Blenheim Palace is a treasure of British history with plenty to explore from the stunning Palace to the 2000 acres of woodland, parkland and formal gardens.
Blenheim Palace was built in the early 18th century and was gifted to John Churchill by Queen Anne after his victory at the Battle of Blenheim. It also later became the birth place of the famous Sir Winston Churchill so this estate is bursting with British history.
Visitors can enjoy the breathtaking Baroque architecture of Blenheim Palace as well as the variety of artefacts and treasures within it from the awe-inspiring Marlborough Tapestries to the impressive paintings and antique furniture. There is also a long library with over 10, 000 books, some dating back hundreds of years and holding great historical significance. You can visit this majestic building and take one of the free guides tours around the State Rooms, learning about the history of each individual room as well as hearing more about the unique pieces in the collections.
You can also delve deeper into the Palace’s history and background and enjoy one of the three tours of the Private Apartments and take a peak behind the scenes at the parts of this building that are still being used as a home. For a more leisurely tour at your own pace, you can pick up an Audio guide, available in 9 languages, at the Palace entrance and immerse yourself in the unique history.
Just as impressive as the Palace is Blenheim’s 2000 acre estate which is made up of a variety of woodland, parkland and formal gardens. There are several points of interest dotted around the gorgeous grounds such as the Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge which spans over the Great Leak, boasting water views from either side. You can also spot and walk up to The Column of Victory which stands 134 feet tall overlooking the park or visit the rushing waters of The Grand Cascade. The park is also filled with tales and stories such as the scandalous past surrounding Rosamund’s Well, said to have been built by King Henry II for his mistress, Rosamund Clifford.
There are a lovely variety of walks to enjoy ranging from light two-hour strolls, to a long 4 hour walk to a daylong hike. Throughout the year there is an astonishing set of season events – make the most of the Christmas Market and Illuminated Light Trails this winter or check the website to see when this park will be doing their next firework displays, fairy-tale themed events for the little ones and their educational and interesting exhibitions of art and architecture from the past.
With so much to see and explore at this grand estate, you can spend several afternoons here which is why Blenheim Palace offer a “Buy One Day, Get 12 Months Free” scheme which allows you to enjoy the park all year around.
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Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP | 01993 810530 | www.blenheimpalace.com
All images in this article belong to ©Blenheim Palace.
