AROUND TAPLOW
In and around Taplow are many interesting places that the casual visitor might overlook.
THE VILLAGE:
The ancient village is a fascinating mixture of architecture from many ages. Take the half mile stroll from Woodford House, down the High Street (no shops!), past the church, the pub, the Old Rectory and on to the Saxon burial mound in the grounds of the Taplow Court estate. Then climb to the top of the burial mound. You are now surveying a site that has been a place of human habitation for thousands of years - take in the view and feel the sense of history. Click here to view our History of Taplow and pictures of Taplow Court.
CLIVEDEN (pronounced “Cliv-dn”):
The Cliveden estate immediately adjoins the Taplow Court estate. The splendid Italianate mansion house at Cliveden is of such gigantic proportions that it was used as a fake backdrop for Buckingham Palace 
in the Beatles film “Help” in 1965. The house overlooks the Thames and is set in 376 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with a stunning series of formal gardens, each with its own character, an outstanding collection of sculpture and statues, extensive woodlands and beautiful riverside walks.
No visit to Taplow would be complete without seeing Cliveden. The estate is now owned by the National Trust and the grounds are open to the public for most of the year.
The first house at Cliveden was built in 1666. Twice the house was destroyed by fire, only to emerge more stunning than before. The rich and famous have stayed at Cliveden, including almost every British Monarch since George I. In 1906 William Waldorf Astor gave Cliveden to his son and daughter-in-law, Nancy Astor, who became the first woman Member of Parliament. During the 1930s the Astors entertained the “Cliveden Set” at the house – a group of prominent people who were very influential in affairs of state. In 1961 Cliveden became the scene of the infamous affair between John Profumo, a government minister and Christine Keeler, a young lady of uncertain repute – this produced a security scare because the lady was also having an affair with an attaché at the Soviet embassy!
The house is now leased to an exclusive hotel chain. For a few hundred pounds you can stay in the Nancy Astor Suite, or perhaps you would prefer a room named after a famous visitor such as Gladstone, 
Charlie Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling, Lawrence of Arabia or George Bernard Shaw? The cheapest lunch is £38.00 for 3 courses, but make sure you are not ordering from the £70.00 menu and expect to pay around £10.00 for a glass of wine! Alternatively, lunch for under £10.00 at the National Trust restaurant (not in the house) and stay at Woodford House!
CLIVEDEN’S BACKDOOR:
The main entrance to Cliveden is about 1½ miles from Woodford House and entrance to the grounds costs £7.00. Less than ½ a mile from us is the Woodland Carpark, open all year (except 2 weeks at Christmas) and the entrance fee £3.00 at weekends and currently free Monday-Friday. The carpark is located in Cliveden’s extensive woodlands and gives access, via lovely woodland and riverside walks, to all of the Cliveden Estate without further payment.COOKHAM:
This Thames side village is a couple of miles upstream from Cliveden. The appearance of Cookham High Street has changed little over the centuries, despite an influx of upmarket restaurants and boutique shops to cater for the prosperous residents of this attractive area.Beyond the western end of the High Street is a rough carpark adjoining Thames side common land. Park here and walk a few hundred yards to the Thames and then follow the river upstream. This lovely section of river, which inspired Kenneth Grahame to write the classic of children’s literature “Wind in the Willows”, is popular with both locals and boaters who often moor up here for an over night stop. 
Continue on through a cattleproof gate and you are in Cock Marsh. This Site of Special Scientific Interest is home to a number of rare plants. Cock Marsh is common land that has been used for gazing animals since 1272 - do not approach the cattle when they have young ones. The area is rich in history, there are several prehistoric burial mounds, the Camlet Way (a Roman Road) is supposed to have crossed the Thames here and later King Alfred established a fortification on Sashes Island.
The branch railway line from Maidenhead to Marlow crosses the Thames at Cock Marsh. Walk under the bridge and you will reach riverside homes and even a small pub, but no road – residents park on the other side of the river and cross by boat. If you are energetic you can continue on and your path will take you uphill to wonderful views over the Thames Valley and ultimately down into Marlow. For an easier walk to Marlow cross the Thames via the footbridge that hangs on the side of the railway bridge and continue over level ground on the opposite bank. Marlow, a pretty Thames side town, has lots of eating places. If you are too tired to walk back, enjoy the short riverside rail trip back to Cookham.
COOKHAM’S FAMOUS ARTIST:
The eccentric artist Sir Stanley Spencer (1891 – 1959) lived and worked in Cookham and today his paintings fetch immense sums at auction. The Methodist Chapel at the eastern end of the High Street, which Spencer attended, is now a gallery holding over 100 items of his work. He developed a naïve style influenced by Giotto and the colourful primitivism of Gauguin. His most famous works are biblical scenes set in the Cookham landscape – a good example is “The Resurrection, Cookham” which hangs in the Tate Gallery in London.Spencer is remembered by Cookham with great affection, a resident of the village recalls: “The small man with twinkling eyes and shaggy hair (often wearing his pyjamas under his suit if it were cold) became a famous sight wandering the lanes of Cookham pushing the old pram in which he carried his canvas and easel”.
HURLEY:
Hurley is beside the Thames midway between Marlow and Henley. An unspoilt High Street of pretty timbered properties runs down to the Thames from the A4130. Ye Olde Bell at Hurley is the oldest functioning inn in Britain – it started life in 1135 as the hostelry of Hurley Priory and is still thriving.
Leave your car in the carpark opposite the church, walk down the short path to the river, take the footbridge on to the lock island, find a seat and enjoy the scene. Alternatively, turn left on reaching the river and wander upstream – on a warm day bring a picnic and perhaps swimwear. Warning – few tourists visit Hurley, but us locals love it – avoid warm Saturdays and Sundays when you can’t move for barbeques, children, dogs and boats!
DORNEY:
“One of the finest Tudor Houses in England” – don’t miss it if you are visiting us in August. Dorney Court is about 3 miles from Taplow on the edge of the delightful village of Dorney.