As a solo traveler I have the luxury of going where I want to and indulging when I want to without the ties that bind. I have often found myself as a overnight guest at many a British manor house hotels for this very reason. They are often very stuffy for traditional family holidays and not quite romantic enough for a weekend getaway with your honey! However, they are a wonderful anecdote to civilization for single travelers and I am sure Cliveden fits the bill. Now, before I go further, I have yet to stay at this mansion but it is definitely on the British “to do” list very soon!
Hmmmmm, can I have both?
Cliveden (pronounced as in “lived in”) has always intrigued me, perhaps because of the romance and grandeur; maybe for its place in history; or possibly because the Astors lived there and the Beatles partied there and filmed scenes for “Help” at Cliveden. Now let’s put all of this grandeur in perspective: Three Dukes, an Earl and a Prince of Wales have lived in or owned Cliveden and we have yet to scratch the surface of its guest book.
The hotel’s history began in the 17th century when the 2nd Duke of Buckingham built a hunting lodge on the 376-acre parcel. (That’s a lot of deer and grouse if you ask me!) The Duke was the truly wild bachelor of his day and eventually killed the husband of his mistress in a duel on the property. That didn’t sit well with King Charles II and the Duke eventually died penniless. Italian design dots the landscape as well, since the Earl of Orkney hired Venetian architect Giacomo Leoni to design the Octagon Temple and Blenheim Pavilion.
The current mansion, which was built in 1850, sits majestically along the banks of the Thames, about 26 miles outside of London and a 20 minute ride from Heathrow Airport. It was the country estate of to three generations of the Astor family and today’s guests can rent Nancy Astor’s electric canoe, Liddesdale, for a river trip. (Winston Churchill and his brother are said to have taken rowing lessons from the Astor’s boatman.)
Cliveden had its place in 20th century history as well during the Profumo Affair, which brought down the government of British Prime Minister Harold McMillan when it came to light that his Minister of War, John Profumo, had an affair with a woman he met at Cliveden. Profumo then denied it to the House of Commons (oh, the shame – but the more things change……….and all that)
As a solo traveler, one of the things I enjoy most about these country estates is the dining experience and I am sure that dining at Cliveden is similar to other meals I have enjoyed at Tylney Hall n Rotherwick or The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. And do not be intimidated by the place settings in these dining rooms because there is waitstaff who magically
Waldo's at Cliveden House
place before you just the correct piece of silver for you to dine on for any given course throughout the meal. There is a bonus in that if you cannot afford an overnight stay at Cliveden, you can at least dine like royalty by visiting the estate and reserving a table for an afternoon tea or dinner at Waldo’s restaurant or the Terrace Dining Room…….or why not use it for a day spa getaway if you’re staying in central London?
Spa pool at Cliveden House
There are 37 bedrooms at Cliveden and if you book a stay online you can save up to 50% on Auctions Closing Soon at Luxury Link
