Society Scandal
and the Cliveden Set
West of our great capital, we follow the path of the mighty Thames to discover a trio of houses both illustrious and intimate, as well as two of England’s prettiest villages. The power brokers of every age are represented along the way, from Henry VIII to the influential ‘Cliveden Set’ of the 1930s.
The elegant grey stone Basildon Park would have been lost had it not been for the careful restoration programme begun by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the 1950s. The fine fixtures, fittings and furnishings they found bring the house back to its 18th century heyday.
We also visit The Vyne (pictured left) – just like Henry VIII before us. The beloved home of the Chutes for more than 350 years, this family weren’t afraid to make dramatic changes and so the house is a fascinating parade of interior fads and fashions over the centuries. Outside, the lovely grounds’ highlight is an ornamental lake.
We set off for the Italianate splendour of Cliveden (now partly a luxury hotel). Built to impress in 1851, the estate has been visited by virtually every monarch since George I and is undoubtedly one of the nation’s great houses. Cliveden’s glittering guest-list of days gone by is unsurpassed and includes Churchill and Charlie Chaplin. Notoriety followed when in the 1960s John Profumo met Christine Keeler by the swimming pool here. The house is closed to group bookings at the weekend but there is a huge amount to see in the gardens and woods, including wonderful sculptures, topiary and a newly-restored maze.
From Cliveden we go to Henley-on-Thames for a look around. Strongly associated with its annual regatta, Henley is a lovely spot to spend a few hours by the Thames; head up the towpath towards Marsh Lock if you fancy an easy stroll.
Littlecote House
Grade I Listed, 1520
Grade I-listed Littlecote is an archetypal Elizabethan manor house surrounded by 80- odd acres of historic parkland and gardens. The estate’s story goes fur ther back than the house itself; when Elizabeth I was still a child her father Henry VIII is said to have wooed Jane Seymour at an older house on the site. Yet fur ther back, the remains of a grand Roman villa can be visited in the grounds. No surprise then, that ghost stories abound here… From the past to the present, the accommodation here is both comfortable and stylish, and there is a fantastic restaurant, bistro and bar.
Upgrade options per person per break
|
Signature Room |
Historic Room |
Dining at Oliver’s Bistro |
| 5 days |
£70 |
£160 |
One night dining in Oliver’s Bistro for
Historic Room guests or small supplement
for Signature Rooms or Standard Rooms. |
| 4 days |
£53 |
£120 |
Click here for more details on Warner Leisure hotels.
- Return coach travel
- Accommodation in a Standard Room
- Dinner and breakfast at The Popham Restaurant
- All entrance fees to National Trust properties*
- A historic tour of the hotel
From just £279.99
Price includes National Trust members' discount of £45
- Members' discount will be applied during the checkout process if booking on our website.
- Self-drive option available - see the 'Make your own way' section below.
- Single supplement: £ 4 days, 60; 5 days, £80.
Use our Holiday Finder to search for National Trust Breaks in 3 easy steps.
Most of our customers prefer to let us do the driving and relax on the coach. However, if you’d like to make your own way to the hotel, you are still entitled to a seat on the coach for all excursions.
When making your booking on this website, select
'Making Own Way' as your pick-up point.
We like to ensure that all our customers are adequately insured to travel. Our
fully comprehensive cover has no upper age limit and to cover your break costs from
£14.95 per person.
Just Go! Holidays is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Ltd, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Our policy terms and conditions apply. If you already hold a travel insurance policy, please mention this at the time of booking.