Boat day at Cliveden House: The Suzy Ann
As soon as we booked our stay in Cliveden House, I started looking up activities to do. We were going to spend almost 4 full days there. I had seen pictures of the Cliveden House boats so I enquired with Guest Services. Pauline confirmed we could have a perfect boat day at Cliveden House and suggested renting the Suzy Ann. Initially, I wanted the Belmont, which was perfect for 2 people, but it was booked for the week. Enter the Suzy Ann.
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History of The Suzy Ann
Suzy Ann was built in 1911 and restored for Cliveden in 1986. She went on to win the first price for the best professional restoration of vintage boats in the Henley Traditional Boat Rally. Definitely a cool girl! Suzy Ann has the capacity of about 10 people (so not too small) and is sturdy AF. Suzy Ann is pure vintage vibes and a piece of history. It is worth noting that she is the flagship of Cliveden flotilla well!
If there is one thing to note about Mr E and I, we love a boat day out. This is even funnier when I tell you that we both cannot swim LOL. I’m not sure what it is about being out on the water. However, if we are on holiday and there is the possibility of a bout, we are going to be on it!
Our skipper was a lovely young lady, Georgia who doubled as our tour guide as well. Georgia was so knowledgeable about the river and all the mechanics of steering a boat, so impressive! I was glad she was quite comfortable and chatty with us, which made us relax in turn. We asked about her boating career and the village gossip which she happily told us. She asked us questions about our hectic London lives and seemed astonished by everything, bless her! Honestly, Georgia made the experience ten times better!
Sailing the Thames on the Suzy Ann
The Thames river runs from London through Cliveden reach to Oxford. It is well known that Cliveden reach is the most stunning area to sail and often gets busy especially in summer months. Boat day at Cliveden house with the Suzy Ann started at Cliveden’s boathouse at 5pm.
It was such an epic 2 hour ride. We went through a loch which I found so fascinating. I had heard of lochs but had no idea the mechanics behind them so it was a proper wow experience for Mr E and I. We got into the loch’s gate, closed it, waited for the water level to rise (or go down on our way back), opened the other gate and went through. Epic, I tell you!
Suzy Ann sailed us through villages and we got to see so many houses on the river. All the houses had their own boat houses attached to them. If you looked closely, you would see their boats as well. Everybody has a boat in these areas! I mean, why would you buy a house by the river without a boat? We passed by a few families out on their boats; they were all so friendly and waved every time. At this point, Mr E and I talked about the possibility of buying a boat one day in the future. Of course, with our own house by the river too. One can dream, right?!
Some fun gossip along the Thames
Boat day at Cliveden House turned out to be much more exciting than I could have imagined. Why? lots of gossip along the way. As we sailed our sweet Suzy Ann, we passed a few exciting things.
The first was a huge house, which was built by a rich man and afterwards, given to his son as a gift. Son rejected the gift. What? My lovelies, the house was big AF. Like those houses you see in Bel Air. It looked like a huge American house but my guy said nope to daddy. The house has been sat there, abandoned for years.
Another house which was actually inhabited until recently had a more interesting story. A rich boy who was in school at Eton previously inhabited the abandoned house, complete with a boathouse. Eton boy finishes school and moves out of massive house and since then, the house has also been abandoned. Georgia pointed out a mysterious boat, which was docked in the boathouse. She explained that the boat recently appeared and nobody knows if it belongs to the family or what? It’s all a mystery!
A Lorraine Kelly sighting? I told you that boat day at Cliveden house is essential, didn’t I? So Georgia casually told us that Lorraine Kelly had a house on the river as well and Suzy Ann was going to be sailing past. What she didn’t tell us was that Lorraine might be home. So as we sailed past, I looked into the conservatory and who did I see? Yup. Lorraine Kelly herself. We were a distance away and tbh if Georgia hadn’t said anything, I probably would not have paid attention. But there she was, clearing her table. I felt like a creep or a spy tbh, so damn nosy! Haha!
My Dream House
Then I found my perfect house. It was pastel blue with a cute roof and dreamy front door. The windows were so beautiful and it looked like a house from a Disney fairytale.
What made it even more special was the boat that was docked in front of the house. It looked like the exact boat from The Notebook. You know the one Allie and Noah sailed when it started to rain? That one! how perfect is this sight?
Cliveden House - The Spring Cottage
I have banged on about Meghan Markle staying at Cliveden House on my instagram @lifewithbugo and twitter lol. She stayed in the spring cottage the day before her wedding to Prince Harry which can accommodate up to 6 people. We passed through the cottage during our boat ride, which was quite special. The Spring Cottage was also where the Profumo Affair happened. I love a bit of scandal so it was nice to finally lay eyes on this cottage that has housed royalty and scandal.
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Cost of a Boat Day at Cliveden House
The Suzy Ann can be rented for £300 for the first hour and any hour afterwards, is £100 in addition. I recommend 2 hours for the perfect day out.
The Belmont is slightly cheaper at £200 per hour and £100 for each subsequent hour. Both are vintage boats; I think the Belmont is prettier but Suzy Ann is more classic. If these don’t match your fancy, there are shared champagne cruises as well which last 45 minutes at £60 per person. For this, you sail the Cliveden reach while sipping on Veuve Cliquot. How fancy!
My recommendation is to rent either the Belmont or the Suzy Ann with friends. It’s not as costly if you imagine splitting the cost. Suzy Ann can accommodate up to 10 people so at £400 split between 10 people? You catch my drift! The brochure explains all the add-ons you can have from afternoon teas to picnics on board.
When thinking of a boat day at Cliveden House, whether you decide to go with the Suzy Ann or not, there is something for everyone. Bearing in mind that these are luxury rides, the cost seems quite decent.
Conclusion
Boat day at Cliveden house is actually a popular sport. Renting the Suzy Ann was a dream! We saw the Belmont out on its sail and it sure was a cutie. However, I am glad it was unavailable which forced us to go for the Suzy Ann instead.
Whichever you go for, it is guaranteed to be a fantastic day out. Just don’t forget your camera (and battery) as you will be taking a number of pictures!
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
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2 Comments
Timi
I look forward to this! So beautiful plus perfectly captured
Bugo
yay!! thank you for reading as well x