Cliveden House

 Family-friendly if you’re a millionaire.

On our way from Kent to Broadway, we got caught in traffic trying to get around London, so by mid-afternoon, we were looking for a place to stop and take a break. Cliveden House (pronounced klivden) is located about halfway between London and Oxford, so we decided to stop there and have a look around. It is a National Trust property, so admission and parking are free if you are a member. Cliveden House is an active hotel, but as a visitor, you park away from the main building and walk the rest of the way to the house. Fortunately, the walk is not unpleasant, and you pass a very attractive fountain on the way.

The Fountain of Love

When you arrive at the main building, they don't exactly welcome you in. You must find your own way around the building to get to the other side where the grounds are. Having made your way around, the grounds are pleasant, but your children will not appreciate it. There are lots of pretty estates and gardens in England, and this is also one.

After wandering the fields a while — we could use a good walk after several hours in the car — we finally decided to enter the hotel building. We were not welcomed, but we asked whether we could have a cup of tea and something to eat. Once we decided to spend money there, everyone was super nice to us. We were seated quickly and shown the menu, and after we ordered tea, we took a look around the room we were in. Absolutely beautiful, with John Singer Sargent’s finest work, a portrait of Nancy Astor on display. The tea was among the best I have ever had — better than the one we had had at the Goring Hotel 2 years earlier — so if you want to experience a traditional English afternoon tea, this is a better choice (better and cheaper) than the Goring.

This is what a £25 cup of tea looks like.

I exaggerate a little. You don’t just get a cup of tea for that price.  You also get a full selection of sandwiches, scones, and sweets. It is practically a full meal, so if you look at it that way, considering the décor and the service, it isn’t bad value for money.

Kids typically don't like gardens, and adults typically don’t like shelling out £25 for a cup of tea (and some sandwiches), so probably shouldn’t be tops on your list of places to visit while in England. However, if one of your goals is to experience a formal English afternoon tea, Cliveden House is an excellent place for that, I totally recommend it for that purpose. Take the afternoon and stroll the grounds and enjoy. Your children may get bored with the strolling, but they will enjoy the tea. Spoil yourself!

There is also a hedge maze you can promise your kids if they're good.