Blenheim Palace

About Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace sits just outside the small town of Woodstock in Oxfordshire, about an hour and a half northwest of central London by car. It was built in the early 18th century as a gift from Queen Anne and the nation to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, after his military victories against the French. The architect was John Vanbrugh, and the result is one of the largest houses in England and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in the country to hold the title of palace. It is still the family home of the Dukes of Marlborough, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

The palace is also the birthplace of Winston Churchill, who was born here in 1874, and part of the house is given over to an exhibition about his life. Inside, the State Rooms carry tapestries, painted ceilings, and the kind of long portrait-lined galleries you would expect from a house of this scale. The grounds are arguably the bigger draw for many visitors. Capability Brown laid out the park in the 1760s, including the great lake and the sweeping lawns, and there are formal gardens, a walled garden, and a hedge maze closer to the house. The parkland alone covers more than 2,000 acres.

Plan on the better part of a day if you want to see both the house and the gardens without rushing. The house interiors and the grounds are often ticketed together, though access to specific areas can vary by season, so it is worth checking current visiting arrangements before you go. There is parking on site, and a miniature train runs between the main house and the pleasure gardens where the maze and adventure play area are. Spring and summer are the obvious times for the gardens, but the park stays open across much of the year, and the house takes on a different character around Christmas when it is decorated for the season.