the history of Blenheim Palace
- family-friendly
- holidays
Blenheim Palace has an impressive history and we’re here to give you a breakdown of it all before you stay with us and visit.
Blenheim Palace offers a completely unique experience for visitors from all over the world. With their formal gardens, landscaped parkland, and a historic country house you can explore you will be able to learn all about the history that comes with the area. But before you do visit, we have put together a few things that are useful to note before you visit Britain’s Greatest Palace.
what makes Blenheim Palace so special?
Blenheim Palace was designed by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor as a gift to John Churchill the 1st Duke of Marlborough from Queen Anne. It is now home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an impressive history waiting for you to discover. It’s also the only non-royal country house in England to have palace in its title.
did Winston Churchill ever live at Blenheim Palace?
Blenheim Palace was the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. Once the Palace was complete it became the home of the Churchill family for 300 years and various members of the family have lived there. Winston Churchill was born there on 30th November 1874 whilst his parents were visiting and staying at the Palace. Although Winston Churchill never actually lived there, he regularly returned to the Palace for different parties and even proposed to his wife within the grounds.
can you just walk around Blenheim Palace?
You must book tickets to visit Blenheim Palace. You can either book tickets for just the Park and Gardens which include the Walled Garden, Formal Garden and Park. Or you can book the Palace, Park & Gardens ticket which is their annual pass and includes entry into the Palace State Rooms, the Churchill & Stables Exhibition, and an audio guide. Or you can book the Privilege Pass which also includes 15% discount in the shop and restaurant.
what is there to do at Blenheim Palace?
There is so much to see and do in the Palace and the grounds that you will be able to plan a full day out. From exploring the State Rooms in the Palace to exploring the grounds. Amongst the gardens, grounds and estate keep an eye out for things like the Harry Potter Tree and Vanbrugh’s Grand Bridge. There is also plenty for children to enjoy like the Butterfly House, Marlborough Hedge Maze, and the Adventure Play. Once you’ve worked up an appetite make sure you stop at one of the cafes or restaurants in the grounds for a bite to eat. Blenheim Palace also have a full calendar of events on throughout the year so make sure you check out if anything is on during your visit from concerts to food festivals and even the circus!
where to stay when visiting Blenheim Palace?
We have partnered with Blenheim Palace and combined our holiday expertise with the incredible Blenheim Estate grounds to create Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat. Located on the grounds of the Estate, you can extend your visit by staying in one of our luxury self-catering lodges. Offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom accommodation all including a fully equipped kitchen, electric car charging and spacious living areas you can enjoy all the home comforts as you visit Blenheim Palace. And when you book a stay with us you will receive a 20% discount code for annual passes at Blenheim Palace.