See & Do

Blenheim Palace

Attraction Heritage

Hightlight

Cafe
Car Parking
Events
Family Friendly

Discover Blenheim Palace, just outside Oxford, it’s a great day out for all the family away from the city centre. This Oxford attraction is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts a long and diverse history, including the home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Whether you’re interested in finding out the history and want to enjoy a fun-packed family adventure, or simply want to have a picture perfect day out with your loved ones, we have something for everyone to have an amazing time at Blenheim Palace. To help with this, they have created a series of itineraries to suit your preferences, in the hope that your day is special and centred around the things you enjoy the most.

Blenheim Palace was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704.

Along with all the outdoor areas, perfect for picnics and nature walks, the palace offer tours around the house.

‘Upstairs’ Tour, offers a unique look at 21st-century life in an 18th-century palace, in the main rooms used by the Marlborough family, from the 1st Duke to today. See the Nursery where Nanny lived and cared for the young Lords and Ladies right up until the 1990s, and beautiful paintings by artists such as Reynolds, Kneller, Sargent and Stubbs.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a guest at Blenheim Palace? From after dinner etiquette to secret corridors, gain an insight into the routine of visitors both past and present, including Charlie Chaplin, Bill Clinton and Sylvester Stallone. (This tour involves many stairs and so may not be suitable for everyone).

The ‘Downstairs’ Tour gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of Palace staff over the centuries.

Household staff were essential to the aristocratic way of life. Visitors can wander through the network of corridors, see the iconic bell system as well as some areas which are still in use by Palace staff today, including the kitchen. Along the way, hear about the gossip and perks of the job from the staff’s point of view.

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Opening Hours

Monday: 9:30 - 17:00

Tuesday: 9:30 - 17:00

Wednesday: 9:30 - 17:00

Thursday: 9:30 - 17:00

Friday: 9:30 - 17:00

Saturday: 9:30 - 17:00

Closed

Sunday: 9:30 - 17:00

Google Reviews

Blenheim Palace

4.617757 reviews

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Dan Warman

a month ago

We pre-booked our tickets for a Saturday and arrived just as the car park opened at 10am. The short walk from the car park to the palace was lovely, setting the tone for the day ahead. Our first stop was the shops, where we treated ourselves to some chocolate… the white Montezuma in particular was absolutely delicious and worth recommending. Next, we headed up for the Rooftop Experience, which was fantastic. The views were spectacular, and the slightly bouncy stairs added an unexpected bit of fun! After that, we explored the palace interiors. Although some internal maintenance and restoration work is underway, it was well hidden and didn’t detract from the visit. We then enjoyed the Winston Churchill experience, which was fascinating and well presented, before moving on to the gardens. The grounds were stunning… beautifully kept and a real highlight of the day. To finish, we took the buggy tour around the estate, which was another fantastic experience and gave us a chance to appreciate the size and beauty of the parkland. Overall, we had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Blenheim Palace for a full and varied day out.

Janette

a month ago

Well worth a visit, it has the wow factor, such a large impressive palace. You need a full day or more to see and visit everywhere. Staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. There are places to get refreshments, toilets etc. in several areas and facilities for the disabled Plenty of interesting, woodland and lakeside walks. A little train, children's play area, a very good maze. The Palace itself is magnificent, at the moment there is some restoration work taking place, but this does not spoil the visit, in fact allows a visit to see the views from the roof area.

David Wnek

2 weeks ago

Stunning palace with a fascinating history. Lovely grounds and baroque interiors make this a must-see for those seeking a fancy, whimsical historical site. The gift shop also has a remarkably wide selection of items, sure to please anyone of any age.

Lisa P

2 months ago

Gorgeous walks. We have started visiting weekly during the nice weather. The grounds are amazing. The secret garden is my favourite to stop with a picnic. The butterfly house is magical when all of the butterflies are out. The adventure play area looks fun as well. £5 for an adult, £7 for a child over 3, under 3 is free. Definitely worth a visit. Recommend getting the membership if you are going to go more than once in a year as it is only an extra tenner.

Nahshon

a month ago

If you are visiting Oxford and have some spare time, you should definitely visit Blenheim palace. There are buses from the city centre that brings you right to the doorstep. Otherwise, if you are driving, one option is to drive up to the palace and park there, where parking is aplenty. Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The tour through the palace itself as well as the newly opened "Life Below Stairs" depict the history of the former Prime Minister. We were also very lucky to be blessed with timings as the occupant of the palace opened up some private rooms for us to see (though no pictures allowed). There are some other activities such as overlooking the palace from the rooftop, or taking a train to the Walled Garden (if you paid for the tickets), which are definitely worth. You can also take a short walk to the mini waterfall and have picnic by the lake! The views of the palace and the lake is absolutely stunning. During festivals, the palace will have special decorations (e.g. Halloween, Christmas Lights, car shows etc.). The Christmas lights is especially gorgeous and beautiful! Definitely worth travelling to the palace for these events.