CLIVEDEN HOUSE - A TRANQUIL RETREAT

Cliveden House is an elegant country-house-hotel in the heart of Buckinghamshire. Once home to renowned society hostess and the first woman MP, Nancy Lancaster, Cliveden has now been transformed into a five star luxury hotel. I stayed there recently with my friend, Nathan Rollinson for a weekend of quiet elegance and relaxation, and I’m delighted to share my personal insights and photographs of this magical place.

The Grand Hallway - a portrait of Nancy Astor by John Singer-Sargent surveys the room

The entrance hall, fully panelled in wood, evokes the elegant charm of a private members club. An abundance of lamplight and the crackling fire creates a warming atmosphere that makes you feel instantly at home.

Those who know me well will understand that I am rather partial to teatime. At Cliveden this is a most special occasion - served in the French Dining Room and presented on Cliveden bone china, this Afternoon Tea is a moment never to be forgotten.

To honour the estate’s legacy, Executive Head Chef, Christopher Hannon and his team have curated a comprehensive Cliveden history inspired Afternoon Tea.
 
This culinary homage honours key features, such as the French Chocolate Cake symbolizing the elegant French Dining Room, originally from Château d'Asnières near Paris, the 24-carat Gold Pickled Egg representing the Octagon Chapel where William Waldorf rests, and the artistic Cliveden Four Seasons Fruit Cake showcasing the ceiling mural portraying the Duchess of Sutherland's four children as the seasons of the year.
 
This culinary celebration beautifully encapsulates the essence of Cliveden House, where social aspirations were realised, and political history unfolded.

The bedrooms and suites at Cliveden are truly what you’d expect of an elegant country house weekend. I stayed in the Buckingham Suite - a wood-panelled room with a roaring fireplace, views overlooking the magnificent grounds, and an enormous bathroom with marble floors, stone fireplace, and roll-top bath.

Watch my video below to see a tour of the suite.

The stone fireplace in the Buckingham Suite was the thing I loved most

A view of the driveway from the Lord Astor Bedroom

Enjoying tea in the Library

Cliveden is a special place - one that I will return to again and again. It has that special charm of being a large but comfortable residence - inviting, warm, elegant, and luxurious - a recipe for truly heavenly times —