Afternoon Tea at Cliveden House in South Bucks

This is one of the best afternoon teas we have ever enjoyed! Why? The service was superb. Anna was so attentive, friendly & professional and nothing was too much trouble. Also Bryn went over and beyond to get permission to give us a tour of the infamous pool once he had actually finished his shift. Incredible. The passion and dedication of both was exceptional. Thank you. Now, the food … delicious and wonderfully plentiful, as a vegetarian extremely well catered for. When you’re ready, your plate, knife and tea are refreshed, and the gently warmed scones arrive, not just with the obligatory clotted cream and jam of course, but also homemade lemon curd - wonderful! We have wanted to visit Cliveden for many years, and everything exceeded our expectations!

WE VISITED THE HOUSE FOR AN AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE M BIRTHDAY. THE VENUE IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, THE FOOD EXCEPTIONAL AND THE SERVICE WAS EXEMPLORARY - SO FRIENDLY AND SUCH A RELAXING ATMOSPHERE

I have already placed a review on Cliveden house but felt it fitting to place one here as we did have afternoon tea For my birthday treat I find it an amazing place The afternoon tea we really enjoyed with different variations of bread lovely fillings and super little savoury bites We had a window seat and the view is really incredible All the staff where lovely and knowing it was my birthday I received a card from them which I thought was really sweet

Absolutely stunning location and superb view as we had requested a window table. It was a very hot day and so the sandwiches were dry and the cakes melting. I think everything had been prepared for a while and left to wilt! Food: The sandwiches were very poor with mean fillings and white bread. The savouries were delicious. The cakes were delicious but had melted and needed to be scraped off the plate. Scones - delicious although only 2 bowls of cream and jam for 3 of us. The 1st pot of tea was delicious but the refill had obviously been made for ages as it was strong, bitter and undrinkable. I hesitate to recommend it but perhaps we were just unlucky as rarely is England so hot. However do go around the house and grounds - perhaps better to take a picnic or eat at the Orangerie for a lot less than £200!

Spectacular grounds and setting for afternoon tea but the scones were basically inedible and sandwiches were subpar. Don’t bother again.

We were enjoying a pre-wedding celebration of afternoon tea and it met every expectation and more. We all had a wonderful time. Our dietary needs were extremely well catered for and the food was perfect. We were made to feel very special, especially the bride to be and thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea experience. Huge thanks to the chefs, waiting and other staff for their attentiveness and professionalism.

Great afternoon tea experience - the staff were really fantastic- engaging, fun and relaxed. Nice atmosphere and obviously wonderful surroundings in the buildings and the grounds. A really special place for a visit and recommended for sure!

My daughter and I had a wonderful afternoon tea experience. Food and service excellent, everyone so friendly and helpful. Perfect place for any celebration, particularly Mother's Day! Walked around the terrace and garden afterwards, which was great

We had the traditional afternoon tea set for a celebration in a sunny pleasant afternoon. All the lovely savoury bites are just outstanding, pairing so nicely with the champagne - available in Brut or Rose. Staff members are very friendly and could not think of what to be improved.

We celebrated my Fathers 88th birthday at Cliveden with afternoon tea. The service was exceptional. We asked if we could re-locate to a window table and this was executed within minutes and with the minimum amount of fuss. The staff were attentive, one waitress noticing my Mother was struggling with the height of the seat and immediately provided a cushion. The tea itself was superb, sandwiches, savouries, scones, jam, lemon curd and cakes. An excellent selection of teas as well. They even provided a happy birthday plate of chocolate gateau for my Father. My parents are afternoon tea connoisseurs and were very impressed. I am most grateful to all the staff for ensuring it was such a memorable occasion. Would definitely return.

We had a delightful 3-day break in February. It was everything you expect from a high-end country house hotel. And it is set in vast National Trust gardens and grounds that you can explore to your heart’s content. The spa was warm and relaxing, my friend had a terrific facial, and we got to swim in “that” swimming pool. We enjoyed the tasting menu one evening, which was impressive. Throughout, the service was excellent and also very personable, very unstuffy without being at all over-familiar. We enjoyed it all very much, but we both agreed that the highlight was afternoon tea. I can’t recommend it highly enough - and I have sampled both the Ritz and Fortnums. It was delicious and generous and surprisingly good value, and the aforementioned service was just perfect; go treat yourself.

Fairly disappointing experience with afternoon tea. The quality of the food is very mediocre for the type of establishment - we have had better afternoon tea at the Ivy, for example. We had a vegetarian in the party which staff knew about from the booking, and confirmed with us at the start. Still they brought non-vegetarian afternoon tea twice - sent back on the first occasion and they still brought meat/fish options out. Staff were not overly friendly or apologetic. For anyone veggie, vegan or with allergies, you clearly could not trust staff to be mindful of this.

Came here for afternoon tea with an overseas visitor last week who absolutely loved it. It’s a great location for abit of nostalgic glamour and history of notorious events over the years! The good bits: Easy to book online, easy to park right outside the House, attentive and friendly service, sandwiches/savoury items and pastries all very yummy. My only reason for 4* is that the £55 per person quoted is actually £62 by the time service is added on (we have a NT card so that was already deducted). Not the end of the world and I’ll happily go again!

I recently visited Cliveden House on 27th December for Afternoon Tea with family who were visiting from Switzerland. It was supposed to be a special experience in a beautiful setting instead it was ruined by two young children running around shouting and having temper tantrum's. I was disappointed that none of the staff serving Afternoon Tea raised this with the children's parents. I raised this with the Hotel Staff when leaving whose response was disappointing as their only action was a unconvincing apology. Having visited the Hotel on many previous occasions I will think twice before booking again . Very disappointed.

We went for afternoon tea which was lovely, it's a beautiful place to see with lots of history. We were asked if we would like champagne but didn't realise this was not included in the set price we had paid also a service charge is expected

We had a lovely high tea at Clivedon House..The sandwiches, savoury snacks , cakes and scones were delicious and the choice of teas was delightful. Th Em staff were friendly and attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed ourself and the views from the windows were beautiful.

My school friends and I enjoyed our afternoon tea immensely. The attentive staff were seamless in there service. The back drop to the dining room was stunning. This room is certainly 'a room with a view'. Food was delicious and plentiful. The experience at Cliveden never fails to bring happiness.

Last week my wife and I had a fabulous champagne afternoon tea. The sandwiches, cakes, scones, and champagne were all stunning. Vanessa and her team looked after us beautifully. Cliveden is one of the most historic and beautiful places imaginable .. and the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing, delicious, and spoiling afternoon tea.

We had received vouchers for afternoon tea as a gift. We arrived a couple of hours early to walk around the amazing grounds of Cliveden. We could have spent longer as there’s so much to see and do. We then went into the amazing house for our afternoon tea at 4.00pm. The setting, the food and the staff were all perfect. Loved it!!

Afternoon tea was fabulous, surroundings were delightful, service hugely attentive, food was sublime, highly recommend. Refills of tea (and champagne) and sandwiches at no extra cost too which actually made it pretty good value

Went for afternoon tea with my two sisters to celebrate a 70th birthday, the house is beautiful, the staff were efficient but friendly and the food was amazing with constant refills of sandwiches, savouries, cakes and tea. Highly recommend it

We had the most wonderful time , enjoying afternoon tea with our family, celebrating our golden wedding anniversary.Everything was excellent, food fresh and delicious. Staff were warm and welcoming and very accommodating as there were 5 children in our party who were made to feel very special. Even down to the gold chairs. Thank you !

Birthday present for my wife - safe to say, she was very impressed and totally enjoyed herself. Excellent services, food and drink with super view over the ground where we were able to walk off the delights of the tea and champagne.

My wife and I went to Cliveden House for afternoon tea. In one word...FANTASTIC. The food and selections of teas were very good. A good selection. If you want more you only have to ask. The staff were very polite and attentive. We will be back.

We came to Cliveden for a special afternoon tea for a friend. The staff were impeccable, setting is amazing and the food was delicious. Will be coming back again. We even got to visit some of the grounds beforehand.

Went for afternoon tea at Cliveden and it was brilliant. The service was second to none and were well looked after in a fabulous surrounding. Had a great walk round the grounds after. Would highly recommend it.

We visited Cliveden for afternoon tea to celebrate a special family occasion, The food was absolutely dreadful, freezing cold sandwiches which were stale at the edges and filled with tiny amount of fatty meat, bland stale savories and scones served with a tiny pot of cream and jam for 7 people! My sisters coffee pot had washing up liquid foaming around the lid. The staff were bored, indifferent an everything was far too much trouble for them. The cost was over £400 for under £20 of very poor quality stale food and rude staff. Our family are huge fans of afternoon tea and like to try a new venue for a special occasion, two of our party had come hundreds of miles and one was from overseas who wanted to try a traditional British afternoon tea, I was so embarrassed by the quality and the food and indifferent service. This is certainly not a venue where you will be warmly welcomed and treated to a special experience as we were made to feel we were nothing but an inconvenience and then hugely overcharged for the privileged!!.

First may we let all readers of this review that this is by far in our top five NT sites in the UK. Wonderful gardens and a vivid and controversial history that we found fascinating. Now for the big, big let down. On the way out we decided that as hunger had set in, we would stop at the hut by the car park for a bite to eat. Now what kind of eating establishment has run out of everything apart from Sausage Rolls by 1:15pm!?!? Yep, lunchtime and no food left. To add insult to injury, I asked for a vegan sausage roll only for the patronising girl assistant to state 'don't bother, it tastes awful, like stuffing in pastry'. But they had none left so why say that? The staff actually thought it was funny. Not however funny to a type1 diabetic in need of food. A lesson in customer service is badly needed. Our advice? Bring your own food!!!!

Visited for afternoon tea and was a little disappointed. My friend and I have had a few afternoon teas over the years including Blenheim Palace, Charlie and the chocolate factory and the Ritz and whilst the service at Cliveden equalled these the food selection and quality was disappointing especially the savoury options, these were dry, bland and uneventful, the sweet selection was a little better but nothing overly exciting, sandwiches probably the best bit, despite these also being quite plain. For the price I was left underwhelmed and would rate the well behind the other places mentioned in the review.

I was a little wayward in thinking what to do to celebrate my wife's birthday and suddenly thought of Cliveden for tea. So I phoned them at short notice - and yes they had availablity. My wife is disbaled and in a wheel chair but...

Excellent Afternoon Tea with exceptional service. After visiting Cliveden National Trust many times, I have always wanted to see inside the house and it exceeded my expectations. The Afternoon Tea was delicious with more tea and sandwiches offered. The cakes were fantastic and the warm...

The best afternoon tea at The Cliveden! We celebrated my 30th birthday here with a family afternoon tea. All of the staff were so welcoming and very attentive, nothing was too much trouble. The sandwiches and scones were divine and the jubilee cakes looked too...

We had a lovely family afternoon tea at Cliveden to celebrate my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary. The food, setting and service were all second to none and we had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Our server in particular ( sorry I didn’t get his name) was...

We had a lovely time at Cliveden House. The food was delicious and we appreciated that the sandwiches are freshly made unlike another iconic High Tea venue which was a great disappointment.  The desserts were the right size, not too heavy and not overly sweet....

Wonderful venue and really attentive staff. Sadly the food - a big let down and very, very costly. Champagne was extra but delicious and served in wonderful flutes.For 3 of us it cost £210!!

Very pleasant afternoon, with excellent table looking out over the formal gardens and the river. The food and selection of teas very good, and the service was very attentive. The only thing that slightly spoiled it was that, although it had been booked on a...

We had afternoon tea on the nineteenth of June for my wife's birthday,we had to reschedule from the first of June but the staff still remembered the birthday, the food,service and atmosphere was amazing, five stars all round

Delicious afternoon tea and a gluten free one for me. It was exquisite … tasty, fresh, and chef baked cakes and yummy scones. This is such a treat as it is rare to find such quality anywhere for Coeliacs. Well done Cliveden. We will be...

Had a wonderful relaxing afternoon tea in the dining room with a view out to the terrace and garden. The food was excellent and presented on beautiful China. Staff were smart, polite and attentive. Great afternoon. Highly recommend.

Visited for afternoon tea using a voucher received for my 60 th birthday last year. Greeted very warmly and seated by the window with wonderful views out to the gardens. Decided on a cocktail rather than champagne and had the berry explosion which was presented...

Went for afternoon tea as it was our birthdays celebration. The staff where excellent.The food was delicious absolutely fabulous. The service was first class would highly recommend this to everyone. Spoil yourself or spoil someone special ❤

Beautiful setting and excellent service from the staff. The food however was disappointing - very basic sandwiches, cold and bland savoury snacks and simple pastries without much taste. The scones were good.

Enjoyed a lovely Afternoon tea with female relatives to celebrate my sisters birthday. As expected, the service was impeccable throughout the visit. The food was beautifully presented; the savoury treats were delicious; sweet delicacies were works of art; the tea was plentiful and that was...

A friend and I went for afternoon tea and it was the best afternoon tea I have ever had. The food was amazing, the setting was amazing but the staff were what made it the most wonderful experience. From the minute you park your car...

Amazing afternoon tea from walking into the hotel to enjoying the grounds walking off the scrumptious food. All staff we engaged with were friendly polite professional and ensured we all had a great time ! A just wonderful afternoon !

My wife and I had a delightful afternoon tea at this fine hotel. We had a window table which gave us fabulous views over the parterre and down to the river Thames. Table was large with perfect linen. Choice of speciality teas was really good...

Was o happy and impressed with the service level we had on Saturday 15th April for Afternoon tea. The event was a very special occasion as we were celebrating my Mums 80th Birthday ..and everything went perfectly, from the level of service... and attention to...

Just had a fabuous afternoon tea at Cliveden today. A very big thank you to Andor who made sure that we had everything we wanted.. The food was amazing, service exceptional and a great view... Thank you we will be back

A lovely afternoon on a glorious sunny day. Delicious food and the waiting staff were charming and attentive. I would always recommend a visit to Cliveden as the environment, food and staff are fantastic. It is expensive but always a real treat.

The afternoon tea is sun standard and extortionate. There’s really nothing special about their sandwiches. They were just basic white bread/ cream cheese sandwiches. The teas selection wasn’t the best either. They also add on money to bill for you to walk around the grounds....

The atmosphere and the view were fantastic. Many of the staff were kind and friendly, but some seemed poorly trained, which was a bit disappointing for the price.

Salty sarnies with nondescript fillings, completely bland unsalted potato scones and dreadful savoury bits of unidentifiable things. Dry scones and some very sad looking cakes. Untrained staff with zero hospitality skills. Only saving grace was the tea. Not worth the money whatsoever. I’d go to...

Took tea on Saturday 25th Feb. Service was impeccable, food and beverages were perfect. Thank you to Anna for looking after us so well.

Tasty snacks and pot of tea with attentive pleasant staff. Good view of lawns and beyond. We thought profit on what was served must be huge. All diners pay for prestige reputation hotel. We've had similar quality afternoon teas in other places for less cost....

This is my third visit to Cliveden for afternoon tea. I have long been a supporter, and recommend it to friends and family as a special treat. Sadly no more. Went on Saturday and it felt like a conveyor belt of guests. Seating meant only...

Disappointed & Overrated I booked afternoon tea to celebrate my partner's birthday at Cliveden House. The sandwiches, 2 slices of white cheap Tesco like frozen bread with ham and honey, nothing special, the goats cheese scone (with salmon) were very dry, the rolls and small...

We took my family who have travelled over from LA to view our wedding venue (down the road), then afterwards, to celebrate at an afternoon tea at Clivedon. We arrived slightly late for our reservation, but were greeted at the front door and kindly ushered...

An Afternoon Tea to remember. Very busy but we were well looked after, serving staff very attentive. Far too much food, so stylish take away box was provided. Ambience and general atmosphere really nice, didn’t feel rushed or pressurised. Just a perfect post Christmas occasion.

Amazing experience, stunning views onto the gardens and the river Thames in the distance, lovely food and excemplary service from the whole team. Thank you. We will be back to dine at the restuarant soon.

Just returned from the most amazing Afternoon Tea. Faultless from start to finish. Manager Dwart and his team could not do enough to look after us . Grace served us mostly but several others did too and I'm sorry that I didn't manage to catch...

Just went for what was meant to be a special christmas tea at Cliveden House. We went last year and it was simply wonderful. What has happened since? Overcrowded, rushed service - from bored looking harassed staff, exceptionally mediocre food for the price, drinks that...

Festive afternoon tea. We love to visit Clivedon at Christmas with its fabulous decorations and massive tree to great you on arrival. This year’s afternoon tea was a real festive treat with Champagne and mulled wine to complement the most delicious turkey & cranberry sandwiches...

We arrived and the Christmas decorations were up, stunning!! The food was lovely and we were offered more, but couldn’t take advantage- we did take away a box of goodies for the rest of family though!

Lovely afternoon team and fantastic service. We always enjoy visiting Cliveden especially during the winter when the fires are going. The afternoon tea was extensive with a very good selection of teas. One of our group is a Celiac and her food looked even better...

We had a wonderful afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of Cliveden House. The attentive waiters were chatty & friendly, the food was amazing, and the house was stunning. The price is on the more expensive side but we were offered more sandwiches, cakes &...

I went to Cliveden for Afternoon Tea with a friend. The food and the service were excellent and they couldn't do enough for us. As my friend was elderly, I wanted to get my car from the National Trust Car Park. I was prepared to...

Excellent day with a lovely afternoon tea with my family celebrating a birthday.We were looked after well, the staff couldn’t do enough for us from start to finish. The views were amazing the grounds were great for walking. The afternoon tea was lovely they catered...

Comfortable and sumptuous surroundings. Attentive but not overly intrusive staff who combine courtesy with a warm friendly approach. Unpretentious and welcoming yet highly professional service. Afternoon tea was delicious with a perfect balance of savoury and sweet. A long walk round the wonderful grounds afterward...

We had spent the previous weekend at the Ritz in London and the food and the service was stunning. I say this only as a comparison for afternoon tea at Cliveden was distinctly average. Nothing horrendous, just very average and almost a non event. Equally...

A Christmas present from my son and what treat! Beautiful surroundings, excellent professional staff and wonderful food, some of those flavours will be remembered for a long time. Thank you so much for a precious memory.

Enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea with the best service at Cliveden. A wonderful treat in an amazing country house with beautiful views. Felt very special in every way from the drive up to the house til we left.

A Birthday gift in a beautiful gift box which set the tone for a very nice afternoon. However, no view due the sun shining and the blinds being down (acceptable initially but when sun moved, the blind was broken which meant it couldnt easily be...

Cliveden really is something else. We had afternoon tea as a family which was exquisite in every way! A stunning setting in the main house, overlooking the palatial gardens. The service was everything you would expect. Ask for more roast beef sandwiches if you get...

My favourite place for afternoon tea! Fabulous surroundings - tea with a view! Superb service, nothing is too much trouble. Although a luxury hotel, the atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, not stuffy at all. After feasting on gorgeous sandwiches, cakes and scones, you can walk...

This was to be a special treat but unfortunately it was quite disappointing. The setting is beautiful and the views of the gardens were amazing. However, the food itself was not great. Sandwiches were dry and lacking flavour. Then we had some English themed snacks...

The team were very efficient and courteous. The Afternoon Tea was without fault and who could ever be unhappy with the view! Special thanks to Minguel for his careful attention. A very lovely way to celebrate my husband’s birthday!

My clients are very happy whit this unique experience tea amazing team gorgeous Thank a lot I am sure we back again whit our clients Cliveden is a real British experience and the team is very nice And the history around the house is fascinating

Afternoon tea at Cliveden is wonderful. The staff were very attentive but not overbearing, the quality of the sandwiches and cakes were excellent. Cliveden provides a choice of different teas to suit all tastes. The tearoom afforded fantastic views over the gardens and the River...

Second visit for Afternoon Tea. Marvellous setting (think Downton). Deep wood panelled walls.. Delicious food & teas - and you can have seconds! From the reservation desk to the restaurant staff - service is welcoming & impeccable. Delightfully, I can bring my Jack Russell. No...

From the moment I booked our champagne afternoon tea, to the time we left at the end of the afternoon, the service and attention to detail by the professional team at Clivedon was exceptional. This quintessentially English experience in one of Britain’s finest country homes...

What a let down to say the least. We were very quickly introduced to what was included, not very well explained either. We had no refills (food or drink) which is part of the point of an afternoon tea. Sandwiches were stale, we couldn’t eat...

Came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary . We had the marvellous afternoon tea. The sandwiches, scones, cakes were tasty and enjoyed whilst looking out onto the vast Lawns of Cliveden. Huge choice of teas/coffees. The service we received was excellent, the staff delivered a...

Booked an Afternoon Tea for my daughter's 21st. It was perfect! The setting was amazing, food was wonderful and the service second to none. We were offered more sandwiches, which was a really lovely touch and tea was topped up as and when needed. If...

My friend and I were treating each other to afternoon tea for our birthdays. The table and the view were perfect and the service excellent. The sandwiches were OK but the beef was tough so we asked for more smoked salmon. The pastries were divine....

We had a wonderful afternoon tea at Cliveden, the best afternoon tea that I have ever had. The service was exceptional with a true attention to detail. The food was exquisite and truly delicious. My Mum had fantastic birthday and she said it could not...

Myself and my two daughters-in-law had the pleasure of having Afternoon Tea at this beautiful establishment. From arriving until we left all members of staff we met were very welcoming. The food was wonderful. We then took the opportunity to walk around the magnificent grounds....

I have many magical memories of this beautiful place so it was a pleasure to return on my recent birthday with my husband to enjoy champagne afternoon tea. Friends bought us this lovely gift and it was 2 blissful hours of absolute indulgence. Our table...

My daughter and I had the most wonderful afternoon tea. Everything was perfect: attentive service from everyone and the most delicious tea. Nothing too sweet, plenty of savoury ( and so original) and to top it all , warm scones. Plentiful tea too and a...

A delightful occasion. I can only agree with all the other reviews that have been written; a lovely comfortable and welcoming atmosphere and a delightful tea. The gardens were looking beautiful, just great for a gentle walk after tea.

What a lovely place. We often visit with our NT membership with our children but as we had a covid wedding decided to come here for our first anniversary, I always say how lovely it looks when we walk past and my husband booked this...

A beautiful place to have Afternoon Tea and a walk of the grounds! The service is fantastic from the moment you park and walk into the house. From relaxing in the great hall to entering the dining room with views overlooking the gardens. All the...

Celebrated a friend’s birthday with afternoon tea and Champagne. The staff were very welcoming and friendly, the very substantial tea was excellent as was the Champagne, and the lovely setting added to the occasion. The birthday girl thoroughly enjoyed her visit, was very impressed and...

We visited for Afternoon Tea to celebrate my wife's birthday. The staff were welcoming and attentive, and we were promptly served good quality sandwiches, cakes and tea. It was a bonus to get a table by the window with a beautiful view of the gardens....

Beautiful place, stunning grounds, excellent afternoon tea, delicious scones and the cakes were amazing 👏👏 outstanding front of house team.. We had cocktials in the Great Hall which is such a stunning place, to think of all the famous people that have ventured there !!!...

We had the most wonderful Afternoon Tea Experience at Cliveden. The service was excellent as was the afternoon tea. Taking into account the most wonderful location and property we feel this was far better than the Ritz London. Well done to all those staff involved....

A truly superb afternoon champagne tea! A lovely room sunny dining room and service was excellent, friendly, professional and courteous. So much delicious food we couldn’t manage to eat the scones, jam & cream and so they kindly packaged them up to take home!

We had Afternoon Tea. The setting,ambience,food and service were all just perfect for celebrating my wife’s birthday. We arrived early and had the opportunity to walk around the garden, which is impressive in its size and scenery. All of the staff were welcoming and professional....

We had the loveliest afternoon today at Cliveden for my friend's 60th Birthday treat & she thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere was lovely, the service was impeccable & the food, tea & pastries were gorgeous....easily rivals of The Ritz in Piccadilly, London. Plus the price...

Having been to Cliveden twice in one summer about 5 years ago, it was with some trepidation that I booked for yesterday afternoon having been gifted an afternoon tea by friends for a special birthday last year. Those two previous experiences were that the food...

You made us all feel very welcome and you gave special attention to my wife as it was her birthday treat. We had a table by the window as I had requested, with great views over the parterre and country side. We all loved it....