Visiting Blenheim Palace the ultimate guide

As a visitor to England, one of the many things we have on our bucket list is Blenheim Palace Woodstock which was the birthplace of Churchill. We were lucky to be housesitting in Oxfordshire and Blenheim was high on our list of must-sees.

Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site of outstanding universal value. Blenheim Palace Oxfordshire is the only building in England that is considered a Palace even though there is no Queen (or King) in residence. For some strange reason, they often call this the “real Downton Abbey“.  I’m guessing they call it that because it has inspired much of Julian Fellowes’s documentaries and work. There is a lot to see at Blenheim Palace and your visit will easily take a couple of hours.

Why is Blenheim a palace? The term ‘palace’ comes from Rome’s Palatine Hill, where the rich and famous built their sumptuous homes in Roman times. The most important difference is that a palace is not fortified. Palaces are only palaces if they are exceptionally lavish and built with the intention of being a home.

Where is Blenheim Palace?

How to get to Blenheim Palace from London. Blenheim is located in the village of Woodstock, 8 miles north of Oxford, and approximately 60 miles northwest of London. On an easy day trip from London, you will find lots of tours and guided trips to Blenheim from most areas of the City.

Thanks to Blenheim Palace and Experience Oxfordshire for providing complimentary entry for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and as usual brutally honest lol.

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The History of Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Castle was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1705 with the help of Nicholas Hawksmoor who was a leading architect in the Baroque movement, and built in the early 18th century and presented by the nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. It was this victory that decided the fate of the Empire. 

The Battle of Blenheim was fought on 13 August 1704, and it was the major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. The overwhelming Allied victory ensured the safety of Vienna from the Franco-Bavarian army, preventing the collapse of the Grand Alliance.

Blenheim Castle sits within a large walled landscape park, designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown and considered a “naturalistic Versailles”. Originally the landscape of the Blenheim Palace grounds was set out by Vanbrugh who adjusted the course of the River Glyme to suit his building. It was Capability Brown who later created the two lakes and developed what became known as the naturalistic style of landscape design.

In a touch of understatement, Blenheim was considered a country house for the Duke and his family who visited often when not in the City.

Blenheim Palace is also closely associated with William Churchill of WWII fame who was born in the Palace. The Palace is privately owned but is open to the public because the cost of running such a massive estate by the Duke of Marlborough would be impossible.

Who lives at Blenheim Palace? The 12^th Duke of Marlborough and his family currently live at Blenheim Palace.

Public footpaths Blenheim Palace – free entry to Blenheim’s gardens

As it is a private estate entry to the Blenheim can be expensive, but a little-known secret is that a number of public footpaths cross the park, so it’s possible to enter without needing to buy a ticket, absolutely free. Now this walk won’t allow you entry into the Palace itself but you can walk the gardens and grounds.

Here is all you need to know to access Blenheim for free, using the ‘secret green gate’ in Woodstock.  It’s a public footpath and absolutely free to walk into the Gardens and grounds of the Palace. It isn’t a suitable walk if you have mobility issues, however.

When you are in Woodstock find the Black Prince Pub where you will spot a green gate on Google the location is named ‘the Causeway’. Spot the green gate with the number 95 on it, then pass through the gate into the courtyard where you will see another gate that is usually open which is the walkway to Blenheim Palace grounds.

One point to note is that there are steps on part of the route so it isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or those who have difficulty walking.  

Blenheim Palace Ticket cost

These are the costs for an admission ticket to Blenheim. What is really cool is if you are visiting, housesitting or simply living nearby you could visit the Palace all year at no extra cost if you donate your entry fee to the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation Charity.

Blenheim entrance fee 2023:

Palace, Park and Gardens – £43 (Adults) £28.50 (Children) this is the one you can donate to the charity and get to enter free all year.

Park and Gardens – £22.50 (Adults) £11.50 (Children)

This summer 2023 Blenheim hosts the 5-night Nocturne Live concerts. Another of the spectacular events hosted by the Palace each year.

Blenheim Palace how long to visit? Blenheim is an extensive property and to see the house and the grounds and really enjoy the atmosphere you will need a minimum of 3 hours.

Who currently owns Blenheim Palace?

Blenheim Palace has remained in the Churchill family and is now home to Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill. She has lived at Blenheim Palace all her life, having grown up there as the youngest child of the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

How to get to Blenheim Palace

London to Blenheim Palace by train

Blenheim is an easy trip from London If you get the train from London to Oxford Parkway Station. When you reach the station you will get the 500 bus which will take you about 15 minutes to get to Blenheim.  If you show your bus ticket at the door Blenheim will also give you a 30 % discount which is awesome. Blenheim is near Woodstock one of my favourite Cotswolds villages.

Blenheim By Bus

To reach Blenheim Palace from London, you can take a bus to Oxford, and a bus ride takes about 1.5 hours. Once you get to Oxford, the main bus station, you can pick up the #500 bus to Blenheim Palace.

Driving to Blenheim 

Parking is free at Blenheim Palace and it is a bit of a walk to the Palace itself from the parking lot. I would say around 10 minutes or so but there is disabled parking nearby if you have a sticker on your car. This is where I highly recommend bringing your sticker with you if you are travelling and renting a car. 

Blenheim Palace Plan

Things to do at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace tours

How many rooms in Blenheim palace? With 187 rooms, Blenheim is one of the largest houses in England. There is an audio guide available at the entry and it is very helpful as a guide through the magnificent rooms.

When you arrive at Blenheim Palace you will enter through the grand East Gate. If you see the standard flying it means the Duke is in residence. The massive iron gates through which you will pass have the gilded double-headed eagle crest of the Churchill family and were displayed at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

Right in front of you will be the state apartments building, you will see the Marlborough Coat of Arms is above the entrance.

Palace State Rooms

Today, the Palace is home to one of the most important and extensive collections in Europe, which includes portraits, furniture, sculpture and tapestries.

The Great Hall

You enter into what is called the Great Hall with its massive pillars and classical statues looking down on you from the first floor.

The painted ceiling depicts Marlborough’s victory at the Battle of Blenheim.

 From the front entry and around 3 sides of the Great Hall you will see an array of family portraits, cases of Meissen and Sevres china and the stairs to the first-floor apartments. Each of the staterooms runs into the next with a limitless display of gilding, portraiture and stunning antique furniture.

Nothing was too good for the family over its long history. There is an outstanding collection of Louis XIV furniture, Belgian Tapestries and paintings by the likes of Sargent, Van Dyke, Romney, and many more.

The Green Drawing Room

The Green Drawing room has green silk walls and furniture with a simply stunning crystal chandelier. There are family portraits and gilded family crests in the corners of the room.  

Red Drawing Room

From here you move into the Red Drawing Room with its large pier glass mirrors and incredible paintings.

The Green Writing Room

The Green Writing Room has two immense tapestries depicting the surrender of Tallard at the Battle of Blenheim. There are two incredible clocks next to the doors and that ceiling is beyond belief.

Blenheim Palace state rooms

First State Room

In the First State Room there hangs a portrait of Consuelo Vanderbilt, who was the wife of the ninth Duke and whose American money preserved and built upon the wealth of Blenheim. You will see a beautifully carved cradle that was used by Consuelo for her children.

Second State Room

The Second State Room has tapestries commemorating Marlborough’s final victorious campaign at the Siege of Bouchain.  

The Third State Room

The Third State Room was originally the state bedchamber. It was redecorated by the Ninth Duke with gilt panelling reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles. Above the fireplace is a portrait of John Churchill, the First Duke with Colonel Armstrong who was his military engineer and close friend and fought with him.  

Blenheim Palace Long Library

The Long Library was the last room to be finished and it was turned into a library by the Third Duke. Bookcases are arranged along the base of the walls with portraits above them.

On one end of the Long Library, there stands a statue of Queen Anne which was commissioned as a memorial to her after her death.  It was this statue that Julian Fellowes says inspired him to create the Downton Abbey Film with the King and Queen visiting Downton. At the other is a stunning organ. You might also have caught a view of this room in the Bridgerton’s.

The Churchill Story

The Churchill Exhibition celebrates the life of Winston Churchill and much of his WWII efforts. The Blenheim Palace bedroom where he was born can be visited and you can see a lock of his baby hair.

Churchill was born prematurely and so Blenheim was not expected to be his birthplace as his parents were waiting for their London residence to be made ready.  

Don’t forget when you are in the park to visit the Temple of Diana where he proposed to his wife Clementine.

Untold Story Exhibition

This is an exhibition on the first floor rooms so be aware that there is no access to the area for people who require a lift or elevator to reach this floor. This exhibition covers 300 years of Blenheim’s history up to WWII.

This tour covers 11 rooms and is supposed to be an intimate fascinating look behind the scenes of the family stories. It takes about 40 minutes and truth be told is a little boring.

Blenheim Chapel

The tour ends at the Chapel down a superb double staircase that descends down into the Chapel. The magnificent plaster ceiling crowns a simple wooden altar and the pews all face into the middle of the Chapel.  

There is an impressively huge memorial to Marlborough on the south wall and his body is interred here with Sarah’s.

On the wall opposite is the memorial to Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill, father of Sir Winston Churchill.

Tours of Blenheim Palace

There are additional tours of the Palace which you might like to see, however, you can’t see them unless you have an annual pass.  

The ‘Blenheim Palace Upstairs’ Tour – Visit the Marlborough family’s private apartments.

The ‘Blenheim Palace Downstairs’ Tour – Find out what life was like for the servants at Blenheim Palace.

Blenheim Palace Gardens

There is a lovely miniature train available to take you to the gardens from the house entrance at a cost of 50p each and another 50 p to return. The lakes and High Park are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the ancient woodland and hedgerows are both protected. Part of the setting of the property is within the Conservation Areas of Woodstock and Bladon and part is in the Cotswold’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Harry Potter tree at Blenheim Palace

You’ll find the Harry Potter Tree by the lake in front of Blenheim Palace which is featured as the Black Lake at Hogwarts in the movie Order of the Phoenix. It is right next to the Blenheim Bridge or the ‘Grand Bridge’.

Blenheim Butterfly House

The Blenheim Palace butterfly house is a lovely surprise and where you can see species from around the world. 

Marlborough Maze 

At 2 miles long the maze is quite a challenge if you are mobility compromised and the reward is finding the Cupid statue in the centre.

Dining at Blenheim Castle

There are 4 locations you can find food within the Palace.

Water Terrace Cafe which has outdoor and indoor seating and overlooks the stunning water gardens. This is a really pretty place to grab a coffee or tea. The food is terrible though and much too expensive for what you get.

The Oxfordshire Pantry sits between the Park and the Palace and again is very pricy and I suspect the food is much the same as the Water Terrace Cafe.

The Orangery looks gorgeous and very classicly English. Here you can enjoy an afternoon tea at a very high price. Two courses at the Orangery costs 2 courses £26.00 per person or here is a typical high tea menu.

The Orangery Afternoon Tea is £34.00 per person it includes the following:

Finger sandwiches:  Cream cheese, cucumber / Egg mayonnaise, English cress / Coronation chicken / Searcys smoked salmon, dill,

Scones: lemon Scones Plain buttermilk scones, clotted cream, strawberry jam

Afternoon tea cakes Selection of individual William Curley patisserie and your choice from the cake table: Pistachio and raspberry financier / Amedei chocolate Sacher / Lemon and Earl Grey macaron / Black Forest tart and a pot of loose-leaf tea or coffee.

The Pleasure Gardens Pizza Cafe serves Two Pizzas or Salads* and a Carafe of sparkling Italian wine, Pinot Grigio, Vinuva Terre Siciliane or Montepulciano D’Abruzzo for just £25.00. Also available is a selection of craft lagers and wines.

Tips for visiting Blenheim Palace

• Take some pocket change so you can take the miniature train.
• Don’t eat at the Cafe by the formal gardens the food is terrible – bring your own picnic.   
• Events at the Palace, you will find that outside the main doors there are often special talks or exhibitions. When we were there a lesson in duelling was hosted by two fine actors. They demonstrated the art of the duel with both sword and pistol and it was immensely entertaining.
• If you are an annual pass holder check out some of the annual events that take place at Blenheim. We saw listed fabulous dinners with renowned chefs. Marathon races, horse trials, chocolate evenings, Halloween bashes and something I would love to go back for a Christmas Market and an illuminated evening.

Visit the Churchills’ graves at St. Martin’s Church in Bladon where you can see memorials to the Spencer-Churchill family. Yes, they are distant relations of Princess Diana and the Spencer family.

Blenheim is steeped in English history, the very stones hold so many memories and events it is damned inspiring. Funny story though recently a very expensive exhibit was stolen from Blenheim Palace – America the 14K gold toilet has gone missing. Worth  £4.8m, and it was made by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.

This grand gold toilet was actually plumbed in and usable and when it was removed it caused significant damage. The toilet was installed opposite the room in which Sir Winston Churchill was born.

You too could have used the Golden Loo as the Brits called it.

Who owns Blenheim Palace?

Charles James (Jamie) Spencer-ChurchillThe palace remains the home of the Dukes of Marlborough, the present incumbent of the title being Charles James (Jamie) Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough. Charles James succeeded to the Dukedom upon his father’s death on 16 October 2014.

Places to stay near Blenheim Palace

The Causeway Woodstock

A lovely house with 2 bedrooms and all the necessary equipment for cooking in the kitchen. The Causeway is located right on the path to the free footpath to access Blenheim Palace. Set in Woodstock in the Oxfordshire region, The Causeway, Woodstock is a 4-star property featuring free WiFi. The accommodation is 39 km from Bourton on the Water.

The Blenheim Buttery

The Blenheim Buttery is situated in central Woodstock, this charming 17th-century building is 12.9 km north of Oxford. Its downstairs eatery, where breakfast is served, overlooks the market square, and the 6 en suite rooms all benefit from free WiFi internet.

The 4-star Blenheim Buttery has a courtyard garden where guests can sit outside in warmer weather. Guests are welcome to eat in the traditional tea room, where the regularly changing menu features freshly prepared seasonal food.

Killingworth Castle

Killingworth Castle dates back to 1637, this coaching inn is situated on the ancient Worcester to London road (B4027), on the edge of picturesque Wootton village, just 3.2 km from Woodstock.

Ideally located for touring the Cotswolds, the inn is also well-positioned for visits to Oxford and Blenheim Palace. Retaining much of the character of the original building, the inn features a beamed ceiling and 2 large stone fireplaces, one with a wood-burning stove for a cosy ambience.

The Kings Arms

The Kings Arms is situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, The Kings Arms features a restaurant and a bar. The hotel offers free WiFi.The rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, a Nespresso® coffee machine, a desk, a wardrobe and luxury Bramley toiletries and breakfast is included.

Have you been to Blenheim? What did you most enjoy about the place? For me, it was the stunning gardens I do so love an English formal garden and wish I had those gardens.

Visiting Blenheim Palace is an unforgettable experience that provides a fascinating insight into the history and heritage of England. The palace’s grand architecture, stunning gardens, and richly decorated interiors are sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor. Whether you’re interested in history, art, or simply enjoying the beautiful scenery, Blenheim Palace has something for everyone.

From its intriguing past as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill to its current status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace is a must-see destination for anyone visiting England. It’s an exceptional place that will inspire and delight all who come to see it.

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