Things to see in Cliveden's house and chapel

Published:: 11 March 2025

Cliveden House in the winter | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole

The 2025 House & Chapel season has now concluded. Please check back in March 2026 for the release of the 2026 season dates. Step inside Cliveden House, a place steeped in history, intrigue, and timeless elegance. Originally built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a gift for his mistress, the house has long been a retreat for the elite. Today, enriched with antique furnishings and exquisite period features, Cliveden remains true to its heritage while offering a luxurious setting to rest, meet, and be inspired.

Visiting Cliveden House

Cliveden House is currently leased as a luxury country hotel and generally not open to National Trust Visitors. However, from March to October, on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, National Trust visitors can enjoy a 30-minute guided visit, every 10 minutes from 11am-12:30pm. Please ensure you have collected a ticket from the Information Centre on arrival, as these are first come, first served.

Our volunteer guides will take you on a journey along the ground floor bringing to life the glittering history of the house. They will share with you the glamorous stories of the famous Astor dynasty and you will see where guests such as Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Amy Johnson and other famous figures were entertained.

House visits tickets

Tickets available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from March to October.
Entry to the house is by ticket only which are obtained on the day, only from the National Trust Information Centre in the main centre car parking area. We recommend you collect your ticket as soon as you arrive to ensure a place on a guided house visit.
Visits run every 10 minutes from 11 am to 12:30 pm, dependent on guide availability.
Tickets for the House visits are included within the admission price. You're welcome to make a donation at the Information Centre.
Please do not take photos or videos inside the house.

House visit meeting point

Please make your way to the house, heading to the lawn on the left-hand side of the house where our guides will be waiting to welcome you.
All tours will leave promptly at the time listed on your ticket, so please aim to check in at the house five minutes in advance.

Accessibility

The house is a working hotel and therefore the nature of a visit is more suited to an adult audience.
Unfortunately, Cliveden house is not accessible for wheelchairs or pushchairs. You are welcome to leave these at the entrance, and visitors with walking frames or other mobility aids are welcome to join the tours at their own discretion. However, please note that we cannot guarantee that any seating will be available along the tour route.
Only assistance dogs are permitted on house visits.

House visit highlights

Purchasing the house in 1893, the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor set about restyling the house with only the best and most expensive materials of the day, along with the acquisitions he had acquired on his travels abroad.

Look out for the magnificent stone chimney piece in the Great Hall, purchased by Astor from the famous sale of the Spitzer collection in Paris in 1892. Ending your visit in the French Dining room you will marvel at the Rococo Boiseries panelling from the Chateau d' Asniéres, a hunting lodge dating back to 1750.

PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR by Sir Hubert von Herkomer at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire | © ©National Trust Images/John Bethell

The chapel

Head to the western side of the Parterre for a surprise; the unassuming domed building overlooking the river houses a wonderfully ornate chapel, also known as the Octagon Temple. The Chapel is open in the afternoons from April to October on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions.

Please note: Access to the chapel is via outdoor steps (with a handrail), which may be slippery when wet. Assistance dogs only allowed inside the Chapel.

From tea-room to chapel

Dating from 1735, the building was conceived for Lord Orkney by architect Giacomo Leoni. Guests would enjoy wandering along the cliff top paths before taking tea and enjoying the view from the ‘Prospect Room’.

In 1897 William Waldorf Astor proposed the idea of converting the tea-room into a splendid private chapel. The work involved major structural alterations to change the former two-storey building into a double height space. It boasts an inlaid polished stone floor, stained-glass windows and vibrant glass mosaics covering the walls.

Download the chapel guidebook

Take a peek inside

The chapel is free of charge to National Trust visitors. Unlike the house visits, there's no need to pick up a timed ticket, simply pop in and our friendly, knowledgeable volunteer stewards will be on hand to chat and share the history of the building. There may be times when the Chapel has to remain closed due to conservation weather conditions or unavailability of volunteer stewards. Please check if the chapel is open by calling in to the National Trust Visitors Information Centre on your arrival.