Taplow: Landscape, History and Hotels

When considering Taplow as a place to stay, its landscape, local history and an active leisure option may play a part in choosing your destination. The focus is on the grounds of Taplow Court, church and burial history from different periods, and open-water swimming at Taplow Lakeside. These themes offer different perspectives on Taplow: gardens and views shape its connection with the landscape, while a hillfort, burial mound and church remains add archaeological and religious traces. When planning your trip, you can weigh up which of these interests matters most for your stay.

Landscape and Gardens at Taplow Court

The 25-hectare grounds of Taplow Court are bordered by the Thames to the west and include a steep slope with cliffs falling towards the water. A path along the south side of the churchyard offers views across the Thames Valley towards Windsor Castle and the chapel of Eton College. Taplow Court is listed as a Grade II park or garden. The grounds include gardens and a park dating from the early 18th century, as well as formal gardens from the 19th century. These dates help trace the development of the designed landscape: the formal gardens belong to a later period than the early park and garden grounds.

Church History Across Different Periods

The site of the former medieval St Nicholas Church is now occupied by the west wing of Taplow Court; its churchyard forms part of the ornamental gardens. The former church probably originated in the 12th century and was transferred to Merton Priory in 1197. The present-day St Nicolas Church in Taplow is a separate building: it dates from 1912 and is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. At the parish level, Christian church history goes back further: there has been a Christian church in Taplow for over 1,000 years. The date of the present church building and the parish’s long religious history therefore describe different time scales.

Hillfort, Burial Mound and Archaeological Traces

Taplow Hillfort consists of remains of a Bronze Age to Iron Age hillfort, found during excavations at Taplow Court. The Taplow Saxon Barrow was identified as the burial mound of an early 7th-century Saxon chieftain. The richly furnished burial at Taplow was considered the richest find of its time in England, until the Sutton Hoo treasure was discovered in 1939. The monument at Taplow Court also includes remains preserved in the ground of an early Anglo-Saxon church and a later medieval church, as well as parts of pagan and Christian cemeteries. Evidence from different periods can thus be found side by side at Taplow: from the remains of the hillfort to the Saxon burial mound and traces of former churches and cemeteries.

Open-Water Swimming at Taplow Lakeside

Taplow Lakeside offers open-water swimming all year round. Swimming sessions are supervised by lifeguards, and water quality is tested regularly. Taplow Lakeside can be reached via the A4, next to the Sytner BMW garage, and via Amerden Lane in Taplow. As operating, safety and access information may change, check the latest guidance on swimming sessions and directions before your visit. Alongside its historical and landscape attractions, Taplow therefore also offers a sporting activity whose conditions you can take into account when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Burnham, Chilton, Beaconsfield, Wendover, Amersham, Buckingham, Aylesbury, Worminghall

For the broader travel overview: Buckinghamshire.