Discover more at Cliveden
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Things to see in Cliveden's house and chapel
- Published:
- 11 March 2025
Step into a new season of discovery at Cliveden, where centuries of heritage meet enduring elegance. From March 2026, our House Tours invite you to explore the storied rooms once graced by royalty, artists, and statesmen, while the 2026 Chapel season opens on Wednesday 1 April 2026, offering a rare glimpse into one of the estate’s most atmospheric spaces. Built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as an extravagant gift for his mistress, Cliveden has evolved into a sanctuary of refinement, adorned with antique treasures and remarkable period details. Today, it continues to inspire all who walk its halls, providing a luxurious setting to pause, connect, and be captivated by its timeless charm.
2026 House tour closures
Please note that there will be no house tours from Monday 5 – Thursday 15 October 2026 due to a hotel event.
Visiting Cliveden House
Cliveden House is currently leased as a luxury country hotel and generally not open to National Trust Visitors. However, from March – October 2026, National Trust visitors can enjoy a 30-minute guided visit, every 10 minutes from 11am-12:30pm on selected days. 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 2026.
- Please note that there will be no house tours from Monday 5 – Thursday 15 October 2026 due to a hotel event.
- 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.
Accessibility
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The house is a working hotel and therefore the nature of a visit is more suited to an adult audience.
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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.
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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.
Nancy Astor portrait
The celebrated portrait of Nancy Astor has returned to Cliveden for the 2026 season, following its appearance in the John Singer Sargent exhibition at Kenwood House. Painted by Sargent, one of the most influential portrait artists of his time, the work once again takes pride of place within the house.
In 2024, the portrait underwent careful conservation at the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio at Knole. Specialists removed discoloured layers of varnish, stabilised areas of flaking paint and delicately retouched small paint losses, revealing the richness and detail of Sargent’s original work. The frame was also expertly conserved and returned to its original water-gilded finish.
The conservation journey of the portrait, and its close connection to Cliveden, featured in series two of BBC’s Hidden Treasures. Visitors on a house tour can now see this remarkable portrait up close and discover more about Nancy Astor’s story and her lasting legacy at Cliveden.
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 Wednesday 1 April – Saturday 31 October 2026 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.
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.
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