Upton Court was originally built by the Merton Priory monks in the fifteenth century, and was significantly altered in the early 1600s. Throughout the 1600s it was the house of the manor for Upton, but mostly it was leased to tenants rather than lived in by the Lord of the Manor.

In 1711, Upton Court was sold to the Lascelles family, who retained ownership for over 100 years.

Throughout its existence, Upton Court has been lived in more often by tenants rather than its' owners. Notable tenants have included the Nash family, founders of a well-known brick-making firm, who arrived at Upton Court in 1707 and stayed for more than a century. Other tenants were journalist George Sala, and diplomat Sir Douglas Forsyth.

After being sold by the Lascelles family, Upton Court changed hands several times before being bought by Francis Groves, a local publisher, in the 1950s. In the early 1970s he wanted to turn it into a museum, but could not reach agreement with the local council. When he died in 1986, Upton Court was bought and restored by the Berks and Bucks Observer. It is still in use as their head office.

There are a couple of interesting stories relating to Upton Court. Firstly, it is rumoured that there is a secret passage between Upton Court and the nearby Red Cow Pub, but this has never been substantiated. And there have also been tales of a ghost - a woman in a bloodstained dress, seen walking in the grounds on Friday nights, although she has not been seen for many years.