Since the Duke of Buckingham began the first significant development of the estate in 1666, Cliveden has been the residence of many aristocrats and prominent figures. The present, more opulent mansion was built between 1849 and 1851 by Charles Barry, the architect of the Palace of Westminster, following a fire at the original house.

Cliveden was owned by the Duke of Westminster and John Loughborough Pearson before it became the home of the Astor family for more than 70 years. During this time Lord Astor allowed a part of the grounds - where Cliveden lies today - to be used by the Canadian Red Cross to build a hospital to treat soldiers wounded in the First World War.

It was later the home of Viscount Waldorf and Nancy Astor, the first woman to take her seat as a Member of Parliament. During the Astors' residency, Cliveden became a regular haunt for notable individuals to go hunting, stroll in the grounds, and be seen at lavish parties. Known as the 'Cliveden Set', they were a highly influential group of the time.

The Astors handed Cliveden over to the National Trust in 1942, but lived there until 1966. From 1969 to 1983 it was an overseas studies campus for Stanford University. Today, Cliveden is a spectacular five-star hotel, owned by the von Essen Group with beautiful landscaped gardens for the public to enjoy.