Cliveden House – Taplow, Berkshire

Built for the second Duke of Buckingham’s mistress in 1666, Cliveden House is an renowned English country estate famed as a five-star setting for lavish entertaining and scandal. Standing in 376 acres of magnificent gardens and parkland (now owned by the National Trust), the hotel has 47 spacious rooms and suites in the elegant main mansion. Elsewhere, there’s Spring Cottage, a summerhouse on the banks of the River Thames, which offers guests the ultimate in luxurious privacy and escapism. The property has two outstanding restaurants: the opulent chandeliered Cliveden Dining Room, which is complemented by the relaxed informality of The Astor Grill. A luxurious spa, open to members and hotel guests is the spot for relaxation; unwind by the indoor pool before wandering into the garden where you will find the Profumo pool – the last remaining listed outdoor pool in England. Cliveden is imbued with a palpable sense of history, for this is a house that, for over 350 years, has been dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, power and politics.

Doubles from £580

+44 (0)1628 607107; clivedenhouse.co.uk