Cliveden House, Berkshire.

     Cliveden is set amid 376 acres of magnificent formal gardens and parklands. Standing upon chalk cliffs that give the estate its name, the house commands panoramic views over the beautiful Berkshire countryside and an idyllic bend in the river Thames.

     Owned and managed by the National Trust, the gardens include everything from charming riverside walks to a formal Parterre, woodland vistas to water gardens, plus a wealth of statuary and topiary. Queen Victoria frequently took a carriage from nearby Windsor Castle to join the Duchess of Sutherland for tea in the secluded garden of Spring Cottage.

     One of the most imposing features is the voluptuous Fountain of Love; however, perhaps the most dramatic feature of the gardens is the thousand yard long Parterre. Laid out in 1855 by John Fleming, it incorporates wedge shaped beds and a seasonal planting programme that set a precedent for gardens the world over.

     Elsewhere in the grounds, perched on the steep slope down to the river, there is an octagonal temple built by Giacomo Leoni in 1735. Other curiosities include an ornate dovecote, a pavilion to commemorate the battle of Blenheim, and an amphitheatre.

     The gardens are just as famous now for the scandel with polititian John Profumo and call girl Christine Keeler, for they were featured in the 60's film Scandal with John Hurt and Joanne Whalley Kilmer.