Cliveden, Country house hotel in Taplow, England
Cliveden is a country house hotel in Taplow, England, set on a hilltop above the Thames within extensive parkland. The facade features classical columns and balconies overlooking lawns, hedges, and terraced gardens that descend toward the river.
A fire destroyed the original building in 1795, and another in 1849 prompted the reconstruction by Charles Barry, completed in 1851. The Astor family acquired the estate in 1893 and transformed it into a social hub for decades.
The name derives from Old English 'Clif-denu,' meaning valley by a cliff, which describes the site's position above the river. Visitors today walk through rooms where American and British high society once gathered for weekend parties and political discussions.
Access works best by car, as the location sits away from town centers in rural surroundings. Visitors should allow time to walk through the gardens and along the riverside paths, especially in dry weather.
A Japanese water garden sits hidden in the eastern section of the grounds, created in 1893 for Lord Astor. This quiet area with ponds and stone bridges often goes unnoticed by visitors focused on the main building.
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