If you’re looking for day trip inspiration close to London, Blenheim Palace offers something for everyone.  There’s an array of exhibitions to delve into, stunning grounds to explore boasting both a lake and waterfall. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s even something for those die-hard Harry Potter fans.  Read on to find out more.

Where is Blenheim Palace from London?

Blenheim Palace is located a stone’s throw from Woodstock village in Oxfordshire and only a twenty-minute journey from Oxford.  You can get to Oxford from London Marylebone station in just over an hour.  The easiest way to get to Blenheim Palace is to take the S7 bus from Oxford Parkway station which drops you off outside the Palace, (£2.00 each way). It’s then a ten-minute stroll through the park to the main entrance gates. If you’re travelling by car, parking is included in your ticket price.

How to book cheaper tickets to Blenheim Palace

Those travelling by bus will benefit from a 20% reduction on an annual Palace, Park and Gardens ticket.  The ticket is normally £38.00 per person so with the reduction, you pay just over £30.00.  (For entry purposes, you need to show your bus ticket on arrival). This ticket also gives entry to most exhibitions including the excellent Churchill exhibition as well as some outdoor festivals.  You also have access to the Palace’s 2000-acre grounds and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But please note you can not enter the Palace or Palace grounds without a ticket.

Why is Blenheim Palace so famous?

Known as a “masterpiece of baroque architecture,” you’d struggle to find a more impressive palace in the country. A Grade 1 listed building, it contains some of the most important and extensive portrait, furniture, sculpture and tapestry collections in Europe. 

The Palace was a present to John Churchill, 1 Duke of Marlborough from Queen Anne in gratitude for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in August 1704.  Today the Place is home to the 12 Duke of Marlborough and his family. Containing a staggering 187 rooms, Blenheim Place is in fact larger than Buckingham Palace. It’s also home to the famous Marlborough Tapestries and one of the country’s largest libraries filled with more than 10,000 books.   A staggering 950,000 visitors (paid and unpaid) visited the Palace in 2020 – testament to its enduring popularity.

Did Winston Churchill ever live at Blenheim Palace?

Winston Churchill was in fact born here on the 30 November 1874 and frequently returned for his summer holidays from boarding school.  In later life, the Palace retained a soft spot in the Prime Minister’s heart and he would return to paint, attend parties and meet up with old friends. And fittingly so, it was here that he proposed to his wife-to-be and later spent many Christmases with his five children.  

The Churchill exhibition

2024 marks the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Sir Winston Churchill so it would be rude not to pay a visit to the Churchill exhibition while there.  (The exhibition is free to those with a Palace and Parks Pass or an annual pass.)  Located in a part of the palace that was once used as an artist’s studio by the wartime leader, it’s a fascinating exploration of deeply personal photos, letters, clothing and other artefacts.   There’s also an interactive film and a scarily lifelike model of the man himself.

Other exhibitions at the Palace

Blenheim Palace has an eclectic calendar of exhibitions and of recent note was the Icons of British Fashion which took place in the spring. The largest exhibition ever hosted here, it brought together the work of a diverse mix of home-grown fashion designers, shoe designers and milliners superimposed upon the Palace’s grand rooms.  The show’s highlight for me was zany Zandra Rhodes’ fabulous fashion party, featuring outlandish gowns from the last half century.

Is it worth visiting Blenheim Palace Grounds?

The entire walk around Blenheim Palace grounds is 4.6 miles so you definitely won’t get bored!  But if that’s stretching things a bit far, there are also shorter walks available. The Formal Gardens reflect the contrasting styles of different ages. Take in the showy Versailles-style Water Terraces before seeking sanctuary in the Tranquil Secret garden.  Also worth a look is the Churchill Memorial Garden where you can walk in the footsteps of Churchill’s most cherished places including the spot where he proposed to his wife.  

The Queen Pool Lake

Once you’ve done the formal Gardens, wander down to the Queen Pool (lake) which has recently had 300,000 cubic metres of silt dredged out as part of its restoration.  The walk around the Queen Pool takes around 45 minutes and is an easy, relaxing stroll.  Also undergoing restoration is the Grand Cascade – an impressive man-made waterfall designed by renowned landscape gardener, Capability Brown in 1760.  The waterfall is viewed as one of the most romantic in England and the accompanying bridge is an extremely popular photo stop – just watch out for the spray!

The Harry Potter Tree

But perhaps the most intriguing discovery of the day was the Harry Potter Tree. The imposing Cedar of Lebanon featured in the 2007 film adaptation of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix.  Fans will recollect that this is where Professor Snape has memories of being bullied by Harry’s father while a student at Hogwarts.  The tree is now protected by a wicker fence to help preserve into the future but you can still get up close and personal.

There’s so much to see and do at Blenheim Palace that one day really doesn’t do it justice.  With such a full calendar of exhibitions and events, we’re glad we bought the annual pass to pop back again and experience more of this magical setting.

The post An extraordinary day out at Blenheim Palace appeared first on Office Breaks.