Blenheim Palace






Set in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is considered to be one of the finest Baroque houses in the country. A gift from Queen Anne and a grateful nation to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his famous victory over the French at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Inside the Palace can be found a superb collection of tapestries, paintings, porcelain and furniture in the magnificent State Rooms.
Sir Winston Churchill was born in the Palace in 1874 and a permanent exhibition about him is located next to his birth room – both are included in the Palace tour. He is buried in a simple grave in the nearby church at Bladon. A separate exhibition, ‘Churchills’ Destiny – the story of two great war leaders’, celebrates the achievements of Winston and his great hero and ancestor, John Churchill.
A State-of-the-art visitor experience is open in the heart of the Palace called ‘Blenheim Palace: the Untold Story’. Dramatic moments from the last 300 years of history at Blenheim Palace are brought to life through animatronic figures and innovative film and projection technology, seen through the eyes of the servants.
Surrounding the Palace are over 2,000 acres of beautiful ‘Capability Brown’ parkland, lakes, fountains and formal gardens. A miniature train connects the Palace to the Pleasure Gardens, where, amongst a range of fun activities for children, can be found the Marlborough Maze, the Butterfly House, the Lavender Garden and the ‘Blenheim Bygones’ exhibition.
A very busy events programme is on offer throughout the year, including jousting tournaments, half-term costumed entertainment, the Blenheim Triathlon, Bike BP, Horse Trials and the Great Blenheim Palace Easter Egg Challenge.
Our Charity and Gift Aid:
As a registered charity your admission fee makes a big contribution to the amount of restoration and conservation we can achieve every year, securing the future of this World Heritage Site.
By agreeing to donate your Palace, Park and Gardens admission on arrival you can benefit from converting to a free Annual Pass*. To help us achieve even more we ask that you kindly agree to Gift Aid* your donation when you come to claim your Annual Pass, which makes your donation go even further.
*Terms & Conditions apply
Venue Type:
Historic house or home, Heritage site, Garden, parklands or rural site
Additional info
Blenheim Palace is situated in the picturesque and historic town of Woodstock, 8 miles North West of Oxford on the A44 Evesham Road, and approximately an hour's drive from both London and Birmingham. Stratford-upon-Avon is only 45 minutes drive away. Approaching Oxford on the M40, exit at junction 9 and follow signs to Blenheim. From other directions take the A44 exit from the Oxford by-pass. There is unlimited free car parking for cars and coaches. The nearest British Rail main line station is Oxford. The number S3 bus runs from there to Woodstock at approximately 30 minute intervals.
Sir Winston Churchill, arguably the greatest parliamentarian this country has ever seen, was born at Blenheim Palace on the 30th November 1874 at 1.30am. His birth room is on view to visitors and is set west of the Great Hall in the suite of apartments once allotted to the 1st Duke of Marlborough’s domestic Chaplain. In the Churchill Exhibition, near the birth room, can be seen Oscar Nemon’s bronze of Sir Winston and Lady Churchill as well as Sir Winston’s painting of the Great Hall at Blenheim.
Collection details
Architecture, Personalities
Key artists and exhibits
- Sir Winston Churchill
Educational Services at Blenheim Palace
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/
Blenheim Palace is a huge resource for a wide variety of education uses, available to any education group, national and international. This includes Pre-school, School and Youth Groups, Colleges and Universities, Language Schools and School Language Exchanges.
The wide range of resources, not only in the Palace but also in the Gardens, Park and Estate provides equally for the National Curriculum and for general interest and leisure visits or for any combination of these.
How to obtain
Please call 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
Blenheim Palace at War – Espionage and Evacuees – KS 2&3
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/309.html
This programme concentrates on how Blenheim Palace prepared for War, survived the invasion of 400 Malvern Schoolboys and kept the secrets of MI5.
Combe Mill & the Forest Trail KS 2, 3, 4 & 6th Form
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/352.html
A hands-on experience of small scale industrial technology. See and hear the Victorian beam engine, powered by the steam which is created from water scooped up by the gigantic water wheel.
School groups can combine a visit to the Mill with a walk along the Forest Trail. They can learn all about how the various trees are planted for different purposes, how they are managed and how vital they are in maintaining the environment.
How to obtain
Call 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
Going Green at Blenheim Palace
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/356.html
This programme aims to teach children how they can help the environment in their everyday lives, at home, at school and when out and about for the day.
How to obtain
Please contact the Education Department on 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
Maths Trail KS 2
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/Maths-key-stage2.html
This trail combines a walk around Queen Pool with the opportunity to use your brain. Estimate, calculate and convert as you take in the beauty of Capabilty Brown's beautiful landscape.
How to obtain
Call 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
Maths Trail KS 3
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/maths-key-stage-3.html
Follow a trail from Flagstaff around Queen Pool and work out percentages, equations and work out the speed at which water flows beneath a bridge in the beautiful park surrounding Blenheim Palace.
How to obtain
Call 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
Portraits – Key Stage 2
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/portraits.html
The family portraits that hang in the Palace State Rooms are used in this programme to encourage children to look at the paintings critically.
The Lifecycle of the Butterfly - Foundation & KS 1 & 2
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/minibeasts.html
The Butterfly House is ideal for mini-beast observation and study and is also very stimulating for work in art, craft and design and creative writing. Visits can be led by the class teacher or by the Education Team who explain the life cycle of a butterfly using the hatching area and butterfly house itself.
How to obtain
email education@blenheimpalace.com or call 01993 810535
The Secret Garden
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/secret-garden.html
The Secret Garden offers a unique opportunity for the study of science in tree and plant life as well as providing inspiration for all types of creative work. It is a fascinating mixture of light, dark and space, with a wealth of shapes and textures - leaves, bushes and trees, rocky shapes and formations, pool and water features.
How to obtain
Tel: 01993 810535 or email education@blenheimpalace.com
The Victorians – Key Stage 2
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/education/victorians.html
This visit gives an insight into life at Blenheim Palace during the Victorian era. The tour covers the life and work of servants in the Victorian period as well as the family of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Dukes of Marlborough, all of whom were Victorian Dukes.
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock
Oxfordshire
OX20 1PS
England
Website
http://www.blenheimpalace.com/book/
Telephone
Customer Services
01993 810530
Fax
01993 810570
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