luxury hotels; it has played played host to nearly every British Monarch since George I. Queen Victoria was particularly fond of it. Nancy, Lady Astor, the first ever woman MP, saw out her days there.

Stephen Ward and Christine Keeler Stephen Ward and Christine Keeler were staying in Spring Cottage when they triggered the infamous Profumo scandal.

The original owner of the house, the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, was notorious for different reasons. A rake, schemer and wit, he created Cliveden in 1666 as a hunting lodge where he could entertain his friends and mistress.

One of Cliveden's three restaurants

Since the Duke of Buckingham’s time, Cliveden has twice been destroyed by fire only to emerge, phoenix-like, into the light of admiring eyes again.

The second fire occurred when the most popular owner of Cliveden, the 2nd Duke of Sutherland, had moved there with his wife, Harriet Howard, daughter of the Earl of Carlisle.

She was one of Queen Victoria’s closest friends and her Mistress of the Robes. The queen had seen the smoke from Windsor Castle and immediately despatched fire engines to the scene.

Later, the architect Charles Barry was brought in to investigate. He ended up redesigning Cliveden as an Italianate villa, standing on the foundations of the first two houses. It is acknowledged as one of Barry’s masterpieces .

A bedroom suite at Cliveden

Surrounded by magnificent formal gardens and parkland leading down to the gently curving reaches of The Thames River above Windsor, Cliveden is fascinating at any time of the year.

My first visit was with Japanese friend, Michiko, who was inspired by the grounds and its closeness to Heathrow as she often needs to entertain people who fly in and out of London in a matter of hours rather than days.

Vibrant with exotic flowers in spring and early summer, in winter its log fires offer visitors and regular guests much more than a home away from home.  At all times of the year, the most wonderful food is available here.

The second time I went to Cliveden was to show my sister around after arranging a visit to see around the expansive hotel and its offshoots, the Club and the Spa. Incidentally, von Essen hotels – they run Cliveden for the National Trust - won the Silver Award for the Hotel Chain of the Year in 2008.

We met Head Chef, Chris Horridge in the Cliveden’s elegant library. After talking about how to present healthy food in an exciting way to those who have problems with their diet, we were invited to try the tasting menu at Waldo’s Restaurant.

Hear what Chris Horridge has to say about food here.

Cliveden, Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 0JF
Tel: +44 (0) 1628 668561
Visit Cliveden’s website