Latest news with #ClivedenHouse
Motor 1
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
You Can Buy Jeremy Clarkson's Ferrari F355 GTS
During his original stint on Top Gear , Jeremy Clarkson was smitten by the Ferrari F355. Who could blame him? It was a leap forward for Ferrari, and in time, enthusiasts have rightly deemed a classic. Clarkson bought this F355 GTS in 1996, but found Ferrari ownership wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be. Now, though, you can try your hand at F355 ownership. RM Sotheby's is auctioning Clarkson's F355 GTS at its Cliveden House 2025 event next month . The car has just under 15,000 miles on its odometer, and importantly, it just got a recent major service. That's huge because F355s are maintenance-intensive cars, and the only thing more expensive than servicing one is fixing one that hasn't been taken care of. RM Sotheby's estimates a sale price of between $245,000 to $300,000, which is very strong for an F355, but this one has provenance and a couple of rare options. Clarkson owned the F355 for just four years, putting around 6,000 miles on its odometer. He featured the car in his Sunday Times and Top Gear magazine columns, and in a hilarious segment in his Clarkson's Car Years special. He admitted that he wished he hadn't gone for the classic Rosso Corsa red, and for the open-top GTS model either, and that he couldn't bear the shame of driving it around. As RM Sotheby's notes, Clarkson gave away the car in a Sunday Times giveaway in 2000. The contest winner kept it for a few years before selling it to the third owner. The current owner bought it in 2013, and apparently took excellent care of the car. Photo by: Jonathan Jacobs / RM Sotheby's Photo by: Jonathan Jacobs / RM Sotheby's Beyond its famous first owner, this F355 is notable for being a manual-transmission targa, a pretty rare combination. Once Ferrari introduced the soft-top Spider in 1995, GTS sales plummeted. The arrival of the paddle-shift "F1" transmission in 1997 had a similar effect on the standard manual, too. Clarkson also ordered the car with cream and red sports seats, which you almost never see on F355s of any stripe. If you're an American reading this, you can import this car, as it's well over 25 years old. Obviously, you'll have to deal with it being right-hand drive, but that might not be such an issue for getting one of the most famous examples of a beloved Ferrari. Funnily enough, Clarkson never owned another Ferrari. His former Top Gear and Grand Tour co-hosts have, though. Richard Hammond owned a 550 Maranello and the 308 GT4 from a Top Gear cheap-car challenge, and James May owned a 308 GTB, a F430, and currently owns a 458 Speciale. More on Clarkson's Antics Jeremy Clarkson: Modern Cars Are 'All Shit' Jeremy Clarkson Thinks Lexus LFA Is Best Car He's Ever Driven Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Gallery: Jeremy Clarkson's Ferrari F355 GTS 35 Source: Jonathan Jacobs / RM Sotheby's Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Iconic 90s Ferrari Jeremy Clarkson dubbed the ‘greatest car in the world, ever' up for sale for eye-watering price
AN iconic 90s Ferrari, dubbed by Jeremy Clarkson the "greatest car in the world, ever" is set to auction at an eye-watering price next month. The RM Sotheby's auction will take place on July 8th and is set to showcase the 1996 Ferrari F355 GTS once driven by The Grand Tour and Clarkson's Farm star. 10 10 The famed motor is set to sell for as much as a staggering £220,000, at Cliveden House, Berkshire, next month. Clarkson, 65, gushed over the red, 183mph F355 GTS and declared it the "greatest car in the world, ever," on an episode of Unleashed on Cars. The auction listing reads: 'In the 1996 VHS special of Unleashed on Cars, presenter Jeremy Clarkson emerged from his road test aboard a Ferrari F355 declaring it to be the greatest car in the world. 'He reckoned it was the apogee of Maranello lore and modern technology.' The F355 then went on to serve as his vehicle of choice when Clarkson retook and failed his driving test in 1999. 10 The iconic vehicle went on to have two more owners, before it joined the collection of the vendor. Under their care, the car has been maintained by marque expert John Pogson at his Italia Autosport concern near Huddersfield. It has recently undergone a service, belt change, refresh of the steering rack, and paint correction ahead of the big auction. The Ferrari also underwent a fresh MoT in May and currently displays 14,899 miles. Beyond its famous history, this F355 is even more desirable due to its rare specification of a manual gearbox with sports seats. New law will change drivers licenses forever by adding new symbol to cards – it clears up 'misunderstandings' The car will be joined by a 1961 Lotus Elite Series 2, which was first owned by the founder of Honda Motor Corporation, Soichiro Honda, along with a total of 64 other vehicles. The competition offering is led by a dramatic 2007 Creation CA07 LMP1 two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans veteran that will be offered entirely without reserve. Other vehicles up for sale include a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso, a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, and a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Recreation. 10 10 10
The Sun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Hollywood A-lister's classic Aston Martin on sale for £120k – but who was its famous owner?
A HOLLYWOOD A-lister is selling his classic Aston Martin for £120,000. Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom's eye-catching 1971 DBS V8 was the fastest production four-seater car in the world when first made. 5 5 5 The star nabbed the vehicle from an unnamed British musician and made frequent use of its blistering 320 brake horsepower. The motor can clock as high as 150mph and go from zero to 62 mph in seven seconds. Bloom is best known for his roles as Legolas The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. It will go under the hammer at RM Sotheby's at Cliveden House on 8 July. The listing reads: "First revealed in September 1969, the DBS V8 can trace its roots directly to the fabled DB model lineage that defined Aston Martin until the DB6 was phased out in 1970. "Company bosses viewed the DBS as a direct replacement for the DB6, while production overlapped after the former was launched in 1967. "Like the DB6, the earliest examples of the DBS were powered by a 4.0-litre inline-six engine, until the offering was revamped to make way for the DBS V8, the engine that Aston Martin had always intended for the model. "The example offered here is recorded to have been delivered to its first owner on 20 January 1971, having been first registered with the DVLA one week prior. "The DBS V8 was configured in Platinum over a Black Connolly leather interior complemented by Black carpets and Grey headlining. "It was specified with an automatic transmission, MPH speedometer by Smiths, and shod with Pirelli Radial tyres. Car graveyard with 300 classic vehicles abandoned in field goes up for sale – some can be driven straight from lot "Its first owner was Mr Hambleton of Cardiff, Wales. "While its subsequent earlier history is not documented, it was subsequently acquired by a notable British musician, who instructed that the car was repainted in its original colours by Bedworth Classic Cars in 2012. "From then, the Aston Martin entered the care of its consigning owner, Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom, from whom the DBS V8 is offered directly. "The sleek 1970s coupé retains its matching-numbers V-8 engine, as verified by a copy of the factory build sheet. "In June 2025 the car was serviced and gained new spark plugs. "As the fastest production four-seater car in the world at the time of its launch, the DBS V8 occupies a special place in Aston Martin's history. "This example more than lives up to the legend, and is all-the-more appealing when offered from the private collection of a legend of modern cinema." 5 5
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Travel + Leisure
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This British Country Garden Estate Is Less Than an Hour From London—and Is a Favorite of Meghan Markle's
Few places can rival the traffic jams you find in central London. Truly, the bumper-to-bumper roadways around commuting time could easily drive someone to madness. On a recent journey to the British city, I was in one such jam—only this time I didn't have a care in the world. Because in under an hour, I'd be in a place where the flowers bloom, the lawn is sprawling, and fresh air abounds. In early spring of 2025, I made my way to the UK on a girls' trip, specifically to the Cliveden House, a five-star luxury spa retreat in Berkshire, England, which we heard about after Meghan Markle stayed there with her mother the night before her wedding. However, it's not just the Duchess' stay that makes this place special. It's also its 350-year history and its surprising proximity to the center of London that make it utterly magical. For those who love historical British drama, there are both salacious and sophisticated components to the mansion's storied past, like a high-profile affair involving a conservative member of Parliament, a 19-year-old dancer, and a Russian spy that led to a major government scandal in the 1960s. The current house was built in 1851 after the original manor from 1666 and its replacement in 1824 were destroyed in fires. It's a spot so grand that it's hosted every British monarch from George I onward, and to honor its lineage of important guests, Cliveden House's 47 rooms are each named for one. First home to British nobility and then New York's version of royalty, the Astor family, Cliveden House (pronounced "Cliffden" after the cliffs on which it's built) relishes in romantic charm, similar to Bridgerton filming locations and Downtown Abbey' s famous Highclere Castle, which happens to be about an hour away (Cliveden was even mentioned in Downton Abbey once). It's as easy to imagine the glamorous parties that once took place here, with notable visitors like Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin, as it is to enjoy the present-day glamour. Inundated with rich materials and rugs, buttery gold trimming, imposing bookshelves, antique furniture, crystal chandeliers, oil paintings, and lush patterned drapes, the ornate rooms drip in English country chicness, transporting you somewhere that feels centuries away from where you came. Take in the garden views while enjoying afternoon tea. Overlooking a formal parterre garden, 376 acres of National Trust gardens, and the River Thames, the views from the perches at the back of the mansion are showstopping. Look out while sitting windowside at the old library bar, Aperol spritz in hand, for the perfect vacation moment. From the hotel, guests can walk down to the riverbank on a tree-shaded path or by a long staircase carved into the gently sloping hill. But the best way Cliveden House helps guests enjoy the River Thames is via special boat trips and picnics, which can be arranged at your convenience. There are a few vintage boats to choose from, depending on the size of your group, and you have several menu options, including afternoon tea, Champagne and light bites, or a more robust meal to bring with you on your ride. You can charter the boats for an hour up to a whole day—the longer trips taking you for more extensive sightseeing or even to a nearby town, like Henley or Windsor. Sail down the River Thames on one of their vintage boats. My group chose to idly cruise down the River Thames on the 33-foot Belmont, a restored 1930s slipper with glossy wood paneling, for a very happy hour before dinner at the hotel's upscale Cliveden Dining Room. On the boat ride, we had a clear view of Cliveden House atop its high vantage point, making it the only thing popping out above the dense green tree line. This experience was, especially to three Americans, authentically quaint and unexpectedly secluded. We had the stretch of the River Thames almost exclusively to ourselves, getting a quiet reprieve, which was unusual for three city dwellers. This was our collective favorite part of the weekend, merging many of Cliveden House's best attributes: living history, picturesque landscape, and British leisure culture. While we stayed overnight, Cliveden House is a go-to day trip for people in the London area or for a pampering stopover for those coming to or from Heathrow, which is only about 20 minutes away by car. Featuring an outdoor pool and two hot tubs (a rarity in the U.K.), Cliveden's spa is a dreamy place nestled behind rustic brick walls to lounge on a balmy Saturday or Sunday. The outdoor swimming pool at the Cliveden Spa. Inside the home's window-lined spa, which opened in 2017, treatments are offered in the light-hued, tranquil space, where there's also an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and gym. The spa is open to both day and hotel guests and also offers a membership plan. Other activities offered on site include tennis courts, afternoon high tea, fitness classes, country sports, falconry, and, of course, exploring the expansive grounds dotted with sculptures and ornate fountains. Whether you have a day or an entire weekend for a fit-for-British-royalty countryside experience, Cliveden House is easy to access by car or train, with the nearest stops at Taplow and Burnham, and well worth the short journey for what feels like a far-away escape.
Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Times
Billionaire Livingstone brothers leave UK over tax changes
Two secretive billionaire brothers and one of Goldman Sachs's most senior bankers are among the latest to leave the UK to escape the recent flurry of tax changes. Ian and Richard Livingstone, who own billions of pounds of real estate around the world, including Cliveden House in Berkshire and the Nobu Hotel in Ibiza, have moved their country of usual residency from the UK to Monaco, company filings show. It has also emerged that Richard Gnodde, a South African who is a veteran of Goldman Sachs and one of the top investment bankers in the City of London, is leaving the UK for Milan after the tax changes. Reports of the exodus of wealth from Britain since the turn of this year have mostly centred
